I liked part one and three and I would have enjoyed the book way more if it would have been all written from Porteous' point of view. I was really interested in the investigation, how they figure it out, who they suspect, why, what does the forensics find, and all that exciting stuff, but instead I got this insecure librarian who's just been through a divorce, and her rebel teenage daughter who thinks she's all grown up. At some point I was so bored and ready to drop it. The only thing keeping me reading was wanting to know who did it. No, this my hand will rather/ The multitudinous seas incarnadine/ Making the green one red.’ – ‘multitudinous’ refers to the many seas found around the globe; ‘incarnadine’ is the first recorded use of the word as a verb. Etymologically, it means ‘make flesh-coloured or pink’, but Shakespeare clearly means ‘make blood-red’ here, perhaps by confusion or association with the word ‘carmine’. The manner in which Macbeth’s speech patterns sway from impetuously flowing polysyllables to the stark stresses of ‘the green one red’ adds to the impression of his unbalanced mental state.

Michael Grey, an enigmatic and secretive young man who was reported missing by his foster parents in 1972.

My hands are of your colour…’ – Lady Macbeth’s crisp, brief statements contrast effectively with Macbeth’s more passionate and imaginative language. The Sleeping and the Dead, Ann Cleeve's second stand-alone novel (in addition to numerous novels in two mystery series), is a taut, well-crafted tale of psychological suspense that cements her position among such masters as Minette Walters and Barbara Vine. Even though Macbeth has finally done the dirty deed and murdered Duncan, his scheming wife, Lady Macbeth, is still full of harsh words for him. In the run-up to the murder, she was constantly exhorting her husband to stand firm and not to get cold feet about what had to be done. She questioned his manhood, made him out to be a coward—anything to stiffen his resolve and make him go through with Duncan's murder. Lady Macbeth grows increasingly frustrated with her cowardly husband, which prompts her to speak the following lines: Act 3, scene 5 The presentation of the witches in this scene (as in 4.1.38 SD–43 and 141–48) differs from their presentation in the rest of the play. Most editors and scholars believe that neither this scene nor the passages in 4.1 were written by Shakespeare.

She's telling her husband that he shouldn't fear those who sleep or those who are dead because they are like "pictures," static images who cannot harm him. She calls him childish for giving in to fear because only a child's eye would fear a "devil" in a picture. I've read a lot of novels by Ann Cleeves lately - why is that, you ask? Answer: she's written a lot of books, and our local libraries have a lot of them on the shelves. Not to mention the fact that I have liked most of the ones I have read. Act 3, scene 4 As Macbeth’s banquet begins, one of Banquo’s murderers appears at the door to tell Macbeth of Banquo’s death and Fleance’s escape. Returning to the table, Macbeth is confronted by Banquo’s ghost, invisible to all but Macbeth. While Lady Macbeth is able to dismiss as a momentary fit Macbeth’s expressions of horror at the ghost’s first appearance, the reappearance of the ghost and Macbeth’s outcries in response to it force Lady Macbeth to send all the guests away. Alone with Lady Macbeth, Macbeth resolves to meet the witches again. He foresees a future marked by further violence. Act 5, scene 1 A gentlewoman who waits on Lady Macbeth has seen her walking in her sleep and has asked a doctor’s advice. Together they observe Lady Macbeth make the gestures of repeatedly washing her hands as she relives the horrors that she and Macbeth have carried out and experienced. The doctor concludes that she needs spiritual rather than medical aid. Shakespeare is full of these reverberations, and it is astonishing when you consider the connections that exist between seemingly simple lines of text and actions and words spoken by other characters in the play.On a second thought, I might have disliked Porteous too if I would have read more of his thoughts. After all I didn't really like anyone. Act 3, scene 2 Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth express their unhappiness. Macbeth speaks of his fear of Banquo especially. He refers to a dreadful deed that will happen that night but does not confide his plan for Banquo’s murder to Lady Macbeth.