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Rhona MacLeod #4
Dark Flight
'The face that stared at him through the glass was his mum's, but it didn't look like her. Stephen's mouth dropped open and real fear grabbed his stomach. His mum's face was chalk white, her mouth twisted in pain. Behind her was a dark shadow. Stephen dropped the bones.'
A six year-old boy has vanished, his mother and grandmother horrifically murdered. At the scene forensic scientist Rhona Macleod finds a chilling African talisman, made from the bones of a child. Can she decipher its meaning and track Stephen down before he becomes the next link in the killers' chain?
A six year-old boy has vanished, his mother and grandmother horrifically murdered. At the scene forensic scientist Rhona Macleod finds a chilling African talisman, made from the bones of a child. Can she decipher its meaning and track Stephen down before he becomes the next link in the killers' chain?
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Lin Anderson
57 books415 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 20, 2022
**Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**
This very exciting Scottish thriller is the 4th episode in the "Rhona MacLeod" series.
Storytelling is of an excellent quality, most characters are very believable and human, although in my view Sean Maguire is a spineless creature in these first four books and hopefully in future he'll improve or will be eliminated by the author, and the interaction between most figures is absolutely lifelike.
This thriller is a captivating tale with at its core an African spell called, Juju, which is the African term and practice what is most commonly known as Voodoo.
The story is about the six-year old, Stephen, who's witnessing the murder of his Gran and his mother, Carole Devlin, a mother who has come back to Glasgow to escape the clutches of a powerful African family, a family where the Islamic Sharia Law is everything, and where humiliation, mutilation and death is paramount, and soon after the killings he's kidnapped to an unknown place.
So with Carole Devlin and her mother killed and Stephen abducted, Rhona MacLeod, as forensic scientist, along with her assistant, Chrissy, DI Bill Wilson of Glasgow Police and DS McNab as CSM will come together and they will do anything in their power to find the perpetrator(s) of these killings and abduction.
Professional and personal actions and emotions will play an important and decisive part when trying to solve this case, whether it is in Glasgow itself, or especially during an Nigerian outing for Rhona and McNab, after their own personal history.
What is to follow as a whole is a captivating and suspenseful thriller that will keep you spellbound from start to finish, and that in my view is a great improvement to the first three thrillers, and I hope that the author will go on in this wonderful fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is an excellent book of a series that is getting better and better all the time, and what this episode is concerned I like to call it: "A Gripping Black Magic Murder Case"!
This very exciting Scottish thriller is the 4th episode in the "Rhona MacLeod" series.
Storytelling is of an excellent quality, most characters are very believable and human, although in my view Sean Maguire is a spineless creature in these first four books and hopefully in future he'll improve or will be eliminated by the author, and the interaction between most figures is absolutely lifelike.
This thriller is a captivating tale with at its core an African spell called, Juju, which is the African term and practice what is most commonly known as Voodoo.
The story is about the six-year old, Stephen, who's witnessing the murder of his Gran and his mother, Carole Devlin, a mother who has come back to Glasgow to escape the clutches of a powerful African family, a family where the Islamic Sharia Law is everything, and where humiliation, mutilation and death is paramount, and soon after the killings he's kidnapped to an unknown place.
So with Carole Devlin and her mother killed and Stephen abducted, Rhona MacLeod, as forensic scientist, along with her assistant, Chrissy, DI Bill Wilson of Glasgow Police and DS McNab as CSM will come together and they will do anything in their power to find the perpetrator(s) of these killings and abduction.
Professional and personal actions and emotions will play an important and decisive part when trying to solve this case, whether it is in Glasgow itself, or especially during an Nigerian outing for Rhona and McNab, after their own personal history.
What is to follow as a whole is a captivating and suspenseful thriller that will keep you spellbound from start to finish, and that in my view is a great improvement to the first three thrillers, and I hope that the author will go on in this wonderful fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is an excellent book of a series that is getting better and better all the time, and what this episode is concerned I like to call it: "A Gripping Black Magic Murder Case"!
February 23, 2021
The strongest of the series so far, with some of the same caveats as previous entries. The Glasgow parts work well, the Nigerian scenes less convincing, although the action is tense. Still waiting for Rhona to ditch the irritating and spineless Sean.
February 10, 2017
I really enjoyed the first three books in the series but I did find this one a bit hard to read due to the subject matter. As a standalone I doubt I would have read this but when you are working your way through a series inevitably you will come across a book that's not quite to your taste. It is well written and I like the balance between the characters work and personal lives and I know I will read more from the series. Not my favourite of the series but still a good book.
