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The Long Isle: A DC Mairead Maclean Mystery
A dark Scottish island crime thriller featuring a compelling and brilliant female detective, a brutal murder, and a close-knit community where everyone has something to hide.
Home is where the lies are buried.
On the remote Hebridean island of South Uist, its rugged tranquillity is shattered by a brutal murder on a deserted beach.
In desperate need of local knowledge, Uist-born Detective Constable Mairead Maclean is sent to investigate. Long estranged from the island, she is forced back to the place she once called home and to a past she would rather forget.
But as Mairead rekindles old friendships and hostilities, she uncovers a network of deception and scandal that could shatter the close-knit community.
They have been harbouring more than just long-buried secrets.
Someone is watching Mairead’s every move. They have already killed to keep the past buried, and they’re ready to do it again.
The Long Isle is the gripping first novel in a haunting new Scottish crime series, perfect for readers of Peter May and Ann Cleeves, and lovers of atmospheric police procedurals and dark island noir.
___________________________________________________________________
Praise for Andrew
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ One of Scotland’s best tartan noir authors
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ For fans of Ian Rankin’s Rebus and JD Kirk-style Scottish crime…
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A cracking twist
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A nice surprise to find a new author whose writing is so interesting
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Raymond crafts a hypnotic story with many twists and turns
Home is where the lies are buried.
On the remote Hebridean island of South Uist, its rugged tranquillity is shattered by a brutal murder on a deserted beach.
In desperate need of local knowledge, Uist-born Detective Constable Mairead Maclean is sent to investigate. Long estranged from the island, she is forced back to the place she once called home and to a past she would rather forget.
But as Mairead rekindles old friendships and hostilities, she uncovers a network of deception and scandal that could shatter the close-knit community.
They have been harbouring more than just long-buried secrets.
Someone is watching Mairead’s every move. They have already killed to keep the past buried, and they’re ready to do it again.
The Long Isle is the gripping first novel in a haunting new Scottish crime series, perfect for readers of Peter May and Ann Cleeves, and lovers of atmospheric police procedurals and dark island noir.
___________________________________________________________________
Praise for Andrew
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ One of Scotland’s best tartan noir authors
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ For fans of Ian Rankin’s Rebus and JD Kirk-style Scottish crime…
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A cracking twist
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A nice surprise to find a new author whose writing is so interesting
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Raymond crafts a hypnotic story with many twists and turns
336 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
Andrew Raymond
20 books39 followersAndrew Raymond lives and writes in Glasgow, Scotland with his wife and little boy. His first book, Official Secrets, has sold over 100,000 copies, and the series in total has over 10 million Kindle Unlimited page reads. His first crime book, The Bonnie Dead, introduces Police Scotland's premier investigator DCI John Lomond. The first in a thrilling Scottish crime series, shot through with dark Glaswegian humour and gripping twists, that take you into the hidden depths of Andrew's home city, as well as the iconic hills and glens of the Scottish highlands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
April 28, 2026
Book 1 of Hebrides
A brutal murder on a beach in South Uist which is a shock in itself as this is an island where murder has never happened. DC Mairead Maclean is a former islander and works in Glasgow and is sent there as the team need local knowledge. She’s very reluctant to return as it will reignite a past that she’d rather forget. Can Mairead use any remaining friendships to get to the heart of what is going on in this close knit Outer Hebridean community or will hostility prevent it? One thing is certain, someone is watching her every move.
This is a really good mystery thriller in an incredible setting. It’s very atmospheric with excellent descriptions not just of Uist but right from the start with the journey from Glasgow to Oban and the ferry, with a musical accompaniment from Runrig. The changeable weather, the wild pitching Atlantic mirroring what’s to come or happening on Uist when the fog closes in and then there’s the silence….
The plot is constantly intriguing, the pace is spot on and it has me hooked, unwilling to put the book down. There are shocks in store for Mairead as situations worsen with the sense of dread hanging over this series of islands (North and South Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula). Island attitudes with walls of silence add to the fascination of the plot which is as twisty as The Stations of the Cross on Eriskay (worth looking up!) where it reaches its conclusion and I’m all in for number two.
Finally, the characterisation is good, I really like Mairead and there’s a good contrast between her view of the world compared SIO DCI Sorley Barr, who I definitely warm to by the end.
I’ve not read this author before but I want to read more.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Vinci Books for the much appreciated copy in return for an honest review.
A brutal murder on a beach in South Uist which is a shock in itself as this is an island where murder has never happened. DC Mairead Maclean is a former islander and works in Glasgow and is sent there as the team need local knowledge. She’s very reluctant to return as it will reignite a past that she’d rather forget. Can Mairead use any remaining friendships to get to the heart of what is going on in this close knit Outer Hebridean community or will hostility prevent it? One thing is certain, someone is watching her every move.
