The High Island

by Lin Anderson

'Lin Anderson is one of Scotland’s national treasures' – Stuart MacBride, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Logan McRae series

'The start of a very special new series' – Deon Meyer, international bestselling author of the Benny Griessel series

When everyone knows your name, every case is personal . . .

Meet DI Erling Flett in The High Island, the heart-racing crime thriller that you won't be able to put down. From Lin Anderson, author of the acclaimed Rhona MacLeod series.

On the rugged Isle of Hoy, a wealthy couple’s dream of building a stunning eco-home becomes a waking nightmare when the peat yields a grisly the remains of a young mother and her baby.

For DI Erling Flett, the discovery is a personal haunting. He spent years running from Orkney, only to be pulled back to the islands he once fled. As he fights to identify the nameless dead, the community pushes back – and his own troubled history begins to surface.

At the heart of the mystery lies a lethal family feud over blood-soaked soil. Can Flett finally face the ghosts of his past? Or will the island claim its next victim before the truth is told?

Introducing the Orcadia Mysteries series, a gripping Tartan-Noir offshoot of Lin Anderson’s acclaimed Rhona MacLeod series. Perfect for fans of Val McDermid and Elly Griffiths.

Praise for The High Island

'Lin Anderson has worked her particular magic once more' – Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series

'Atmospheric, compulsive and utterly gripping. Anderson is on fire' – Helen Fields, bestselling author of the DCI Callanach series

‘A thriller as smooth and distinct as a fine single malt’ – Simon Toyne, bestselling author of Dark Objects

'I was gripped from the very first page, and can't wait for the next instalment' – Alison Belsham, bestselling author of the Detective Lexi Bennett series

'The story is wonderful, and the characters have so much about them. Thoroughly recommend! – G.D. Wright, author of After the Storm

' For everyone missing Dr Rhona MacLeod, enter DI Erling Flett. A stunning start to what will undoubtedly be a superb series' – Frances Crawford, author of A Bad, Bad Place

'An atmospheric and gripping read . . . I’m already looking forward to what comes next in the new series' – My Weekly

'An exciting and multi-layered thriller' – Reader Review

'Just when you think Lin Anderson can't get any better, she writes something like this' – Reader Review

Genres: Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published July 30, 2026

About the author

Lin Anderson was born in Greenock of Scottish and Irish parents. A graduate of both Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities, she has lived in many different parts of Scotland and also spent five years working in the African bush. A teacher of Mathematics and Computing, she began her writing career four years ago. Her first film, Small Love, which was broadcast on STV, was nominated for TAPS writer of the year award 2001. Her African short stories have been published in the 10th Anniversary Macallan collection and broadcast on BBC Radio Four.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Massive thanks to @emelieslibrary @bookbreakuk @panmacmillan and the wonderful @linandersonwriter for my place on the tour for The High Island.

My thoughts 📚
The High Island is the first in a new "Orcadia Mysteries" series featuring DI Erling Flett and his team as they police the rugged Orkney Islands. I was overjoyed to learn of this spin off as I have met Erling before in the Rhona McLeod series.

As always Lin has a word perfect way of creating a sense of place in her stories and immersing the reader into the world her characters inhabit. We join the team as they investigate the discovery of human remains on the "high" island of Hoy but its not just bones that have been unearthed, its the secrets that were buried with them.

I loved diving into Erling more and his team, DS Jo Green is a great counter balance to Erling and a strong female he can rely on through the investigation and I liked the way the dynamic between the two of them deepened over the course of the story.

For the story itself I don't want to give away too much for fear of spoilers but the topics featured are contemporary and included feuding families, abuse and grief.

As always I suspected everyone of something... local ferryman just doing his job? Send him down. Local old gossip? Send her down. I had no limits on who I accused and I love Lin's character driven plots where you meet a wide range of potentially suspicious people.

The ruggedness of the landscape and its isolation lend a very credible underlying threat that if the "baddies" don't get you then just maybe the weather will.

There's so much more I want to say but I'd love you to discover it for yourself. Highly recommend The High Island and if you haven't read them yet Lin's Rhona McLeod series.

I can't wait for book 2!

