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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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