This is the first in a series of eight books (so far) by Aline Templeton about Marjory Fleming a Detective Inspector in Galloway, south-west Scotland. This isn't an area I have visited in spite of a life-long love of Scotland and all things Scottish.
This story takes place during a devastating Foot and Mouth epidemic. Whilst animals are burned and buried, whether or not actively infected, a human corpse is discovered. Laura Harvey is looking for her sister who had disappeared many years before. Add to the mix a dysfunctional farming family, one a policemen, a bleak but beautiful landscape, a sprinkling of regional colloquial terms and plenty of twists and turns and the scene is set for a jolly good yarn.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn't guess the culprit too soon and the characters were very believable and well drawn on the whole. I particularly enjoyed Marjory and Laura and I hope Laura appears again. I didn't really get a feel for Marjory's side-kick, Tam MacNee so I'm looking forward to the development of his personality in later books. Although the sense of place was there I would love even more detail even though I recognise crime books are not to be confused with Travelogues! Laura is a psychologist and I had to suspend disbelief a little but this didn't intrude enough to spoil my enjoyment.
I'm pleased to have discovered a writer to turn to when I'm in need of a Scottish Crime Fix. I can't put Ms Templeton up there with Ian Rankin, yet, but she definitely has a permanent place on my list of favoured authors.
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