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Rhona MacLeod #14
Time for the Dead
When forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod returns to her roots on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, a chance encounter in the woods behind a nearby activities centre leads her to what seems to be a crime scene, but without a victim. Could this be linked to a group of army medics, who visited the centre while on leave from Afghanistan and can no longer be located on the island?
Enlisting the help of local tracker dog Blaze, Rhona starts searching for a connection.
Two days later a body is found at the base of the famous cliff known as Kilt Rock, face and identity obliterated by the fall, which leads Rhona to suspect the missing medics may be on the island for reasons other than relaxation. Furthermore, elements of the case suggests a link with an ongoing operation in Glasgow, which draws DS Michael McNab into the investigation.
As the island’s unforgiving conditions close in, Rhona must find out what really happened to the group in Afghanistan, as the consequences may be being played out in brutal killings on Skye . . .
Enlisting the help of local tracker dog Blaze, Rhona starts searching for a connection.
Two days later a body is found at the base of the famous cliff known as Kilt Rock, face and identity obliterated by the fall, which leads Rhona to suspect the missing medics may be on the island for reasons other than relaxation. Furthermore, elements of the case suggests a link with an ongoing operation in Glasgow, which draws DS Michael McNab into the investigation.
As the island’s unforgiving conditions close in, Rhona must find out what really happened to the group in Afghanistan, as the consequences may be being played out in brutal killings on Skye . . .
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2019
102 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Lin Anderson
72 books378 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 60 reviews
June 3, 2020
Edgy, atmospheric, and immersive!
In this latest novel by Anderson, Time for the Dead, we head to the Isle of Skye, Scotland where forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has fled for some much-needed rest and recuperation after a traumatizing previous case only to find herself suddenly immersed into the evidence collection and investigation of a bloody crime scene she inadvertently stumbles across in the woods.
The prose is descriptive and gritty. The characters are focused, tenacious, and troubled. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel meticulously into a hauntingly suspenseful tale full of deception, abuse, violence, rape, control, power, manipulation, war, drug trafficking, and murder.
Overall, Time for the Dead is an astute, intricate, mysterious tale by Anderson that kept me enthralled and entertained from the very first page and certainly left me eager for more.
Thank you to PGC Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review
In this latest novel by Anderson, Time for the Dead, we head to the Isle of Skye, Scotland where forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has fled for some much-needed rest and recuperation after a traumatizing previous case only to find herself suddenly immersed into the evidence collection and investigation of a bloody crime scene she inadvertently stumbles across in the woods.
The prose is descriptive and gritty. The characters are focused, tenacious, and troubled. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel meticulously into a hauntingly suspenseful tale full of deception, abuse, violence, rape, control, power, manipulation, war, drug trafficking, and murder.
Overall, Time for the Dead is an astute, intricate, mysterious tale by Anderson that kept me enthralled and entertained from the very first page and certainly left me eager for more.
Thank you to PGC Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review
June 28, 2025
Here we have the reason I don’t love it when detectives or key characters in detective books get bonked on the head and/ or kidnapped. Because then the author has to pretend they aren’t traumatised or deal with the trauma. And here we had the trauma option. But I’m usually reading a detective novel because I’m favouring plot over character, so I don’t really want to deal with their trauma. Especially knowing they’ll just go right on back to a stressful situation.
Nothing much wrong with the mystery here, although it wasn’t very mysterious really. Classic Rhona, always surrounded by men longing to get with her. Nice to have a change of scene to Skye, and enjoyed the police dog.
Side point, I wonder how other people feel about the pages sometimes interspersed with a detective book that are from the victim or perpetrator’s POV. I think they are only one step up from quotes at the start of a chapter for me. They tend to be fragmented and irritatingly enigmatic and I just want to skip them.
Nothing much wrong with the mystery here, although it wasn’t very mysterious really. Classic Rhona, always surrounded by men longing to get with her. Nice to have a change of scene to Skye, and enjoyed the police dog.
Side point, I wonder how other people feel about the pages sometimes interspersed with a detective book that are from the victim or perpetrator’s POV. I think they are only one step up from quotes at the start of a chapter for me. They tend to be fragmented and irritatingly enigmatic and I just want to skip them.
September 16, 2019
Time for the Dead – Another class thriller from Lin Anderson
With every outing the Rhona MacLeod series gets better, and Time for the Dead proves this. There must be something about Scottish crime writers, especially the females, who are second to none. Anderson’s research, knowledge make this thriller, and like any artist the words on the pages are her canvass where she creates another masterpiece.
Rhona MacLeod is trying to recuperate from her previous case and has gone to Skye and a wonderful cottage away from it all. She still has to take a Skype call from friend and colleague DS McNab. Her friend Jaime a friend from her teenage years, drives her around sometimes and lives down in the nearest town an hour away.
It is at a sport’s centre she meets Jaime’s friends who wish to have their stag do there and she meets Blaze an intelligent dog, who becomes her best assistant while she is on the island. It is Blaze that leads Rhona to a possible crime scene, where she collects samples and has lots of questions as there is no body.
When a body, turns up at the bottom of a cliff Rhona suspects foul play, when a second body is found dead on a mountain, in suspicious circumstances, Rhona starts to wonder what is happening.
When Rhona finds a female army medic in a clearing, she explains there are a number of them on Skye doing some personal training and they will meet up to report back for duty. Rhona senses that there is more to the story than there are just army medics training.
It is when Rhona is joined by others from the Glasgow police to investigate what is happening that the pieces start to fall into place. It would be Blaze that guides Rhona to where she can finally close the case. With the case closed it is a case of can Rhona get her life back together and face Glasgow once again.
Lin Anderson has once again written an absolutely brilliant thriller that will have you gripped from the beginning to the end.
With every outing the Rhona MacLeod series gets better, and Time for the Dead proves this. There must be something about Scottish crime writers, especially the females, who are second to none. Anderson’s research, knowledge make this thriller, and like any artist the words on the pages are her canvass where she creates another masterpiece.
