BIRTHDAYS FOR THE DEAD
Stuart MacBride
HarperCollinsPublishers
1 London Bridge Street,
London SE1 9GF
First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2012
Copyright © Stuart MacBride 2012
Stuart MacBride asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
Lines from ‘Da Song o’ da Papa Men’ by T. A. Robertson © 2009 quoted by kind permission of the Shetland Museum and Archives
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
This is a work of fiction. Any references to real people, living or dead, real events, businesses, organizations and localities are intended only to give the fiction a sense of reality and authenticity. All names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and their resemblance, if any, to real-life counterparts is entirely coincidental. The only exception to this are the characters Royce Clark, Andy Inglis, Janice Russell, Julie Wilson, and Sheila Caldwell, who have given their express permission to be fictionalized in this volume. All behaviour, history, and character traits assigned to these individuals have been designed to serve the needs of the narrative and do not necessarily bear any resemblance to the real people.
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Ebook Edition © 2019 ISBN: 9780007344192
Version: 2020-10-27
For Jane
Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Without Whom
please …
Chapter 1
sometimes it’s better not to know
Monday 14th November
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Tuesday 15th November
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Wednesday 16th November
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Thursday 17th November
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Friday 18th November
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Saturday 19th November
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Sunday 20th November
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Monday 21st November
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Tuesday 22nd November
Keep Reading
About the Author
By Stuart MacBride
About the Publisher
As usual I’m indebted to many people for their assistance, information, and patience while I’ve been writing this book. People like Ishbel Gall, whose knowledge of the dead knows no bounds; Dr Lorna Dawson and Margaret McKeen – soil science gurus; Professor Dave Barclay – physical evidence superstar; and pathology legend, Dr James Grieve.
A big cheer goes out to Matt Wright for all his fishy help; Sergeant Gordon Fowler; Donald Anderson for the hospitality, and the song; and everyone at Shetland Arts. And another for Jennifer, Sue, and Caroline at Talking Issues, for their help and the tour of Bath.
The