What do you think?
Rate this book
Rhona MacLeod #2
Torch
When a young homeless girl dies in the latest of a string of arson attacks, Dr Rhona Macleod is called in. But here in Edinburgh she is off her patch - the Chief Fire Investigator is hot-tempered misogynist Severino Macrae, and he doesn't like to lose face. As the attacks escalate, will their growing chemistry distract them from the murderous arsonist who seems to be infiltrating their personal lives as well as their work?
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
205 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
Lin Anderson
70 books374 followersLin 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 16, 2022
This short fast-paced crime thriller is the 2nd part of the entertaining "Rhona MacLeod" series.
Storytelling is of a very good quality, the story is action-packed, and the characters are believable, but at the same time the author could have given them some more depths privately as well as professionally.
In this crime thriller Dr Rhona MacLeod will be acting on cases of arson and death in both the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland.
In Edinburgh she will meet up and collaborate with the Chief fire investigator, Severino MacRae, their working relationship from the start will be like fire and ice, but that will later on improve on in the story while trying to solve these crimes, and which will also involve DI MacFarlane of Edinburgh Police.
In Glasgow she'll have as usual her working relationship with Police-Officer, DI Wilson, and with Chrissy, her assistant at the forensic laboratory.
It all starts off in Edinburgh, at the end of the year and people warming up to the Hogmanay festival, when a young girl, Karen, is found dead, due to suspected arson, who was a kind of friend to Jaz, and this death seems somehow connected to similar cases in Glasgow.
What is to follow is a short but fast-paced crime thriller, where Jaz will do his own investigations and help the authorities, and where Rhona MacLeod and Severino MacRae will have their own problems in trying to solve these cases, but after an interesting plot that is connected with some old grudges from the past, she will be able in a most dangerous and desparate attempt to solve these cases of arson and death, and at the same time meet her son, Liam.
Very much recommended, for this is certainly an improvement on the first episode, and so will eagerly turn to the next part, but what this thriller is concerned I like to call it: "A Very Exciting Firestarter"!
Storytelling is of a very good quality, the story is action-packed, and the characters are believable, but at the same time the author could have given them some more depths privately as well as professionally.
In this crime thriller Dr Rhona MacLeod will be acting on cases of arson and death in both the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland.
In Edinburgh she will meet up and collaborate with the Chief fire investigator, Severino MacRae, their working relationship from the start will be like fire and ice, but that will later on improve on in the story while trying to solve these crimes, and which will also involve DI MacFarlane of Edinburgh Police.
In Glasgow she'll have as usual her working relationship with Police-Officer, DI Wilson, and with Chrissy, her assistant at the forensic laboratory.
It all starts off in Edinburgh, at the end of the year and people warming up to the Hogmanay festival, when a young girl, Karen, is found dead, due to suspected arson, who was a kind of friend to Jaz, and this death seems somehow connected to similar cases in Glasgow.
What is to follow is a short but fast-paced crime thriller, where Jaz will do his own investigations and help the authorities, and where Rhona MacLeod and Severino MacRae will have their own problems in trying to solve these cases, but after an interesting plot that is connected with some old grudges from the past, she will be able in a most dangerous and desparate attempt to solve these cases of arson and death, and at the same time meet her son, Liam.
Very much recommended, for this is certainly an improvement on the first episode, and so will eagerly turn to the next part, but what this thriller is concerned I like to call it: "A Very Exciting Firestarter"!
January 7, 2021
A good follow up to the first book, building on the characters. Looking forward to reading more of the series and seeing where they go from here.
November 15, 2020
Good story and character development would recommend
November 27, 2020
Story was ok(ish) but I found the dog cruelty unnecessary
July 7, 2025
3.5* Not sure I enjoyed quite as much as the first in the series but that may have been down to me listening to this too slowly.
June 6, 2009
This is the second book featuring Rhona Macleod, Glasgow’s answer to Kay Scarpetta. Arson attacks are taking place both in Glasgow and Edinburgh and Rhona is on the case. Because both cities are involved there is ample opportunity to hit the reader with threadbare clichés concerning these cities, and the author takes full advantage. There are many examples, but this is the worst.
‘The best thing to come out of Edinburgh is the train to Glasgow, or so say the citizens of the dear green place. Of course, that can be reversed. Cities forty-six miles apart, one wholly respectable and the other totally irreverent, the dichotomy of the Scottish urban psyche.’ (Page 15, Hodder edition).
