Lying Dead (DI Marjory Fleming) [Paperback]

Aline Templeton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2009 | Series: DI Marjory Fleming

On a beautiful, eerily quiet May morning, a girl is found brutally bludgeoned to death. When Detective Inspector Marjory Fleming arrives, the silence of the scene is broken only by the ringing of the girl’s cell phone. The nearby community of Drumbreck is small and close-knit, but the veneer of contented prosperity conceals nasty secrets and daily betrayals. When another corpse is discovered, DI Fleming quickly realizes she must watch her own back while she searches for the link between the murders. As she uncovers layer upon layer of intrigue and deceit, it becomes apparent that while the dead can’t tell lies, the living most certainly can.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A fascinating cast of possible villains is explored in this skilfully plotted and well-paced novel, each vividly described, entirely believable and never sliding into the usual parodies of country folk. But its real strength is DI Marjory Fleming, both tough and vulnerable as she struggles to track down the killer ... This book is a delight, from its leisurely start to the moving and unexpected finish. Even better, it's the second in a series, so there's more pleasure to come.' -- Guardian on THE DARKNESS AND THE DEEP 'In fictional terms the combination of domesticity and detection is very appealing, especially when it comes with a detailed, vivid portrayal of a complete society ... an interesting, atmospheric and - I predict - televisual series.' -- Literary Review 'An unalloyed pleasure - an intelligent, character-driven crime novel.' -- Andrew Taylor on COLD IN THE EARTH '[Aline Templeton] has demonstrated that, just when we thought Scotland was saturated with detectives, a strong woman can elbow her way in and find a unique niche.' -- Scotsman on COLD IN THE EARTH 'It is always a pleasure to read Aline Templeton, but THE DARKNESS AND THE DEEP must surely be her best book to date. Aline's characters are so beautifully drawn ...' -- J Wallis Martin 'A compelling read.' -- Margaret Yorke on COLD IN THE EARTH 'Loved it' -- Val McDermid on THE DARKNESS AND THE DEEP

About the Author

Aline Templeton is the author of the DI Marjory Fleming series as well as several other mystery novels, including Night and Silence and Shades of Death.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340922273
• ISBN-13: 978-0340922279
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #865,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aline Templeton is one of my favorite crime fiction writers, May 13, 2010

By 

Cathy G. Cole (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lying Dead (DI Marjory Fleming) (Paperback)

First Line: The wind had dropped with the sunrise.

When "Big Marge"-- Detective Inspector Marjorie Fleming-- of the Galloway Constabulary Headquarters in Kirkluce walks onto the scene, the only sound to be heard is the ringing of the murdered girl's cell phone. When confirming the victim's identity proves to be trickier than expected, and when another body turns up, DI Fleming knows that the task of finding the murderer in the well-heeled village of Drumbeck is going to take plenty of patience and diplomacy.

I've been a fan of Aline Templeton's Marjory Fleming series from book one. I feel as though I'm getting to know an area of Scotland that I keep bypassing on the way to Glasgow (and on to the Highlands). Wigtown, the horrors of foot and mouth, sheep herding trials... Templeton describes the area with knowledge and affection.

But there's more to the series than its setting. Big Marge and her detectives are multi-faceted and don't always do what you expect of them. We also get to see how they are when they're at home, which I always think leads to characters that are well "fleshed out".

This time around, Marjory is saddled with a detective who's on the fast track to promotion. As a result, he's much more interested in finding a suspect that fits his pet theories than he is in finding the actual murderer. Nothing like a detective making a difficult investigation even tougher! Add to that the fact that Marjory and her detectives are teasing one thread at a time loose from a tapestry of money and privilege in a small village that's been turned into weekend homes for the wealthy, and it's easy to see that this case is a nightmare.

Templeton always has an excellent plot and setting populated with some of my favorite characters in crime fiction. Lying Dead is no exception. If you haven't made the acquaintance of "Big Marge", I sincerely hope you do.