Rhona MacLeod is trying to recuperate from her previous case and has gone to Skye and a wonderful cottage away from it all. She still has to take a Skype call from friend and colleague DS McNab. Her friend Jaime a friend from her teenage years, drives her around sometimes and lives down in the nearest town an hour away.
It is at a sport’s centre she meets Jaime’s friends who wish to have their stag do there and she meets Blaze an intelligent dog, who becomes her best assistant while she is on the island. It is Blaze that leads Rhona to a possible crime scene, where she collects samples and has lots of questions as there is no body.
When a body, turns up at the bottom of a cliff Rhona suspects foul play, when a second body is found dead on a mountain, in suspicious circumstances, Rhona starts to wonder what is happening.
When Rhona finds a female army medic in a clearing, she explains there are a number of them on Skye doing some personal training and they will meet up to report back for duty. Rhona senses that there is more to the story than there are just army medics training.
It is when Rhona is joined by others from the Glasgow police to investigate what is happening that the pieces start to fall into place. It would be Blaze that guides Rhona to where she can finally close the case. With the case closed it is a case of can Rhona get her life back together and face Glasgow once again.
Lin Anderson has once again written an absolutely brilliant thriller that will have you gripped from the beginning to the end.
April 4, 2022
This book by Lin ANDERSON has some fine elements, and the storyline is quite good, BUT, one needs to have a good geographical mindset to be able to get a grip of the land where it is set. I listened to this one, and fortunately or sometimes unfortunately the reader tried too hard with her Scots accent.
The actual descriptions in the book itself relating to place and directions were often rather confusing, and why is it that every novel set in Scotland and its surrounds have to feature such foul weather, and go on and on about it. Does the sun ever shine there?
The actual story was not much of a thriller, mediocre actually, and there were far too many references to the previous death-defying encounter of the heroine, Rhona MACLEOD, and it was confusing when Afghanistan and a female named 'Seven' came into the picture. I have not read the previous encounter of Rhona MACLEOD and at this stage doubt I ever will.
This is one you must concentrate on, or read the previous book, to get a grip on its characters and their relationships towards one another; as well as the treacherous journeys on foot, in cars and helicopters in torrential freezing weather.
Totally confusing.
Was all too much for me, and definitely not recommended.
The actual descriptions in the book itself relating to place and directions were often rather confusing, and why is it that every novel set in Scotland and its surrounds have to feature such foul weather, and go on and on about it. Does the sun ever shine there?
The actual story was not much of a thriller, mediocre actually, and there were far too many references to the previous death-defying encounter of the heroine, Rhona MACLEOD, and it was confusing when Afghanistan and a female named 'Seven' came into the picture. I have not read the previous encounter of Rhona MACLEOD and at this stage doubt I ever will.
This is one you must concentrate on, or read the previous book, to get a grip on its characters and their relationships towards one another; as well as the treacherous journeys on foot, in cars and helicopters in torrential freezing weather.
Totally confusing.
Was all too much for me, and definitely not recommended.
August 27, 2021
Best aspect of this was the island of Skye setting. Plot involves locals and travelers in the wild country and coast. Rhona’s emotional life is a factor as she’s still in recovery from previous life threatening events. Quite entertaining.
June 28, 2022
Crime thriller set mainly on SKYE
Time for the Dead is number 14 in the Rhona McLeod series of detective novels set in Scotland. In this book, Dr McLeod, a forensic pathologist, battles her own demons as well as attempting to understand a series of deaths on the Scottish Isle of Skye.
Rhona has taken herself to Skye, away from her job, in order to recover from the personal trauma associated to a previous case. The author describes the vast, forbidding landscapes of the island in winter, though Rhona is at home here and finds the familiarity comforting. Before long, she finds herself caught up in investigating what she thinks is a crime scene and this leads to a full-scale investigation. Rhona must decide whether she is capable of putting her feelings to one side and resuming her professional role, maybe eventually returning to Glasgow.
The investigation on the island is interspersed with short accounts of an army medic’s experiences as a prisoner in Afghanistan and we learn of the trauma she has suffered. It is not immediately apparent how this is connected to the main story. On Skye, a group of army medics on leave from Afghanistan disappear, telling locals that they are practising survival training in the remoter parts of the island. When a body is discovered at the foot of a cliff, Rhona believes there’s a link to the crime scene she has previously identified. While at first it seems that the dead man was one of the army personnel, there are suggestions that the death might be linked to organised crime and Rhona calls in her team from Glasgow to investigate.
The geography of Skye is so critical to the plot of Time for the Dead that it is almost another character, and it is brilliantly described. The contrast between the hot sands of Afghanistan and the freezing sea and landscapes on Skye are marked. In both cases, the novel’s characters pit themselves against the extremes of their surroundings in a bid to survive. We learn about the remote mountains and hillsides that form Skye’s interior, as well as the plunging cliffs and the crofts abandoned during the clearances. It is interesting to learn about the island’s history and customs as well as some explanation of the Gaelic placenames.
Rhona McLeod and the other characters are engaging, and we learn about their relationships, their flaws and the strengths that they can draw on. It does as though many of the main characters have some kind of romantic attachment to each other, either in the past or present, but that doesn’t detract from the story.
Some of the action takes place in Glasgow, and we see the contrast between the island the city. Skye still suffers from poor communication; the winter weather means helicopters can’t fly and the resources on the island are not up to city standards. There’s a nod to modern developments, however; the relatively new bridge to the mainland means that Skye is effectively no longer an island and people – including suspects – can come and go as they please.
Time for the Dead is dedicated to a Border Collie dog called Blaze and his character in the book plays a key role in the investigation, a plot devise that will be particularly appealing to dog lovers. The book will also appeal to dedicated Rhona McLeod fans, lovers of Scottish scenery and anyone who enjoys suspense and forensic details. This is the sort of book you carry around with you until you’ve finished it; highly recommend.
It is possible to read this book as a standalone, without having read about Rhona’s previous adventures, though one case in particular is frequently referred to, and for full enjoyment it might be better to read the books in sequence.