September 27, 2025
Each book in this series is just getting better and better. This one was a wild ride! A must read.
March 8, 2012
Ever read a book and thought, well I shouldn't really be liking this. Worse than that, have you ever read a book and found yourself ticking the things that the author is doing that annoy you. And yet you find yourself liking the book! DARK FLIGHT did that for me. Well liking is a difficult word to use when the subject matter is as dire as it is in DARK FLIGHT, but that's just one of the things that ticked that list for me.
DARK FLIGHT starts out with the repulsively, shockingly over the top violent death of two women and little boy Stephen is a witness to at least part of the butchering of his mother - then he disappears. Rhona MacLeod finds herself having to work with ex-lover DS Michael McNab in a team that is desperate to find Stephen alive. It seems, from the fetish that was left at the scene, that there is a juju (voodoo) connection to this murder, and Stephen is a mixed-race child, and he and his mother have just returned from Nigeria. A high-profile Nigerian professor from the local university has gone missing, seemingly returned home for sudden family reasons. A member of MacLeod's forensic team is romantically involved with a young medical student who turns out to be a member of a Nigerian Church whose members are the prime suspect group for what seems to have been a ritual killing. So can MacLeod and McNab put aside their own personal problems and find Stephen? Add to that a bit of fem-jep, a hefty dose of relationship anxiety and DARK FLIGHT may or may not sound immediately appealing. But for some reason, probably the skill of the writer, it worked as an engaging book to read.
MacLeod is one of those characters that alternatively annoy you, and interest you. There are aspects of this woman that make you want to track her down and shake some sense into her. She insists upon walking into all sorts of situations that end up with her getting back out again by the skin of her teeth. She constantly dithers around in her personal life. But she also gets really involved in the cases she's called upon to investigate and she's prepared to put a lot of her own baggage aside in the event that an answer can be found.
The other thing that really works in DARK FLIGHT are the supporting cast of characters - MacLeod's closest colleague and friend, Chrissy is definitely the personality in the group - feisty, outspoken, stubborn and loyal to a fault. DI Bill Wilson heads the investigation, deals with his own family problems, and just keeps slogging away, the death of these women, the killing of children is something that affects him greatly.
Despite the presence of Rhona - a forensic scientist - at the centre of this book, this is more of an old fashioned investigative book than a forensic book. Having said that, it's not strictly police procedural either, it's more a sort of a mix of everything.
DARK FLIGHT is the most recent in the Rhona MacLeod books - you can find more about the earlier books at http://www.rhonamacleod.com/
DARK FLIGHT starts out with the repulsively, shockingly over the top violent death of two women and little boy Stephen is a witness to at least part of the butchering of his mother - then he disappears. Rhona MacLeod finds herself having to work with ex-lover DS Michael McNab in a team that is desperate to find Stephen alive. It seems, from the fetish that was left at the scene, that there is a juju (voodoo) connection to this murder, and Stephen is a mixed-race child, and he and his mother have just returned from Nigeria. A high-profile Nigerian professor from the local university has gone missing, seemingly returned home for sudden family reasons. A member of MacLeod's forensic team is romantically involved with a young medical student who turns out to be a member of a Nigerian Church whose members are the prime suspect group for what seems to have been a ritual killing. So can MacLeod and McNab put aside their own personal problems and find Stephen? Add to that a bit of fem-jep, a hefty dose of relationship anxiety and DARK FLIGHT may or may not sound immediately appealing. But for some reason, probably the skill of the writer, it worked as an engaging book to read.
MacLeod is one of those characters that alternatively annoy you, and interest you. There are aspects of this woman that make you want to track her down and shake some sense into her. She insists upon walking into all sorts of situations that end up with her getting back out again by the skin of her teeth. She constantly dithers around in her personal life. But she also gets really involved in the cases she's called upon to investigate and she's prepared to put a lot of her own baggage aside in the event that an answer can be found.
The other thing that really works in DARK FLIGHT are the supporting cast of characters - MacLeod's closest colleague and friend, Chrissy is definitely the personality in the group - feisty, outspoken, stubborn and loyal to a fault. DI Bill Wilson heads the investigation, deals with his own family problems, and just keeps slogging away, the death of these women, the killing of children is something that affects him greatly.
