The Missing Dead
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Pub Date 2 Jul 2026 | Archive Date 16 Jul 2026
Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Penguin
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Description
Discover the addictive new murder mystery in the globally bestselling Misty Isle series, featuring D.I. Duncan McAdam. Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths.
One murder. Three empty graves. And a secret worth killing for...
D.I. Duncan McAdam is called to a cemetery to investigate a desecrated grave. The deceased was the skipper of a trawler with a chequered past. Its crew all died in mysterious circumstances - one man fell to his death; the second took his own life; the third jumped from a rocky clifftop. Only one crewman remains.
When Duncan goes to interview the skipper’s widow, he finds her house ransacked, blood on the floor, and a body in the boot of her car. He soon realises that everyone on board that trawler was hiding something - and it all leads back to one stormy night at sea years ago.
As the case begins to spiral, Duncan’s own personal challenges with his son come back to haunt him. Can he find the only surviving crew member before it’s too late? What secrets did these men take with them to their graves? And why is someone willing to kill to unearth them now?
Readers love J M Dalgliesh:
‘Fantastic’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘The best detective series I’ve read’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘You can’t put these books down’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘J M Dalgliesh never disappoints’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘Like watching Shetland on TV’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘So much tension’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781837320547 |
| PRICE | £9.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 384 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 5 members
Featured Reviews
The Missing Dead is a dark, atmospheric police procedural set against the rugged Northumberland coastline, where the landscape itself adds to the tension and isolation running through the story. When D.I. Duncan McAdam investigates a desecrated grave, the case soon uncovers links to a trawler crew whose deaths years earlier were surrounded by suspicion and secrets.
I really liked Duncan as a lead character. He feels believable and grounded, carrying personal struggles with his son alongside the pressures of the investigation. The character development throughout the book is strong, not just for Duncan but across the wider cast, with relationships and histories unfolding naturally as the case deepens.
The plotting felt authentic and well paced, gradually revealing what happened on that stormy night at sea without relying on unrealistic twists. There is a steady sense of unease throughout, helped by the bleak coastal setting and the feeling that everyone involved is hiding something.
A gripping and immersive crime thriller with strong atmosphere and a genuinely engaging central character.
With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.