This is a really good mystery thriller in an incredible setting. It’s very atmospheric with excellent descriptions not just of Uist but right from the start with the journey from Glasgow to Oban and the ferry, with a musical accompaniment from Runrig. The changeable weather, the wild pitching Atlantic mirroring what’s to come or happening on Uist when the fog closes in and then there’s the silence….
The plot is constantly intriguing, the pace is spot on and it has me hooked, unwilling to put the book down. There are shocks in store for Mairead as situations worsen with the sense of dread hanging over this series of islands (North and South Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula). Island attitudes with walls of silence add to the fascination of the plot which is as twisty as The Stations of the Cross on Eriskay (worth looking up!) where it reaches its conclusion and I’m all in for number two.
Finally, the characterisation is good, I really like Mairead and there’s a good contrast between her view of the world compared SIO DCI Sorley Barr, who I definitely warm to by the end.
I’ve not read this author before but I want to read more.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Vinci Books for the much appreciated copy in return for an honest review.
June 24, 2026
Amongst the exciting crowd of 'new' Scottish crime authors Andrew Raymond is by far the best.
As a southerner I was introduced to the Scottish islands by the compelling Shetland novels by Ann Cleeves, featuring Jimmy Perez, and the amazing Lewis trilogy by Peter May. Now, Andrew Raymond takes me to the windswept isolation of South Uist - a perfect setting for this atmospheric murder mystery.
The author paints portraits of a fine host of characters and uses clever sleight of hand to point one in completely the wrong direction. There are plenty of red herrings along the way.
This is Tartan noir at its very finest with an intricate, addictive, fast-paced plot, spread over two timelines, as secrets and lies are exposed before a splendidly complex twist in the final denouement.
I can't wait for the second book in this series.
As a southerner I was introduced to the Scottish islands by the compelling Shetland novels by Ann Cleeves, featuring Jimmy Perez, and the amazing Lewis trilogy by Peter May. Now, Andrew Raymond takes me to the windswept isolation of South Uist - a perfect setting for this atmospheric murder mystery.
The author paints portraits of a fine host of characters and uses clever sleight of hand to point one in completely the wrong direction. There are plenty of red herrings along the way.
This is Tartan noir at its very finest with an intricate, addictive, fast-paced plot, spread over two timelines, as secrets and lies are exposed before a splendidly complex twist in the final denouement.
I can't wait for the second book in this series.
June 14, 2026
This is the first in a new series set in the Hebrides featuring Mairead Maclean, a young DC who left the Hebrides many years earlier under somewhat of a cloud. Forced to return as part of an investigation team when a young priest is brutally murdered and a separate attack on an old priest leaves him alive but badly hurt, it sets the tone for a lot of awkward conversations and scenes as everyone seems to look upon her with disgust and blame.
The story is told across two timelines, the present day and from twenty one years ago when we gradually piece together what happened involving Mairead. I was hooked from the start with the brutal murder but the gradual back and forth between the timelines ensured I wanted to keep reading to find out what had happened. This was not straightforward as there was several twists even with that side of things. I loved how everyone seems to have some sort of secret and there were a few shocks towards the end as we finally learn the truth about the past and the present.
I have loved anything I have read by this author and this is another brilliant read in what is sure to be another riveting series.
The story is told across two timelines, the present day and from twenty one years ago when we gradually piece together what happened involving Mairead. I was hooked from the start with the brutal murder but the gradual back and forth between the timelines ensured I wanted to keep reading to find out what had happened. This was not straightforward as there was several twists even with that side of things. I loved how everyone seems to have some sort of secret and there were a few shocks towards the end as we finally learn the truth about the past and the present.
I have loved anything I have read by this author and this is another brilliant read in what is sure to be another riveting series.
August 6, 2026
3.5 stars
The Hebrides always seem like one of the scariest places in the entire UK when mystery authors go to town on the islands. 😆
In a way, I'm getting a bit stuffed with the island tropes, but this book was still pretty good.
I wasn't 100% sold on the narrator, but I think I will return for a second book in the future.
The Hebrides always seem like one of the scariest places in the entire UK when mystery authors go to town on the islands. 😆
In a way, I'm getting a bit stuffed with the island tropes, but this book was still pretty good.
I wasn't 100% sold on the narrator, but I think I will return for a second book in the future.
June 29, 2026
I enjoyed this book. Would read more of this author.
July 27, 2026
“The Long Isle” begins with a murder on a remote Hebridean beach that forces Detective Constable Mairead Maclean back to South Uist, the island she left behind years ago. As would be expected in such a setting – the investigation quickly becomes tangled up with old histories, local loyalties and secrets that some people would very much prefer stayed buried. As Mairead tries to find a killer, she also has to navigate returning to a place where everybody seems to know everybody else's business—except the things that really matter.