Despite the presence of Rhona - a forensic scientist - at the centre of this book, this is more of an old fashioned investigative book than a forensic book. Having said that, it's not strictly police procedural either, it's more a sort of a mix of everything.
DARK FLIGHT is the most recent in the Rhona MacLeod books - you can find more about the earlier books at http://www.rhonamacleod.com/
August 26, 2020
Too Gruesome... couldn’t finish
After the first book, I thought this would be a great Series... this Author likes to kill Dogs & Cats for no reason... plenty of evilness in the subject matter to not have to do this to prove a point - I couldn’t finish this 4th book... not for a person who wants a good mystery W/O gore & Ritualistic Torture.
After the first book, I thought this would be a great Series... this Author likes to kill Dogs & Cats for no reason... plenty of evilness in the subject matter to not have to do this to prove a point - I couldn’t finish this 4th book... not for a person who wants a good mystery W/O gore & Ritualistic Torture.
May 31, 2021
My favourite in the series so far. Lots of unexpected twists and turns both in the personal lives of the regular characters and in the murders they are solving. Made a day in bed w the flu fly by.
June 14, 2021
Hmm I'm a little undecided with this case but I did enjoy getting to know the characters better
February 26, 2023
Bookish Books Reading Challenge & #LibraryLoveChallenge
February 4, 2026
Another enthralling read in the Rhona MacLeod series.
In this book the author has brought together two cultures and countries, Glasgow in Scotland and Kano in Nigeria.
The research has accomplished the reader to understand the practice of witchcraft used in some of Nigeria's regions and this comes across in the storyline.
An interesting and captivating novel.
In this book the author has brought together two cultures and countries, Glasgow in Scotland and Kano in Nigeria.
The research has accomplished the reader to understand the practice of witchcraft used in some of Nigeria's regions and this comes across in the storyline.
An interesting and captivating novel.
February 6, 2021
This was a gripping read! I couldn’t put this one down because it kept building up and I had to go through as much of it as I could at any instance I picked it up to read it. It’s not just a regular crime fiction novel I was gripped by the other aspects of the story as well and it was what kept me hooked from start to finish.
May 4, 2025
4 stars.
Very much enjoying working my way through this series on audio, I love Rhona as a character and the entire Glaswegian setup and Lin Anderson comes up with a unique theme for each of the stories to make them so different from one another. This one, while triggered by the disappearance of a boy, was centred around Nigerian spells and powerful governing families.
I loved how this one took Rhona et al out of Glasgow for a bit, all the way to Nigeria, although I thought the scenes there were under-used. Everything that happened in Nigeria could well have happened in Glasgow, it was the . I did like , and am looking forward to seeing how that is developed in later books.
Very much enjoying working my way through this series on audio, I love Rhona as a character and the entire Glaswegian setup and Lin Anderson comes up with a unique theme for each of the stories to make them so different from one another. This one, while triggered by the disappearance of a boy, was centred around Nigerian spells and powerful governing families.
I loved how this one took Rhona et al out of Glasgow for a bit, all the way to Nigeria, although I thought the scenes there were under-used. Everything that happened in Nigeria could well have happened in Glasgow, it was the . I did like , and am looking forward to seeing how that is developed in later books.
January 27, 2021
Another tale of horrific abuse and smuggling. Very graphic but well written and a page turning read.
July 16, 2020
After his mother and grandmother are savagely murdered a young boy disappears. In his garden in Glasgow a strange African talisman is found. The talisman leads forensic scientist Rhona Macleod all the way to Nigeria to find the missing boy and decipher the message left behind in the shape of the talisman.
This book was ok to read, but in my opinion it lacked some plot twists. The story runs straight from start to finish. The language in this book is simple, not really adding to a nice sense of excitement and tension in the pages.
This book was ok to read, but in my opinion it lacked some plot twists. The story runs straight from start to finish. The language in this book is simple, not really adding to a nice sense of excitement and tension in the pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2017
This time round Rhona MacLeod is dealing with two murdered women, an abducted child, human trafficking, West African juju and associated nastiness.
An excellent, if somewhat horrifying read.
There are masses of side plots for the various characters.
I sat down last night to just briefly read a few pages and read the bloody lot! A rare 5 stars from me on that basis alone.
Highly recommended.
An excellent, if somewhat horrifying read.
There are masses of side plots for the various characters.
I sat down last night to just briefly read a few pages and read the bloody lot! A rare 5 stars from me on that basis alone.
Highly recommended.