Glasgow is far from totally irreverent. Check some of its many ‘respectable’ areas, for example, on the south side. As for Edinburgh being ‘wholly respectable’, this obvious nonsense is contradicted by the author’s own narrative in several places. And the ‘dichotomy of the Scottish urban psyche,’ whatever that may be, excludes the residents of other Scottish cities.
Ms Anderson has lived in Glasgow and Edinburgh, but she is writing a novel and has taken the easy way out. It is easier to incorporate the usual clichés than attempt to be accurate. Except when it comes to forensic science. Being accurate about that is more important, it seems, and in this area the author has done her research.
Given the nature of Rhona Macleod’s work there is going to be violence and some of it involves dogs. There are two in the novel: one has its throat slit and the other it tail cut off. The latter, Emperor, belongs to a girl who is killed in chapter one and the question then is what will happen to this animal. We don’t need to worry though, the Edinburgh police know what to do – contact the RSPCA (twice on page 34). This wouldn’t do much good since the RSPCA do not operate in Scotland – a fact which would be known to the police, if not to the author. (The charity which does is the SSPCA). Ms Anderson has done her research.
Apart from the details mentioned, this book is competent and passes the time. There is the obligatory sexual/relationship angle and the narrative, though unlikely in places, is coherent.
It will keep you turning the pages. But if you want more sophisticated writing in the forensic science area you would do better with Patricia Cornwell who, at her best (for example, The Book of the Dead), not only covers the science but also offers unusually subtle psychology and wonderful dialogue.
Typos
Neither the author, her agent or her editor have corrected all the typos.
‘So you don’t accept advice? Even from a expert?’ (page 55)
MacRae would not have made this mistake.
A paragraph of indirect speech begins on page 207 and ends on page 208 with a quotation mark. Some or all of this paragraph was originally direct speech and the concluding quotation mark has not been removed.
‘The best thing to come out of Edinburgh is the train to Glasgow, or so say the citizens of the dear green place. Of course, that can be reversed. Cities forty-six miles apart, one wholly respectable and the other totally irreverent, the dichotomy of the Scottish urban psyche.’ (Page 15, Hodder edition).
Glasgow is far from totally irreverent. Check some of its many ‘respectable’ areas, for example, on the south side. As for Edinburgh being ‘wholly respectable’, this obvious nonsense is contradicted by the author’s own narrative in several places. And the ‘dichotomy of the Scottish urban psyche,’ whatever that may be, excludes the residents of other Scottish cities.
Ms Anderson has lived in Glasgow and Edinburgh, but she is writing a novel and has taken the easy way out. It is easier to incorporate the usual clichés than attempt to be accurate. Except when it comes to forensic science. Being accurate about that is more important, it seems, and in this area the author has done her research.
Given the nature of Rhona Macleod’s work there is going to be violence and some of it involves dogs. There are two in the novel: one has its throat slit and the other it tail cut off. The latter, Emperor, belongs to a girl who is killed in chapter one and the question then is what will happen to this animal. We don’t need to worry though, the Edinburgh police know what to do – contact the RSPCA (twice on page 34). This wouldn’t do much good since the RSPCA do not operate in Scotland – a fact which would be known to the police, if not to the author. (The charity which does is the SSPCA). Ms Anderson has done her research.
Apart from the details mentioned, this book is competent and passes the time. There is the obligatory sexual/relationship angle and the narrative, though unlikely in places, is coherent.
It will keep you turning the pages. But if you want more sophisticated writing in the forensic science area you would do better with Patricia Cornwell who, at her best (for example, The Book of the Dead), not only covers the science but also offers unusually subtle psychology and wonderful dialogue.
Typos
Neither the author, her agent or her editor have corrected all the typos.
‘So you don’t accept advice? Even from a expert?’ (page 55)
MacRae would not have made this mistake.
A paragraph of indirect speech begins on page 207 and ends on page 208 with a quotation mark. Some or all of this paragraph was originally direct speech and the concluding quotation mark has not been removed.
July 2, 2008
You can probably imagine the reaction - firstly the blurb "oh no, extreme dislike segueing into romantic tension AGAIN". The front of the book - Stalker. Arsonist. Killer. "deep groaning". The opening lines where a young homeless girl is dying - not caring what happens to her if her much loved German Shepherd dog is dead - and we've got another thing that I struggle with - dog's in jeopardy / animal cruelty. But on the other hand there's an intriguing comment by Stuart MacBride, and the thought that I find it really hard to justify reading all about cruelty to people but struggle when it comes to animals (goodness knows that's a very personal stance, and most definitely not a comment on how other people choose to approach their reading choices!)