I really enjoyed this one. I generally like a crime novel and a Scottish accent – and this novel provided me with a great combination of both. The writing is great, the mystery develops at just the right pace and several twists genuinely caught me by surprise.
What stood out most, though, was how easily I settled into the world of the book. I've never been to the Hebrides, but Raymond creates a setting that feels lived-in and believable. The island is full of overlapping histories, familiar faces and the sort of long memory that small communities seem to possess. I found myself becoming just as invested in the people and the place as I was in the mystery itself. The story takes its time exploring the dynamics of a community where connections run deep and everyone seems to carry their own version of past events. By the end, it wasn't just the solution to the crime that interested me, but the feeling that I'd spent time somewhere distinctive and memorable.
The audiobook is excellent. Cathleen McCarron does a wonderful job creating a consistent atmosphere throughout and has exactly the right cadence for the story. I particularly enjoyed listening to her accent, and she differentiates the various characters beautifully.
This is wonderfully atmospheric crime novel with strong writing, an engaging mystery and superb narration. Definitely a series I'll be continuing.
Thank you to W.F. House Ltd, NetGalley and Andrew Raymond for an advance listening copy of this book.
I really enjoyed this one. I generally like a crime novel and a Scottish accent – and this novel provided me with a great combination of both. The writing is great, the mystery develops at just the right pace and several twists genuinely caught me by surprise.
What stood out most, though, was how easily I settled into the world of the book. I've never been to the Hebrides, but Raymond creates a setting that feels lived-in and believable. The island is full of overlapping histories, familiar faces and the sort of long memory that small communities seem to possess. I found myself becoming just as invested in the people and the place as I was in the mystery itself. The story takes its time exploring the dynamics of a community where connections run deep and everyone seems to carry their own version of past events. By the end, it wasn't just the solution to the crime that interested me, but the feeling that I'd spent time somewhere distinctive and memorable.
The audiobook is excellent. Cathleen McCarron does a wonderful job creating a consistent atmosphere throughout and has exactly the right cadence for the story. I particularly enjoyed listening to her accent, and she differentiates the various characters beautifully.
This is wonderfully atmospheric crime novel with strong writing, an engaging mystery and superb narration. Definitely a series I'll be continuing.
Thank you to W.F. House Ltd, NetGalley and Andrew Raymond for an advance listening copy of this book.
July 19, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy.
Having thoroughly enjoyed Andrew Raymond’s DCI Lomond series, I was really looking forward to meeting DC Mairead Maclean, and The Long Isle exceeded my expectations.
The isolated island setting is brilliantly realised and almost becomes a character in its own right. The close-knit community, where everyone knows everyone else’s business but some secrets are never spoken about, creates an atmosphere of suspicion from the very beginning. The tension between the older generation’s deeply held religious beliefs and the changing values of modern life felt completely authentic. Themes of unplanned pregnancy, shame and long-buried cover-ups were explored with real sensitivity and, coming from an Irish background myself, those undercurrents rang especially true. I also appreciated the subtle references to Gaelic language and culture, which added another layer of authenticity.
Mairead is an excellent lead. Returning to the island she was once forced to leave is difficult enough, but investigating the murder of a local priest means confronting both her own past and a community determined to protect its secrets. Her intimate understanding of island life, combined with her policing instincts, makes her the perfect person to unravel a case that is far more complex than it first appears.
The narration was superb, capturing the distinctive voices, accents and atmosphere beautifully. It added real depth to the characters and made it easy to become completely immersed in the story.
This is an atmospheric, character-driven crime novel with a compelling mystery and a setting I won’t forget. I can’t wait to see where Mairead’s story goes next.
Having thoroughly enjoyed Andrew Raymond’s DCI Lomond series, I was really looking forward to meeting DC Mairead Maclean, and The Long Isle exceeded my expectations.
The isolated island setting is brilliantly realised and almost becomes a character in its own right. The close-knit community, where everyone knows everyone else’s business but some secrets are never spoken about, creates an atmosphere of suspicion from the very beginning. The tension between the older generation’s deeply held religious beliefs and the changing values of modern life felt completely authentic. Themes of unplanned pregnancy, shame and long-buried cover-ups were explored with real sensitivity and, coming from an Irish background myself, those undercurrents rang especially true. I also appreciated the subtle references to Gaelic language and culture, which added another layer of authenticity.
Mairead is an excellent lead. Returning to the island she was once forced to leave is difficult enough, but investigating the murder of a local priest means confronting both her own past and a community determined to protect its secrets. Her intimate understanding of island life, combined with her policing instincts, makes her the perfect person to unravel a case that is far more complex than it first appears.
The narration was superb, capturing the distinctive voices, accents and atmosphere beautifully. It added real depth to the characters and made it easy to become completely immersed in the story.