Time for the Dead is number 14 in the Rhona McLeod series of detective novels set in Scotland. In this book, Dr McLeod, a forensic pathologist, battles her own demons as well as attempting to understand a series of deaths on the Scottish Isle of Skye.
Rhona has taken herself to Skye, away from her job, in order to recover from the personal trauma associated to a previous case. The author describes the vast, forbidding landscapes of the island in winter, though Rhona is at home here and finds the familiarity comforting. Before long, she finds herself caught up in investigating what she thinks is a crime scene and this leads to a full-scale investigation. Rhona must decide whether she is capable of putting her feelings to one side and resuming her professional role, maybe eventually returning to Glasgow.
The investigation on the island is interspersed with short accounts of an army medic’s experiences as a prisoner in Afghanistan and we learn of the trauma she has suffered. It is not immediately apparent how this is connected to the main story. On Skye, a group of army medics on leave from Afghanistan disappear, telling locals that they are practising survival training in the remoter parts of the island. When a body is discovered at the foot of a cliff, Rhona believes there’s a link to the crime scene she has previously identified. While at first it seems that the dead man was one of the army personnel, there are suggestions that the death might be linked to organised crime and Rhona calls in her team from Glasgow to investigate.
The geography of Skye is so critical to the plot of Time for the Dead that it is almost another character, and it is brilliantly described. The contrast between the hot sands of Afghanistan and the freezing sea and landscapes on Skye are marked. In both cases, the novel’s characters pit themselves against the extremes of their surroundings in a bid to survive. We learn about the remote mountains and hillsides that form Skye’s interior, as well as the plunging cliffs and the crofts abandoned during the clearances. It is interesting to learn about the island’s history and customs as well as some explanation of the Gaelic placenames.
Rhona McLeod and the other characters are engaging, and we learn about their relationships, their flaws and the strengths that they can draw on. It does as though many of the main characters have some kind of romantic attachment to each other, either in the past or present, but that doesn’t detract from the story.
Some of the action takes place in Glasgow, and we see the contrast between the island the city. Skye still suffers from poor communication; the winter weather means helicopters can’t fly and the resources on the island are not up to city standards. There’s a nod to modern developments, however; the relatively new bridge to the mainland means that Skye is effectively no longer an island and people – including suspects – can come and go as they please.
Time for the Dead is dedicated to a Border Collie dog called Blaze and his character in the book plays a key role in the investigation, a plot devise that will be particularly appealing to dog lovers. The book will also appeal to dedicated Rhona McLeod fans, lovers of Scottish scenery and anyone who enjoys suspense and forensic details. This is the sort of book you carry around with you until you’ve finished it; highly recommend.
It is possible to read this book as a standalone, without having read about Rhona’s previous adventures, though one case in particular is frequently referred to, and for full enjoyment it might be better to read the books in sequence.
January 1, 2021
Another excellent book in the Rhona MacLeod series. The stories keep getting better!
August 5, 2021
It was good writing as always but I didn't like the case
October 12, 2025
another quality installment to the series.
August 8, 2019
In Time for the Dead, Rhona, a forensic pathologist, is stubbornly trying to deal with her personal fallout from the events in Sins of the Dead, which left her severely traumatised. So traumatised that she has been made to take time off and has gone back to Skye, where she spent much of her youth, to recuperate and to decide her future.
Despite others’ attempts, she has refused to go to Castlebrae, the Force’s excellent rehabilitation unit.
DS Michael McNab is attempting to keep an eye on her through timed daily Skype calls, but neither of them are fooling themselves into thinking that this is helpful. Rhona puts up with it because she has to stop McNab from turning up on her doorstep; for McNab, he at least knows Rhona is still with them.
One of the things I love about Lin Anderson’s novels is her vivid sense of place and the sheer beauty of Skye, with its rugged coastline and wintry dangers, is a brilliant character in this novel.
Rhona stays in a cottage belonging to Jamie McColl, a friend of some years standing and he introduces her to A.C.E Target Sports, an outdoor adventure facility – and their dog, Blaze.
Blaze is the best new character to inhabit a novel this year. Border Collie Detective, Munro Bagger, cheese connoisseur & black belt tennis ball chaser, he is a big brother to Laoch and an ace detective and rescue dog in his own right.
It is Blaze who first leads Rhona to the camp established by a group of 4 serving RAMC medics, on leave from their tour of duty in Helmand Province, and ostensibly on Skye to indulge in some rugged recreation. Rhona finds the signs of a possible crime scene but with no body, she is reluctant to trust her own instincts.
Together Rhona and Blaze investigate when a dead body is found washed up at the base of the famous cliff known as Kilt Rock, leading Rhona to wonder just why these medics are on Skye. Rhona has to stop doubting herself as her forensic capabilities are once more needed.
The appearance of Detective Alvis Olsen, from Stavanger is not entirely coincidental. On a walking holiday, he has decided to visit Skye, spurred on by a suggestion from Rhona’s assistant Chrissy, who will now join Rhona to assist in the forensic investigation of the body they have found.
In the meantime, DS McNab is investigating the case of a near fatal stabbing of a homeless drug addict and former military serviceman. McNab is on the trail of The Snowman, a notorious drug smuggler and soon it becomes clear that there are aspects of his case that have links to the dead body on Skye.
I really got caught up in this thrilling story. Anderson draws you in with the warmth and richness of her characters at the same time as she is leading you into the depths of a full and intricately plotted story that leaves you gasping at both its harshness and its topicality.
Anderson is a master story teller; her books are always incredibly well researched and her story lines resonate with her understanding of contemporary issues and the politics of expediency.
Verdict: A gripping story of resilience, of testing times and of the way we let down those whose lives are given in service to our country; Time for the Dead is Anderson at her best. Shout out too, to Blaze; a brilliant addition to the forensic team.
Despite others’ attempts, she has refused to go to Castlebrae, the Force’s excellent rehabilitation unit.
DS Michael McNab is attempting to keep an eye on her through timed daily Skype calls, but neither of them are fooling themselves into thinking that this is helpful. Rhona puts up with it because she has to stop McNab from turning up on her doorstep; for McNab, he at least knows Rhona is still with them.