[Tim Rideout · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE HIGH ISLAND exemplifies the best of contemporary crime fiction. The juxtaposition of long-buried family secrets, issues of unexpected lineage, and modern preoccupations (county lines and drug feuds), support a taut narrative that grips the reader from the outset.

The Isle of Hoy (the novel’s titular island) is both remote and vulnerable, with a community ill at ease, as the past threatens to shatter a brittle equilibrium. DI Erling Flett, now the lead in his own series of novels, is accompanied by DS Jo Green, a complicated and compelling young woman. As much as I enjoyed Flett as a lead character, I suspect as the series proceeds my interest will be held by Green. There is clearly more to learn!

Lin Anderson is a consummate writer, with THE HIGH ISLAND an assured start to what I hope will become an established series.

[Mary Picken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lin Anderson’s novels have always been characterised by two things: an understanding of character and a very strong sense of place. In The High Island, the first in a new police procedural series, you can feel the love that Lin Anderson has for the Orkney Islands, where she once lived and worked.

Set in mainland Orkney and the second largest of the Orkney Islands, Hoy, The High Island is an exploration of belonging, memory, and the long shadows cast by the past.

Ivor Mowat, a former resident of Hoy, moved to a care home in Kirkwall when he turned 90. Now his family are to attend his funeral. Ivor wasn’t always the most popular of men, even amongst his own family, and it seems that he has left a few surprises for them.

Before he died, Ivor changed his will and, unknown to his elder son, sold the old family croft to an architect with family ties to the island, who is intent on building an Eco house. As the groundworks begin the mummified bodies of a woman and infant child are revealed, preserved in peat. What initially appears to be historically curious soon develops into something far darker, drawing DI Erling Flett into an investigation that exposes generations of secrets, resentments, and violence.

Erling Flett is a terrific character. He’s come back to Orkney after years away, and now occupies an uneasy position within the island community. He is both an insider and an outsider; a native son who knows the rhythms, customs, and unspoken rules of island life, yet he’s been away long enough long enough to have all but forgotten them.
Anderson uses this status well. Flett’s investigation isn’t just about identifying victims or finding a killer, it is also about confronting the personal history he has spent years trying to escape. With him is Sergeant Jo Green, herself a complete outsider, and together they have to solve the mystery of identifying these bodies. But it isn’t long before a much more contemporary tragedy occurs.

DI Flett, whom readers of Lin Anderson’s excellent Rhona McLeod series may recall, has cause to consult another McLeod favourite character, Magnus Pirie, as well as a new and rather fabulous character, Auld Mackie. Mackie is in his nineties and has known Erling Flett since Flett was a teenager. Though Erling didn’t appreciate Mackie back then, now he has cause to call on his extensive knowledge of Orkney folk and their history.


The Old Man of Hoy

Hoy is rendered vividly. The windswept cliffs, peat bogs,and isolated crofts create an atmosphere that speaks of beauty and isolation. In this novel, the geography, history, and culture of the islands shape every aspect of this compelling mystery.
Anderson balances police work with moments of genuine suspense, allowing tension to build through character interactions, buried grudges, and the growing realisation that someone is willing to kill to keep old secrets hidden.

The discovery of the bodies acts as a gateway into decades of family conflict and community history. The transitions between historical events and contemporary investigation flow effortlessly. I really enjoyed the way in which Anderson demonstrates that even in the far reaches of the Orkney Isles, organised crime has tentacles that reach out to ruin lives. She demonstrates that the past is never truly buried, no matter how deep the peat or how determined people are to forget.

Verdict: This is a great start to a cracking new series. In The High Island, the mystery is intricate, the setting unforgettable, and DI Erling Flett is a great protagonist. Anderson has created a detective whose connection to place is fundamental to his identity, while the island setting will undoubtedly have many more stories to divulge.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

To my eternal shame, it's been a while since I read a Lin Anderson book, so what better place to start afresh than at the beginning of a new series. I've really enjoyed the Rhona MacLeod books I've read, so starting on this spin off series featuring DI Erling Flett, set on Orkney, which has to be a fascinating prospect for a police thriller series based on topography and geography alone, seemed a no brainer really. What a truly wise person I am, as this was a story steeped in mystery, underpinned by tension and a plethora of family secrets, jealousies and past misdemeanours that inform a number of worrying cases for Flett and his DS, Jo Green.