This is an atmospheric, character-driven crime novel with a compelling mystery and a setting I won’t forget. I can’t wait to see where Mairead’s story goes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
I hadn't read Andrew Raymond before The Long Isle, but this book has absolutely made me interested in his wider work.
The novel opens with a murder on a beach in South Uist, an event that sends shockwaves through the small island community. the killing itself is gruesome, but what really gives the book its strength is the way Raymond uses the setting, the history, and the weight of returning home. DC Mairead Maclean (I'm still unable to pronounce her name, even thought I'm Scottish!), a former islander now working in Glasgow, is sent back after twenty-one years, and that return gives the investigation an added emotional tension.
What impressed me most was the pacing. Every scene and chapter feels purposeful, moving the story forward without losing atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed the ferry chapters, which build a real sense of dread as Mairead heads back towards the community she left behind. The twists are well handled, and Raymond clearly understands the dark pull of tartan noir, where secrets, place, memory, and violence all work together.
The atmosphere is excellent. South Uist comes through beautifully on the page. It's remote, historic and beautiful. The island setting never feels like backdrop. It feels central to the story.
The Long Isle is a gripping, atmospheric crime novel and a very strong introduction to an author I am glad to have discovered.
There's nothing better than being introduced to an author, especially a local one with a back catalogue.
I hadn't read Andrew Raymond before The Long Isle, but this book has absolutely made me interested in his wider work.
The novel opens with a murder on a beach in South Uist, an event that sends shockwaves through the small island community. the killing itself is gruesome, but what really gives the book its strength is the way Raymond uses the setting, the history, and the weight of returning home. DC Mairead Maclean (I'm still unable to pronounce her name, even thought I'm Scottish!), a former islander now working in Glasgow, is sent back after twenty-one years, and that return gives the investigation an added emotional tension.
What impressed me most was the pacing. Every scene and chapter feels purposeful, moving the story forward without losing atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed the ferry chapters, which build a real sense of dread as Mairead heads back towards the community she left behind. The twists are well handled, and Raymond clearly understands the dark pull of tartan noir, where secrets, place, memory, and violence all work together.
The atmosphere is excellent. South Uist comes through beautifully on the page. It's remote, historic and beautiful. The island setting never feels like backdrop. It feels central to the story.
The Long Isle is a gripping, atmospheric crime novel and a very strong introduction to an author I am glad to have discovered.
There's nothing better than being introduced to an author, especially a local one with a back catalogue.
July 22, 2026
The Long Isle starts in Glasgow, but very quickly moves to Uist. The body of a priest has been discovered lifeless on a beach, posed in a religiously significant manner. As Uist has never seen a murder, a team of detectives from the mainland arrives as quickly as the ferry can carry them, over the sea sickness inducing waters. Island life is almost alien to a mainlander, so new detective DC Mairead Maclean, who was born and bred on Uist, will be invaluable to the SIO DCI Sorley Barr.
As a fan of police procedurals, it is a welcome change to have our central character as an officer further down the food chain than the usual DI or DCI. Mairead being a more inexperienced DC of just 18 months, gives a different angle to the usual narrative.
I really enjoyed Cathleen McCarron’s narration, she gave each of the characters a distinctive voice. I’m also grateful to her for showing me the corrective pronunciation of a few words, that I have been mispronouncing for years while visually reading.
I loved Mairead’s character, her more mature age, despite being a relatively inexperienced detective, brings life experience and perspective, to her approach to the investigation. Her personal history and current domestic situation, will be interesting to read further of in future books.
I am a huge fan of Scottish crime writing in general, and Andrew Raymond specifically. I loved the remote settling, I found it very atmospheric, and for me, listening to the audiobook really heightens that sense of place. I became fully immersed in story and characters.
The Long Isle is a fabulous start to this new series. I can already see that the second book, The Missing Sisters, is due for publication in April 27, which I am already looking forward to greatly.
As a fan of police procedurals, it is a welcome change to have our central character as an officer further down the food chain than the usual DI or DCI. Mairead being a more inexperienced DC of just 18 months, gives a different angle to the usual narrative.
I really enjoyed Cathleen McCarron’s narration, she gave each of the characters a distinctive voice. I’m also grateful to her for showing me the corrective pronunciation of a few words, that I have been mispronouncing for years while visually reading.
I loved Mairead’s character, her more mature age, despite being a relatively inexperienced detective, brings life experience and perspective, to her approach to the investigation. Her personal history and current domestic situation, will be interesting to read further of in future books.
I am a huge fan of Scottish crime writing in general, and Andrew Raymond specifically. I loved the remote settling, I found it very atmospheric, and for me, listening to the audiobook really heightens that sense of place. I became fully immersed in story and characters.
