The High Island
A Thrilling Scottish Crime Novel Perfect For Fans of Val McDermid and Elly Griffiths
Will be published approx. on 30. July 2026
432 pages
E-Book
978-1-0350-8732-7 (ISBN)
Description
'Lin Anderson is one of Scotland's national treasures' - Stuart MacBride, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Logan McRae series
'The start of a very special new series' - Deon Meyer, international bestselling author of the Benny Griessel series
When everyone knows your name, every case is personal . . .
Meet DI Erling Flett in The High Island, the heart-racing crime thriller that you won't be able to put down. From Lin Anderson, author of the acclaimed Rhona MacLeod series.
On the rugged Isle of Hoy, a wealthy couple's dream of building a stunning eco-home becomes a waking nightmare when the peat yields a grisly secret: the remains of a young mother and her baby.
For DI Erling Flett, the discovery is a personal haunting. He spent years running from Orkney, only to be pulled back to the islands he once fled. As he fights to identify the nameless dead, the community pushes back - and his own troubled history begins to surface.
At the heart of the mystery lies a lethal family feud over blood-soaked soil. Can Flett finally face the ghosts of his past? Or will the island claim its next victim before the truth is told?
Introducing the Orcadia Mysteries series, a gripping Tartan-Noir offshoot of Lin Anderson's acclaimed Rhona MacLeod series. Perfect for fans of Val McDermid and Elly Griffiths.
Praise for The High Island
'Lin Anderson has worked her particular magic once more' - Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series
'Atmospheric, compulsive and utterly gripping. Anderson is on fire' - Helen Fields, bestselling author of the DCI Callanach series
'A thriller as smooth and distinct as a fine single malt' - Simon Toyne, bestselling author of Dark Objects
'The story is wonderful, and the characters have so much about them. Thoroughly recommend! - G.D. Wright, author of After the Storm
'For everyone missing Dr Rhona MacLeod, enter DI Erling Flett. A stunning start to what will undoubtedly be a superb series' - Frances Crawford, author of A Bad, Bad Place
'An exciting and multi-layered thriller' - Reader Review
'Just when you think Lin Anderson can't get any better, she writes something like this' - Reader Review
'The start of a very special new series' - Deon Meyer, international bestselling author of the Benny Griessel series
When everyone knows your name, every case is personal . . .
Meet DI Erling Flett in The High Island, the heart-racing crime thriller that you won't be able to put down. From Lin Anderson, author of the acclaimed Rhona MacLeod series.
On the rugged Isle of Hoy, a wealthy couple's dream of building a stunning eco-home becomes a waking nightmare when the peat yields a grisly secret: the remains of a young mother and her baby.
For DI Erling Flett, the discovery is a personal haunting. He spent years running from Orkney, only to be pulled back to the islands he once fled. As he fights to identify the nameless dead, the community pushes back - and his own troubled history begins to surface.
At the heart of the mystery lies a lethal family feud over blood-soaked soil. Can Flett finally face the ghosts of his past? Or will the island claim its next victim before the truth is told?
Introducing the Orcadia Mysteries series, a gripping Tartan-Noir offshoot of Lin Anderson's acclaimed Rhona MacLeod series. Perfect for fans of Val McDermid and Elly Griffiths.
Praise for The High Island
'Lin Anderson has worked her particular magic once more' - Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series
'Atmospheric, compulsive and utterly gripping. Anderson is on fire' - Helen Fields, bestselling author of the DCI Callanach series
'A thriller as smooth and distinct as a fine single malt' - Simon Toyne, bestselling author of Dark Objects
'The story is wonderful, and the characters have so much about them. Thoroughly recommend! - G.D. Wright, author of After the Storm
'For everyone missing Dr Rhona MacLeod, enter DI Erling Flett. A stunning start to what will undoubtedly be a superb series' - Frances Crawford, author of A Bad, Bad Place
'An exciting and multi-layered thriller' - Reader Review
'Just when you think Lin Anderson can't get any better, she writes something like this' - Reader Review
Reviews / Votes
The sense of place is strong and the plot is as intriguing as ever - in The High Island Lin Anderson has worked her particular magic once more -- Alexander McCall Smith, multi-million copy bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series I loved this book. Immersive storytelling, a compelling protagonist, and writing that pulls you deep into the mist and the mystery, this is the kind of intelligent, atmospheric crime fiction I enjoy most. The start of a very special new series -- Deon Meyer, international bestselling author of the Benny Griessel series The High Island is spell-binding. Atmospheric, compulsive and utterly gripping, Anderson is on fire -- Helen Fields, international bestselling author of the DCI Callanach series A cracking story with ancient blood feuds, county line style drug networks, and the timeless beauty of the wild islands all blending together into a thriller as smooth and distinct as a fine single malt -- Simon Toyne, international bestselling author of <i>Dark Objects</i> Lin Anderson is one of Scotland's national treasures - don't be fooled by comparisons, her writing is unique, bringing warmth and depth -- Stuart MacBride, <i>Sunday Times</i> bestselling author of the Logan McRae series The start of a brand new series, The High Island is an entirely authentic novel. Lin Anderson portrays the islands at its centre with such vividity, with such clarity, that you feel you aren't just reading about them but that you are living it too. The story is wonderful, and the characters have so much about them that this is a series guaranteed to run and run. Thoroughly recommend! -- G.D. Wright, author of <i>After the Storm</i> Lin Anderson is known for her clear prose, compelling characters and vivid settings, and The High Island is brimming with all three. Erling is a masterful creation - a native Orcadian existing in both the light and shade, but very much one of the good guys. His struggle for justice in this tightknit, troubled community reflects a personal struggle with a difficult past. So vivid is Anderson's depiction of Hoy, so well-formed are the residents, that The High Island is one of those novels which could not possibly be set elsewhere. In addition to this perfect setting, the unnerving plot, meticulous police procedure and brisk pace make this an exciting and powerful read. For everyone missing Dr Rhona MacLeod, enter DI Erling Flett. A stunning start to what will undoubtedly be a superb series -- Frances Crawford, author of <i>A Bad, Bad Place</i> One of the best Scottish crime series since Rebus -- <i>Daily Record</i> on the Rhona MacLeod series A real page-turner -- Ian Rankin, author of the Inspector Rebus series, on <i>The Party House</i> Vivid and atmospheric . . . enthralling -- <i>The Guardian</i> on <i>The Killing Tide</i> A cast of characters who feel like old friends -- <i>The Sunday Times</i> on <i>None But the Dead</i>More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
ISBN-13
978-1-0350-8732-7 (9781035087327)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Lin Anderson is a Scottish author and screenwriter known for her bestselling crime series featuring forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod. The High Island is the first novel in her original series featuring DI Erling Flett. Four of her novels have been longlisted for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year and she was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library Award in 2022. Lin is the co-founder of the international crime-writing festival Bloody Scotland, which takes place annually in Stirling.