If you are at all concerned that a small island setting such as Orkney might limit the amount of danger that can the characters can be placed in, don't be. Never underestimate the amount of grudges held, or the amount of intrigue maintained by a determined set of locals. Lin Anderson does a brilliant job of drawing out that close knit community feel, with all the essence of secrets being kept from outsiders, whilst still finding news spreading faster than the fire that at one stage threatens part of the island. It has a very authentic feel to it all, that sense that people will protect each other without hesitation, but will also turn out to help others in that way that only a remote community can.

This is a tale of murder, misdirection, family feuds and historic wrongs, fed by local history and a very real, very modern, threat. And whilst it is very busy - uncovered remains, a missing beneficiary, and a potential case of wrongful death being just the tip of a rather large iceberg - it never once felt too large for its setting. And, remarkably, Lin Anderson could still work part time for the Orkney tourist board as her depiction of the island setting made me even more determined to visit one day. The Landscape becomes every bit as much of a character as the people who inform the story, and both helps and hinders as it creates a very different kind of conflict to the everyday issues that mainland based cases encounter.

I liked Flett and Green as characters. Both have complex backstories, Green's in particular coming to the fore as a face from her past appears on the Island to assist the investigation. They are both very well observed, believable and likeable characters, and it was a pleasure spending time with them. Both are withdrawn to a certain degree, cautious of sharing more of themselves than is necessary, but this partnership evolves over the course of the book and I am really looking forward to spending more time with them in future books.

This is a tough story to read at times for various reasons, but there is no violence on the page, just the aftermath that Flett and the locals are forced to confront and deal with. It is a well paced mystery that perhaps reflects its island location more than the underlying urgency of the situation, and given that part of the mystery is, without question, a very cold case, it is a pace that suits the narrative too. Don't come here looking for high action, intense tension. That's not what this is about. This is a brilliant observed, beautifully written island set police investigation that had my attention from the start and introduced me to brilliant characters and a fascinating community that I am very happy to learn more about. Definitely recommended.

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The High Island = Hoy, Orkney.
On the island of Hoy, the remains of a young mother and her child are discovered when construction begins on an eco-house. This is just the start of issues for DI Erling Flett as a dangerous family feud erupt at the funeral of Ivor Mowat. Can Flett and his partner DS Jo Green maintain the peace and keep those vulnerable to their long reach safe?

I love books set in the more remote parts of our kingdom, especially places like Orkney and Shetland. Lin Anderson has produced a richly atmospheric novel and done absolute justice to the surroundings of Orkney. The feud adds to the stormy atmosphere alongside the islands past, clearly matched by the unpredictable weather. There are several suspenseful scenes where the weather plays a key role.

I like to how the author connects characters from the Rhona MacLeod series especially from ‘The Killing Tide’ which is set in Orkney and which also includes Flett, Magnus Pirie and MacNab. Flett is an intriguing central character. He’s complex, steady and quiet, he has issues he needs to resolve but he’s very likeable and empathetic and is well balanced by the equally likeable Jo Green.

There’s plenty going on in this story, not just the complicated Mowat family situation, there are issues from World War II in which, of course, Orkney and Scapa Flow play a pivotal role, there’s a drugs turf war as well as personal issues for both the officers. It all melds together well and makes for compelling reading. There’s plenty of tension, especially within the Mowat family and between certain officers. There are grudges, secrets, lies and coverups. It’s a suspenseful and atmospheric read which I thoroughly enjoy and look forward to Number two in this new series.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
Publication date is 30/7 in the UK