The Long Isle is a fabulous start to this new series. I can already see that the second book, The Missing Sisters, is due for publication in April 27, which I am already looking forward to greatly.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Andrew and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Long Isle before the publication date.
It would make a good option for a book club discussion.
The story is told in 2 timeframes, 21 years ago and the current time with the author using personification of the elements to great effect.
When the body of a man is found nailed to a wooden cross on the beach in South Uist, DCI Sorley Barr and his team are sent to investigate. He is identified as Father Brendan O’Brien, a moderniser who is in the process of taking over from Father Calum MacDonald.
On the same evening, an inebriated Father Calum is attacked on his way home from the pub, having declined a lift by Father Brendan.
DC Mairead Maclean, who is originally from South Uist, moved to Glasgow 20 years ago.
Detective Superintendent Helen Armstrong has decided that her local knowledge and insight would be helpful to the enquiry t into the islanders. To refuse would damage Mairead’s career.
The journey on the MV Lord of the Isles is turbulent. Mairead’s choice of Tuireadh Iain Ruaidh by Runrig
conveys her mood better than words could describe.
Her arrival is soon common knowledge and it is obvious that her past has not been forgotten by the islanders.
Journalist Rowan Vance has arrived on the island and is soon causing problems.
As the investigation progresses, long buried secrets are revealed with potentially devastating consequences.
It would make a good option for a book club discussion.
The story is told in 2 timeframes, 21 years ago and the current time with the author using personification of the elements to great effect.
When the body of a man is found nailed to a wooden cross on the beach in South Uist, DCI Sorley Barr and his team are sent to investigate. He is identified as Father Brendan O’Brien, a moderniser who is in the process of taking over from Father Calum MacDonald.
On the same evening, an inebriated Father Calum is attacked on his way home from the pub, having declined a lift by Father Brendan.
DC Mairead Maclean, who is originally from South Uist, moved to Glasgow 20 years ago.
Detective Superintendent Helen Armstrong has decided that her local knowledge and insight would be helpful to the enquiry t into the islanders. To refuse would damage Mairead’s career.
The journey on the MV Lord of the Isles is turbulent. Mairead’s choice of Tuireadh Iain Ruaidh by Runrig
conveys her mood better than words could describe.
Her arrival is soon common knowledge and it is obvious that her past has not been forgotten by the islanders.
Journalist Rowan Vance has arrived on the island and is soon causing problems.
As the investigation progresses, long buried secrets are revealed with potentially devastating consequences.
June 11, 2026
The Long Isle by Andrew Raymond is the first book in a new and promising Hebrides series, it was well written and I really enjoyed it, especially as it was fast paced and I was hooked from the very beginning which was excellent and I ended up reading it in two sittings.
I loved reading about the new Detective Constable Mairead Maclean who was forced to returned the remote Hebridean island of South Uist, she has lived many years away from it. this was a place she once called home and to a past she would rather forget.
Mairead is there to help solve the murder of a priest, and now she has to rekindles old friendships and hostilities, and she uncovers a network of deception and scandal that could shatter the close-knit community.
Where they have been harbouring more than just long-buried secrets.
But, someone is watching Mairead’s every move. They have already killed to keep the past buried, and they’re ready to do it again.
Can Mairead stop them in time? or is she too late?
WoW. I am looking forward to the second book within this Hebrides series.
I loved reading about the new Detective Constable Mairead Maclean who was forced to returned the remote Hebridean island of South Uist, she has lived many years away from it. this was a place she once called home and to a past she would rather forget.
Mairead is there to help solve the murder of a priest, and now she has to rekindles old friendships and hostilities, and she uncovers a network of deception and scandal that could shatter the close-knit community.
Where they have been harbouring more than just long-buried secrets.
But, someone is watching Mairead’s every move. They have already killed to keep the past buried, and they’re ready to do it again.
Can Mairead stop them in time? or is she too late?
WoW. I am looking forward to the second book within this Hebrides series.
July 14, 2026
A new series from Andrew Raymond is always a highpoint in my calendar and I must admit that The Long isle being the first outing for DC Mairead MacLean does not disappoint in any way. As the series is also to be known as the Hebrides series it raised the question will Mairead not be available for every case? I hope she will be, I really liked her character, she's intelligent and not afraid of speaking her mind, but is more than capable of making her point without. hurting male pride and she also shows an endearing innocence at times. The case that she's brought in on is a harsh one involving the crucifixion of a catholic priest. How they reach a satisfactory conclusion to the case is mainly due to Mairead who has the advantage of having been born and bred on Uist which gives her insider knowledge as to how their suspects think but also makes her vulnerable because of her own history on the island. We are luckily allowed a certain,amount of her backstory as the case progresses . I will definitely be keeping
my eyes peeled for the second case in the Hebrides series, hopefully including D C Mairead MacLean.
my eyes peeled for the second case in the Hebrides series, hopefully including D C Mairead MacLean.
