The Scattering Murders: Death stalks the remote Scottish island...

Inspector Torquil McKinnon #8

by Keith Moray

Follow Detective Inspector McKinnon in another thrilling case! Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride, L J Ross and Faith Martin.

When missing turns to murder…

West Uist, Scotland

Local farmer Hector MacFarlane has been found dead, trampled by his own cattle.

A well-liked man in the community, at first there is no suspicion surrounding his death.

But when an urn containing some of his ashes is found broken and defiled, doubt starts to creep in.

And when a man arrives on the island looking for a missing woman, Detective Inspector Torquil McKinnon soon finds himself with more than one mystery to solve.

With thick mist shrouding the remote island in gloom and rumours circulating about the death of the farmer, Torquil finds it increasingly difficult to get answers.

Is there a connection between the dead man and the missing woman? Could anyone else be in danger?

And is the local community once more under threat…?

THE SCATTERING MURDERS is the eighth crime thriller in the detective series featuring Inspector Torquil an action-packed police procedural full of suspense.

INSPECTOR TORQUIL MCKINNON MYSTERY SERIES
BOOK The Gathering Murders
BOOK Deathly Wind
BOOK Murder Solstice
BOOK Flotsam & Jetsam
BOOK Death In Transit
BOOK Deadly Still
BOOK Deep and Deadly
BOOK The Scattering Murders

235 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2026

About the author

Pen name of Keith Moray Souter, also writes as Keith Souter and Clay More.

Reviews

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed the last two in this series and was pleased to pick up again.The team is still working, sharing the load and sorting their lives. The Islands are still finding their isolation attracting various parties with plenty to hide. It emerges, however, that evil is not restricted to incomers. Slowly the strands link up revealing a web of secrets and corruption on the Island. Can we tell victim from perpetrator?
I enjoyed being back in a page-turner with this community. There were times when it looked as if there were too many to keep track of but the author just managed to keep me well enough informed to hold the plot. I was a bit sad when it ended. Maybe I’ll go back and fill in those missing two.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

I was so glad to read a new Inspector Torquil McKinnon book! They are great books. They’re set on a remote Scottish island. The team is a wonderful, tight knit group. I always enjoy reading a new book by Keith Moray.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow not quite as good as the previous books in the series. Rather a lot going on and that maybe stretched the plot a little thin. Still enjoyed it though. Looking forward to the next instalment

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was the accidental death of a honest farmer, really one. Then there are reports of several missing people on the island. DI McKinnon and his team investigate.
An entertaining modern mystery