On a personal note my father was briefly based in Scapa Flow during World War II for sea trials of his new ship, which was later torpedoed in the Mediterranean and destroyed. Someone was looking out for my dad that day. He often talked about his time in Orkney.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this procedural mystery set on the Orkney Islands. I only learned it was a spin off series right at the end although I suspected as much as a lot of the characters seemed to have been previously acquainted.
DI Erling Flett and his Sergeant Jo Green are the main protagonists and in this first book they are investigating a mother and child skeleton found in the excavation for a new build house and also the disappearance of Kris Mowat who arrived on the islands to find his great grandfather dead and a funeral instead of the first meeting he was hoping for.
It took a while to get to know all the characters but that is to be expected in a new series.
DS Green’s private life also becomes central to the plot when another sergeant is seconded to the islands to help with the investigation.
In effect there were two strands to the plot which came together perfectly in the denouement of the novel- the skeleton’s identification and the missing person issue.
It soon became clear that the Mowat family were running the island with an iron fist controlling many businesses although not all of them legal and that the death of Ivor had set in motion a chain of events which might have dire consequences.
There are several well known authors who write crime novels set on small British islands, Peter May springs to mind.and “The High Island” fits well into this category. The small close community is emphasised as well as the distrust of outsiders and the mystery inevitably pointing to a known person due to the smallness of the closed community which is being investigated.
As an introduction to a new series this was an enjoyable and compelling read. I will defy be interested to read book 2 when it is published and recommend it as a good procedural mystery with characters that are worth investing in.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

[Daphne Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of a new series set in Orkney, and we are reintroduced to DI Erling Flett, who appeared in the Dr Rhona Macleod series, and he has a new Sgt, Jo Green- she has recently transferred from Caithness to Orkney.
Kris Mowat and his girlfriend, Rachel Everett have arrived on Orkney for the funeral of Ivor, his grandfather. The two men had only recently been reacquainted via telephone calls, they have never met in person. Despite all this, Kris was rumoured to be the favourite and most likely to inherit when the Will is read.
Before his death, Ivor sold a parcel of land for the construction of a Eco- house, but this plan is scuppered when excavations reveal human remains, they appear to be those of a woman and young baby.
Erling and Jo are called in to start an investigation into the deaths, but find themselves surrounded by a hostile family feud, a land dispute, plural deaths, drug smuggling, persons disappearing, a mysterious metal box, sexual abuse and hidden sexuality.
So many red herrings! So many cruel acts of revenge, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Orkney and its associated islands.
This novel may not be not be endorsed by the relevant Tourist Board, but it is a stunning, highly creative and explosive start to a new police procedural series. The shocks and surprises come thick and fast, who to believe or trust?
There is one particularly nasty piece of work, who will hopefully get their comeuppance if they appear in future books.
The central characters of Erling and Jo suit each other perfectly, there are others who will grow in depth and interest going forward.
This book has utterly charmed and perplexed in equal amounts, perfect for all the armchair detectives out there. A real treat of reading.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping crime thriller about a family at war amidst unexplained deaths and drug dealing on Orkney. The "high island" of the title is the Viking name for the second largest island in the archipelago, Hoy.

DI Erling Flett, who has returned to his homeland to work must solve the mystery behind the body of a woman and her baby, found during an excavation. He's suspicious about the death of the Mowat family patriarch in a nursing home. He is also puzzling over the appearance of a young long lost Mowat relative, who stands to inherit their businesses and is resented by the family at large.

Flett is also worried that his partner, professional diver Rory, will get fed up with him working all hours and leave. He also discovers that his dependable and straight talking detective sergeant, Jo, has lied when she said she didn't know the colleague who's joined the team temporarily. There seems to be bad blood between them, but why?

Flett seems a sober and cerebral character. He quite often refers to his team by their rank: it will take time before there's a lot of bonhomie. But he's a decent man who does the right thing.

The story stretches over several generations of Mowats, and news travels at lightning speed on Orkney where everyone seems to know each other.