One of the things I love about Lin Anderson’s novels is her vivid sense of place and the sheer beauty of Skye, with its rugged coastline and wintry dangers, is a brilliant character in this novel.
Rhona stays in a cottage belonging to Jamie McColl, a friend of some years standing and he introduces her to A.C.E Target Sports, an outdoor adventure facility – and their dog, Blaze.
Blaze is the best new character to inhabit a novel this year. Border Collie Detective, Munro Bagger, cheese connoisseur & black belt tennis ball chaser, he is a big brother to Laoch and an ace detective and rescue dog in his own right.
It is Blaze who first leads Rhona to the camp established by a group of 4 serving RAMC medics, on leave from their tour of duty in Helmand Province, and ostensibly on Skye to indulge in some rugged recreation. Rhona finds the signs of a possible crime scene but with no body, she is reluctant to trust her own instincts.
Together Rhona and Blaze investigate when a dead body is found washed up at the base of the famous cliff known as Kilt Rock, leading Rhona to wonder just why these medics are on Skye. Rhona has to stop doubting herself as her forensic capabilities are once more needed.
The appearance of Detective Alvis Olsen, from Stavanger is not entirely coincidental. On a walking holiday, he has decided to visit Skye, spurred on by a suggestion from Rhona’s assistant Chrissy, who will now join Rhona to assist in the forensic investigation of the body they have found.
In the meantime, DS McNab is investigating the case of a near fatal stabbing of a homeless drug addict and former military serviceman. McNab is on the trail of The Snowman, a notorious drug smuggler and soon it becomes clear that there are aspects of his case that have links to the dead body on Skye.
I really got caught up in this thrilling story. Anderson draws you in with the warmth and richness of her characters at the same time as she is leading you into the depths of a full and intricately plotted story that leaves you gasping at both its harshness and its topicality.
Anderson is a master story teller; her books are always incredibly well researched and her story lines resonate with her understanding of contemporary issues and the politics of expediency.
Verdict: A gripping story of resilience, of testing times and of the way we let down those whose lives are given in service to our country; Time for the Dead is Anderson at her best. Shout out too, to Blaze; a brilliant addition to the forensic team.
August 22, 2021
I have read all the earlier books in this series set in Scotland and I like the main character Rhona MacLeod who is a forensic scientist. This story is set mainly in Skye where Rhona is trying to recover from the horrific events in the previous book. However Rhona gets involved in investigating several deaths and there is also a drug angle involving military personnel who have served in Afghanistan. I felt the plot did not quite work and I was confused by all the references to cocaine as opposed to heroin. There are some nice touches which will appeal to Scottish readers of a certain age. So, not one of the author's better books but still worth a read.
July 29, 2020
This is not my favourite Lin Anderson book. It keeps referring back to what happened to Dr Rhona MacLeod (main character) and although I’ve read it I can’t remember enough of the story to engage with all of the references to it. Because of the sin-eater (previous book) Rhona finds herself at the home in Skye where she was brought up and the murders which she helps to solve whilst on the island. The book focuses on a group of soldiers back from Afghanistan where something awful happened and how they are getting murdered on the island. It jumps backwards and forwards between Afghanistan and Skye which makes it harder to follow because you don’t really know with any clarity what is happening in either part of the story. It does come together in the last chapter but............
August 8, 2019
I have been a fan of Lin’s work for a while now. I first read one of her books a few years ago and I loved the story. Each time Lin releases a new book, I eagerly read it just as soon as I can. I read the synopsis for ‘Time For The Dead’ and it certainly sounded like a cracking read. I grabbed a copy and dived straight in. Lin has done it again and written one hell of a fantastic book. I absolutely loved and thoroughly enjoyed ‘Time For The Dead’ but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Rhona MacLeod? She is a very successful forensic scientist who has assisted the police in helping to solve numerous cases over the years. ‘Time For The Dead’ sees a more vulnerable Rhona, which is not surprising given the shocking traumatic ordeal that she suffered during a previous book (‘Sins Of The Dead’). She has been left mentally scarred by what she went through and I did wonder if perhaps she was suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Rhona feels the need to get away from almost everybody and everything in order to start to recover from the ordeal. She goes to stay on the Isle Of Skye – partly to escape and partly to go back to a place that held so many memories of her childhood. It was nice to see Rhona to try to get her life back. Even whilst she is at her safe haven, she can’t leave her old job behind because something happens that triggers her forensic scientist’s curiosity. I don’t want to go too much deeper into what happens and what it leads to because I would hate to spoil the book for anybody. Rhona is still the feisty, strong, determined, tenacious and occasionally very stubborn woman that she has been throughout the series.
Oh my flipping word, ‘Time For The Dead’ was one hell of a read but then I wouldn’t expect anything else from Lin Anderson. I was hooked on this book from the moment I read the synopsis, never mind from when I began to read the story itself. When I started to read, I just knew that this was one book I wouldn’t be able to put down and so it proved to be. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to be parted from the book and I binge read the ‘Time For The Dead’ over the course of a day. I had to keep reading to see how the investigation panned out and whether or not Rhona could recover from her ordeal.
‘Time For The Dead’ is brilliantly written but then I wouldn’t expect anything else from Lin. She has a way of writing that draws you in from the first word on the first page and she doesn’t let your interest go until the last word on the last page. She keeps your interest all the way through the book by keeping the characters interesting, the story thrilling and by having a fair few twists and turns throughout the book. She has created very realistic characters and she describes them so well that they felt real. In fact I felt as though I had reunited with old friends in Rhona and DS McNab and I felt naturally protective of them. Lin Anderson has a brilliant eye for detail and she has obviously done a lot of incredibly intricate research, which shines through in her writing.
Reading ‘Time For The Dead’ felt like being on one hell of a fast, scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride. There were more twists and turns throughout this book than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. There were also moments where I didn’t want to turn the page over for fear of what was waiting for me over the page. I had to give myself a talking to because I realised that if I wanted to know how the story ended then of course I had to turn the page.
