Whispers of the Dead
By Lin Anderson

By Louise Cannon

Whispers of the Dead is the latest book in the Rhona MacLeod series and thanks to Pan Macmillan, I have a review for you.

Blurb

A gangland slaying. A missing movie star.

When an actor goes missing in Glasgow, the clue to his whereabouts could be in the film script itself.

In the dead of night, a man’s body is found strapped to a chair in Glasgow’s Elder Park, his identity unknown. As forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod examines the scene, the violence on display suggests a gangland feud could be the cause. At the post-mortem, a bullet engraved with a snake’s head is found in the man’s stomach, lending weight to the theory.

Elsewhere in the city, a major Hollywood movie is being filmed. But shooting comes to a standstill when its lead actor is reported missing. As the news spreads, Police Scotland believe the two cases may be connected.

DS Michael McNab thinks the key to finding those responsible could be the film itself. A storyline playing out in real-life on the streets of Glasgow with a killer intent on revenge at any cost. A vendetta which must be paid in blood . . .

Though they can be enjoyed in any order, Whispers of the Dead is the eighteenth book in the Rhona MacLeod series.

Review

Rhona MacLeod is back in what is the 18th gripping book in the series!

It starts with a map, which is fun. I do like a map, although grateful there isn’t one in every single book ever to be published by everyone so it is kept as something special.

Whispers of the Dead has the dark atmosphere that feels like it lingers around in the air in parts of Glasgow. The book brings readers to the heart of gangland streets of Glasgow. It shows the worst of humanity in many violent ways.

Quite a number of movies have been filmed in Glasgow as it doubles up as other global cities and the glitz and prestige of Hollywood has graced her streets once more, but it becomes sinister. A movie star goes missing, leaving McNab to piece together the clues.

Rhona McLeod is at the prison where she meets a prisoner, but was she guilty of her crime? She certainly has a story to tell and an odd thing to give to MacLeod, but to what end and for what purpose?

There’s also an unknown man in Goven, part of Glasgow, who is found dead with all the hallmarks of a gangland killing and it’s up to Rhona and her team to solve it..

The characterisation of everyone means you really get to know them and you can place yourself as a reader, right there at the scene of the crime.

All the threads weave around each other and together, creating a darkly gripping book.