It was an exciting and multi layered thriller. My first Lin Anderson. I can't wait to read her other "tartan noir" novels.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Lin and NetGalley for allowing me to read The High Island before the publication date.
As a fan of Tartan Noir I have enjoyed Lin’s previous books.
This is a fantastic start to the Orcadian series with many interesting characters and hints of what might be in the future. The story stretches over almost a century allowing the older generation of the residents to share their recollections.
In Kirkwall, a war is brewing between the local drug dealers and the Scouse County Lines dealers who are introducing stronger drugs to the islands.
When nonagenarian Ivor Mowat decided to move from his home on Hoy to a care home on the mainland, it was just the first step in the wily old man’s plans which would involve 4 generations of the Mowat family.
Much to the annoyance of his sons, Ivor sold his croft to an architect who had written about his family ties to the Orkneys and his desire to build an eco house there.
As the digger starts work, it reveals a wooden box with the mummified bodies of a woman and a child.
Flett and his small team set out to identify the bodies, although the locals seem reluctant to co-operate.
When he asks for support from the Highlands and Islands Division, DS Gus Gowan is assigned to assist.
Flett notices an atmosphere with DS Jo Green when Gowan arrives and quietly assigns them to separate work.
This is a slow burning read which kept my attention throughout. Each chapter reveals a bit more yet raising even more questions.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Isle of Hoy the Mowat family have been part of the place for a long times. The patriarch, Ivor Mowat left the island to go into a care home. He sold the ruins of the old family croft to a man with lots of money who wanted to build an eco-house there. The family are outraged but the preparing the site does not go smoothly. The bodies of a mother and child are unearthed by a digger. DI Erling Flett once knew Hoy well but has avoided it for years. Now he has to return.

Orkney may seem a long way from the big cities, but unfortunately drugs and county lines are part of the place.This is becoming a big issue at the moment and resources are needed to try and keep an eye on this. The death of Ivor Mowat and the arrival of a previously unknown relative puts the cat among the pigeons, especially when he, and a bit later, his pregnant girlfriend go missing Erling has a lot to manage!

Some of the characters here have appeared in Lin Anderson Rhona MacLeod series, which is worth reading. This is a new start and I loved it! I read a lot of police procedurals and enjoy many of them a great deal. However, it's a while since a story kept me so engaged. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- I can't wait for the next one.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild, windswept Hoy (High) Island, one of the Orkney Islands, is beautiful and remote. It is also the home of the Mowats, a family torn apart by greed, suspicion and criminal enterprise. Before family patriarch Ivor Mowat died, he sold a large parcel of desirable land to an outsider who wants to build a home on the island. This did not please his descendants. Nor were they pleased when they learned he also left his entire estate to Kris, his newly found great-grandson, son of his beloved granddaughter Betty. Then, as construction begins on the new house, the bodies of a young woman and baby are discovered in an unmarked grave. And Kris, after attending Ivor’s funeral, has disappeared. Trying to untangle all this is DI Erling Flett, an Orkney native, and his partner DS Jo Green.

The High Island is a captivating Scottish police procedural. Hoy Island, an atmospheric location is a character itself. You can feel the strong winds, the rain, the wild ocean and the almost total isolation. The plot is complex, the characters are well described, especially Erling and Jo. I can’t wait to read the next in this excellent series!. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Lin Anderson for this ARC.

[Ridgerunner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in a series featuring DI Erling Flett returning to Orkney where in the aftermath of the death of the head of a powerful family , he has to deal with the discovery of an unknown grave, missing persons and more than one death. Erling is a reserved character , very thorough and conscientious but slightly lacking in confidence regarding his sexuality and the security of his relationship with his husband.
At work the next most senior is DS Jo Green and she also does not have a straightforward past and moved to Orkney to make a clean break. I liked seeing their relationship develop as the novel progresses and trust builds up. The small force all seem very human and the reader feels totally immersed in small island life with the beautiful descriptions of the geography bringing everything to life.
All the elements of the story are nicely entwined and the thriller gradually builds up the tension before some thrilling episodes at the finish.
Erling Flett is the type of poicemann I look forward to learning more about in future books in this series.