In short, ‘Time For The Dead’ is one hell of a book, which deserves to soar up to the top of the bestsellers list. The series featuring Rhona MacLeod just keeps getting better and better. I would definitely recommend Lin’s books to other readers. Lin is often compared to Ian Rankin but for me Lin is the better author. I can’t wait to read what Lin comes up with next. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
What can I say about Rhona MacLeod? She is a very successful forensic scientist who has assisted the police in helping to solve numerous cases over the years. ‘Time For The Dead’ sees a more vulnerable Rhona, which is not surprising given the shocking traumatic ordeal that she suffered during a previous book (‘Sins Of The Dead’). She has been left mentally scarred by what she went through and I did wonder if perhaps she was suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Rhona feels the need to get away from almost everybody and everything in order to start to recover from the ordeal. She goes to stay on the Isle Of Skye – partly to escape and partly to go back to a place that held so many memories of her childhood. It was nice to see Rhona to try to get her life back. Even whilst she is at her safe haven, she can’t leave her old job behind because something happens that triggers her forensic scientist’s curiosity. I don’t want to go too much deeper into what happens and what it leads to because I would hate to spoil the book for anybody. Rhona is still the feisty, strong, determined, tenacious and occasionally very stubborn woman that she has been throughout the series.
Oh my flipping word, ‘Time For The Dead’ was one hell of a read but then I wouldn’t expect anything else from Lin Anderson. I was hooked on this book from the moment I read the synopsis, never mind from when I began to read the story itself. When I started to read, I just knew that this was one book I wouldn’t be able to put down and so it proved to be. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to be parted from the book and I binge read the ‘Time For The Dead’ over the course of a day. I had to keep reading to see how the investigation panned out and whether or not Rhona could recover from her ordeal.
‘Time For The Dead’ is brilliantly written but then I wouldn’t expect anything else from Lin. She has a way of writing that draws you in from the first word on the first page and she doesn’t let your interest go until the last word on the last page. She keeps your interest all the way through the book by keeping the characters interesting, the story thrilling and by having a fair few twists and turns throughout the book. She has created very realistic characters and she describes them so well that they felt real. In fact I felt as though I had reunited with old friends in Rhona and DS McNab and I felt naturally protective of them. Lin Anderson has a brilliant eye for detail and she has obviously done a lot of incredibly intricate research, which shines through in her writing.
Reading ‘Time For The Dead’ felt like being on one hell of a fast, scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride. There were more twists and turns throughout this book than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. There were also moments where I didn’t want to turn the page over for fear of what was waiting for me over the page. I had to give myself a talking to because I realised that if I wanted to know how the story ended then of course I had to turn the page.
In short, ‘Time For The Dead’ is one hell of a book, which deserves to soar up to the top of the bestsellers list. The series featuring Rhona MacLeod just keeps getting better and better. I would definitely recommend Lin’s books to other readers. Lin is often compared to Ian Rankin but for me Lin is the better author. I can’t wait to read what Lin comes up with next. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
February 11, 2022
A middling entry in the on-going Rhona McLeod series. Enjoyable in parts, but with a few rough edges. Pleasant enough, but not a stand out.
Most of the story takes place around Skye as pathologist Rhona McLeod has gone there to recuperate after the events of the previous book. Those events (the Sin Eater case) are referenced frequently, but not explained, through the first half of the book. If you haven’t read it, you might find this annoying.
To be honest, I have read that book, and still found them a bit annoying, as I couldn’t remember how it ended, other than Rhona obviously survives.
Still, it’s not too distracting and the setting and basic plot here are pretty good. Relocating the action to Skye and away from Glasgow where the story normally takes place does create a different fresher vibe. The book does a decent job of bringing to life what life on the island is like.
The main plot involves a group of soldiers who’d been in Afghanistan. Their group was captured by the Taliban, and we get flashbacks to that time. They’re now reunited on the island, and there’s a plot involving drug smuggling that also links back to a case DS McNabb is investigating back in Glasgow.
It all starts to go wrong. Bodies get found, Rhona and team investigate and it all pans out from there.
It’s a decent structure for a story, but there’s some odd elements that held it back from being a better read.
Firstly, there’s a lot of secondary characters to keep track off. There’s the whole army group, plus the various islanders, plus some drug gangster types in Glasgow. Those are on top of the returning Norwegian cop from the previous book, who to be honest didn’t really add very much here.
There’s also recurring main characters Chrissy and DS McNab, with the latter having his own sub-plot in this book involving his girlfriend and a junky he finds stabbed outside a bar.
It doesn’t help that the army group are all known by their nicknames for most of the book. A big plot point is who in the army group leads the connection to drug smuggling (he’s referred to as Sandman for most of the book). When it’s revealed though, it’s a bit underwhelming.
We’ve also got a dog character called Blaze, but who should have been called Lassie, as he seems to be some sort of wonder dog who wanders between characters and sniffs out clues. Dog’s in real life are great, but in books, not so much. There’s a limit to how many smart, cute dog references you can read before it starts to sound repetitive.
The drug references were also a little confusing. All the Afghanistan references seem to talk about heroin, while the Skye and Glasgow drug references mainly talk about cocaine. No expert, but know there’s quite a lot of differences between the two.
We also get a slightly confusing epilogue where Rhona meets back up with Sean, her on-off partner who runs a jazz club, and we get a “reveal” about another plot line that seemed to come out of nowhere. Maybe it was in the previous book and I’d forgotten, but hadn’t picked up on it in this book.
If you’ve enjoyed other books in this series, you’ll be OK with this one as the characters are still pretty strong and the new setting gives it a bit of freshness. But if you’re new to this series, the earlier ones are probably a better place to start.
Most of the story takes place around Skye as pathologist Rhona McLeod has gone there to recuperate after the events of the previous book. Those events (the Sin Eater case) are referenced frequently, but not explained, through the first half of the book. If you haven’t read it, you might find this annoying.