But start reading and there's something much more to TORCH. Anderson covers some pretty gruesome subject matter with a deftness of touch and a compassionate viewpoint for all of her characters that is well fleshed out for a book of such a small size (particularly in this day and age where door-stoppers seem to have taken over). TORCH is one of a series of books based around Dr Rhona MacLeod and there's enough smattering of backstory in this first edition to give you some idea of who she is, without necessarily pulling the emphasis away from the investigation - and from the story of Macrae into the bargain. Mind you, I'm not sure I'd be calling him just a hot-tempered misogynist - sure he is partly that - but he's also deeply troubled and damaged in his own right.
The plot behind the death of the young girl is complicated - there are other fires - there is obviously something deeply personal and threatening going on with the investigation, and that's perhaps the only quibble I'd have with TORCH - cruelty to animals where the author uses the events to provide some insight into somebody or something happening is one thing - but using it to prove how bad the already indefensibly bad are, jarred for this reader anyway.
Aside from that, albeit brief disappointment, there's also great kindness and some uplifting characters and events in TORCH and whilst I squirmed a lot throughout the book, it's a series I'll be seeking out.
Driftnet
Torch
Deadly Code
Dark Flight
Blood Red Roses (novella)
But start reading and there's something much more to TORCH. Anderson covers some pretty gruesome subject matter with a deftness of touch and a compassionate viewpoint for all of her characters that is well fleshed out for a book of such a small size (particularly in this day and age where door-stoppers seem to have taken over). TORCH is one of a series of books based around Dr Rhona MacLeod and there's enough smattering of backstory in this first edition to give you some idea of who she is, without necessarily pulling the emphasis away from the investigation - and from the story of Macrae into the bargain. Mind you, I'm not sure I'd be calling him just a hot-tempered misogynist - sure he is partly that - but he's also deeply troubled and damaged in his own right.
The plot behind the death of the young girl is complicated - there are other fires - there is obviously something deeply personal and threatening going on with the investigation, and that's perhaps the only quibble I'd have with TORCH - cruelty to animals where the author uses the events to provide some insight into somebody or something happening is one thing - but using it to prove how bad the already indefensibly bad are, jarred for this reader anyway.
Aside from that, albeit brief disappointment, there's also great kindness and some uplifting characters and events in TORCH and whilst I squirmed a lot throughout the book, it's a series I'll be seeking out.
Driftnet
Torch
Deadly Code
Dark Flight
Blood Red Roses (novella)
July 31, 2020
Very Good story 2nd in series
I do have a problem with Authors and doing bad things to animals.... this Author needs to attend or read a seminar about a Rule... “Never Kill The Dog.” The story was great except for this! Only 3 stars and would have been less except for a mostly good book.
I do have a problem with Authors and doing bad things to animals.... this Author needs to attend or read a seminar about a Rule... “Never Kill The Dog.” The story was great except for this! Only 3 stars and would have been less except for a mostly good book.
February 17, 2015
The story as such is above average but the author has the annoying habit of jumping in time, space or scenery (incl personnel) from one line to the next without any indication. It's very confusing and leaves me guessing half the time where we are and who is talking.
July 15, 2016
Solid crime writing. A lot of jumping between scene and characters - not too confusing, but a bit much. And this one did a nice job of collecting some of all the loose ends from the first volume without being obvious - and still keeping some options open in the arc story of Rhona.
November 30, 2011
There is sometimes a tendency to "jump scenes" and leave the reader wondering "how did I get here". Having said that I did enjoy the story.
November 9, 2017
I found most of the characters annoying, which tends to make it hard to read a book.
Interesting plot and fast pace made for a quick and reasonably pleasant read.
Interesting plot and fast pace made for a quick and reasonably pleasant read.
April 7, 2025
4 stars.
I loved Driftnet so immediately put in a reserve on Borrowbox for this one (this seems to be a popular series in my library!) and was really excited to start it when it came through. I really like Rhona McLeod as a character and here once again she's a very involved forensic scientist investigating a case of suspected arson. There's an element of racing against time too, as there is the hanging threat of things repeating at Hogmanay, and although there seems to be a relationship between the cases there also remains a bit of a question mark on whether or not they truly are related.
Another quick listen and one that I really enjoyed!
