help me find the name of a book, please?

[mirren3]

I fairly recently heard about a detective novel but I can't remember either the author, title or character names, to search for it. I'm sure it was set partly on a Scottish island. Main character was I think sergeant, and was accompanied by a female very shy and scared of everything pathologist or forensic person. There was an old man in the book who knew about the murders but was now an alcoholic recluse.
If anyone can help from that rambling description I would be very grateful!

AAh, you need to look on the finder thingy on ABE Books.

ABE suggests The Devil's Ribbon, but I think I am confusing the keyword search with "Scotland" as I guess there must be a lot of "Scotland Yard" references with "forensic".

Will have a look at the book finder, many thanks for that. It's a more modern book than your suggestion!

Written in Bone ?

I've read this - give me a minute to search on my kindle

Is it part of the Lewis trilogy?

Definitely not part of the lewis trilogy, just finished the lewis man, loved it, but thought it was first for some reason. Thanks anyway.

The Lewis Man by Peter May

They're set in Lewis - obvs - and are written by Peter May. I have them on my Kindle, but I've not read them yet.

Oh ok then, not the Lewis Man!! Sounds like a VERY similar plot!!

Not written in bone either, sorry! The main character was male, the 2nd main is female. I can remember hearing they have a long drive to a ferry to an island but can't even remember which one!

Unfortunately this was an overheard conversation in a shop queue.....I've a feeling it revolved round an old case that the old man knew about in the past, he was a retired doctor maybe?
I appreciate all the help, hope it doesn't annoy you all as much as it is bugging me.

Was it definitely a book they were talking about? There's a very similar Taggart.

Is that one of the Linley mysteries by Elizabeth George?

Sounds like some of it matches...

Definitely a book, one was going to pass it on to the other to read. I usually note something like that in my phone and forgot....that will teach me.

That was my first thought Mystery, Elizabeth George. TBH all her books follow the same pattern, strong, muscular guy meets shy, scared woman, they don't like each other then solve a crime together then fall in love. A bit bleurgh IMO.

Could it be one of those Hamish MacBeth mysteries by M C Beaton.

Sorry, none of the suggestions are right, I really appreciate all the help, if I ever find out I will post the answer! It's driving me mad.

Not the exact plot, but is it the books by Ann Cleeves books set in Shetland? It sounds a bit like Raven Black (although I don't remember the female lead being especially scared).

Anyhow, it's a good read even if that's not the book you're thinking of!

Is it 'Birthdays for the Dead' by Stuart Macbride?

Agree, sounds like Raven Black.

I was going to say the Lewis Trilogy, but then saw its already been suggested. I don't know then...

out of interest, was The Lewis Trilogy any good?

None of these either. It didn't start on an island but moved there. I loved the lewis man and will read the others, just got close to the bone, Stuart mcbride, today, and it has started really well. Thanks again for all the suggestions.

It's sounding very like Birthdays for the Dead, Stuart McBride, it's partly set in Shetland and the old guy they visit there was involved with the original case. It's a belter of a book... As is every Stuart Mc Bride... Enjoy

Could it be a Gordon Ferris book? His first is called The Hanging Shed; can't recall the name of the second in the series.