[Alison Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

The High Island by Lin Anderson is a departure from the Dr Rhona MacLeod series but with overlap. We join DI Erling Flett, who we’ve met before, on Orkney. The book starts at the funeral of a local 96 year old character, head of a large, powerful Orcadian family. All is not well within the family and following the burial, Erling is called to the smaller island of Hoy as a digger at the old family home has discovered a grave. There are several investigations going on as events unfold. Who is the young woman buried with her baby on Hoy? The body they find burned on the beach? Where has newly discovered great grandson Kris Mowat disappeared to- and are he and his girlfriend safe? Sidekick DS Jo Green is a great addition to Flett’s team, but her reaction to the additional staffing he’s requested concerns him- another story to unfold. Great characters, great story and I can’t wait for more. I’m also invested in Rory’s story, what does Erling not know? #thehighisland #netgalley #arc #bookreview @linandersonwriter

[Danny Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put together the beautiful Islands of Orkney as a location and the very adept writing of Lin Anderson and you have the makings of an excellent book. This one was just that! The patriarch of a notorious family passes away which starts a chain of events in the archipelago that is Orkney. DI Erling Flett and his team are called upon when the bodies of a woman and child are dug up on the island of Hoy. Although the bodies have been buried for many years they become very much part of current enquiries when a young man, who is set to inherit his grandfathers fortunes over immediate family members, disappears without trace. Both the detective inspector and his sergeant have hidden secrets which are in danger of being revealed in the close knit community.
With all the above in the mix and wonderfully crafted by the author you have an unputdownable and thrilling read which is well paced, has many twists and turns and a dramatic climax.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

To my eternal shame, it’s been a while since I read a Lin Anderson book, so what better place to start afresh than at the beginning of a new series. I’ve really enjoyed the Rhona MacLeod books I’ve read, so starting on this spin off series featuring DI Erling Flett, set on Orkney, which has to be a fascinating prospect for a police thriller series based on topography and geography alone, seemed a no brainer really. What a truly wise person I am, as this was a story steeped in mystery, underpinned by tension and a plethora of family secrets, jealousies and past misdemeanours that inform a number of worrying cases for Flett and his DS, Jo Green.

If you are at all concerned that a small island setting such as Orkney might limit the amount of danger that can the characters can be placed in, don’t be. Never underestimate the amount of grudges held, or the amount of intrigue maintained by a determined set of locals. Lin Anderson does a brilliant job of drawing out that close knit community feel, with all the essence of secrets being kept from outsiders, whilst still finding news spreading faster than the fire that at one stage threatens part of the island. It has a very authentic feel to it all, that sense that people will protect each other without hesitation, but will also turn out to help others in that way that only a remote community can.

This is a tale of murder, misdirection, family feuds and historic wrongs, fed by local history and a very real, very modern, threat. And whilst it is very busy – uncovered remains, a missing beneficiary, and a potential case of wrongful death being just the tip of a rather large iceberg – it never once felt too large for its setting. And, remarkably, Lin Anderson could still work part time for the Orkney tourist board as her depiction of the island setting made me even more determined to visit one day. The Landscape becomes every bit as much of a character as the people who inform the story, and both helps and hinders as it creates a very different kind of conflict to the everyday issues that mainland based cases encounter.

I liked Flett and Green as characters. Both have complex backstories, Green’s in particular coming to the fore as a face from her past appears on the Island to assist the investigation. They are both very well observed, believable and likeable characters, and it was a pleasure spending time with them. Both are withdrawn to a certain degree, cautious of sharing more of themselves than is necessary, but this partnership evolves over the course of the book and I am really looking forward to spending more time with them in future books.

This is a tough story to read at times for various reasons, but there is no violence on the page, just the aftermath that Flett and the locals are forced to confront and deal with. It is a well paced mystery that perhaps reflects its island location more than the underlying urgency of the situation, and given that part of the mystery is, without question, a very cold case, it is a pace that suits the narrative too. Don’t come here looking for high action, intense tension. That’s not what this is about. This is a brilliant observed, beautifully written island set police investigation that had my attention from the start and introduced me to brilliant characters and a fascinating community that I am very happy to learn more about. Definitely recommended.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this gripping novel! If you think the High Island is only about the beauty of the landscape, the sea, the wind, well you are wrong: murders, old secrets and drugs colour the countryside.... I loved the vivid description of the islands and I enjoyed the way communication between the (rather scarce inhabitants) functions so fast... I really liked all the people involved in the investigation (apart from one, I am not telling whom!). Their positive relationship with each other is a breath of fresh air (when compared to other police procedurals novels). I could relate to them and would love to meet them! A great plot, some surprises, suspense make this novel a gripping read!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book set in the Orkney and surrounding islands from Lin Anderson. The High Island concentrates on Detective Erling Flett as opposed to the author's other series about Dr Rhona MacLeod although many characters crossover into both series. This makes for easy reading. Unfortunately despite the idyllic setting Erling and the team are dealing with county lines drug wars resulting in the accompanying death and destruction. Erling and his sergeant Jo's personal lives also suffer as work always comes first for them. I love Lin Anderson's books and it is an absolute treat when a new one is published. I would recommend any of her books without exception.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Liz Mistry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to a new series by Lin Anderson. Set in Orkney with Detective Erling Flett who has his own troubled history with the area this is a thoughtful multi faceted read with secrets, family feuds, unidentified bodies and a community that's beginning to look in on itself and police who need to unravel the communities secrets whilst navigating interventions from further afield.
What I liked most about this book was the resonating sense of place that Anderson so skillfully evokes. I could almost feel the salt air and the turbulent winds. Her characterization is second to none as she presents a cast of characters that are both intriguing and very different.