I loved Driftnet so immediately put in a reserve on Borrowbox for this one (this seems to be a popular series in my library!) and was really excited to start it when it came through. I really like Rhona McLeod as a character and here once again she's a very involved forensic scientist investigating a case of suspected arson. There's an element of racing against time too, as there is the hanging threat of things repeating at Hogmanay, and although there seems to be a relationship between the cases there also remains a bit of a question mark on whether or not they truly are related.
Another quick listen and one that I really enjoyed!
November 1, 2022
This was another great read about Rhona and her life and colleagues.
Fires are being started in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Rhona is asked to help out. I always enjoy reading books set in the city where I have lived for over thirty years.
As in real life, there are scumbags and goodhearted people involved in the story of how the crime was solved.
Fires are being started in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Rhona is asked to help out. I always enjoy reading books set in the city where I have lived for over thirty years.
As in real life, there are scumbags and goodhearted people involved in the story of how the crime was solved.
November 6, 2020
3 1/2 stars. I enjoyed the 2nd in this series of forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod that I have only just discovered. The story moves along quickly, is an intriguing mystery, well written and researched. I'm certainly going to keep reading!
June 5, 2021
A little messy at the beginning where the reader is trying to fit characters back into the mind but a solid read
November 3, 2023
Struggled to get into this.
March 17, 2021
Someone’s playing with fire, affecting Edinburgh and Glasgow, Dr Rhona MacLeod sets out to find the connections, putting her in contact with Severino MacRae, Glasgow’s chief fire investigator who faces his own battles. With Hogmanay threatened the race is on to find the fire starter before it’s too late.
A 3.5 star rating for me, it didn’t quite grip me like the first novel and I can’t really pinpoint why. It’s a great start, but then the story felt muddled to me as other factors came into play.
A 3.5 star rating for me, it didn’t quite grip me like the first novel and I can’t really pinpoint why. It’s a great start, but then the story felt muddled to me as other factors came into play.
September 3, 2020
This was an easy read. A bit confusing at times but it’s ok. I’m wondering why young Jazz , a member of the public is doing all the investigative work though when you have a police officer and a fire investigator in the story. This is only the second novel. I will try another see how it goes. Hopefully Rhona gets a bit better and severino will also stop wallowing in family matters and do what he is supposed to do ? The jury is out on this series
May 7, 2018
All in all good Story but I must admit that the kindle edition I read had several missing paragraphs and numerous missing words I can't remember if that was the case with her paperback editions in fact I'm sure not its almost as if the author has got ahead of her self and thinks shes already written it! I thought that the usual practice was to have proof readers?
March 13, 2020
A surprisingly short second entry in the series, this avoids some of the unnecessary tasteless details of the first book; but this arson story is too rushed. The plot has holes that jar too much, and sense of place and characters are insufficiently established. After two books, there’s clear potential in this series, but there are weaknesses to iron out.
September 22, 2015
This book could have been good, but it's quite a mess. It needs work to take it apart and put it back together in better shape. The formatting is terrible and the lack of separation between scenes in the formatting doesn't help the abrupt scene changes that have been written.
July 1, 2019
Sadly I didn't like this book. The first one was good- this was, well a bit boring. The interactions between Rhona and the fire chief just didn't ring true and as for Rhona and Sean well.. and then it all sort of fizzled out
October 30, 2020
Friend gave me the second in the series. An easy read although not as good as the first one.
December 1, 2020
Meh... I kind of like the lead character, but there are still too many cookie cutter characters around her. I'm hoping the further books develop better.
July 31, 2021
How someone could be that evil to 2 dogs!
April 23, 2025
Visit JetBlackDragonfly (The Man Who Read Too Much) at www.edenthompson.ca/blog
for over 900 book reviews in all genres
Torch is the second in a thriller series starring Glasgow-based forensic scientist Rhona Macleod. Her 20 titles in this series helped invigorate the tartan-noir genre, along with Alex Gray and Peter May. These offer complex characters, along with the grit of forensics to keep the pages turning.
Rhona is investigating arsons in Glasgow, when similar fires begin in Edinburgh. A homeless girl living in a makeshift shelter with her dog was attacked and left in an intentional fire. Jaz, a friend who sells street papers, takes care of her dog and begins digging for answers.
