Another great case for Rhona Macleod. Love this series and to see what they get up to next. Plenty of twists and turns and suspense to keep me hooked. Well rounded characters. Great writing style. Love the descriptions of places in Orkney.. Eagerly awaiting the next adventure.

Another great read from the author and a great addition to the Rhona Mac Leod series. Set mostly in Orkney, Rhona becomes involved when a body is discovered on sand dunes and her forensic skills are called to the investigation. The characters are interesting, as we catch up with Chrissie, Mc Nab and Magnus, although I do have a soft spot for Erling, my favourite. There is a good pace to the story and the descriptions of the landscape really had me feeling that I was right there with the characters. I really enjoyed this read and I would highly recommend the series to lovers of crime thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Intriguing and engrossing murder mystery set in Orkney featuring Rhona McLeod ,forensic scientist and her team from Glasgow.A great read.

It's always a cause for celebration when a new Rhona MacLeod book is announced and this is no exception. It opens with Rhona on Orkney visiting friends when a pod of pilot whales beaches. Rhona helps to float those that can be helped then whilst helping bury a dead calf whale she happens upon a cist that contains a modern skeleton rather than an ancient one. And we're off with another tale of who, when and why? The story is very intense and definitely has a lot of twists and surprises. Although most of the action takes place on mainland Orkney all the expected favourite characters are present, DS McNab, Erling, Magnus and Chrissie of course. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and just can't wait for the next. I learnt a bit about viking burials as well, a bonus I wasn't expecting. Recommended+++
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

A great new novel to the already fantastic series. I really love these books and wish there was a TV series as the characters, setting and plot is always strong and robust. Love the scene setting in this book. Crime involves a look at the history and heritage of the islands and there's lots of whales in the novel too which was a nice touch.

Recommended!

As a long-time follower of Lin Anderson’s Rhona MacLeod series, I came to The Dead and the Dying with high hopes that it would stand shoulder to shoulder with its predecessors. Having read every book in the series, I was eager to immerse myself once again in Rhona’s world.

There is so much to enjoy here. The storyline is engaging, and the evocative descriptions of Orkney are truly beautiful – Lin has a remarkable gift for transporting the reader to the heart of her settings. It was also a pleasure to reconnect with the familiar characters who have become like old friends over the course of the series.

As always, Lin captures events in a way that draws you in completely, making you feel a part of the plot. That ability to weave intrigue and atmosphere is one of her greatest strengths, and it shines through here too.

However, I have to admit that I found the ending somewhat disappointing. After such a strong build-up, I had hoped for a resolution that felt more satisfying and in keeping with the tension and complexity of the narrative.

That said, The Dead and the Dying is still a worthy addition to the series and one that fans will want to read for the setting, the characters, and the sense of being part of Rhona’s ongoing journey.

Excellent as could be expected. There is little doubt that Lin Anderson is one of the best writers in her field. Having read her books, it makes me want to visit those northernlynislqnds.

As a biology teacher with a long-standing love of forensic thrillers, The Dead and the Dying really hit the mark for me. This latest instalment in Lin Anderson’s Rhona MacLeod series is sharp, engaging, and clearly well-researched—especially when it comes to the forensic science, which I always appreciate.

Set in the hauntingly beautiful Orkney islands, the remote setting adds a fresh and atmospheric dimension to the plot. Rhona is, as ever, a strong and compelling lead—professional but human, and deeply committed to her work. The interplay between the setting, science, and the slow unravelling of the mystery kept me turning the pages.

A solid four stars—recommended for fans of forensic crime fiction who enjoy a clever, character-led investigation with a strong sense of place. I’ll definitely be keeping up with Rhona’s next case.

Enjoyed the whole idea of viking burial sites and the Orkney backdrop sounded magnificent, but I thought it was very repetitive going over and over the evidence. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

The Dead and the Dying is the latest novel in the ever popular Scottish crime series, starring the fictional forensic scientist, Dr. Rhona MacLeod by Lin Anderson. And having read all of the series, I can safely say that The Dead and the Dying is my favourite book.
Our story begins when Rhona is volunteering to assist with rescue efforts after a recent storm and discovers a stone crypt. Despite initial suggestions that the grave is ancient in origin, she soon realises the grave is far more recent and a new and deadly case is opened. As always this is a fast-paced story, with several interconnecting storylines for our characters that are neatly interweaved together to create a tight, intriguing novel.
Now, you can read this book as a standalone but you will miss out on some of the fun and history between the characters so I’d suggest diving in at the start with ‘Driftnet’.

Another fantastic book by Lin Anderson, Rhona returns to the northern isles of Orkney in this chilling tale of Viking burials and modern day murder. Reading this makes me feel like I’m there on the islands with some great descriptions of the scenery and ever present weather. Loved this next instalment in Rhona’s journey and can’t wait for another.

The Dead and the Dying is the first book I’ve read by Lin Anderson. It’s actually part of the Rhona MacLeod series of books, but I managed to dip in and catch up.

I found the backdrop of Orkney and archaeological aspects of the book fascinating, as I also found the aspects of AI interesting.

The story moves along at a good pace between Orkney and Glasgow as the case is investigated. I particular found the fact that there were connections to past of the police and investigators also interesting.

It was good to discover an author who is new to me and I will certainly read more Rhona MacLeod books and will start at the beginning.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Pan Macmillan, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Really liked this. I like it when the books are set in the Islands as it is such a great setting that brings in great characters. In this one, a whale pod is beached and when trying to bury the calf, a grave is discovered with Viking jewellery and more recent skeleton. DI Flett fears he has links to the body, so McNab is brought in to lead the investigation. The story is pacy with a lot happening in different locations and the author really brings the area to life, evoking the senses really well. A great addition to the series.

Thanks to Lin and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Dead and the Dying before the publication date.
It is the latest in the Dr. Rhona MacLeod series, but can be read as a standalone book.

Set in Orkney, this story has so many layers.
When a pod of pilot whales is grounded in a bay, the community rally to try to keep them alive until they can be refloated.
Only 2 survive and the carcasses of the remainder have to be disposed of, including the new born which will be buried in the sand. As the grave is dug, a Viking cist is exposed, containing a skeleton which is of more recent times.
The investigation stirs concerns with some of the locals.

20 years ago, as teenagers, they were wild, making the most of summer to party in the bays around Orkney, drinking and taking drugs. Those same teenagers are now adults who have put their youthful indiscretions behind them and now hold respectable positions in the community.
What will be the implications of the discovery on them?
With Police Scotland using A.I. to perform facial recognition, there is an interesting battle of technology versus a human super recogniser.
In addition to interesting details about Pilot Whales, the book provides a lesson in the history of Orkney with descriptions of the beautiful and haunting scenery of the island and uses of a smattering of ‘broad Scots’.

Is finding a skeleton in a Viking age crypt on Orkney anything unusual for forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod?

It is when the skeleton is nowhere near that old...

Brilliant