Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

OMG! How have I not heard of Lin Anderson or this series before? Having just finished this book I know now that I just need this series in my life...I loved it! It's just what I love in a crime thriller. A little bit of crime, a little bit of procedural, a little bit of thriller...and best of all, the various perspectives of the main players of the story...without it being all about Rhona and "the investigation". This way readers get a bit of everything as we puzzle it out for ourselves whilst being lead on the thrill-ride of our lives. I have read many crime thriller series but this one ticks most of the boxes and kept my engaged right the way through. Now I just have to find time to go back to the beginning sometime and see where it all began...

The opening chapter drew me in right away. Karen wakes from a fitful sleep and disturbing nightmares that have haunted her since childhood. And now even in her waking hours as black crows on the hearth seemingly sending messages from the dead as well as visions of her dead cat outside her window. This can't be happening. She seeks her husband Jack for answers...but he isn't there. For he, too, is dead...from dementia some time ago. It appears caring for him has taken it's toll on her and she can no longer distinguish fact from fiction; fantasy from reality. So what is haunting her dreams and turning them into nightmares...did it really happen? The diary, she suddenly remembers. The diary will tell her if what she imagines is true...because she wrote about it at the time. The diary will hold the truth...

Mary McIntyre was 11 years old when she disappeared from East Kilbride on 1st May 1975, just two days before her twelfth birthday. And despite investigations at the time, she was never found and no one was ever brought to justice. It was the case that haunted former DI Jimmy McCreadie since he was unwillingly shunted off the case and from the police. Now forty five years later, swimmers have made a gruesome discovery in a peat bog in a lochan south of Glasgow. Dr Rhona MacLeod and her assistant Chrissy are called to the scene where they carefully unearth and carefully extract the complete and mummified remains of what appears to be a child. Could this be Mary McIntyre?

Now with the advancement on forensic science, any trace evidence found with the remains can be tested for DNA and hopefully matched with someone in the system. But DNA extraction from the mummified remains could be tricky and take time but Rhona will not give up until she has the answers to lay this innocent child to rest. As news circulates about the gruesome find, many ruminate on the possibility of it being Mary McIntyre as the most likely. This in turn creates another avalanche of events an hour away in Stirling as Karen tunes in to the new of the discovery and her fears, it seem, become reality. The crow was right. It's Mary. She knows it is.

Whilst Rhona and Chrissy test the samples taken from the scene, DS Michael McNab and his partner DS Janice Clark begin the investigations into the discovery and on the notion that it is Mary McIntyre. Their DI, Bill Wilson, leads them to the original lead investigator on the case and youngest DI of his time, Jimmy McCreadie, who now lives in Stirling. McNab and Janice make the journey to see McCreadie, who it appears is now a best-selling crime fiction author writing under the name J.D. Smart, to pick his brains about the investigation into Mary's disappearance forty five years ago. And while much of the evidence and notes from the case has mysteriously disappeared, McCreadie/Smart kept his own notes on the case which he glady handed over to McNab in the hope it would help them solve the case which has haunted him for nearly five decades.

But the investigation is not without its dramas...and with the help of >b>Professor Magnus Pirie along the way, McNab and Rhona sift through the evidence they have in the hope of uncovering the truth.

The story is told from the various narratives of mainly Rhona, McNab and Karen Marshall, Mary's childhood best friend, with the odd viewpoint of Professor Pirie from time to time. These perspectives combined together make for compelling reading as they each provide crucial pieces of the puzzle that becomes clearer as events unfold. Rhona brings the science and logic, McNab the investigative side, the Professor the psychology behind the crime as Karen provides an unreliability of lucidity between what's imagination and what's reality.

As the story unfolds, many possibilities for the killer are suggested but are dismissed as more suspects come to light. Who could have killed an 11 year old girl? And why? And what is the significance of the burial site and the confirmation dress buried with her which remained in tact due to the protection of the plastic bag it was found in? But as Rhona knows, every contact leaves a trace...and she is determined to uncover the truth through forensic science and to give this child the dignity in her true place of rest.

Gripping from the very first page, THE INNOCENT DEAD is the fifteenth book in the Dr Rhona MacLeod series and, while I normally don't like joining a series so far in, I can safely say it worked well enough as a standalone with enough background given to keep any new readers coming late to the party...like me. But as with all series such as this, to get the complete benefit and understanding of the series it is always best to start from the beginning.

This is not my first Scottish crime thriller series but I have to say it is one of the best I have come across and I am eager to read more by Lin Anderson. How have I not heard of her before?

One of these days I will venture back to the beginning...but until then I have no hesitation in recommending THE INNOCENT DEAD to fans of gritty crime thrillers with a compelling plot that is fast paced thanks to the short snappy chapters. Atmospheric and entertaining, THE INNOCENT DEAD is nothing short of brilliant...even if I did figure out the villain...but the ride was worth it!

I would like to thank #LinAnderson, #Netgalley and #PanMacmillan for an ARC of #TheInnocentDead in exchange for an honest review.

This is already the 11th book in the series, and they just get better and better. I love the way Lin weaves a story and keeps the reader entertained until the end. Recommended.

This book was undoubtedly an interesting read.
The storyline was well structured and had a great level of suspense throughout. I enjoyed the twists the plot took as the story progressed, and the characters and the ways their personalities bounced off one another.
A well written book with a fantastic pace from the start. I really enjoyed this read.

The Innocent Dead is number 15 in the Rhona Mcleod books by Lin Anderson. This is one of my favourite crime series as I can just jump right into the story without any scene setting. I know exactly who all these characters are, even if there have been some changes in their lives, and the setting in and around Glasgow is very familiar to me.
When wild swimmers discover a body buried in peat on the edge of a lochan to the south of Glasgow, a forty-five-year-old cold case is re-opened. Eleven-year-old Mary McIntyre disappeared from East Kilbride in 1975, but her body was never found. Fortunately, advances in forensics will give the team more to work with this time.
Told from the points of view of Rhona, DS McNab and Mary’s best friend, Karen, we get a rounded picture of events, but no insight into the mind of the killer. Karen has buried the events surrounding Mary’s disappearance deep in her subconscious, and the facts gradually come to the surface with devastating results.
Stories about the murder of children can be hard to read, but Lin Anderson has written with great care and sensitivity in this case. The flashbacks to the time of Mary’s disappearance evoke Glasgow and the surrounding area in the 1970s really well, especially the housing schemes, and the segregated schools.
Many possibilities are suggested for the identity of the killer, only to be dismissed as a new suspect comes to light. The advances in forensic science make the investigation easier in some ways, but the passing of so many years mean it is more difficult in others.
This series is as much about the characters as it is about the plot. While I’m sure it would be fine as a standalone, it would be a much richer experience to start at the beginning (Driftnet) and understand the backstory of such well-written and believable characters.
Thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

The story line is excellent and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. Love the characters and their interaction with each other.

I've been enjoying quite a few Scottish crime novels and am delighted to be able to add Lin Anderson to my list of great Scottish writers.
This book was my first introduction to Forensic Scientist Rhona Macleod and I'm definitely adding the previous books in the series to my 'Want to Read' list.

The body of a child is discovered in Peat Bog by wild swimmers and is thought to be that of Mary Mary McIntyre, who disappeared 45 years previously on the day of her confirmation.
Rhona Macleod, her assistant Chrissy, DI Michael McNab and his partner DS Janice Clark and Professor Magnus Pirie set out to finally close this cold case – helped by ex-policeman and now crime writer Jimmy McCreadie.

Central to the solving the case is Karen Marshall, Mary's childhood friend, who kept a diary of the time that Mary went missing. But to her frustration, her trauma at her friend's disappearance left lots of gaps in the diary and in her memory of the events.
With the help of the Raploch Women's Group, Karen tries to remember what happened and as she comes closer to figuring out the truth, her mental health deteriorates and she is soon in grave danger herself.

This is an utterly gripping story and my interest levels never waned throughout. I found the forensic aspects fascinating and although forensics is covered in a lot of crime fiction, I found Lin Anderson's approach to be compelling and intricate.

* Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the ARC.

11 years old Mary McIntyre disappeared 45 years ago. A body is found in a local bog. This is an exciting reinvestigation with forensics in the forefront. Modern DNA techniques will give Dr Rhona MacLeod and DI Michael McNab the edge this time. You follow the diary of Karen, Mary’s best friend. What was hidden in her mind from that day. I found this an enjoyable page turner following the police procedures and forensics but wait for the twist at the end.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Lin's work for a while now. I haven't quite read all of here previous books yet, but I keep pace with her new releases and when I have a minute, I read one of her older books. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of 'The Innocent Dead'. As soon as I managed to get a copy, I squirrelled myself away and didn't emerge until I had read the very last word on the very last page. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Innocent Dead' but more about that in a bit.

What can I say about Rhona MacLeod? She is a forensic scientist with quite a lot of experience behind her. She is incredibly hard working and puts everything into her work. She treats the deceased with dignity and respect and tries to find the answers that could potentially crack the case. Rhona is quite popular although she doesn't seem to have that many close friends. Rhona works well as part of a team and alternatively she also works perfectly well on her own. She has quite a close relationship with DS Michael McNab. They aren't romantically involved but they definitely have chemistry. Rhona has a complicated personal life. She doesn't seem to be in an exclusive relationship, but she does seem to have a 'friend with benefits'. Rhona has suffered in the line of duty and this book sees her return to work after the events of a previous case traumatised her.

Oh my word, I have to say that Lin Anderson has done it again and she has written one hell of a fast paced, thrilling read. To say that reading 'The Innocent Dead' became addictive is a huge understatement. I was gripped by the story from the moment I first picked the book up until the moment I read the very last word on the very last page. I read this book in one long reading binge because I couldn't stop reading. For me, 'The Innocent Dead' was an unputdownable, page turner of a read and then some.

'The Innocent Dead' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Lin Anderson. She starts the story in a memorable way, which immediately grabs your attention and then she draws you into the story. It's as if she closes a net around you. For me, 'The Innocent Dead' was perfectly paced- the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. I love the way that Lin can keep the reader guessing- she seems to lead you down one path and then she introduces a twist to the tale, which then sends you down another path entirely. I find that I always feel part of the story when I read one of Lin's books, which is down to her very vivid and realistic storytelling.

'The Innocent Dead' was another cracking read in the Rhona MacLeod series and I enjoyed every single minute of it. I would have no hesitation in recommending this series and this author to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Lin's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Police thriller set in Glasgow involving an old murder and mystery.Good characters and a fast paced exciting story,lots of twists.

I'm a big fan of crime novels, so I'm not sure how I've managed to not read a Lin Anderson book before. I'm glad I have now though - I've added all the earlier books in the series to my tbr list. The mystery wasn't too hard to solve, but I enjoyed the getting there!

#TheInnocentDead #NetGalley This is the first book I have read in this series but it was perfectly capable of being read as a stand alone book. Billed as the Rhona McLeod series, Rhona was just one of four main characters who all seemed to take centre stage at one point. although occasionally a little repetitive, this book was easy to read with plenty of action - just how I like my crime thrillers!, it was good that there was momentum in the book as the team raced to solve a 45 year old cold case. The team appeared close knit and worked well together - reading previous books would no doubt enhance their background stories. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

Thoroughly enjoyed the setting in Glasgow & the surrounding area.

This was my first Lin Anderson book and I feel that I may have enjoyed this more if I’d been more familiar with the many characters that are involved. I found this a little overwhelming at times.

Overall though a good enticing read.

3.5 stars

This new Rhône McLeod novel by Lin Anderson is another sure fire winner. I have read them all and each new one is as good as the last. In this book, we are drawn into a 45 year old mystery - the disappearance of 11 year old Mary. Her body is discovered, preserved in peat, and throughout the book I was trying to guess who the killer is. Is it Karen, Mary’s best friend who cannot fully recall what happened that day in 1975? Or her brother, or the creepy man who watches the girls play tennis? And, as usual, we get a sneak peak into the love lives of Michael McNab, the police officer, and Rhona. I recommend this book, if you love Lin Anderson’s books or you just love a well written mystery.

When two wild water swimmers discover human remains in a peat bog near Glasgow, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is called on to excavate the body and help identify it.
The remains are found to be those of 11 year old Mary McIntyre who disappeared in 1975.
Rhona works with DS McNab and DS Janice Clark to find out what happened to Mary all those years ago. The man who led the original hunt for Mary, DI Jimmy McCreadie, is now a crime thriller writer but is more than happy to help the new enquiry in the hope it will put to rest the case that still haunts him.
Karen Marshall was Mary’s best friend and was so traumatised by her disappearance that she wasn’t able to speak about it afterwards. Karen has buried her memories of that day but the discovery of Mary is bringing the memories back and there are things Karen would rather not remember.
Will the truth about what happened to Mary come to light or will secrets hidden all those years ago remain buried.
I really like the Rhona MacLeod books, the stories are always good and the characters grow with every one

Started to read this immediately after finishing the predecessor and I devoured it in one sitting. I am a big fan of Lin Anderson but I had, for some strange reason, stopped reading her books and was glad to have the two before this one to read. I think it really helped reading them all in quick succession.
This was still written in Anderson's excellent style, BUT, I did work out two major plot points way before they were revealed in the book and that is something that has never happened in a Rhona MacLeod story before.
My only disappointment now is that I do not have one to delve straight into.

Innocent Dead – Another Winning Procedural Thriller

Lin Anderson’s creation Dr Rhona MacLeod, forensic scientist is back in action, in an engrossing thriller that keeps you hooked from beginning to end. Touching on subjects, some in polite society may not want to acknowledge the sectarian divide in 70s Glasgow, the disappearance and probable murder of a young child.

When a body is found in a peat bog by a cold-water swimmer, and so begins the search for the identity of the child that has been found. The peat has preserved her body and what looks like a confirmation dress. This will call for all the talents of Dr Rhona MacLeod and the team to rediscover the person who lay there and more importantly the person who put her there.

With DS McNeil taking the lead on the police side, he is having to recover an era when things went unspoken and find the truth. Fortunately, the original lead detective is still alive, and has some private diaries to help the investigation, as the original evidence boxes have gone missing.

When they rediscover who the victim was, they discover a whole host of probable suspects, in a part of Glasgow, where very little has changed. They have to find the victims best friend Karen, who nobody has heard of, and they need to talk to her. When they hear she lives up in Stirling and is vulnerable, due to the death of her husband, and being a recovering alcoholic.

As the evidence slowly reveals itself, and sometimes brings up a red herring, a picture of what happened to the victim, Mary, and what Karen may know. Drives them to find Karen, especially when they realise the possible murderer is still alive. They are in a race against time, to save Karen and solve the murder of Mary.

Lin Anderson has once again written a gripping thriller seen through the various characters eye’s. As always it is a gripping read, in which you can lose yourself as the story progresses. A winner!

I read a few of the earlier Rhona MacLeod books and found them to be decent - albeit generic - crime thrillers, but The Innocent Dead confirms that my decision to drop the series was the right one.

Lazy, formulaic writing coupled with a plot that is painfully slow, underdeveloped and repetitive with far too much irrelevant detail (porridge pots, filled rolls and fridge contents aren't interesting).

I did however enjoy the Glaswegian setting, as I found knowing the locations mentioned helped to enhance the story somewhat. Overall, I wouldn't recommend.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC.

Enjoyed this much more than the last few books. It's more inline with how the earlier books are. Bored of the Sean character though, nobody in their right mind would hang around like he does.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of The Innocent Dead, the fifteenth novel to feature Glasgow based forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod.

When the remains of a child are found buried in a peat bog Rhona is called in to excavate. A polythene bag buried with the body indicates that the remains are relatively recent so the hunt is on to identify the victim. Eleven year old Mary McIntyre who disappeared in 1975 is the most likely but with DNA extraction difficulties it could take time. The team are keen to speak to Karen Marshall, Mary’s best friend, but she has problems of her own.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Innocent Dead which has an interesting plot and a great cast of characters. I must admit that I haven’t got round to reading the past few books in the series so it feels like catching up with old friends, with the downside being that I missed the references to previous cases and the trauma that Rhona obviously suffered. It’s a minor problem of my own making and it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the read.

The novel is split between three main narrators, Rhona McLeod, DS Michael McNab and Karen Marshall. Rhona supplies the science and logic, McNab the investigative muscle and flashes of inspiration and Karen Marshall the unreliability of, well, I’m not really sure as I hesitate to say mental illness, so probably lack of mental clarity. It’s an interesting mix as all three try to work out what happened to Mary in their own ways. I found the plot compelling as cold cases often are with their lack of evidence and reliance on fading memories. I was glued to the pages as the story gradually builds to a credible conclusion.

This series, however, is as much about the characters as it is about the plot. After so many novels the team are tight knit and friends as well as colleagues. There is a warmth and understanding as well as humour between them that invites the reader to join them. As ever, Rhona and McNab are having problems in their love lives with partners who don’t like abandoned plans and being replaced by police work. My enjoyment of the novel is further enhanced by its Glaswegian setting. It’s always good to know the setting and identity of the locations.

The Innocent Dead is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.