Rhona stays in a friend's flat in Edinburgh as the large New Year's party Hogmanay approaches. Many of the fires involve addicts who overdosed before being set afire, and from the taunting letters received by police, the firestarters' excitement is only increasing. She is paired with combative city Chief Fire Investigator Severino MacRae, an gruff alcoholic whose marriage is breaking up, so we can cut him a little slack. He has no interest in her help, but she is determined, and they learn to rely on each other. Jaz helps the team explore the homeless population as the fires continue to be set. The team is aware they are being watched by the arsonist, who has a personal grudge to exercise, prowling around Rhona undetected.
There is also the question of the son she gave up for adoption seventeen years ago. Liam is ready to meet Rhona, even under these tense circumstances.
There are new characters, and the old crew make cameos. Although they find common ground, Severino is unprofessional to the point of unbelievability. His personal problems do take him off the case for a while, but Rhona is more than qualified and has back up in Glasgow. I find this series tight, exciting, and fast-paced, with compassion for the characters. Readers have complained that the killing of two dogs is the most grievous. I like dogs too, but this is a thriller about forensics and arson - never mind the victims who overdose on fireworks accelerant before being set alight, or the arsonist who gets sexually excited by it all. I admit this series is not for everyone, but the writing is solid, and I think as a thriller reader, you can handle it.
For fans of Patricia Cornwall and Ian Rankin, recommended.
for over 900 book reviews in all genres
Torch is the second in a thriller series starring Glasgow-based forensic scientist Rhona Macleod. Her 20 titles in this series helped invigorate the tartan-noir genre, along with Alex Gray and Peter May. These offer complex characters, along with the grit of forensics to keep the pages turning.
Rhona is investigating arsons in Glasgow, when similar fires begin in Edinburgh. A homeless girl living in a makeshift shelter with her dog was attacked and left in an intentional fire. Jaz, a friend who sells street papers, takes care of her dog and begins digging for answers.
Rhona stays in a friend's flat in Edinburgh as the large New Year's party Hogmanay approaches. Many of the fires involve addicts who overdosed before being set afire, and from the taunting letters received by police, the firestarters' excitement is only increasing. She is paired with combative city Chief Fire Investigator Severino MacRae, an gruff alcoholic whose marriage is breaking up, so we can cut him a little slack. He has no interest in her help, but she is determined, and they learn to rely on each other. Jaz helps the team explore the homeless population as the fires continue to be set. The team is aware they are being watched by the arsonist, who has a personal grudge to exercise, prowling around Rhona undetected.
There is also the question of the son she gave up for adoption seventeen years ago. Liam is ready to meet Rhona, even under these tense circumstances.
There are new characters, and the old crew make cameos. Although they find common ground, Severino is unprofessional to the point of unbelievability. His personal problems do take him off the case for a while, but Rhona is more than qualified and has back up in Glasgow. I find this series tight, exciting, and fast-paced, with compassion for the characters. Readers have complained that the killing of two dogs is the most grievous. I like dogs too, but this is a thriller about forensics and arson - never mind the victims who overdose on fireworks accelerant before being set alight, or the arsonist who gets sexually excited by it all. I admit this series is not for everyone, but the writing is solid, and I think as a thriller reader, you can handle it.
For fans of Patricia Cornwall and Ian Rankin, recommended.
April 12, 2020
TORCH is a fast paced thriller in which forensic scientist Dr. Rhona MacLeod investigates arson and murder. All those involved in the investigation are soon receiving threats from the sick perpetrators who are stalking them.
I read the first book, DRIFTNET, but like this second book more. In both books there were times when I thought I had skipped a page because of a confusing break in the continuity. I often felt that a good dose of editing was needed, and some smut removal as well.
I was drawn to the series because it's a mystery series based on a forensic scientist in Glasgow.
I read the first book, DRIFTNET, but like this second book more. In both books there were times when I thought I had skipped a page because of a confusing break in the continuity. I often felt that a good dose of editing was needed, and some smut removal as well.
I was drawn to the series because it's a mystery series based on a forensic scientist in Glasgow.
August 22, 2025
This is a short crime fiction (230 pages) set in Edinburgh. A mad arsonist is causing chaos at the time of New Year festivities. We focus on two homeless people, one a victim and one a survivor. The police are doing their best to solve the arsons and killing. There is gore and torture, a dead dog, and a live dog being hit. I can't like the animals being harmed but one of them does play a key role. German Shepherd Dogs are not called Alsatians any more.
I like that a female police officer is involved, but at the end, we are told of six policemen approaching a building. Is Edinburgh short on female officers? Better editing please.
I like that a female police officer is involved, but at the end, we are told of six policemen approaching a building. Is Edinburgh short on female officers? Better editing please.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews