Still recovering from her previous case, Rhona MacLeod must investigate a series of brutal killings on the Isle of Skye. Time for the Dead is the fourteenth book in Lin Anderson's forensic crime series.

'One of the most satisfying characters in modern crime fiction' – Daily Mail

Taking time away from work, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod returns to her roots on the Isle of Skye. But a chance encounter in the woods leads her to what seems to be a crime scene – without a victim. Could this be linked to a group of army medics, who visited the area while on leave from Afghanistan and have since gone missing from the island? Enlisting the help of local tracker dog, Rhona starts searching for a connection.

Two days later, a body is found at the base of the famous cliff known as Kilt Rock. The victim's face and identity are obliterated by the fall. Rhona suspects it is the work of a killer and, as connections form with an ongoing operation in Glasgow, DS Michael McNab is drawn into the investigation.

The island’s unforgiving conditions close in, and Rhona must find out what really happened to the group in Afghanistan – as the consequences may be being playing out in brutal killings on the Isle of Skye . . .

'The best Scottish crime series since Rebus' – Daily Record

Time for the Dead is the fourteenth book in the Rhona MacLeod series by Lin Anderson. It is followed by The Innocent Dead.

Readers love Time for the Dead:

'Honestly this series just gets better and better'
'We see a more vulnerable Rhona in this book . . . Another cracking read'
'Will have you gripped from the beginning to the end'

Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Martina Cole and Silent Witness.

Forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has become one of the most satisfying characters in modern crime fiction — honourable, inquisitive and yet plagued by doubts and, sometimes, fears * Daily Mail *
The best Scottish crime series since Rebus * Daily Record *
A cast of characters who feel like old friends * Sunday Times *
Hugely imaginative and exciting -- James Grieve (Emeritus Professor of Forensic Pathology)
Lin Anderson is one of Scotland’s national treasures – don’t be fooled by comparisons, her writing is unique, bringing warmth and depth to even the seediest parts of Glasgow. Lin’s Rhona MacLeod is a complex and compelling heroine who just gets better with every outing -- Stuart MacBride, author of the Logan McRae series
Shades of The Wicker Man, with a touch of Agatha Christie. Superb * Daily Mail *
Anderson is a master story teller; her books are always incredibly well researched and her story lines resonate with her understanding of contemporary issues and the politics of expediency -- Live and Deadly
A cracking read that I thoroughly enjoyed. This is one of those novels where the setting is as much a character as any of the people being written about -- A Crime Reader's Blog
Time For The Dead is one hell of a book, which deserves to soar up to the top of the bestsellers list. The series featuring Rhona MacLeod just keeps getting better and better -- Ginger Book Geek
A brilliantly written thriller . . . It is a police procedural at its heart, but one that is as black as the sand on Skye beaches -- Fully Booked 2017
With every outing the Rhona MacLeod series gets better, and Time for the Dead proves this . . . Anderson’s research and knowledge make this thriller, and like any artist the words on the pages are her canvass where she creates another masterpiece * NB *
A real page-turner -- Ian Rankin, author of the Inspector Rebus series, on The Party House
Vivid and atmospheric . . . enthralling -- The Guardian on The Killing Tide

Lin Anderson is a Scottish author and screenwriter known for her bestselling crime series featuring forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod. Four of her novels have been longlisted for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year, and in 2022 she was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association Dagger in the Library Award. Lin is the co-founder of the international crime-writing festival Bloody Scotland, which takes place annually in Stirling.