July 18, 2026
Andrew Raymond is stepping away from his brilliant DCI John Lomond series to introduce us to a new character that he has created, DC Mairead Maclean. So does this new character live up to DCI Lomond? Absolutely!
Raymond’s gritty mystery, witty dialogue, interesting characters, and overall enjoyment is all present in this new series. DC Maclean is a complicated character. We know there are issues with her and her past, but we just don’t know what they are. When they are finally explained, it adds depth to our understanding to who she is and how she processes justice. Just so well written by Raymond.
Andrew Raymond has been one of my favorite authors to come across. His books are always good and will also add a chuckle from time to time.
If you have never read his work, you need to check this book out and while you are at it, go back and check out the Lomond series as well. You will not be disappointed.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Raymond’s gritty mystery, witty dialogue, interesting characters, and overall enjoyment is all present in this new series. DC Maclean is a complicated character. We know there are issues with her and her past, but we just don’t know what they are. When they are finally explained, it adds depth to our understanding to who she is and how she processes justice. Just so well written by Raymond.
Andrew Raymond has been one of my favorite authors to come across. His books are always good and will also add a chuckle from time to time.
If you have never read his work, you need to check this book out and while you are at it, go back and check out the Lomond series as well. You will not be disappointed.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 5, 2026
The long isle is Uist, part of the Outer Hebrides. There has never been a murder there until two priests are assaulted. One is horrifically killed, the other attacked and left barely conscious. DC Mairead Maclean, a native of Uist and a Gaelic speaker is assigned to the investigation because of her local knowledge. However, she brings a secret with her…a secret that caused her to flee from Uist when she was eighteen. However, as Faulkner wrote "The past is never dead. It's not even past.” The townspeople of Uist have long memories…and so does the killer.
The Long Isle is the first in the Mairead Maclean series and I can’t wait to read the next. Mairead is a a complicated character, defined by her early life on an isolated island. The plot is complex and full of surprises. Remote Uist is a character itself with its wild seas and rocky coast. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Vinci Books and Andrew Raymond for this ARC.
The Long Isle is the first in the Mairead Maclean series and I can’t wait to read the next. Mairead is a a complicated character, defined by her early life on an isolated island. The plot is complex and full of surprises. Remote Uist is a character itself with its wild seas and rocky coast. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Vinci Books and Andrew Raymond for this ARC.
August 11, 2026
I am a HUGE Andrew Raymond fan and was over the moon when I received a copy of his new book, which is the start of a new series.
This was another fantastic read, and I can't wait for the next book in the series! Will it be the case of the two missing sisters who vanished on Skye?
This story takes us all the way to the island of South Uist, which is part of the Outer Hebrides.
DC Mairead Maclean is sent to the island to help with the investigation of a priest found dead on the beach because this is where she grew up, but it is the last place she ever wanted to go back to because of a traumatizing event that happened years before. It is a very close-knit community where people don't talk to outsiders, but like a lot of small communities, there are a lot of big secrets. Who would have killed the priest in such a brutal way? Was it because he wanted to modernize the island, or is it something much more sinister?
A fantastic read that I can highly recommend!
This was another fantastic read, and I can't wait for the next book in the series! Will it be the case of the two missing sisters who vanished on Skye?
This story takes us all the way to the island of South Uist, which is part of the Outer Hebrides.
DC Mairead Maclean is sent to the island to help with the investigation of a priest found dead on the beach because this is where she grew up, but it is the last place she ever wanted to go back to because of a traumatizing event that happened years before. It is a very close-knit community where people don't talk to outsiders, but like a lot of small communities, there are a lot of big secrets. Who would have killed the priest in such a brutal way? Was it because he wanted to modernize the island, or is it something much more sinister?
A fantastic read that I can highly recommend!
July 27, 2026
DC Mairead Maclean went to Glasgow to escape from the small community of South Uist where she was born and brought up. When news comes in of a body being found on a South Uist beach and it looks like foul play it rocks the island. Murder is unheard of here. The local police will need help and call on Glasgow. Her superiors decide she is the perfect person to join the team because of her connections- but will they be a help or a hindrance?
I'm always on the lookout for Scottish detective books especially featuring a place I have visited, so this was right up my street. The setting was great & so were the characters. The mystery kept me guessing & I was delighted to see the inkling that Mairead Maclean will soon be back!
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- I loved it!
I'm always on the lookout for Scottish detective books especially featuring a place I have visited, so this was right up my street. The setting was great & so were the characters. The mystery kept me guessing & I was delighted to see the inkling that Mairead Maclean will soon be back!
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- I loved it!