February 10, 2020
I didn't much care for it. While the story was not terrible, most of the characters were very, very hard to like. It is hard to enjoy a book if just about everyone in it annoys you.
I realized halfway through that I've read two other books in the series and felt about the same way. I think I've finally learned my lesson. The thing is, the back cover always sounds so interesting, there is always a weird little plot point that catches the interest, but then when you read it... it falls flat.
I realized halfway through that I've read two other books in the series and felt about the same way. I think I've finally learned my lesson. The thing is, the back cover always sounds so interesting, there is always a weird little plot point that catches the interest, but then when you read it... it falls flat.
December 30, 2016
3.5 stars. This has been in my bookcase for a few years and I figured it's time for another Glasgow book. Turns out it's based in Glasgow and Nigeria. Standard police procedural, no great shakes, with the best part being the relationships between colleagues. This was my first by Lin Anderson but leaves me ambivalent about whether to pick up another.
October 20, 2017
Another good, gripping read in the Rhona MacLeod series this time involving the abduction of a young boy & African rituals. A bit gruesome & disturbing in parts, especially when you consider things of this nature do happen.
December 18, 2019
strange to have a forensic officer for a detective. who dun it trail reversed through the personal life of all the characters which simply bloats the plot without adding any thing to mystery. African ritual adds macabre color.
October 18, 2020
Mixed feelings
Thought the first part of the book was excellent but after they moved on over to there seemed to be so many similar sounding names i started getting confused. Got to say though it was a good read.
Thought the first part of the book was excellent but after they moved on over to there seemed to be so many similar sounding names i started getting confused. Got to say though it was a good read.
December 5, 2020
This is my favorite of the four books so far. Interesting-though gruesome- plot and the usual characters are getting more developed. I still worry about Rhona and Sean.
The narration of the audiobook is first rate. I’m sorry the next few books in the series are not available in that format yet.
The narration of the audiobook is first rate. I’m sorry the next few books in the series are not available in that format yet.
December 11, 2016
very enjoyable. Just what the ( witch) doctor ordered :)
May 22, 2017
Good read, very dark at times
July 21, 2017
Excelllent.
March 27, 2019
A really good read/ who dunnit..
June 19, 2019
Love rhona McLeod. Another excellent book in the Scottish noir tradition
November 18, 2019
Very hard subject matter. Enjoyed the book and I'm pleased I stuck with it. Almost stopped reading due to some if the things that happen in it. It's a very dark novel.
July 3, 2022
Stephen, a six-year-old boy, has vanished, his mother and grandmother horrifically murdered. At the scene forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod finds a chilling African talisman, made from the bones of a child. Can she decipher its meaning and track Stephen down before he becomes the next link in the killers' chain?
This is an interesting thriller. It is the 4th book in the Rhona MacLeod series. Stephen is missing and his mother and grandmother have been killed. This book takes us to Glasgow and Nigeria where juju is practiced what is commonly known as voodoo. It is the best of the series so far. A bit gruesome with sexual content but still a good book to read to the end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
This is an interesting thriller. It is the 4th book in the Rhona MacLeod series. Stephen is missing and his mother and grandmother have been killed. This book takes us to Glasgow and Nigeria where juju is practiced what is commonly known as voodoo. It is the best of the series so far. A bit gruesome with sexual content but still a good book to read to the end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
January 24, 2026
This one is not for the faint hearted as it is at times very gruesome. Still, I found it as well written as the first couple of books in the series and I really enjoy Lin Anderson's language, tone and astute descriptions of characters and their behaviours. Personally I found the third book in the series slightly weaker, but in general the Rhona MacLeod books are so well paced, entertaining (if you're into crime novels) and believable that I'm sure I'll continue the series - especially since this fourth part was so captivating. So far I've listened to the audiobook versions and it must be mentioned that Sally Armstrong does an absolutely amazing job with the narration!
September 5, 2019
Het ene moment een doodgewoon huislijk tafereel, het volgende een bloedbad en de dood. Werk aan de winkel voor de politie. Daarbij komt nog dat er een kind is verdwenen. Er is zelfs sprake van juju. Afrikaans bijgeloof. Na veel zoekwerk, tegenslag en wat geluk kan de politie de daders vinden.
Een klassiek politieroman.
Spannend vanaf het begin en geen verrassend einde. De puzzelstukjes vallen op het einde op de juiste plaats.
Een klassiek politieroman.
Spannend vanaf het begin en geen verrassend einde. De puzzelstukjes vallen op het einde op de juiste plaats.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews