What do you think?
DI Kelso Strang #3
Devil's Garden
When DCI Kelso Strang hears that an old friend from his police college days suspects there is corruption in her local station at Halliburgh in the Borders of Scotland, he sends her undercover so they can act before a major scandal erupts. What he doesn't expect is that this will have to take a back seat to an extraordinary series of events that unfold as revenge for a long-concealed and ugly secret takes its tragic course. Just as the situation becomes critical, the Beast from the East roars in bringing chaos and Strang can do nothing but rage and wait for the thaw.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2020
About the author
Aline Templeton
44 books139 followersAline Templeton grew up in the East Neuk of Fife and was educated at St Leonards School, St Andrews and Cambridge University. She has worked in education and broadcasting and has written numerous stories and articles for national newspapers and magazines. Templeton was a bench Justice of the Peace for ten years and is a former Chair of the Society of Authors in Scotland, now living in Edinburgh. She is married with a grown up family.
She has written nine crime novels, published by Hodder & Stoughton in Britain, and has also been published in the United States and several European countries. After writing seven stand-alone books, she started a series set in Galloway and featuring DI Marjory Fleming, the first of which – Cold In The Earth – was an Ottakar's Crime Novel of the Month and an Independent Best Summer Read. The second, The Darkness and the Deep, was published in July 2006, and there are now six books in the DI Fleming series.
She has written nine crime novels, published by Hodder & Stoughton in Britain, and has also been published in the United States and several European countries. After writing seven stand-alone books, she started a series set in Galloway and featuring DI Marjory Fleming, the first of which – Cold In The Earth – was an Ottakar's Crime Novel of the Month and an Independent Best Summer Read. The second, The Darkness and the Deep, was published in July 2006, and there are now six books in the DI Fleming series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 20, 2021
The book starts with a funeral. That of Cassie’s brother Felix from drugs. It appears Cassie feels far more about the lost of her brother than Anna Harper does about the death of her son. Anna has always been focused on her writing career and books more than her children. Her friend Marta has been with her for years protecting Anna’s writing time and virtually doing whatever Anna requires. But these two have a secret. Only now it seems someone knows and is after payback. Who can this person be and what do they want? DCI Kelso Strang meets up with an old colleague when he is sent to her local police station to investigate the situation and uncover the truth. Can he do so before another person dies?
Maybe it’s me at present, but I am finding it hard to get characters straight in my mind when I am introduced to too many all at once. That was the case with this book. If I had read the first two books in the series and got to know the characters it would perhaps have helped, but nothing on my book said it was book 3. Not exactly what you would call a face paced read. It took a long while to capture interest.
Although I read to the end it definitely wasn’t one of those books I couldn’t wait to get back to, though I was curious enough to want to see how it turned out. The setting, the winter chill and being snowed in are well conveyed. Perhaps more strongly than any of the characters. An okay read but doubt if I will be going back for any more books featuring Kelso Strang. Neither character or plot impressed me enough to warrant the time. But there may well be plenty of others who will enjoy this book more than I did.
Maybe it’s me at present, but I am finding it hard to get characters straight in my mind when I am introduced to too many all at once. That was the case with this book. If I had read the first two books in the series and got to know the characters it would perhaps have helped, but nothing on my book said it was book 3. Not exactly what you would call a face paced read. It took a long while to capture interest.
Although I read to the end it definitely wasn’t one of those books I couldn’t wait to get back to, though I was curious enough to want to see how it turned out. The setting, the winter chill and being snowed in are well conveyed. Perhaps more strongly than any of the characters. An okay read but doubt if I will be going back for any more books featuring Kelso Strang. Neither character or plot impressed me enough to warrant the time. But there may well be plenty of others who will enjoy this book more than I did.
March 30, 2022
There were so many negative remarks on this book that I was hesitant to start reading it.
Although it isn't the very best book that I have read, it also wasn't the worst. I liked
the characters and the story line. The one negative I had was the structure of some of her
sentences. I found that I would have go back, sometimes 3 or 4 times, to grasp what she was
trying say to the reader. Overall it really wasn't that bad and I would recommend.
Our taste in reading material is like any form of art - very personal.
May 28, 2021
I've read all the Marjory Fleming books set in SW Scotland, and then gravitated on to the Kelso Strang series. Diminishing returns as this book failed to engage me. Despite Val McDermid's backing (along with all things Scottish) I have to admit this story is probably only for completist fans only.
Disappointing. 1.5 stars.
Disappointing. 1.5 stars.
October 5, 2025
I loved this - the series just gets better. Love Kelso Strang and Livvy. This was a really good plot and I enjoyed all the different threads. The setting and the weather were also very real and added to the excitement of the novel.
Looking forward to the next instalment of this series.
Looking forward to the next instalment of this series.
October 27, 2025
The book opens with a funeral, for Felix a troubled young man who died of a drug overdose in the arms of his sister Cassie. Their mother is a famous writer and stayed stoney faced throughout the proceedings whilst Cassie was struggling to keep herself together. She didn't want to go back to the party, no it would never be a wake her mother is too busy networking to protect "the brand" which is the author that is Anna Harper, but Anna is receiving letters, threatening ones and has tightened the security in the house. She is also about to start a week long workshop with budding writers, for a fee of course! Then Cassie gets knocked down by a speeding car heading right for her. And this changes things.
Enter Kelso Strang, a widowed police officer who heads up the Scottish Serious Rural Crime Squad, and his sister and her little girl have come to live with him as she has left her partner. I quite like the little girl you can hear her inside your head with those little baby words! But Kelso would really like them both to go and leave him in peace still mourning the loss of his wife and their unborn child. Kelso is now having to go and deal with Anna Harper who is such a cold fish.
The story is a tad slow going but the plot is sound, I actually fell asleep reading it after breakfast, and restarted it later in the day as there were a lot of characters to get your head around and more seemed to be coming down the line! I didn't really understand the ending. I have read another Kelso Strang book and he seems an okayish guy. There was one chilling bit when the lights go out in Anna's home and the security systems go down too and an intruder finds his way into her home. And the snow is falling thick and fast, now was that somewhere else in the book maybe when Cassie was run over? Snow seems to play a prominent part in this book!
Enter Kelso Strang, a widowed police officer who heads up the Scottish Serious Rural Crime Squad, and his sister and her little girl have come to live with him as she has left her partner. I quite like the little girl you can hear her inside your head with those little baby words! But Kelso would really like them both to go and leave him in peace still mourning the loss of his wife and their unborn child. Kelso is now having to go and deal with Anna Harper who is such a cold fish.
The story is a tad slow going but the plot is sound, I actually fell asleep reading it after breakfast, and restarted it later in the day as there were a lot of characters to get your head around and more seemed to be coming down the line! I didn't really understand the ending. I have read another Kelso Strang book and he seems an okayish guy. There was one chilling bit when the lights go out in Anna's home and the security systems go down too and an intruder finds his way into her home. And the snow is falling thick and fast, now was that somewhere else in the book maybe when Cassie was run over? Snow seems to play a prominent part in this book!
May 1, 2021
From the Goodreads Blurb: When DCI Kelso Strang hears that an old friend from his police college days suspects there is corruption in her local station at Halliburgh in the Borders of Scotland, he sends her undercover so they can act before a major scandal erupts. What he doesn't expect is that this will have to take a back seat to an extraordinary series of events that unfold as revenge for a long-concealed and ugly secret takes its tragic course. Just as the situation becomes critical, the Beast from the East roars in bringing chaos and Strang can do nothing but rage and wait for the thaw.
A little slow getting started and it took a while to find a character to care about. In the first two books in the series, the geography was an important character — not so much in this one. Kate Graham was a good character.
This was book #19 on our 2021 Read-alouds List.
A little slow getting started and it took a while to find a character to care about. In the first two books in the series, the geography was an important character — not so much in this one. Kate Graham was a good character.
This was book #19 on our 2021 Read-alouds List.
November 6, 2024
This is the third book featuring Detective Chief Inspector Strang of the Serious Rural Crime Squad and Detective Constable Murray.
Most of the story is set in a small town in the Scottish Borders where Strang believes there may be corrupt local police aiding drug trafficking. A famous author lives in the town and her son has recently died of a drug overdose and when her daughter is knocked off her bicycle she believes someone has a grudge against her.
The author knows how to tell a story and her main characters are interesting and believable but somehow this story did not quite work for me. However this is still a good and exciting read and I look forward to finding all the author's other books.
Most of the story is set in a small town in the Scottish Borders where Strang believes there may be corrupt local police aiding drug trafficking. A famous author lives in the town and her son has recently died of a drug overdose and when her daughter is knocked off her bicycle she believes someone has a grudge against her.
The author knows how to tell a story and her main characters are interesting and believable but somehow this story did not quite work for me. However this is still a good and exciting read and I look forward to finding all the author's other books.
November 13, 2025
A powerful story of obsession & guilt, and of talent & the price it can cost
Where does talent end & selfish obsession start? DCI Strange get a whistleblower testimony & in coming to investigate they find much more than they ever could have imagined.
One to the world's great literary talents is also just a woman & a mother of a murdered son. Is her talent worth more than the lives of people around her? And is her obsession with the secret world only she controls worth her children growing up as an afterthought in lives with everything their hearts desire except the one thing all children really need?
Where does talent end & selfish obsession start? DCI Strange get a whistleblower testimony & in coming to investigate they find much more than they ever could have imagined.
One to the world's great literary talents is also just a woman & a mother of a murdered son. Is her talent worth more than the lives of people around her? And is her obsession with the secret world only she controls worth her children growing up as an afterthought in lives with everything their hearts desire except the one thing all children really need?
February 17, 2023
★★★.5
borrowed this book via libby app
and it was truly a suspenseful one. damn i don't expect the plot to be that way. suspected Hammond but i thought he only involve in bribery charges or something, well this is more twisted than that.
the writings feel draggy a bit, and there were so many characters introduced that idk which one is the lead haha my fault on that cause i jumped into the book blindly without knowing this is the third instalment in the series.
but it really serve well as a thriller and what i want for a distraction.
borrowed this book via libby app
and it was truly a suspenseful one. damn i don't expect the plot to be that way. suspected Hammond but i thought he only involve in bribery charges or something, well this is more twisted than that.
the writings feel draggy a bit, and there were so many characters introduced that idk which one is the lead haha my fault on that cause i jumped into the book blindly without knowing this is the third instalment in the series.
but it really serve well as a thriller and what i want for a distraction.
October 17, 2025
This book was engaging from the outset.
An interesting cast of characters and the plot flowed well right through to the exciting finish.
Like many stories based around police, they're referred to by both their last names formally and first names at other times leading to another layer of character names to get your memory around!
Occasionally I found the writing a bit unclear and I needed to go back and reread to make sense of a sentence or passage and I was glad to see this point mentioned by another reviewer, so it wasn't just me!
l'd like to read more by this author.
An interesting cast of characters and the plot flowed well right through to the exciting finish.
Like many stories based around police, they're referred to by both their last names formally and first names at other times leading to another layer of character names to get your memory around!
Occasionally I found the writing a bit unclear and I needed to go back and reread to make sense of a sentence or passage and I was glad to see this point mentioned by another reviewer, so it wasn't just me!
l'd like to read more by this author.
September 18, 2026
I am getting to know the main characters in this series and they are growing on me. However, this book introduced so many people that it was hard to remember who was who. There were so many extras that could have been cut out. I admit to skipping large chunks of this book. By the time I picked it up again towards the end, we only had characters left who were essential to the story. I will try one more of these.
October 2, 2025
Another Excellent Police Procedural!
This was a very interesting and intriguing story, full of twists and turns that kept you guessing. Suspense, secrets, lies and a very obsessed individual. How far will someone go to keep their past hidden and someone else to seek revenge. Another very good read in this series.
This was a very interesting and intriguing story, full of twists and turns that kept you guessing. Suspense, secrets, lies and a very obsessed individual. How far will someone go to keep their past hidden and someone else to seek revenge. Another very good read in this series.
October 29, 2025
Mystery in a small town
A police woman from Detective Strang's past tells him her concerns about her station's leadership. He decides to investigate and finds so much more than just corruption. There is murder and kidnapping surrounding a world famous wealthy author. It is a well written engaging hard to put down story and is highly recommended.
A police woman from Detective Strang's past tells him her concerns about her station's leadership. He decides to investigate and finds so much more than just corruption. There is murder and kidnapping surrounding a world famous wealthy author. It is a well written engaging hard to put down story and is highly recommended.
February 11, 2021
A far-fetched plot and characters who simply disappear without explanation towards the end of the book. Jackson would have had to hand his betting slip in to receive payment; you do not get this back! Not the best book this author has written by a long chalk.
October 1, 2025
Excellent
Another great read. Maybe it started a bit slow but got very interesting very quickly. Livvie is getting better though DCI Steang still struggles with her. I enjoy how they work together.i hope there is another one coming.
Another great read. Maybe it started a bit slow but got very interesting very quickly. Livvie is getting better though DCI Steang still struggles with her. I enjoy how they work together.i hope there is another one coming.
November 12, 2025
another great read
With corrupt police, a drug problem and an aloof author afraid of something she won’t tell the police, DCI Kelso Strang and DC Livvie Murray have their work cut out for them. This is another great read from the pen of Aline Templeton.
With corrupt police, a drug problem and an aloof author afraid of something she won’t tell the police, DCI Kelso Strang and DC Livvie Murray have their work cut out for them. This is another great read from the pen of Aline Templeton.
December 25, 2025
Excellent
Another good Kelso Strang story. Enjoyed the plot. Well written with some twists and turns. Didn't work out who was doing everything and how he was involved until the end. Story kept me engaged.
Another good Kelso Strang story. Enjoyed the plot. Well written with some twists and turns. Didn't work out who was doing everything and how he was involved until the end. Story kept me engaged.
February 6, 2026
Strang is called to the borders to investigate a possibly corrupt officer, Hammond, with regard to drug dealers.
While there he comes across a reclusive author, Anna Harper, who has a dangerous secret.
Divvy Murray shows up around page 100. Hooray!
While there he comes across a reclusive author, Anna Harper, who has a dangerous secret.
Divvy Murray shows up around page 100. Hooray!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2026
Unlikely in the extreme
I've read two books in this series and enjoyed them but this one is just daft. Oh it's well written but the plot is ridiculous. Not worth reading. I still like the inspector and his side kick though so I'll try another one.
I've read two books in this series and enjoyed them but this one is just daft. Oh it's well written but the plot is ridiculous. Not worth reading. I still like the inspector and his side kick though so I'll try another one.
July 3, 2026
murder in the snow
Aline has a great grasp of both personality and description of the surroundings. Her sense of drama and the interweaving of the relationships between the characters is exceptional.
Aline has a great grasp of both personality and description of the surroundings. Her sense of drama and the interweaving of the relationships between the characters is exceptional.
June 28, 2020
Another Scottish winner
Kelsey Strang’s rural investigation takes him to a tiny border town, where a reclusive author is clearly in someone’s sights. A complex police procedural.
Kelsey Strang’s rural investigation takes him to a tiny border town, where a reclusive author is clearly in someone’s sights. A complex police procedural.
April 15, 2021
I think Aline Templeton is a great mystery/policeprocedural writer. If you like that genre you can read any of her books and enjoy. Hoping there is an upcoming book in the Kelsey Strang series.
May 25, 2021
Would be a good book to read on a plane or holiday where you don't want to engage brain. The plot doesn't stand too much analysis, but the reading is easy.
June 17, 2021
Not enough depth of character for me. But, a good if improbable story.
January 20, 2022
Enjoyed this book good story. I will be looking fir more books by this author
January 30, 2022
Really good story, highly recommend
February 4, 2022
Wish I could give it one star, the plot took far to long too get interesting and all the characters were insufferable.the big twist at the end wasn't even worth it and was extremely anti-climactic.
February 27, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
September 24, 2023
Local author from Fife. Great story, but the multiple characters and names were a lot to take in at first.
April 15, 2024
Took a few chapters to get into it, but worth persevering with.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews