In the Cold Dark Ground. Stuart MacBride

      

       Copyright

      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 Isla Anderson and Syd Fraser, who have given their express permission to be fictionalized in this volume. All behaviour, history, and character traits assigned to their fictional representations have been designed to serve the needs of the narrative and do not necessarily bear any resemblance to the real person.

      The Muppet Show Theme was composed by Sam Pottle and Jim Henson © 1978.

      HarperCollinsPublishers

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      First published as an anthology by HarperColl‌insPublishers 2016

      Copyright © Stuart MacBride 2016

      Stuart MacBride asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

      Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers 2016.

      Cover design & figure image © Blacksheep-uk.com

      Cover photograph © Ramesh Amruth/Plainpicture

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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      Ebook Edition © APRIL 2016 ISBN: 9780008159450

      Source ISBN: 9780007494644

      Version 2017-05-09

       Dedication

      For Twinkle, Brenda, Dolly Bellfield, and Jean.

      Table of Contents

       Cover

       Title Page

       Copyright

       Dedication

       Without Whom

       Three Days Ago

       Wednesday Dayshift: in loving memory of those not yet dead

       Chapter 1

       Chapter 2

       Chapter 3

       Chapter 4

       Chapter 5

       Chapter 6

       Thursday Dayshift: when the elder gods die

       Chapter 7

       Chapter 8

       Chapter 9

       Chapter 10

       Chapter 11

       Chapter 12

      

       Chapter 13

      

       Chapter 14

      

       Chapter 15

      

       Chapter 16

      

       Chapter 17

      

       Chapter 18

      

       Friday Rest Day: this ship is sinking

      

       Chapter 19

      

       Chapter 20