The Special Dead

Book excerpt: A night of passion leads into an occult nightmare – and more lives are at risk. The Special Dead is the thrilling tenth book in Lin Anderson's Glasgow-set forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod. 'One of the most satisfying characters in modern crime fiction' – Daily Mail When Mark is invited back to Leila's flat and ordered to strip, he thinks he's about to have the experience of his life. Waking later, he finds Leila gone from his side. Keen to leave, he opens the wrong door and enters a nightmare. Behind swaying Barbie dolls that hang from the ceiling is Leila – dead. Rhona MacLeod's forensic investigation reveals the red plaited silk cord used to hang Leila to be a cingulum, a Wiccan artefact used in sex magick. Sketches of sexual partners hidden in the dolls provide a link to nine powerful men, but who are they? As the investigation continues, it looks increasingly likely that other witches will be targeted too. Working the investigation is the newly demoted DS Michael McNab, who is keen to stay sober and redeem himself with Rhona – but an encounter with Leila's colleague and fellow Wiccan Freya Devine threatens his resolve. Soon, McNab realizes Freya may hold the key to identifying the men linked to the dolls. But the Nine will do anything to keep their identities a secret . . . 'The best Scottish crime series since Rebus' – Daily Record The Special Dead is the tenth book in the Rhona MacLeod series by Lin Anderson. It is followed by None but the Dead. Readers love The Special Dead: 'Her characters are real, the plot intriguing and fast moving' 'I never guessed where it was all going. A cracking read' 'After finishing this book I bought the rest in the series and I can't wait to read them' Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Martina Cole and Silent Witness.