A very enjoyable read!

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set on Orkney, a family feud erupts following the death of Ivor Mowat and the appearance at the funeral of his great grandson Kris, son of Betty who left the island when she was just 17 and pregnant.
The old Mowat Croft has been sold and the excavation has unearthed a coffin containing two bodies, but how old are they. The police have not only to discover this, but also the whereabouts of Kris, who has disappeared.
I found this a riveting read, well paced with lots of twists and all the characters so well rounded, I look forward to the next book in this series.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc

[Karen McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Orcadia Mysteries Series. Two bodies are found buried in a single grave on Hoy and DI Erling Flett and his team begin an investigation to find out the identities of the bodies which have been buried for many years. This leads to events occurring which are linked to a complex family feud. It’s an interesting book with lots of twists and turns and kept me gripped to the end. The characters are well developed and enough loose ends are left to further develop in later novels. It’s the first book I’ve read by this author and I intend to read more in the future.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, promising start to a new series by the author. Meet DI Erling Flett, from the Orkney Islands, a complex and intriguing character who is likeable and relatable. The pace is steady, with a slow build up of tension and scene setting but with plenty of intrigue. Although it is a spin off from a previous series by the author it can totally stand alone and it held my interest until the end. There are a few surprises along the way and I highly recommend investing in this new series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great solid start to this new series from Lin as a spin off from the Rhona McLeod books. Set in Orkney it has familiar characters - if you have read the other series - in Erling and Magnus however it also reads well as a stand alone too. There is plenty happening on the Orkney Isles with a plethora of varying characters, family feuds and unresolved issues. The book is a great page turner also giving great insight to living there and the issues that some islands have. Looking forward to the next one now. Overall 4.5*

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a very enjoyable book this was to read. I have never read anything by this author before but was immediately taken in by the characters and the writing. I am unsure if this was a follow up book or a break off from another series as there seemed to be references to previous cases but it did not distract me from enjoying this book. Great characters you easily got into and a great storyline that kept me hooked and not wanting to put the book down until I had finished - my indicator of an excellent book! Highly recommended!