June 3, 2026
I have been eagerly waiting this book, the first in a new series, for such a long time and it lived up to all my expectations! My mother was a native of South Uist and it is my spiritual home which has been perfectly described by the author. The atmosphere is set right from the start and comes across from the start. I loved the characterisation, especially Mairead, and island characters were described to perfection. The plotting is full of twists, just when I thought I had it all figured it, off it went at a different tangent. An excellent crime thriller, set in a beautiful location and written by an author we will be hearing more from. I hope we don't have too long to wait for a follow up! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
June 11, 2026
A new series with great potential
As a Scot I will admit to some bias when it comes to books based in my native country. However I am a lowlander and the Gaelic I have has been learned over the years.
DC Mairead MacLean is mother to a fourteen year old girl, separated wife to a wannabe Bono (U2) in Glasgow and daughter of the highlands.
Police Scotland covers the entire country and Mairead is called on to be part of the major crimes team alongside DCI Sorley Barr to investigate the first ever murder on her home island.
This book has everything. Secrets, deceit, twists, about turns, bribery, old scores to be settled, new battles to be fought.
As things begin to settle Mairead is heading off to Skye.
I look forward to it immensely.
Well done Andrew Raymond.
As a Scot I will admit to some bias when it comes to books based in my native country. However I am a lowlander and the Gaelic I have has been learned over the years.
DC Mairead MacLean is mother to a fourteen year old girl, separated wife to a wannabe Bono (U2) in Glasgow and daughter of the highlands.
Police Scotland covers the entire country and Mairead is called on to be part of the major crimes team alongside DCI Sorley Barr to investigate the first ever murder on her home island.
This book has everything. Secrets, deceit, twists, about turns, bribery, old scores to be settled, new battles to be fought.
As things begin to settle Mairead is heading off to Skye.
I look forward to it immensely.
Well done Andrew Raymond.
June 29, 2026
Discover the locations in the novel here
What a cracking start to a new series. New author for me but there was something about this book that appealed - not just the setting of South Uist!
Characters are complex and deep, the setting is haunting and deceptive and the whole way the plot plays out is a masterclass in grabbing a readers interest and keeping it there.
Would love to see this on TV one day. If its half as good as the version playing in my head as I read it then you are in for a treat! ;)
August 6, 2026
4.5*
I really enjoyed this first book in a new series which introduces us to DC Mairead Maclean, a Hebridean who left many years ago and now returns to assist in the investigation into the savage murder of a young priest.
First of all I loved the remote, atmospheric setting of South Uist. Mairead, herself is a interesting character with a backstory which is gradually revealed throughout the book, but the author has also created a whole island full of interesting and believable characters. The writing is good with the perfect pace and the plot has plenty of twists and turns. I am definitely looking forward to the Mairead's next outing.
Cathleen McCarron was the perfect narrator for this book, which added to my enjoyment.
I really enjoyed this first book in a new series which introduces us to DC Mairead Maclean, a Hebridean who left many years ago and now returns to assist in the investigation into the savage murder of a young priest.
First of all I loved the remote, atmospheric setting of South Uist. Mairead, herself is a interesting character with a backstory which is gradually revealed throughout the book, but the author has also created a whole island full of interesting and believable characters. The writing is good with the perfect pace and the plot has plenty of twists and turns. I am definitely looking forward to the Mairead's next outing.
Cathleen McCarron was the perfect narrator for this book, which added to my enjoyment.
August 11, 2026
This another brilliant novel from the pen of Andrew Raymond. A little island communtity where everyone knows everyone, a detective returning home after many years, and secrets and lies being revealed.
DC Mairead Maclean is new to the job but she is intelligent and cares. DCI Barr is obessed with profiting and not always seeing what it takes to solve a case. I enjoyed seeing this relationship develope. I like the mention of DCI Lomond, but did make we wonder if Andrew is planning a cross over at some point. I for one would love to read that.
The reveil of the killer was surprising. No spoilers from me. At it lays a secret to rest and people realise just how wrong they were.
I am aware the second book in this series might be out next year. I cannot wait.
DC Mairead Maclean is new to the job but she is intelligent and cares. DCI Barr is obessed with profiting and not always seeing what it takes to solve a case. I enjoyed seeing this relationship develope. I like the mention of DCI Lomond, but did make we wonder if Andrew is planning a cross over at some point. I for one would love to read that.
The reveil of the killer was surprising. No spoilers from me. At it lays a secret to rest and people realise just how wrong they were.
I am aware the second book in this series might be out next year. I cannot wait.