To be honest, I have read that book, and still found them a bit annoying, as I couldn’t remember how it ended, other than Rhona obviously survives.
Still, it’s not too distracting and the setting and basic plot here are pretty good. Relocating the action to Skye and away from Glasgow where the story normally takes place does create a different fresher vibe. The book does a decent job of bringing to life what life on the island is like.
The main plot involves a group of soldiers who’d been in Afghanistan. Their group was captured by the Taliban, and we get flashbacks to that time. They’re now reunited on the island, and there’s a plot involving drug smuggling that also links back to a case DS McNabb is investigating back in Glasgow.
It all starts to go wrong. Bodies get found, Rhona and team investigate and it all pans out from there.
It’s a decent structure for a story, but there’s some odd elements that held it back from being a better read.
Firstly, there’s a lot of secondary characters to keep track off. There’s the whole army group, plus the various islanders, plus some drug gangster types in Glasgow. Those are on top of the returning Norwegian cop from the previous book, who to be honest didn’t really add very much here.
There’s also recurring main characters Chrissy and DS McNab, with the latter having his own sub-plot in this book involving his girlfriend and a junky he finds stabbed outside a bar.
It doesn’t help that the army group are all known by their nicknames for most of the book. A big plot point is who in the army group leads the connection to drug smuggling (he’s referred to as Sandman for most of the book). When it’s revealed though, it’s a bit underwhelming.
We’ve also got a dog character called Blaze, but who should have been called Lassie, as he seems to be some sort of wonder dog who wanders between characters and sniffs out clues. Dog’s in real life are great, but in books, not so much. There’s a limit to how many smart, cute dog references you can read before it starts to sound repetitive.
The drug references were also a little confusing. All the Afghanistan references seem to talk about heroin, while the Skye and Glasgow drug references mainly talk about cocaine. No expert, but know there’s quite a lot of differences between the two.
We also get a slightly confusing epilogue where Rhona meets back up with Sean, her on-off partner who runs a jazz club, and we get a “reveal” about another plot line that seemed to come out of nowhere. Maybe it was in the previous book and I’d forgotten, but hadn’t picked up on it in this book.
If you’ve enjoyed other books in this series, you’ll be OK with this one as the characters are still pretty strong and the new setting gives it a bit of freshness. But if you’re new to this series, the earlier ones are probably a better place to start.
October 28, 2022
I'll preface this review by saying that I read almost exclusively literary fiction and classics. Crime thrillers are not my thing, but I picked this book up as a souvenir from A.C.E Target Sports last year during a trip to Skye.
Unfortunately, the writing is poor. For instance, the book opens with a 1.5 page long prologue that uses the "his ears were like radar" simile twice. How does stuff like that get past an editor? There's also a page (p.22) where ten different place names or landmarks are listed off. That doesn't make the reader feel grounded in a sense of place. It simply makes the reader aware that the writer was looking at a map while writing that passage. It's lazy writing. In fact, I also felt a bit lost during the final climatic scene of the novel. The author was trying to describe a very specific rock and beach layout that was crucial to Rhona going a certain way, but I had no idea what I was supposed to be imagining. Because of this, there was no tension for me.
We have other gems like "...to remind herself she hadn't been buried alive again in Dr Bailey's questioning eyes" and "whether she felt free of her prison and could say the words, Rhona didn't know", not to mention a horrific use of grammar at times. For example, "She wasn't even sure if she would welcome being back in the lab. Something she hadn't divulged to Chrissy. Being confined in a PPI suit for long periods of time, with her mouth and nose covered? On a beach with a view of the sky that had been manageable, but..." If the reader has to re-read passages to understand where the commas should be to make it make sense, it needs correction. Its not "writing style", it's just a poor use of English.
The storytelling is also lacking. The reader really has to suspend their judgement and turn off the analytical part of their brain to allow the plot to make sense. For instance, why would anybody see a piece of mesh and immediately come to the (correct) conclusion that it's the mesh from a burka? How would someone remember another soldier's dog tag number off the top of their head? How did wearing a burka result in Seven have a superhuman sense of smell? I could go on.
That being said, I'm going to be generous and give this 2.5 out of 5. Why? Well, I can't be annoyed at a crime thriller for not being serious literary fiction. It would be like being annoyed at an ITV crime drama for not being life changing. I doubt I'll ever pick up anything by Lin Anderson again, but it made a nice souvenir and I enjoyed the mentions of Blaze (except for when the author occasionally refers to him as "it" for no explicable reason), whom I had the pleasure of meeting.
Unfortunately, the writing is poor. For instance, the book opens with a 1.5 page long prologue that uses the "his ears were like radar" simile twice. How does stuff like that get past an editor? There's also a page (p.22) where ten different place names or landmarks are listed off. That doesn't make the reader feel grounded in a sense of place. It simply makes the reader aware that the writer was looking at a map while writing that passage. It's lazy writing. In fact, I also felt a bit lost during the final climatic scene of the novel. The author was trying to describe a very specific rock and beach layout that was crucial to Rhona going a certain way, but I had no idea what I was supposed to be imagining. Because of this, there was no tension for me.
We have other gems like "...to remind herself she hadn't been buried alive again in Dr Bailey's questioning eyes" and "whether she felt free of her prison and could say the words, Rhona didn't know", not to mention a horrific use of grammar at times. For example, "She wasn't even sure if she would welcome being back in the lab. Something she hadn't divulged to Chrissy. Being confined in a PPI suit for long periods of time, with her mouth and nose covered? On a beach with a view of the sky that had been manageable, but..." If the reader has to re-read passages to understand where the commas should be to make it make sense, it needs correction. Its not "writing style", it's just a poor use of English.
The storytelling is also lacking. The reader really has to suspend their judgement and turn off the analytical part of their brain to allow the plot to make sense. For instance, why would anybody see a piece of mesh and immediately come to the (correct) conclusion that it's the mesh from a burka? How would someone remember another soldier's dog tag number off the top of their head? How did wearing a burka result in Seven have a superhuman sense of smell? I could go on.
That being said, I'm going to be generous and give this 2.5 out of 5. Why? Well, I can't be annoyed at a crime thriller for not being serious literary fiction. It would be like being annoyed at an ITV crime drama for not being life changing. I doubt I'll ever pick up anything by Lin Anderson again, but it made a nice souvenir and I enjoyed the mentions of Blaze (except for when the author occasionally refers to him as "it" for no explicable reason), whom I had the pleasure of meeting.
February 11, 2023
This fascinating crime novel is the 14th volume of the magnificent "Rhona MacLeod" thriller series.
Storytelling is excellent, the storyline superbly structured and executed, while all figures featuring in this thriller are very believable and lifelike.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of Skye, Scotland, while at the back you'll notice some fine Acknowledgements.
This thriller is once again fast-paced, action-packed and very much spellbinding, with nail-biting moments and wonderful interaction.
It starts off with Dr Rhona MacLeod back at her home turf of Skye, after her near deadly and psychologically encounter in "Sins of the Dead", when she encounters, due to the insistence of the border collie, named Blaze, a kind of crime scene without a body.
Soon enough a body is found at the base of Kilt Rock, and this will bring Rhona, the local police and search teams, as well ass DS McNab and DS Clark from the police in Glasgow, in full action, simply because it will soon enough become known that heroin, a criminal gang from Glasgow and the missing army medics will have a strong connection.
What is to follow is a gripping and marvellous thriller, in which Blaze the dog is the main attraction, while Rhona has to overcome her own anxieties from her emotional experiences from "Sins of the Dead", and to get a grip on herself, she's trying hard to solve, together with Blaze the collie, these cases of murder, with also the assistance from some other colleagues and friends, and at the same time save a life of someone with the same emotional and psychical problems as herself.
Very much recommended, for this is another terrific addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Blaze & Rhona Thriller"!
Storytelling is excellent, the storyline superbly structured and executed, while all figures featuring in this thriller are very believable and lifelike.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of Skye, Scotland, while at the back you'll notice some fine Acknowledgements.
This thriller is once again fast-paced, action-packed and very much spellbinding, with nail-biting moments and wonderful interaction.
It starts off with Dr Rhona MacLeod back at her home turf of Skye, after her near deadly and psychologically encounter in "Sins of the Dead", when she encounters, due to the insistence of the border collie, named Blaze, a kind of crime scene without a body.
Soon enough a body is found at the base of Kilt Rock, and this will bring Rhona, the local police and search teams, as well ass DS McNab and DS Clark from the police in Glasgow, in full action, simply because it will soon enough become known that heroin, a criminal gang from Glasgow and the missing army medics will have a strong connection.
What is to follow is a gripping and marvellous thriller, in which Blaze the dog is the main attraction, while Rhona has to overcome her own anxieties from her emotional experiences from "Sins of the Dead", and to get a grip on herself, she's trying hard to solve, together with Blaze the collie, these cases of murder, with also the assistance from some other colleagues and friends, and at the same time save a life of someone with the same emotional and psychical problems as herself.
Very much recommended, for this is another terrific addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Blaze & Rhona Thriller"!
August 16, 2019
I was very excited to see a new Lin Anderson book - Kindle out and downloaded on release day. This book starts where the last one ended, with Rhona MacLeod feeling the effects of her ordeal in the previous case. We see a more vulnerable Rhona in this book as she hides away on Skye and struggles to come to terms with what happened. DS McNab is worried about her and checks up on her via skype daily. But of course, Rhona finds herself in the middle of a new case, and suspecting links with an ongoing drugs case in Glasgow, Mcnab and Rhona's assistant Chrissy also come to Skye. The interaction of the islanders and the visitors from the city is interesting, and the star of the show is Blaze, the dog. The other group of protagonists are a group of soldiers who have recently been in Afghanistan where they underwent a terrible ordeal in captivity. How has this affected them now and what are the links with the bodies on the island and the drugs case. The usual intrigue, dangerous situations and confusing private lives. With Chrissy as usual adding mood lightening humour. Another cracking read.
August 10, 2019
Another great book from Lin Anderson. As part of the Dr Rhona MacLeod series of novels, this book did not fail to please.
The story is set between the Isle of Skye and Glasgow where two ongoing investigations are found to be linked. What is the connection between a homeless young man sleeping in the doorway of a shop in Glasgow and Afghanistan ? Also are a group of army medics just enjoying the scenery in Skye or are they involved in the discovery of a body on the beach at the foot of a cliff ?
This novel was a real page turner with beautiful descriptions of the Isle of Skye and its rugged terrain. The story developed well and moved at a steady pace with larger than life characters and a dog named Blaze which stole the show.
I would highly recommend this book. Lin Andersons novels just get better.
The story is set between the Isle of Skye and Glasgow where two ongoing investigations are found to be linked. What is the connection between a homeless young man sleeping in the doorway of a shop in Glasgow and Afghanistan ? Also are a group of army medics just enjoying the scenery in Skye or are they involved in the discovery of a body on the beach at the foot of a cliff ?
This novel was a real page turner with beautiful descriptions of the Isle of Skye and its rugged terrain. The story developed well and moved at a steady pace with larger than life characters and a dog named Blaze which stole the show.
I would highly recommend this book. Lin Andersons novels just get better.
April 28, 2022
This was way too dark for me. I mean, this was borderline grisly. Not the worst grisly ever, but way too grisly for my enjoyment. I picked this series because it’s set in Scotland, but this book actually ended up being partly based in Afghanistan, and focused almost more on Afghanistan issues than Scotland.
As it happened, I read this book #14 as my intro to the series. Why? Because #14 was the one book in the series that my library had. So I began with book #14, which is not something I would normally do. There were definitely extensive references to prior books and occurrences (which is why I always start with #1).
I won’t read further in this series. It’s just too dark for me; I don’t feel like this constitutes “entertainment” (and I always wonder how/why so many people enjoy reading stories like this…)
As it happened, I read this book #14 as my intro to the series. Why? Because #14 was the one book in the series that my library had. So I began with book #14, which is not something I would normally do. There were definitely extensive references to prior books and occurrences (which is why I always start with #1).