[Emy · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Erling Flett has returned to Orkney and along with Sgt. Jo Green are called upon to identify the remains uncovered on a piece of land scheduled for an Eco development.
This is the first in a new series of mysteries featuring a character introduced in the Dr Macleod series. Combined with a strong police procedural plot and a beautiful backdrop, this was an engaging read. Looking forward to more from this duo.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the start of a new series which is a spin off from the author's Rhona MacLeod series, of which I have only read the first. It features DI Erling Flett as the main character and is set in Orkney, both of which have feathered in Rhona's series but, I understand that the author wants to separate the two. Readers of Rhona's series will also no doubt recognise other characters and settings in this book but, as I already mentioned, I have only read book one so I am not in that camp. I don't think it mattered any though...
So, we start with the funeral of patriarch Ivor Mowat. It is well attended by family and friends, and other islanders although he wasn't the most popular... Also in attendance is his estranged great grandson Kris who, as we find out was unaware of his demise and thought he was visiting to meet him.
Before he died, Ivor was living in a care home and was also in the process of putting his affairs in order - rewriting his will, and selling off his croft to a man who wants to build an ecohouse. It is whilst digging the foundations for the house when the bodies of a woman and her child are discovered...
And that's all I am saying as the rest of the book is convoluted and interconnected and if I do try and expand it might spoil things. Suffice to say that it is intricately plotted and that plot so well executed that I was on the edge of my seat all the way through. As well as Ivor's will reading, the bodies that were found, we also have missing persons and the drug scene rearing its ugly head. So much going on but nothing ever got messy. The author kept all the plates spinning perfectly and it never got confusing.
I took to Erling, and his DS, Jo Green right from the off. They are both excellent, well rounded characters with enough personal life to make them human without it overshadowing the case being investigated, which for me is perfect. Other characters were just as well drawn, no matter how big or small the part they play and all played said parts well and credibly.
The story was fascinating and held my attention well throughout my time with the book. And the setting, so integral to the story being told could almost be a character in its own right. I've always had a hankering to visit the Highlands and Islands but to date haven't even ventured north of the border! And the ending when it came was absolutely perfect and left me thoroughly satisfied.
All in all, a cracking series opener which I thoroughly recommend to fans of the genre. Me, I'm going to try and sneak in a few Rhona books whilst avidly awaiting the next in this series. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Susan Milne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was concerned initially that this was not a Rhona McLeod novel but I must say I really enjoyed Lin Anderson’s latest novel centring around DI Erling Flett. Set in Orkney with several references to Rhona McLeod’s previous escapades. Well written with lots of interesting characters. Look forward to a sequel hopefully…?

[Willie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling start to a new series. I enjoyed reading about Dr Rhona Mac:Leod and I am sure DI Erling Flett will also be a great success. An enthralling story to keep you gripped and I really enjoyed the various twists to the plot and look forward to more adventures from Orkney.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley, author and publisher for an early read of this excellent book. Lin Anderson writes great books and this one is definitely no exception. I raced through it. It's a fantastic start to what will hopefully be a new and long series. Set in Orkney and introducing DI Erling Flett and his team, it's a well written, thrilling mystery with family feuds, grisly remains and atmospheric settings at its heart. Scottish island life has been captured brilliantly and I look forward to reading many more. Highly recommend.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bookstagram - @comewalkinmybooks

📖ARC review📖

The High Island by Lin Anderson

Goodreads review - 4.53/5 ⭐️

My personal rating - 4/5 ⭐️

First of all I would like to thank Lin Anderson and Panmacmillan for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book of Lin Anderson I have ever read.

In this book we follow the story of what happens when a crime is committed on a small Scottish Isles

Our main characters are Detective Inspector Erling Flett and Detective Sergeant Jo Green. We are also introduced to other characters along the way who bring their own stories but I’ll let you meet them as you go !

Our main story in this book revolves around a will that was made my the matriarch of the biggest and most well known family on the island, Ivor Mowat. After his very sudden death there are questions around this will and it’s contents that sets a family into a downward spiral and reveals family secrets hidden for decades.
After a disappearance and a body discovery on the beach of a nearby island it is up to our detectives to find out what happened, why and if and who could be next ! Everyone on the island has their own part to play !

This review is vague but I have added my mood board I made while reading as I really don’t want to spoil anything but what I can say is that I hope you pick this book up and let me know all your thoughts 🙏🏼

Would I recommend this book - yes
It kept me engaged and wanting to find out what was going to happen. It had me wanting to read instead of picking up my phone every 10 minutes and really kept my interest throughout !

My only downfalls for the book would be the pacing which I found quite slow maybe just because I’m used to fast paced thrillers. The other being that the end was rushed. I also found some of what was happening with the characters and the investigation a little unrealistic at times.
The ending made me want to keep reading more of what was to come for the characters and so I hope this will be explored more in the next book 🤞🏻

Would I read this author again - yes
I would read Lin Anderson again for sure and I will be reading her past work !

This book releases July 30th !

This is my personal opinion.

[Ms Isobel Morrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read.

Brilliant, gripping, and highly skilled depiction of wonderful, magical Orkney. Looking forward to many more adventures of compassionate but conflicted Detective Erling Flett.