August 12, 2026
I adore a Tartan Noire and visited Uist and Benbecula last year so I couldn't wait to read this. Detective Constable Mairead hasn't returned to her home island of Uist for 20 years but she's forced to go back after what appears to be the first ever murder. A young priest is discovered on the beach, and DCI Barr, the gruff, no nonsense SIO, discovers that religion and secrets are the lifeblood of the islanders. It missed a dramatic finish to my mind. I was also puzzled about a description of Mairead as "feisty". She didn't really stand out. The star of the show was DCI Sorley Barr. Nonetheless a well constructed thriller; just a bit light on character development.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was really good! Not only was the plot chilling and intriguing, but the geographic setting was part of it, giving it an atmospheric thrill. I liked Mairead, though I couldn't understand nor condone her reaction to an incident in the past... Barr is an interesting character whose development is not really convincing though, but it did not disturb the plot. Overall, a solid investigation I enjoyed very much!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Detective Constable Mairead Maclean Is back on Uist 21 years after she left, this time to help solve the murder of the young priest who was found by a dog walker on the beach.
The investigation is hampered by lack of forensic evidence and hostility from the islanders, especially to Mairead. As the case progresses we hear about why she had to leave the island and what really happened all those years ago, as it impacts on the current murder. The priest had been digging and got too close to the truth.
Excellent start to a series, my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc
The investigation is hampered by lack of forensic evidence and hostility from the islanders, especially to Mairead. As the case progresses we hear about why she had to leave the island and what really happened all those years ago, as it impacts on the current murder. The priest had been digging and got too close to the truth.
Excellent start to a series, my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My oh my !! What an excellent story in the first of a new series from this author. He beautifully describes the Outer Hebrides and what life is like living there. And then there is a murder which is devastating at the best of times but on an island archipelago , it is incomprehensible. To try to help, ex islander Mairead is sent to help her boss although she may be doing more harm than good with long held grievances coming to the fore. Great pace throughout and I was page turning right to the end.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.
June 4, 2026
A new Series from Andrew Raymond featuring Mairead Mclean. Due to a homicide on the Hebridean island where Mairead was born she has to return with her colleagues to investigation. As a new series I would expect to have to take time to get used to the characters but these characters leap of the page and are friends before we are more than 5 or 6 chapters in. The descriptions of the isle is haunting and evocative and you can really feel the bleakness of the isles. This is a fantastic start to a new Series. With thanks to the author and Vinci Books for the opportunity to read this book.
June 6, 2026
DC Mairead Maclean is sent back to the Hebridean island of South Uist to help solve the murder of a priest. She is unhappy at returning to the island which had been her family home until events had forced her to leave many years ago.
The story is fast paced with lots of unexpected twists and turns which kept me guessing until the end. The characters are interesting and I look forward to seeing them further developed in future books in the series.
It’s the first novel I have read by this author and I enjoyed it so much that I intend reading some of his other series.
The story is fast paced with lots of unexpected twists and turns which kept me guessing until the end. The characters are interesting and I look forward to seeing them further developed in future books in the series.
It’s the first novel I have read by this author and I enjoyed it so much that I intend reading some of his other series.
July 20, 2026
An outstanding mystery in a unique location.
Mairead left Uist, in the Hebrides, 21 years ago and it's now police in Glasgow.
A murder has occurred in her old island and she's part of the team to solve the crime.
Everyone is lying to the police.
And Mairead herself does not want to remember why she was forced to flee Uist.
There is smuggling, blackmail, and murders.
The solution involves going back to events many years ago.
It is both surprising, clever, and fulfilling.
I was greatly impressed by this book and will look for more from this author!
Mairead left Uist, in the Hebrides, 21 years ago and it's now police in Glasgow.
A murder has occurred in her old island and she's part of the team to solve the crime.
Everyone is lying to the police.
And Mairead herself does not want to remember why she was forced to flee Uist.
There is smuggling, blackmail, and murders.
The solution involves going back to events many years ago.
It is both surprising, clever, and fulfilling.
I was greatly impressed by this book and will look for more from this author!
June 5, 2026
I was looking forward to this book after reading all of the DCI Lomond series. I was not disappointed, A fast paced novel with believable characters and good interaction between the two main detectives.. Lots of twists as to who the suspect may be and a clever way as to how it finally all came together. It ends with another possible case coming to light and I look forward to reading the next instalment
June 9, 2026
The Long Isle By Andrew Raymond
The Long Isle by Andrew Raymond is the first of the Hebrides : a DC Mairead Maclean mystery.
I thought it was a really good read, the descriptions of the area, scenery, the mist were all very evocative and brought the story to life. Mairead as a policewomen, a wife, a daughter and a mother were really believable.
The storyline was also excellent and was in parts very sad. I look forward to reading more in this new series.
Highly recommended
The Long Isle by Andrew Raymond is the first of the Hebrides : a DC Mairead Maclean mystery.
I thought it was a really good read, the descriptions of the area, scenery, the mist were all very evocative and brought the story to life. Mairead as a policewomen, a wife, a daughter and a mother were really believable.
The storyline was also excellent and was in parts very sad. I look forward to reading more in this new series.
Highly recommended
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