The Darkness and the Deep

Starred review from January 5, 2009
Galloway, Scotland’s smashing Det. Insp. Marjory Fleming returns in the terrific second installment (after 2005’s Cold in the Earth
) of a fascinating mystery series. Someone has deliberately wrecked a lifeboat, killing the three-person rescue team at the Knockhaven fishing port. The victims include Rob Anderson, the popular Anchor Inn pub owner; Dr. Ashley Randall, a sexy physician having a mutually adulterous affair with real estate developer Ritchie Elder; and Luke Smith, a suicidal teacher whose 13-year-old student Kylie MacEwan is dating Rob’s 16-year-old troublemaking stepson, Nathan Rettie. Puzzling through all the possible suspects and motives, Marjory (“Big Marge” to her constables) juggles believable wife and mother challenges with her detecting duties as further murders add extra heat. Templeton’s bravura plotting carries strongly through to the big reveal of a very surprising killer.