Aline Templeton

Lying Dead

Detective: Inspector Marjorie Fleming
Time:        Present
Setting:      Galloway
Genre       Scots Rural Police Procedural

This is the third of the Marjorie Fleming novels. The plot opens with a prisoner released on licence discovering and moving a  woman's body before he could be incorrectly accused of killing her. At the same time there are libertine goings on amongst the boating set at a wealthy yacht club on the cost nearby. The initial evidence is that the murder victim is from Manchester. However it is eastablished that the murder victim has local links and her previous colourful past opens up a new range of suspects. The obnoxious detective Jon Kingsley, who was introduced in the previous novel, plays a significant role.  Well crafted. Lots of half leads and  an unexpected twist at the end.

Amongst developing themes is Fleming's difficult  relationship with the Stevenson family who were impoverished by the foot and mouth epidemic and will not forgive her for her nforcement role as a police officer during the culling. Another theme in the back story is that of Fleming's father developng dementia and the struggle to come to 

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Rating A+

Previously read
The Darkness and the Deep
Cold in the earth