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The Dead of Rannoch Moor
They conquered the highlands.
But on the moor, something waited… to curse and conquer them.
1746, Scotland.
The redcoat forces of King George II have defeated the Highland rebels led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. Now Government troops are free to plunder and punish the locals.
To avoid court martial, Captain Shawwood is ordered to lead a band of troops and map-makers to chart the most isolated and mysterious landscape of the Highlands – the mighty Rannoch Moor.
But the Moor is home to more than just bog and heather, it's a place of shadows and secrets. Before long, their expedition comes face to face with uncanny forces far greater than anything they have fought before. Even when Captain Shawwood accepts the shelter of Ishbel, a young Highland woman, he and his men still cannot escape the world of terror and vengeful desire into which they have strayed.
After his award-winning adaptations of Charles Dickens and Treasure Island, Marty Ross brings you a haunting tale of horror and dark romance. Narrated by Chris Reilly (Slow Horses) and Shirley Henderson (Dept. Q) The Dead of Rannoch Moor will take you to a landscape of terrifying mystery and beauty.
Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.
This production contains scenes of warfare, violence and sexual assault.
But on the moor, something waited… to curse and conquer them.
1746, Scotland.
The redcoat forces of King George II have defeated the Highland rebels led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. Now Government troops are free to plunder and punish the locals.
To avoid court martial, Captain Shawwood is ordered to lead a band of troops and map-makers to chart the most isolated and mysterious landscape of the Highlands – the mighty Rannoch Moor.
But the Moor is home to more than just bog and heather, it's a place of shadows and secrets. Before long, their expedition comes face to face with uncanny forces far greater than anything they have fought before. Even when Captain Shawwood accepts the shelter of Ishbel, a young Highland woman, he and his men still cannot escape the world of terror and vengeful desire into which they have strayed.
After his award-winning adaptations of Charles Dickens and Treasure Island, Marty Ross brings you a haunting tale of horror and dark romance. Narrated by Chris Reilly (Slow Horses) and Shirley Henderson (Dept. Q) The Dead of Rannoch Moor will take you to a landscape of terrifying mystery and beauty.
Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.
This production contains scenes of warfare, violence and sexual assault.
Audible Audio
Published October 17, 2025
6 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 30, 2025
Men really are afraid of women who know what they are doing.
Violent, gory, graphic, sexual abuse/violence/assault and regular vulgarity and crude language. A good representation of the times and enjoyed the plod on the moors, the characters and the historical element... horror aspect, lacked for anything truly compelling or edge of the seat listening.
Violent, gory, graphic, sexual abuse/violence/assault and regular vulgarity and crude language. A good representation of the times and enjoyed the plod on the moors, the characters and the historical element... horror aspect, lacked for anything truly compelling or edge of the seat listening.
October 21, 2025
Anyone familiar with the beautiful A82 route between Glasgow and Inverness might recollect the Rannoch Moor, that endless expanse of boggy moorland surrounded by Glen Coe, Glen Orchy, and countless outstanding scenic viewpoints.
Now, horror may not be my favourite genre, but a historical horror set on a patch of countryside I trudged around in my youth and written by a chap with whom I share a surname was difficult to pass up.
The story takes place in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden, following a lowland military captain traumatised by war, caught between deep discomfort with the actions of his own soldiers and lasting terror of his Jacobite enemies. I cannot claim any real expertise on the time period, but I do know that what is too often oversimplified as a Scotland vs England conflict was in reality a more complex, painful civil war with stark cultural and religious dividing lines. Both my parents, for example, are Scottish yet would very likely have found themselves on opposite sides of this conflict.
The story itself is solid if unspectacular. As our loyalist narrator embarks on an escort mission for a civilian mapmaking expedition Ross evokes all the eerie atmosphere of the cold, damp, barren landscape and how easily such a setting can expose psychological cracks to disorient and bewilder.
A chilling tale, with strong content warnings for language and sexual violence, perhaps light on plot but with a lot to say about the attitudes and politics of the time. Overall it leaves me eternally grateful that three hundred years later Scotland, while far from perfect, has become as tolerant, welcoming and united a country as it is today.