I won’t read further in this series. It’s just too dark for me; I don’t feel like this constitutes “entertainment” (and I always wonder how/why so many people enjoy reading stories like this…)
July 6, 2020
Reading this novel immediately after the previous title in the series definitely paid off. The events of SINS OF THE DEAD were very fresh in my memory and there were many references to that novel which would have otherwise left me very puzzled. My conclusion is that this really is a series where the author does not hold back from references to previous events.
Based on this experience, if you have never read any in this series, my advice would be to start at the beginning if you can, as I am sure part of the pleasure comes from the accumulation of knowledge about characters and what has happened to them.
I do really like the central character Rhona MacLeod and those other characters who are linked to her. The scenarios are very believable.
Based on this experience, if you have never read any in this series, my advice would be to start at the beginning if you can, as I am sure part of the pleasure comes from the accumulation of knowledge about characters and what has happened to them.
I do really like the central character Rhona MacLeod and those other characters who are linked to her. The scenarios are very believable.
August 23, 2019
I started the Rhonda Macleod series about book 7 then worked my way through the back catalogue and since then have eagerly awaited each new book. The descriptions of the scenery always make me eager to visit the places ,all the regular characters are interesting and grew in depth as the series progresses and the new characters in each book are just as well written . In this book Blaze was definitely my favourite and I do hope he reappears in other books. The subject matter of drugs and service personal who return from Afghanistan is a depressing and thought provoking theme , handled with sensitivity .
October 11, 2020
Lin Anderson's novels fall into the genre of Tartan Noir - which has its roots in Scottish literature. Strongly influenced by Robert Louis Stevenson, no less. Her protagonist is Rhona MacLeod, a forensic scientist who works closely with the police. I like the fact that I was taken into the work of a forensic scientist. I realized as I was into the novel that I had read it before - but as testimony to the power of the story - I read it once more. Lin Anderson is a big fan of Braveheart - having watch the film fifty times - and has written a non-fiction book about the making of the film. She is a master of this genre.
August 18, 2019
Excellent read! Interesting and thought provoking theme to this book. Have read all of her books and this certainly rates highly.
Dr Rhona McLeod on Skye to help with the effects of her last case and ending up getting mixed up in another! McNab back in Glasgow having his own things to deal with as well as worrying about Rhona. However it becomes clear there is a connection in their cases and the whole team become involved. The addition of Blaze was lovely and hope we have him again! The epilogue was certainly something to think about.
I would thoroughly recommend this book.
Dr Rhona McLeod on Skye to help with the effects of her last case and ending up getting mixed up in another! McNab back in Glasgow having his own things to deal with as well as worrying about Rhona. However it becomes clear there is a connection in their cases and the whole team become involved. The addition of Blaze was lovely and hope we have him again! The epilogue was certainly something to think about.
I would thoroughly recommend this book.
October 31, 2021
Forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has returned to her old home on the Isle of Skye whilst attempting to recover from PTSD brought on by a traumatising experience during a previous case.
Soon after her arrival she discovers a potential crime scene, possibly linked to the arrival on Skye of a group of army medics on leave from deployment in Afghanistan.
As the case becomes more complex Rhona , together with work colleagues from Glasgow , finds herself on the track of a killer adept at hiding in the more remote parts of the island.
A great story you won't want to put down !
Soon after her arrival she discovers a potential crime scene, possibly linked to the arrival on Skye of a group of army medics on leave from deployment in Afghanistan.
As the case becomes more complex Rhona , together with work colleagues from Glasgow , finds herself on the track of a killer adept at hiding in the more remote parts of the island.
A great story you won't want to put down !
August 22, 2019
I’m a big fan of the Rhona MacLeod series. Lin Anderson paints such a believable picture of all her characters. You can feel yourself cheering characters like McNab on as he’s deeply flawed but such an easy to empathise with character. Chrissy is an excellent character who is great with Rhona. I won’t put in any spoilers but it’s great to see Rhona having a wholly different adventure and to see her grow and change, as we all do in the series. Excellent Lin Anderson, once again!
May 25, 2020
A book that I start reading at lunchtime, then continue to do so, moving from house to garden a couple of times and back to house until quarter past eight in the evening, when I finally finish it, my contented sigh at recognising the quality that I began with echoed at the end, cannot be given anything but five stars. And will certainly - as with all the others -be read again.
September 20, 2021
One of the better Lin Anderson novels.
Set on the Isle of Skye, which made it easy for me to visualise most of the action. I thought that the plot moved along well - I covered the second half of the novel in a day.
A further benefit was the absence of Sean the drip, but unfortunately, he did appear right at the end!
Set on the Isle of Skye, which made it easy for me to visualise most of the action. I thought that the plot moved along well - I covered the second half of the novel in a day.
A further benefit was the absence of Sean the drip, but unfortunately, he did appear right at the end!
March 21, 2023
I enjoyed this book. It had an interesting cast of characters and the setting was appealing. I will probably read other books from this series. I found that the plot moves along at a good pace. The main character is recovering from a traumatic experience which makes her sympathetic to another woman who has experienced trauma.
April 18, 2023
This is another great addition to the story of Rhona's life as a forensic scientist.
She has gone back to Skye to recover from the earlier case where she was held captive and thought she was going to die.
A few old friends are still on the island and help her on the journey to recovery.
A body turns up and Rhona finds herself involved in finding out what happened.
She has gone back to Skye to recover from the earlier case where she was held captive and thought she was going to die.
A few old friends are still on the island and help her on the journey to recovery.
A body turns up and Rhona finds herself involved in finding out what happened.
January 3, 2025
Rhona is trying to get past the Sineater case where she lost the baby and was buried alive. She's on her beloved Skye where she is pulled into a case where medics who had served in Afghanistan are on the island doing survival drills when a man is found at the bottom of a cliff ...which mean Rhona will become involved in solving the case with an adorable new sidekick Blaze a brilliant border collie. Is the dead man a member of this group and what really happened in Afghanistan.
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