Now, horror may not be my favourite genre, but a historical horror set on a patch of countryside I trudged around in my youth and written by a chap with whom I share a surname was difficult to pass up.
The story takes place in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden, following a lowland military captain traumatised by war, caught between deep discomfort with the actions of his own soldiers and lasting terror of his Jacobite enemies. I cannot claim any real expertise on the time period, but I do know that what is too often oversimplified as a Scotland vs England conflict was in reality a more complex, painful civil war with stark cultural and religious dividing lines. Both my parents, for example, are Scottish yet would very likely have found themselves on opposite sides of this conflict.
The story itself is solid if unspectacular. As our loyalist narrator embarks on an escort mission for a civilian mapmaking expedition Ross evokes all the eerie atmosphere of the cold, damp, barren landscape and how easily such a setting can expose psychological cracks to disorient and bewilder.
A chilling tale, with strong content warnings for language and sexual violence, perhaps light on plot but with a lot to say about the attitudes and politics of the time. Overall it leaves me eternally grateful that three hundred years later Scotland, while far from perfect, has become as tolerant, welcoming and united a country as it is today.
December 4, 2025
Not quite sure what I’ve just listened to! It was graphic & gory but it would have been in the 1700s surrounding war. I just felt it was very much the same throughout & took ages for a plot to appear.
November 12, 2025
Horrific, gory, violent, misogynistic, gruelling - and that's even before the supernatural stuff starts happening.
Hard to listen to, not because of the accents because the performances by both narrators is amazing, but because of the subject matter. But worth it!!
I honestly wanted to discontinue listening about a third of the way in, but soon after I couldn't stop listening and had to know what happened.
Sometimes the horror isn't only in the supernatural, sometimes the present is more horrific than anything that can be imagined.
Hard to listen to, not because of the accents because the performances by both narrators is amazing, but because of the subject matter. But worth it!!
I honestly wanted to discontinue listening about a third of the way in, but soon after I couldn't stop listening and had to know what happened.
Sometimes the horror isn't only in the supernatural, sometimes the present is more horrific than anything that can be imagined.
January 6, 2026
*audible review*
This one was very nearly a DNF for me. There was a lot of background building that didn’t immediately make sense to me. But nearing the half way point minute details started to click and this ended up being a great listen.
The narrators did fantastically on the accents and the writer definitely did a great deal of research for the time period of the piece.
A trippy ending and the “relations” of characters was well written and completely believable for the events/time.
I recommend.
This one was very nearly a DNF for me. There was a lot of background building that didn’t immediately make sense to me. But nearing the half way point minute details started to click and this ended up being a great listen.
The narrators did fantastically on the accents and the writer definitely did a great deal of research for the time period of the piece.
A trippy ending and the “relations” of characters was well written and completely believable for the events/time.
I recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 17, 2025DNF at 51%
Why did I continue all the way to 51%? I suppose I thought I was learning something about an historical time/place I know little about; however, I couldn't handle the nonstop brutality. The trigger warnings for this book do not do it justice. I can only recommend it to those who enjoy reading about rape, castration, and other acts I'm trying to forget.
Why did I continue all the way to 51%? I suppose I thought I was learning something about an historical time/place I know little about; however, I couldn't handle the nonstop brutality. The trigger warnings for this book do not do it justice. I can only recommend it to those who enjoy reading about rape, castration, and other acts I'm trying to forget.
December 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this right from the start, good twists and turns and definitely spooky! Could almost imagine being stuck out lost on a moor.
But why only 3 stars? Overly graphic sex scenes, I’m by no means a prude, but it went too far
But why only 3 stars? Overly graphic sex scenes, I’m by no means a prude, but it went too far
January 10, 2026
Got about 20% through this one on audible. Hard to understand the thick accent. Boring. Feel like my ears are going to bleed if I listen to any more..
January 12, 2026
Strangely the 2nd book I've read recently centred around the 1692 Glencoe Massacre. Really gripping and interesting. A little graphic in places, but thoroughly enjoyable.
February 7, 2026
I absolutely love this book and don't know why it would ever get less than 5 stars! The ending was heartbreaking and totally unexpected
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews