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Inspector Karen Pirie #5
Broken Ground
Internationally bestselling author Val McDermid is one of our finest crime writers, and her gripping, masterfully plotted novels have garnered millions of readers from around the globe. In Broken Ground, cold case detective Karen Pirie faces her hardest challenge yet.
Six feet under in a Highland peat bog lies Alice Somerville’s inheritance, buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But when Alice finally uncovers it, she finds an unwanted surprise—a body with a bullet hole between the eyes. Meanwhile, DCI Pirie is called in to unravel a case where nothing is quite as it seems. And as she gets closer to the truth, it becomes clear that not everyone shares her desire for justice. Or even the idea of what justice is.
An engrossing, twisty thriller, Broken Ground reaffirms Val McDermid’s place as one of the best crime writers of her generation.
Six feet under in a Highland peat bog lies Alice Somerville’s inheritance, buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But when Alice finally uncovers it, she finds an unwanted surprise—a body with a bullet hole between the eyes. Meanwhile, DCI Pirie is called in to unravel a case where nothing is quite as it seems. And as she gets closer to the truth, it becomes clear that not everyone shares her desire for justice. Or even the idea of what justice is.
An engrossing, twisty thriller, Broken Ground reaffirms Val McDermid’s place as one of the best crime writers of her generation.
511 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2018
1231 people are currently reading
4710 people want to read
About the author
Val McDermid
350books5,093followersVal McDermid is a No. 1 bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have sold over eleven million copies.
She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.
She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.
She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,007 reviews
November 25, 2018
Slow burn multilayered mystery about the search for buried treasure that leads to the unearthing of a body left behind from a crime committed long ago.
While this is book #5 in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
Three crimes are the focus of Broken Ground: a buried body, a rape case, and a murder all of which DCI Karen Pirie, head of the Historic Cases Unit in Scotland, very busy.
Karen is still in mourning for Phil, her former boyfriend who was killed on the job . She and her colleague, Jason, aka “The Mint� are working on a lead from a rape case from the 1980s when they are pulled into a murder investigation: a body has been found in a peat bog that was discovered during a dig to unearth a buried treasure. The investigation traces back to WWII and as Karen uncovers, has a link to a prominent member of Scottish society.
In the midst of the investigation, Karen faces many hurdles all brought about new changes in her work and personal life, including a new misogynistic subordinate, a new boss that wants to take her down, as well as possibly a new love interest.
Broken Ground has multiple plots, POV’s, and timelines, but all come together quite seamlessly. Karen is the main voice and she is the reason to read this series. Her character is likable; her presence is subtle, but she is a force to be reckoned with. She has to constantly fight for her job and for people to take her seriously because she is a woman. However, she has no problem standing up for herself and putting others in their place. At the same time, she is quite fragile and is in danger of being pushed over the edge.
While there is a lot going on in Broken Ground, the plot moves rather slowly. The book is as much about Karen as it is the cases she is investigating. The ending was a bit anticlimactic and it seemed like some elements came together a little too easily. However, this is still a well-written, gripping mystery with an intelligent and compelling lead.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Grove Atlantic Monthly Press in exchange for an honest review.
While this is book #5 in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
Three crimes are the focus of Broken Ground: a buried body, a rape case, and a murder all of which DCI Karen Pirie, head of the Historic Cases Unit in Scotland, very busy.
Karen is still in mourning for Phil, her former boyfriend who was killed on the job . She and her colleague, Jason, aka “The Mint� are working on a lead from a rape case from the 1980s when they are pulled into a murder investigation: a body has been found in a peat bog that was discovered during a dig to unearth a buried treasure. The investigation traces back to WWII and as Karen uncovers, has a link to a prominent member of Scottish society.
In the midst of the investigation, Karen faces many hurdles all brought about new changes in her work and personal life, including a new misogynistic subordinate, a new boss that wants to take her down, as well as possibly a new love interest.
Broken Ground has multiple plots, POV’s, and timelines, but all come together quite seamlessly. Karen is the main voice and she is the reason to read this series. Her character is likable; her presence is subtle, but she is a force to be reckoned with. She has to constantly fight for her job and for people to take her seriously because she is a woman. However, she has no problem standing up for herself and putting others in their place. At the same time, she is quite fragile and is in danger of being pushed over the edge.
While there is a lot going on in Broken Ground, the plot moves rather slowly. The book is as much about Karen as it is the cases she is investigating. The ending was a bit anticlimactic and it seemed like some elements came together a little too easily. However, this is still a well-written, gripping mystery with an intelligent and compelling lead.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Grove Atlantic Monthly Press in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2018
A Gripping and Atmospheric Thriller
Broken Ground is a police procedural set in Scotland and the fifth book in the Karen Pirie series. Despite being the fifth book of the series, readers will not have any problem picking up on the main characters or understanding the story. It is absolutely not necessary to read the other books to enjoy this novel.
This is third thriller set in Scotland that I have read this year and I am now convinced that all great thrillers are set in Scotland.The plot is unique as it weaves together not one or two but 3 cases at once. The first involves the discovery of an old dead body in a peat bog, the second, about a string of unsolved rape cases and the third a domestic murder case. Unlike other police procedurals, this book is about solving old & unsolvable criminal cases (historical cases unit) which have reached a dead end in terms of investigation. The cases investigated in this novel are all completed in a satisfactory way. If these 3 cases are not enough, Karen also has to deal with office politics & difficult boss at her work.
Without facts, the science of criminal investigation is nothing more than a guessing game
The investigation in these old cases with a cold murder trail, many dead ends and painstakingly looking for pieces of evidences like a needle in a haystack, all adds a unique dimension to the story. But the story also incorporates a lot of modern techniques from DNA analysis, rapid facial reconstruction to stab wound forensics. The book includes crimes from different time lines from the distant past to the present. Narrating a story with different tracks can be tough but the writer manages it effortlessly. The chapters are short and the story never loses momentum. Having said I feel that packing the story with 3 cases slowed the progress of the main case a bit. The story could have been a lot tighter without one of the cases.
For those new to the series, Karen Pirie proves to be a great character. Sharp, witty, sarcastic and courageous, Working within the law but having a near disdain for authority, Karen Pirie is the most fascinating characters, I have read in recent times. Still struggling to recover from the death of her lover but devoted to her work which gives her character a emotional touch. She is not infallible but she is a hero. Though the story mostly revolves around Pirie, other characters were developed well.
Val McDermid has now written over 30 novels and she is a clearly a master of her craft. Reading this book is watching a master artist at the peak of her powers. McDermid manages to hold on the reader’s attention through each of the case and never lets the story gets confusing. Her ability to and attention to detail are incredible. This was my first Val McDermid book and it certainly won't be my last!
Overall, Broken Ground is a highly entertaining police procedural with a brilliant story and some excellent characters. If you love thrillers, you will definitely enjoy this one.
Many Thanks to Grove Atlantic and the author Val McDermid for the ARC.
Broken Ground is a police procedural set in Scotland and the fifth book in the Karen Pirie series. Despite being the fifth book of the series, readers will not have any problem picking up on the main characters or understanding the story. It is absolutely not necessary to read the other books to enjoy this novel.
This is third thriller set in Scotland that I have read this year and I am now convinced that all great thrillers are set in Scotland.The plot is unique as it weaves together not one or two but 3 cases at once. The first involves the discovery of an old dead body in a peat bog, the second, about a string of unsolved rape cases and the third a domestic murder case. Unlike other police procedurals, this book is about solving old & unsolvable criminal cases (historical cases unit) which have reached a dead end in terms of investigation. The cases investigated in this novel are all completed in a satisfactory way. If these 3 cases are not enough, Karen also has to deal with office politics & difficult boss at her work.
Without facts, the science of criminal investigation is nothing more than a guessing game
The investigation in these old cases with a cold murder trail, many dead ends and painstakingly looking for pieces of evidences like a needle in a haystack, all adds a unique dimension to the story. But the story also incorporates a lot of modern techniques from DNA analysis, rapid facial reconstruction to stab wound forensics. The book includes crimes from different time lines from the distant past to the present. Narrating a story with different tracks can be tough but the writer manages it effortlessly. The chapters are short and the story never loses momentum. Having said I feel that packing the story with 3 cases slowed the progress of the main case a bit. The story could have been a lot tighter without one of the cases.
For those new to the series, Karen Pirie proves to be a great character. Sharp, witty, sarcastic and courageous, Working within the law but having a near disdain for authority, Karen Pirie is the most fascinating characters, I have read in recent times. Still struggling to recover from the death of her lover but devoted to her work which gives her character a emotional touch. She is not infallible but she is a hero. Though the story mostly revolves around Pirie, other characters were developed well.
Val McDermid has now written over 30 novels and she is a clearly a master of her craft. Reading this book is watching a master artist at the peak of her powers. McDermid manages to hold on the reader’s attention through each of the case and never lets the story gets confusing. Her ability to and attention to detail are incredible. This was my first Val McDermid book and it certainly won't be my last!
Overall, Broken Ground is a highly entertaining police procedural with a brilliant story and some excellent characters. If you love thrillers, you will definitely enjoy this one.
Many Thanks to Grove Atlantic and the author Val McDermid for the ARC.
August 2, 2018
Broken Ground by Val McDermid will not disappoint those who will decide to spend several hours with this book. The author, who has written over thirty novels, uses the recipe which always works with lovers of the genre: a mystery going back WW2 blended together with the descriptions of stunning landscapes of Scotland and characters who show both their strengths and weaknesses. Karen Pirie, in charge of Historic Cases Unit, tries to solve the case of a body found accidentally in a peat bog.
I have read several novels by McDermid and her latest one is another good read for her fans.
I got the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I have read several novels by McDermid and her latest one is another good read for her fans.
I got the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
November 24, 2018
How have I made it all these years without reading Val McDermid? This is book five of the Karen Pirie series and it’s just one of several series she’s written. Well, I’m happy I finally rectified this problem. And it was easy to jump right in to this series. We are given enough background to feel comfortable with not only the main character but her DC, Jason ‘the Mint� Murray, as well.
This is an extremely fast moving book. DCI Karen Pirie manages the Historic Case Unit. She’s got a new boss and a new DS. Neither of them have her back. But Karen is nothing if not strong willed. “Her anger was a memory now. She didn’t believe in bearing grudges. She believed them in killing them where they lay.�
She’s called in when a well preserved body is found in a peat bog. There’s a great sense of place here. I loved how the Scottish accent comes through with the writing.
There’s a secondary plot line when Karen overhears a group of women talking about how one’s husband recently beat her up. Both of these stories are equally engaging.
McDermid not only fleshes out Karen but all the supporting cast, even those that are only on the scene for a few pages. “Tamsin was infected with a curiosity for forensic science that went well beyond her own area of expertise. She talked to colleagues, she read the research literature and she inhaled and retained information like one of her own hard drives.�
As would be expected with a real cold case, this is not a fast paced book. Lots of leg work and false turns before taking a step forward. My one complaint is that after all the time it takes to get to the end, it’s very rushed. Blink and you’ll miss it.
So glad to have discovered this author and will definitely be checking out more of her books.
My thanks to netgalley and Little, Brown for an advance copy of this book.
April 21, 2023
In search of a legacy left by a grandparent a couple break ground in the remote depths of he Highlands only to uncover a perfectly peat-covered preserved corpse with bullet hols in it! This sets up a second case for Karen's Historical Crimes Unit (HCU) in Scotland as they've already reopened a rape-murder when one of the violently raped victims dies of her injuries decades later; and if that's not enough Karen unwittingly gets implicated in giving an alleged murder the idea behind what they are alleged to have done. Not withstanding being involved in three cases Karen is fully aware that she's been sent a spy to wok in her team but to report to her senior manager!
Although the fifth book in the series, and the first I'd read I couldn't get enough of this. So enjoyable reading about working on three separate and highly interesting cases as I follow Karen's detection and deductive reasoning in this gripping crime detection procedural all that better for Karen's dogmatic approach to crime detection and reporting. Very much want to read more of both the writer and this series :) Firm 8 out of 12, Four Stars.
2023 read
Although the fifth book in the series, and the first I'd read I couldn't get enough of this. So enjoyable reading about working on three separate and highly interesting cases as I follow Karen's detection and deductive reasoning in this gripping crime detection procedural all that better for Karen's dogmatic approach to crime detection and reporting. Very much want to read more of both the writer and this series :) Firm 8 out of 12, Four Stars.
2023 read
December 14, 2018
I am such a huge fan of Val McDermid and always look forward to her new releases. If you are like me, you will be excited to know that Broken Ground, her latest in the Karen Pirie series will be released in the US this month.
Alice Sommerville's inheritance is lying at the bottom of a peat bog. However, she gets more than she bargained for when the retrieval specialists discover a body with a bullet hole. Pirie, who is back after a leave, is now working cold case files and is assigned to the case. However, the investigation uncovers more questions than answers.
McDermid is known as the Queen of Scottish Mysteries and there is a reason for this. She writes thoroughly researched, expertly woven intrigue with a hearty dose of atmospheric details about her homeland, Scotland. Her books, including Broken Ground, are not fast paced reads but, rather, good solid sleuthing just as a police procedural should be. There are plenty of twists and more than one mystery in Broken Ground which will keep you invested in the story from beginning to end.
This is, of course, part of an ongoing series and, while there are multiple references to past cases, these references also serve as a guideline for any new reader so that the reader will not be confused. It is helpful to read the other books first, but it certainly is not necessary to enjoy the story or follow along with the characters. Whether you are new to McDermid or an avid fan, like me, Broken Ground is a perfect choice for a long winter's read.
My thanks to #Netgalley, #GroveAtlantic, and #ValMcDermid for my copy of this suspenseful tale.
Alice Sommerville's inheritance is lying at the bottom of a peat bog. However, she gets more than she bargained for when the retrieval specialists discover a body with a bullet hole. Pirie, who is back after a leave, is now working cold case files and is assigned to the case. However, the investigation uncovers more questions than answers.
McDermid is known as the Queen of Scottish Mysteries and there is a reason for this. She writes thoroughly researched, expertly woven intrigue with a hearty dose of atmospheric details about her homeland, Scotland. Her books, including Broken Ground, are not fast paced reads but, rather, good solid sleuthing just as a police procedural should be. There are plenty of twists and more than one mystery in Broken Ground which will keep you invested in the story from beginning to end.
This is, of course, part of an ongoing series and, while there are multiple references to past cases, these references also serve as a guideline for any new reader so that the reader will not be confused. It is helpful to read the other books first, but it certainly is not necessary to enjoy the story or follow along with the characters. Whether you are new to McDermid or an avid fan, like me, Broken Ground is a perfect choice for a long winter's read.
My thanks to #Netgalley, #GroveAtlantic, and #ValMcDermid for my copy of this suspenseful tale.
December 18, 2018
EXCERPT: What appeared to be a crude sculpture of a motorbike had been propped upright on one side of the hole, looking like a potential entrant for the Turner prize. Beside it, his torso twisted at the waist, making an awkward angle to his legs, lay their victim. The peat had stained his skin the color of weak coffee, but apart from that, he was as perfectly preserved as a shop window mannequin.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Alice Somerville's inheritance lies six feet under in a Highland peat bog - a pair of valuable vintage motorbikes buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But when Alice finally organises their recovery, she finds an unwelcome surprise -a body with a pair of bullet holes . . . and Nike trainers. DCI Karen Pirie of Police Scotland's Historic Cases Unit is called in to unravel a case where nothing is quite as it seems.
Meanwhile an overheard conversation in a cafe draws Karen to the heart of a murder she thought she'd already prevented.
As Karen gets closer to the several truths, it becomes clear that not everyone shares her desire for justice. Or even the idea of what justice is.
MY THOUGHTS: I have read a number of books by this author, but this is my first in this particular series. And while it didn't set my world on fire, it was a good solid read and I do want to read more.
I like Karen's character. She is in the minority of female detectives for having no major hang-ups/character flaws. She is a nice normal person who has suffered personal tragedy and is now rebuilding her life. She doesn't like her boss, and the feeling is entirely mutual. But where her boss isn't above using dirty methods to try and discredit Karen, Karen has morals and scruples.
The story is told over multiple timelines, and from multiple points of view. But this is well executed and doesn't cause any confusion.
While I have to admit to finding the writing a little slow paced, the plot was intriguing enough to keep me interested and reading. I also felt that the ending left something to be desired, more in execution than plot. It felt rushed and a little incomplete, hence the not quite 4-star rating.
One particular turn of phrase that has stuck in my mind, and perfectly describes Karen's predicament is 'a case from the past that has more holes than a box of doughnuts.'
🎅🎅🎅.5
THE AUTHOR: Val McDermid is a No. 1 bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have sold over eleven million copies.
She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.
She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Broken Ground by Val McDermid for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my ŷ.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Alice Somerville's inheritance lies six feet under in a Highland peat bog - a pair of valuable vintage motorbikes buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But when Alice finally organises their recovery, she finds an unwelcome surprise -a body with a pair of bullet holes . . . and Nike trainers. DCI Karen Pirie of Police Scotland's Historic Cases Unit is called in to unravel a case where nothing is quite as it seems.
Meanwhile an overheard conversation in a cafe draws Karen to the heart of a murder she thought she'd already prevented.
As Karen gets closer to the several truths, it becomes clear that not everyone shares her desire for justice. Or even the idea of what justice is.
MY THOUGHTS: I have read a number of books by this author, but this is my first in this particular series. And while it didn't set my world on fire, it was a good solid read and I do want to read more.
I like Karen's character. She is in the minority of female detectives for having no major hang-ups/character flaws. She is a nice normal person who has suffered personal tragedy and is now rebuilding her life. She doesn't like her boss, and the feeling is entirely mutual. But where her boss isn't above using dirty methods to try and discredit Karen, Karen has morals and scruples.
The story is told over multiple timelines, and from multiple points of view. But this is well executed and doesn't cause any confusion.
While I have to admit to finding the writing a little slow paced, the plot was intriguing enough to keep me interested and reading. I also felt that the ending left something to be desired, more in execution than plot. It felt rushed and a little incomplete, hence the not quite 4-star rating.
One particular turn of phrase that has stuck in my mind, and perfectly describes Karen's predicament is 'a case from the past that has more holes than a box of doughnuts.'
🎅🎅🎅.5
THE AUTHOR: Val McDermid is a No. 1 bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have sold over eleven million copies.
She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.
She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Broken Ground by Val McDermid for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my ŷ.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
April 11, 2019
With her 32nd novel, Val McDermid continues a long winning streak of first-rate Scottish crime fiction. Cold case detective Karen Pirie is called to a remote Highland peat bog where two well preserved vintage motorcycles were found, along with a dead body. Pirie investigates, with the help of “The Mint,� but is targeted and sabotaged by her new boss “Dog Biscuit� and her lapdog McCartney. (Such great nicknames!) One of the things I appreciate most about McDermid is her accurate descriptions of forensics and her well-developed characters. Pirie is doggedly determined to do everything she can to solve cold cases and believes that “in my unit we try to treat each life as equally valuable.� (Much like Harry Bosch’s philosophy in Michael Connelly’s novels “everybody matters, or nobody does.�) Although Broken Ground is not as impressive as some of the other books in this series, it is a worth-while read.
Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 31, 2018
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Val McDermid, and Grove Atlantic for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
I am always pleased to find a new Val McDermid novel ready to be devoured, particularly because she has a few strong series that I have come to enjoy. After a devastating personal loss, Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is back. Shuffled off within Police Scotland to head-up the new Historic Cases Unit (HCU), Pirie begins work on a rape/murder from three decades ago. With only the description of the assailant’s vehicle, Pirie begins combing through records well before thorough databases were created. Meanwhile, two treasure hunters are combing rural Scotland with a hand-drawn map, seeking the ultimate prize, two motorcycles from around the end of the Second World War. After locating the spot and digging through much peat, they locate not only the crates, but a body that’s suffered numerous gunshots wounds. What adds to the intrigue is that a number of artifacts on and around the victim date it back no earlier than 1995. DCI Pirie is called to the scene and thus begins her meatier case, trying to locate what might have happened. With the peat preserving the victim’s body, an identification is possible, as is some other history about the man left in the bog. With Pirie working this case, she must also juggle all that is going on with her other investigation, turning up many forgetful witnesses and belligerent individuals. However, Pirie is not one to give up easily and she soon creates a document trail that may solve both cases in short order, if only she can get a few key pieces of evidence to line up properly. That will require assistance from higher up the chain of command, always a daunting task. McDermid provides the reader with some excellent insight in this well-established series. Recommended for those who enjoy DCI Karen Pirie in action, as well as readers with a keen interest in cold cases.
It has been a while since I read Val McDermid, but doing so always proves to be a worthy task. She’s able to get to the heart of the matter in a timely fashion, while also building up her setting and characters effectively, thus keeping the reader fully committed. DCI Pirie proves to be a great character who has evolved since the beginning of the series. Still handling the death of her husband, Pirie is only now coming out of the fog. She’s able to keep her mind sharp and wits about her as she tackles some less than simplistic police work within the HCU. Added to that, there is the strain of a less than compassionate superior and Pirie must forge ahead just to stay above the fray. Many of the other characters found within the novel develop effectively over this time and show that their presence is not only essential, but entertaining for the reader. Juggling a few cases can be tough for both the police and the reader, trying to keep facts and witnesses straight, though McDermid writes in such a way that it is reasonable and usually straightforward. The reader is able to digest the larger story with ease, helped sometimes by short chapters that keep the narrative’s momentum. Those familiar with McDermid’s work will know she does well to keep the sarcasm high between intense moments, balancing the reading experience. McDermid’s writing holds out until the final sentence and readers will surely be pining for more in the near future.
Kudos, Madam McDermid, for another winner. I love your writing and ideas, hoping you have a few more pieces to dazzle your fans in the coming months.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: /group/show/...
I am always pleased to find a new Val McDermid novel ready to be devoured, particularly because she has a few strong series that I have come to enjoy. After a devastating personal loss, Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is back. Shuffled off within Police Scotland to head-up the new Historic Cases Unit (HCU), Pirie begins work on a rape/murder from three decades ago. With only the description of the assailant’s vehicle, Pirie begins combing through records well before thorough databases were created. Meanwhile, two treasure hunters are combing rural Scotland with a hand-drawn map, seeking the ultimate prize, two motorcycles from around the end of the Second World War. After locating the spot and digging through much peat, they locate not only the crates, but a body that’s suffered numerous gunshots wounds. What adds to the intrigue is that a number of artifacts on and around the victim date it back no earlier than 1995. DCI Pirie is called to the scene and thus begins her meatier case, trying to locate what might have happened. With the peat preserving the victim’s body, an identification is possible, as is some other history about the man left in the bog. With Pirie working this case, she must also juggle all that is going on with her other investigation, turning up many forgetful witnesses and belligerent individuals. However, Pirie is not one to give up easily and she soon creates a document trail that may solve both cases in short order, if only she can get a few key pieces of evidence to line up properly. That will require assistance from higher up the chain of command, always a daunting task. McDermid provides the reader with some excellent insight in this well-established series. Recommended for those who enjoy DCI Karen Pirie in action, as well as readers with a keen interest in cold cases.
It has been a while since I read Val McDermid, but doing so always proves to be a worthy task. She’s able to get to the heart of the matter in a timely fashion, while also building up her setting and characters effectively, thus keeping the reader fully committed. DCI Pirie proves to be a great character who has evolved since the beginning of the series. Still handling the death of her husband, Pirie is only now coming out of the fog. She’s able to keep her mind sharp and wits about her as she tackles some less than simplistic police work within the HCU. Added to that, there is the strain of a less than compassionate superior and Pirie must forge ahead just to stay above the fray. Many of the other characters found within the novel develop effectively over this time and show that their presence is not only essential, but entertaining for the reader. Juggling a few cases can be tough for both the police and the reader, trying to keep facts and witnesses straight, though McDermid writes in such a way that it is reasonable and usually straightforward. The reader is able to digest the larger story with ease, helped sometimes by short chapters that keep the narrative’s momentum. Those familiar with McDermid’s work will know she does well to keep the sarcasm high between intense moments, balancing the reading experience. McDermid’s writing holds out until the final sentence and readers will surely be pining for more in the near future.
Kudos, Madam McDermid, for another winner. I love your writing and ideas, hoping you have a few more pieces to dazzle your fans in the coming months.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: /group/show/...
December 14, 2018
I do really like when a book in a series, is so good, it encourages you to go back and read the rest of the series. Such is the case in the book Broken Ground by Val McDermid.
Step into the world of Inspector Karen Pirie, head of the cold case unit in Scotland. Karen is a tough lady who has seen her share of tragedy having lost the man she loved fairly recently. She throws herself into her job and is constantly on guard against her new boss, Ann Markie, (aka Dog Biscuit), who herself holds nothing but contempt for Karen. She does everything she can the thwart Karen and is quite the adversary.
With this cold case Karen and her assistants are placed into the world of a years old discovery of a body buried in a bog along with two vintage World War 2 motor cycles. Discovering who shot this man is the gist of Karen's case. However, she is led along a complicated line of possibly complicit murderers in a story that bends and twists in many directions. Karen's fortitude and ability to ferret out details is what propels this story to its wonderful conclusion.
Along the way, we are introduced into the world of the Scottish Polis, and Karen, and her associates. Although a bit of a lengthy book, Ms Mc Dermid is able to maintain a forward momentum and keep the reader very involved in the happenings of this years' old murder. Although this is my first book by this author, it won't be my last. I am really looking forward to getting to know Karen Pirie and her adventures.
Thank you to Val McDermid, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for this exciting book. I will be back......for more.....
My reviews can also be seen here:
Step into the world of Inspector Karen Pirie, head of the cold case unit in Scotland. Karen is a tough lady who has seen her share of tragedy having lost the man she loved fairly recently. She throws herself into her job and is constantly on guard against her new boss, Ann Markie, (aka Dog Biscuit), who herself holds nothing but contempt for Karen. She does everything she can the thwart Karen and is quite the adversary.
With this cold case Karen and her assistants are placed into the world of a years old discovery of a body buried in a bog along with two vintage World War 2 motor cycles. Discovering who shot this man is the gist of Karen's case. However, she is led along a complicated line of possibly complicit murderers in a story that bends and twists in many directions. Karen's fortitude and ability to ferret out details is what propels this story to its wonderful conclusion.
Along the way, we are introduced into the world of the Scottish Polis, and Karen, and her associates. Although a bit of a lengthy book, Ms Mc Dermid is able to maintain a forward momentum and keep the reader very involved in the happenings of this years' old murder. Although this is my first book by this author, it won't be my last. I am really looking forward to getting to know Karen Pirie and her adventures.
Thank you to Val McDermid, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for this exciting book. I will be back......for more.....
My reviews can also be seen here:
August 25, 2018
This has become my favorite series. Val McDermid's style and attention to detail remind me mostly of Peter Robinson, as their novels usually involve unsolved, historical cases. Karen Pirie heads up the HCU or cold case division in Edinburgh's police department, and here she battles interior forces seeking to unseat her and denigrate her and the importance of the work she oversees. What McDermid does so well is keep at least four balls in the air, with occasional forays into the past. Pirie's attempts to deliver justice in these cases gives the books more than a usual sense of righteousness and purpose, holding interest until every loose end is bound off satisfactorily. McDermid dedicates this book to "... all the booksellers who love stories and thrust them into our hands and make addicts of us." Well, for us readers, books this good feed our addictions to a T.
November 19, 2018
A complicated cozy mystery surrounding a pair of "Indians" (you'll find out when you read it)., spoils of World War II, and a murder. Detective Inspector Karen Pirie's specialty is solving cold cases, and this one goes back to around 1995 so it's definitely a "cold" case. There are a couple of other cases going on at the same time as the "Indian" case and a bit of a new romance with an interesting guy. DI Pirie has a new boss too that is definitely "out to get her".
This is the 5th book in the series, but it was my first exposure. I enjoyed the plot and the characters but at the end I felt that it just stopped without tying up several loose ends. Some of the time changes felt a little awkward too. I would read another in the series though because it was interesting and I liked the characters enough that I would revisit them.
Thanks to Val McDermid and Grove Atlantic through Netgalley for an advance copy
This is the 5th book in the series, but it was my first exposure. I enjoyed the plot and the characters but at the end I felt that it just stopped without tying up several loose ends. Some of the time changes felt a little awkward too. I would read another in the series though because it was interesting and I liked the characters enough that I would revisit them.
Thanks to Val McDermid and Grove Atlantic through Netgalley for an advance copy
August 11, 2018
This is the 5th book in the Inspector Karen Pirie series by award winning author Val McDermid.
Val McDermid has now written over 30 novels and although I have only read a small amount of them I always finish her novels thinking I must read more of her work. This book was exactly the same, great writing, interesting plot and expertly timed.
Alice Somerville is trying to obtain her inheritance that lies six feet under in a Highland peat bog, buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But the bigger problem is that when Alice finally uncovers it, she finds a body with a bullet hole between the eyes. DCI Karen Pirie of the Historical Cases Unit is asked by her friend River Wilde who is a forensic anthropologist to take a look at the case believing that this is an historical crime.
This book is so well written and although the plot is twisty and multi layered Val McDermid makes it so enjoyable to read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Grove Atlantic for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I really must read more of Val McDermid's books.
Val McDermid has now written over 30 novels and although I have only read a small amount of them I always finish her novels thinking I must read more of her work. This book was exactly the same, great writing, interesting plot and expertly timed.
Alice Somerville is trying to obtain her inheritance that lies six feet under in a Highland peat bog, buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But the bigger problem is that when Alice finally uncovers it, she finds a body with a bullet hole between the eyes. DCI Karen Pirie of the Historical Cases Unit is asked by her friend River Wilde who is a forensic anthropologist to take a look at the case believing that this is an historical crime.
This book is so well written and although the plot is twisty and multi layered Val McDermid makes it so enjoyable to read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Grove Atlantic for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I really must read more of Val McDermid's books.
December 11, 2018
I had the great joy of reading OUT OF BOUNDS and BROKEN GROUNDS back-to-back. Both books are really good. I quite like that in this book Karen Pirie seems to be on the brink of happiness after the loss of Phil a year before. Also, the case is really interesting. A body is found in with a treasure from WW2, however, the body is more recent than so. So, the question is, who is this man and who killed him?
If there is one thing I love is it cold cases and that's why I enjoy this series so much. I especially liked that the case in question dates back all the way to the WW2 Now it's up to Karen and her team to try to figure out who the dead man is and who was it that killed him. But, it's not an easy case to solve, a great deal of digging must be done. Meanwhile, while Karen is working this case does she also overhear a heated discussion in a café and she can't resist butting in. This will have some consequences...
BROKEN GROUND is an excellent crime novel. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
If there is one thing I love is it cold cases and that's why I enjoy this series so much. I especially liked that the case in question dates back all the way to the WW2 Now it's up to Karen and her team to try to figure out who the dead man is and who was it that killed him. But, it's not an easy case to solve, a great deal of digging must be done. Meanwhile, while Karen is working this case does she also overhear a heated discussion in a café and she can't resist butting in. This will have some consequences...
BROKEN GROUND is an excellent crime novel. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
January 7, 2019
Buddy read
Netgalley #79
Many thanks go to Val McDermid, Little Brown, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
So I jumped into the middle of this series, but it had no effect on my comprehension of the plot or the characters. This can be a freestanding read.
Karen is lead detective of the HCU which got involved in two investigations: a rape/murder, and a murder/attempted theft. There is a mole in her department who is a total idiot. She hates her boss, and the feeling is mutual. She meets quite the handsome man, but he's a liar. Well you see how her luck runs. But she's a terror on crime, and always bags her man. These cases are no exceptions.
I've not read much McDermid at all, I'm ashamed to say. If this book is representative of her other writings, then I'm missing out. There is a surge and flow to her work, which grabs one's attention. I will more than likely look for the other books in this series.
Netgalley #79
Many thanks go to Val McDermid, Little Brown, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
So I jumped into the middle of this series, but it had no effect on my comprehension of the plot or the characters. This can be a freestanding read.
Karen is lead detective of the HCU which got involved in two investigations: a rape/murder, and a murder/attempted theft. There is a mole in her department who is a total idiot. She hates her boss, and the feeling is mutual. She meets quite the handsome man, but he's a liar. Well you see how her luck runs. But she's a terror on crime, and always bags her man. These cases are no exceptions.
I've not read much McDermid at all, I'm ashamed to say. If this book is representative of her other writings, then I'm missing out. There is a surge and flow to her work, which grabs one's attention. I will more than likely look for the other books in this series.
December 1, 2018
I used to have a policy not to jump into a series midstream but, since joining NetGalley, that has fallen by the wayside as I take the opportunity to read arcs of new books. In this case, it has led me to discover a prodigious author (32 books!) who is totally new to me. Now I can look forward to reading many more of her books in various mystery series.
Broken Ground is the fifth book in the Inspector Karen Pirie series. Detective Chief Inspector Pirie heads the Historic Crime Unit for Police Scotland and in this novel, there are 3 crimes she's working on, including one present day case she got involved in because of an overheard conversation.
Her assistant, Detective Constable Jason 'the Mint' Murray, is a bit of a bumbler but she's mentoring him. But she also seems to have a cuckoo in the nest in the form of Detective Sergeant Gerry McCartney, who has been foisted on their unit by her new boss, Assistant Chief Constable Ann Markie. Karen assumes he's there to spy on her for the boss.
With a cold case police procedural, it's really fascinating to watch the team dig out information from the past that they need to solve the case. There are many frustrations, dead ends but occasionally a remarkable success. I enjoyed the pace at which the story unfolded.
I have recently found a new love for Scottish mysteries which began when I read Peter May's The Blackhouse. The rugged landscape is the perfect backdrop for these stories.
I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful foe the opportunity and look forward to reading many more of Val McDermid's novels.
Broken Ground is the fifth book in the Inspector Karen Pirie series. Detective Chief Inspector Pirie heads the Historic Crime Unit for Police Scotland and in this novel, there are 3 crimes she's working on, including one present day case she got involved in because of an overheard conversation.
Her assistant, Detective Constable Jason 'the Mint' Murray, is a bit of a bumbler but she's mentoring him. But she also seems to have a cuckoo in the nest in the form of Detective Sergeant Gerry McCartney, who has been foisted on their unit by her new boss, Assistant Chief Constable Ann Markie. Karen assumes he's there to spy on her for the boss.
With a cold case police procedural, it's really fascinating to watch the team dig out information from the past that they need to solve the case. There are many frustrations, dead ends but occasionally a remarkable success. I enjoyed the pace at which the story unfolded.
I have recently found a new love for Scottish mysteries which began when I read Peter May's The Blackhouse. The rugged landscape is the perfect backdrop for these stories.
I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful foe the opportunity and look forward to reading many more of Val McDermid's novels.
January 3, 2019
This is a fairly difficult book for me to review... It started very slow and the characters were just not interesting. As the story developed, it did become more engaging and the Scottish elements were great. I also enjoyed having a side plot along with the major mystery. Our detective Karen was a strong heroine who held her own against many personal and work-related battles.
Overall a decent novel that I would recommend to mystery readers. Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the free e-book in exchange for my honest review.
Overall a decent novel that I would recommend to mystery readers. Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the free e-book in exchange for my honest review.
December 6, 2018
Engrossing, intricate, and deft!
In this latest novel by McDermid, Broken Ground, we head back to Edinburgh where DCI Pirie and her sidekick DC Murray from the Historic Cases Unit find themselves pursuing new evidence in the case of a serial rapist from the 80s; tasked with identifying a body discovered in a peat bog in the Highlands alongside relics from WWII; and inadvertently involved in a new case of premeditated, cold-blooded murder.
The prose is gritty and descriptive. The characterization is superb with all the usual gang back including the intuitive, tenacious, Karen Pirie who’s still coping with the loss of her lover through nocturnal walks and designer gins. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine meticulously into an irresistible tale full of deception, abuse, deprivation, manipulation, mayhem, violence, and murder.
Overall, Broken Ground is a highly entertaining, gripping, atmospheric thriller that highlights McDermid’s exceptional ability to write police procedurals that have well-drawn characters and edgy storylines. It is the fifth novel in the Inspector Karen Pirie series, and definitely one of my favourites.
Thank you to PGC Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this latest novel by McDermid, Broken Ground, we head back to Edinburgh where DCI Pirie and her sidekick DC Murray from the Historic Cases Unit find themselves pursuing new evidence in the case of a serial rapist from the 80s; tasked with identifying a body discovered in a peat bog in the Highlands alongside relics from WWII; and inadvertently involved in a new case of premeditated, cold-blooded murder.
The prose is gritty and descriptive. The characterization is superb with all the usual gang back including the intuitive, tenacious, Karen Pirie who’s still coping with the loss of her lover through nocturnal walks and designer gins. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine meticulously into an irresistible tale full of deception, abuse, deprivation, manipulation, mayhem, violence, and murder.
Overall, Broken Ground is a highly entertaining, gripping, atmospheric thriller that highlights McDermid’s exceptional ability to write police procedurals that have well-drawn characters and edgy storylines. It is the fifth novel in the Inspector Karen Pirie series, and definitely one of my favourites.
Thank you to PGC Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2018
Val McDermid’s thirty-second novel was my first, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I’ve read novels from successful authors before, at times with mixed results. “Broken Ground� exceeded all my expectations.
While others might write with the belief that their characters always will only work on one case at a time, Ms. McDermid deals in realities. This book keeps your attention, sliding from one case to the next and then back again with such ease that one can easily imagine how busy the detectives are and what it would feel like attempting to balance their work days.
What I enjoyed most was the author’s expertise at slowly dribbling out the clues, allowing us to see no further than the characters so we all discovered the guilty parties at the same time. This was accomplished through true police work, not the fast and furious action we see crammed into 46 minutes of visual exploits on a weekly police television program. While adrenaline junkies may not find this book to be their nirvana, it is refreshing to read a story that is down-to-earth and totally believable.
I also like the main character, Karen Pirie. She is not weighed down by either a medical issue nor a haunting event in her past that threatens to incapacitate her at any moment. Karen is a strong female lead, and Ms. McDermid makes sure this does not go to her head. She leads with confidence rather than sheer force of will, and this aspect alone encourages me to seek out the author’s previous books in this series.
Bottom line: Excellent book loaded with police procedural aspects, and a story that keeps you entertained without gun battles or car chases. Highly recommended. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for an advance complimentary ebook.
While others might write with the belief that their characters always will only work on one case at a time, Ms. McDermid deals in realities. This book keeps your attention, sliding from one case to the next and then back again with such ease that one can easily imagine how busy the detectives are and what it would feel like attempting to balance their work days.
What I enjoyed most was the author’s expertise at slowly dribbling out the clues, allowing us to see no further than the characters so we all discovered the guilty parties at the same time. This was accomplished through true police work, not the fast and furious action we see crammed into 46 minutes of visual exploits on a weekly police television program. While adrenaline junkies may not find this book to be their nirvana, it is refreshing to read a story that is down-to-earth and totally believable.
I also like the main character, Karen Pirie. She is not weighed down by either a medical issue nor a haunting event in her past that threatens to incapacitate her at any moment. Karen is a strong female lead, and Ms. McDermid makes sure this does not go to her head. She leads with confidence rather than sheer force of will, and this aspect alone encourages me to seek out the author’s previous books in this series.
Bottom line: Excellent book loaded with police procedural aspects, and a story that keeps you entertained without gun battles or car chases. Highly recommended. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for an advance complimentary ebook.
December 4, 2018
Cold Case Detective Karen Pirie is back in another page turner involving multiple cases she and her team are investigating.
Detective Pirie is facing one difficult challenge after another. Good news ... she's been given an extra 'body' to help with her investigations. Bad news ... The new help is a spy given the post in order to report to the supervisor who wants Pirie gone.
Pirie and her team are looking into a sex crime committed many years ago. Just now receiving some additional information, they are on a search for a car the night the crime took place. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Something a bit more interesting for them is the finding of a body buried in a peat bog along with two brand new motorcycles that were buried at the end of World War II. The men who did the burying are long dead and when one's grand-daughter uncovers this, they are more than surprised to find a buried body along the the motorcycles. Only this man did not die in the 40's ... he's wearing Nike shoes and a bullet between the eyes.
As if this isn't enough for her three-person squad, she becomes involved in a double murder.
It's non-stop action from beginning to end ... lots of travel, lots of door-knocking .. lots of suspects ... and lots of resistance from her fellow police.
Many thanks to the author / Atlantic Monthly Press / Netgalley / Edelweiss for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 11, 2019
While I have read stand alone novels from McDermid in the past and enjoyed them, this is my first time venturing into her series. (Well, I did watch the Wired in the Blood series on TV based on her Tony Hill novels but never read the books.) Now I find I have been missing out on the Karen Pirie series, but better late than never.
Broken Ground, the fifth in this series, begins with a variation on a treasure hunt in contemporary Scotland, with its origins in WWII. What begins for a local couple as a search for a vitage pair of motorbikes ends with the discovery of a bog body! Karen Pirie is the head of the Historic Crimes Unit out of Edinburgh, currently involved in an old case of multiple unsolved violent rapes. Soon she will have this new case on her hands which will show how she and her team work. Sadly, her team has been “corrupted� by being saddled with a new member, an apparent spy for Karen’s superior officer who is determined to force her out.
Even though this is the fifth book in the series, I had no difficulty getting to know the characters and their backgrounds. And the portraits of the cities and countryside made me want to see them first hand, even in the seemingly frequent rain.
The forensics aspect of this novel is strong and figures prominently in the pursuit of possible criminals. And it also seems realistic in terms of its limitations. There are old crimes, and some new ones here, and their solutions are well done though by no means easy. Definitely recommended.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Broken Ground, the fifth in this series, begins with a variation on a treasure hunt in contemporary Scotland, with its origins in WWII. What begins for a local couple as a search for a vitage pair of motorbikes ends with the discovery of a bog body! Karen Pirie is the head of the Historic Crimes Unit out of Edinburgh, currently involved in an old case of multiple unsolved violent rapes. Soon she will have this new case on her hands which will show how she and her team work. Sadly, her team has been “corrupted� by being saddled with a new member, an apparent spy for Karen’s superior officer who is determined to force her out.
Even though this is the fifth book in the series, I had no difficulty getting to know the characters and their backgrounds. And the portraits of the cities and countryside made me want to see them first hand, even in the seemingly frequent rain.
The forensics aspect of this novel is strong and figures prominently in the pursuit of possible criminals. And it also seems realistic in terms of its limitations. There are old crimes, and some new ones here, and their solutions are well done though by no means easy. Definitely recommended.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 1, 2023
μου άρεσε πολύ!!! μια ασυνηθιστη υποθεση που πρεπει να λυσει η έμπειρη αστυνομικός Καρεν με τον έμπιστο βοηθό της τον Τζέισον. Θα συναντησει αρκετά εμπόδια κατά την διάρκεια της έρευνας της καθώς και άτομα που δεν πρεπει να εμπιστευτεί!
Ωραία πλοκή με ένα απίστευτο τέλος!!!
Διαβάστε το!!!
Ωραία πλοκή με ένα απίστευτο τέλος!!!
Διαβάστε το!!!
April 29, 2019
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Oh,Dear Reader,
My faith in literature has been restored!!
You know that certainty that creeps upon you when the book you’ve started works its magic,enveloping you in a wholesome,warm,secure sense that all is right with the world now that you’ve reestablished your relationship and camaraderie with Karen and Jason ‘The Mint� Murray.
Yes,the cold cases are wonderfully detailed, intricately drawn but step by step,we are taken by the hand and made privy to the innate intellect of Karen, the encouraging potential of Jason and the beautiful symbiotic relationship that exists between these vibrant and exquisitely drawn characters,as they painfully and carefully place each jigsaw piece down in an effort to see the whole picture.
I loved every minute spent with these characters,the verbal jousting,the analysis and the sure fire certainly that,irrespective of how old the case,how weak the interconnecting links,the puzzle will be solved and the team will get their culprit.
Having read so often of how Karen still misses Phil, I was delighted and somewhat surprised to read of Hamish!! Am definitely intrigued!!!!
I’m an avid fan of this author’s work,having started reading her books more than twenty years ago. She’s my ‘go to� author when I need to immerse myself in good,old fashioned police work,and need to be reminded that there are truly fantastic writers who pen addictive,clever,fast paced,intelligent books.
This book was simply wonderful and I heartily recommend it to all like minded readers!! 😊
Oh,Dear Reader,
My faith in literature has been restored!!
You know that certainty that creeps upon you when the book you’ve started works its magic,enveloping you in a wholesome,warm,secure sense that all is right with the world now that you’ve reestablished your relationship and camaraderie with Karen and Jason ‘The Mint� Murray.
Yes,the cold cases are wonderfully detailed, intricately drawn but step by step,we are taken by the hand and made privy to the innate intellect of Karen, the encouraging potential of Jason and the beautiful symbiotic relationship that exists between these vibrant and exquisitely drawn characters,as they painfully and carefully place each jigsaw piece down in an effort to see the whole picture.
I loved every minute spent with these characters,the verbal jousting,the analysis and the sure fire certainly that,irrespective of how old the case,how weak the interconnecting links,the puzzle will be solved and the team will get their culprit.
Having read so often of how Karen still misses Phil, I was delighted and somewhat surprised to read of Hamish!! Am definitely intrigued!!!!
I’m an avid fan of this author’s work,having started reading her books more than twenty years ago. She’s my ‘go to� author when I need to immerse myself in good,old fashioned police work,and need to be reminded that there are truly fantastic writers who pen addictive,clever,fast paced,intelligent books.
This book was simply wonderful and I heartily recommend it to all like minded readers!! 😊
March 24, 2021
Creo que es la primera vez que leo un libro en el que la protagonista deba resolver tres casos prácticamente al mismo tiempo. Lo normal es que la historia se base en un solo caso y eso me ha parecido original como poco ya que el lector tiene más motivos aun para que su mente no descanse.
Tres casos distintos, tres asesinos distintos y nada en común, tan solo la inspectora jefe Karen Pirie que es la encargada de resolverlos junto con su ayudante Dandi. Ambición, sexo y violencia doméstica, un buen coctel para nuestra protagonista que sigue tratando de superar una pérdida personal. A pesar de eso, se puede destacar un primer caso como el principal.
Una pareja trata de recuperar unas motos que el abuelo de ella le dejó como legado, utilizan un mapa que el abuelo mismo trazó para poder localizarlas. Para ello piden ayuda a Hamish Mackenzie que es el actual propietario de esas tierras. Algo tan simple como eso desemboca en el hallazgo de un cadáver con tan buena conservación que pronto pueden poner en marcha el engranaje para descubrir que pasó. Sus zapatillas Nike Max Air dan el pistoletazo de salida a la investigación. ¿Por qué ese cadáver está ahí cuando parece ser que no tiene nada que ver con esas motos?
Más en mi blog:
Tres casos distintos, tres asesinos distintos y nada en común, tan solo la inspectora jefe Karen Pirie que es la encargada de resolverlos junto con su ayudante Dandi. Ambición, sexo y violencia doméstica, un buen coctel para nuestra protagonista que sigue tratando de superar una pérdida personal. A pesar de eso, se puede destacar un primer caso como el principal.
Una pareja trata de recuperar unas motos que el abuelo de ella le dejó como legado, utilizan un mapa que el abuelo mismo trazó para poder localizarlas. Para ello piden ayuda a Hamish Mackenzie que es el actual propietario de esas tierras. Algo tan simple como eso desemboca en el hallazgo de un cadáver con tan buena conservación que pronto pueden poner en marcha el engranaje para descubrir que pasó. Sus zapatillas Nike Max Air dan el pistoletazo de salida a la investigación. ¿Por qué ese cadáver está ahí cuando parece ser que no tiene nada que ver con esas motos?
Más en mi blog:
November 8, 2018
Broken Ground is a contemporary suspense series novel, but for new entrants to DCI Karen Pirie (like me!) this is a smooth entry point and well written read.
DCI Karen Pirie is a chief inspector with Scotland's Historic Crimes division, and although she deals with a past murder in Broken Ground, there's also a current murder investigation she finds herself in the thick of, another cold case, and dealing with internal office meddling.
Sound like a lot? It is, and that's before we've even gotten to Karen's personal life, but Ms. McDermid is clearly a deft hand at police procedurals and series writing, as there's enough information given to newbies to get them up to speed without throwing veteran readers off pace.
I thought Karen was fascinating--tenacious, loyal to those she calls friend, and angry at those (mainly her new boss) who quickly reveal themselves to be more interested in sidelining her than seeing her do her job.
The deft way Ms. McDermid weaves together the present day case, the cold case, the other cold case, and Karen's life would, quite honestly, be a hot mess in many writer's hands, but it's all knotted together expertly and with none of the "and then every case is tied to each other!" way I was expecting.
Instead, each investigation Karen is involved in develops on its own, and each is given plenty of breathing room, although Karen is certainly one very busy woman!
I am normally not a series fan, because I find that the writing falls off several books in, or the wait for the next book takes so long I've forgotten what happened before, or the amount of backstory that's required for new readers takes up what feels like half the book. I admit I know nothing about Val McDermid other than that she's famous (although I'm pretty sure I've read her before) but she definitely knows how to write and I was interested in every single story line and loved that they all proceeded briskly.
My only nitpick is that after becoming so interested in everything that was going om, the ending happened very, very quickly. I would have liked to have known more, and although the hallmark of a good series is that each installment leaves you wanting more, I still felt the resolution to one of the cold cases and the current case was rushed. Still, consider me intrigued by Karen and her world, and I would definitely read the next book in the series.
For diehard fans (obviously) and for those looking for a new police procedural to try, a trip to Scotland and DCI Karen Pirie's world is well worth the time.
DCI Karen Pirie is a chief inspector with Scotland's Historic Crimes division, and although she deals with a past murder in Broken Ground, there's also a current murder investigation she finds herself in the thick of, another cold case, and dealing with internal office meddling.
Sound like a lot? It is, and that's before we've even gotten to Karen's personal life, but Ms. McDermid is clearly a deft hand at police procedurals and series writing, as there's enough information given to newbies to get them up to speed without throwing veteran readers off pace.
I thought Karen was fascinating--tenacious, loyal to those she calls friend, and angry at those (mainly her new boss) who quickly reveal themselves to be more interested in sidelining her than seeing her do her job.
The deft way Ms. McDermid weaves together the present day case, the cold case, the other cold case, and Karen's life would, quite honestly, be a hot mess in many writer's hands, but it's all knotted together expertly and with none of the "and then every case is tied to each other!" way I was expecting.
Instead, each investigation Karen is involved in develops on its own, and each is given plenty of breathing room, although Karen is certainly one very busy woman!
I am normally not a series fan, because I find that the writing falls off several books in, or the wait for the next book takes so long I've forgotten what happened before, or the amount of backstory that's required for new readers takes up what feels like half the book. I admit I know nothing about Val McDermid other than that she's famous (although I'm pretty sure I've read her before) but she definitely knows how to write and I was interested in every single story line and loved that they all proceeded briskly.
My only nitpick is that after becoming so interested in everything that was going om, the ending happened very, very quickly. I would have liked to have known more, and although the hallmark of a good series is that each installment leaves you wanting more, I still felt the resolution to one of the cold cases and the current case was rushed. Still, consider me intrigued by Karen and her world, and I would definitely read the next book in the series.
For diehard fans (obviously) and for those looking for a new police procedural to try, a trip to Scotland and DCI Karen Pirie's world is well worth the time.
September 26, 2018
Until now, I’d been ambivalent about reading McDermid’s novels. I am suspicious and picky when it comes to genre crime and police procedural books, as many tend to be gratuitous and boilerplate. My reason for choosing her this time had more to do with my recent trip to the Scotland Highlands and my wish to indulge in the setting again. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the author’s writing and story, as well as her well-articulated characters.
In fact, Karen Pirie struck a nerve—a woman on top of her game in the police business, but personally grieving for a monumental loss--her boyfriend’s death. And, although this is my first McDermid book, I can confidently report that an inaugural Mcdermid reader can delight in this well-paced, thoughtful novel. You won’t feel that you forfeited anything that interferes with the thorough thrill of the story.
The excitement essentially starts with a body in a peat bog, discovered when a couple was searching for a couple of Indian motorcycles that was buried by the woman’s grandfather during WWII. It’s fascinating that peat can preserve a body for decades—perhaps centuries, right down to the eyelashes. The found body (I won’t tell you how old the body was, although you learn early on) is one thread of many, as the story stitches together with plot and rotating time periods. The author admirably constructs a coherent story by stitching all these time periods together. And McDermid artfully includes a few subplots, which are seamlessly employed to add suspense, complexity, and deepen character.
Equally impressive was McDermid’s handling of setting; I felt like I was back in Scotland again. The way she described the urban and remote, rural areas of the Highlands was virtually poetic. I didn’t expect this in a police procedural, but she installed me visually in Edinburgh, allowing me to recall the streets, hills, waterways, and architecture. And in other parts of the Highlands, she placed us in some sparsely inhabited and rolling hills, forested land, estuaries, lochs, and Firths. It gave me chills to read what I had once seen.
The narrative pace is energetic yet unhurried, but I finished it in a few days as the story heated up. Not everything is tied up in a bow, either. A few strands may be followed up in the next book, perhaps twisted into a new vigorous plot. McDermid is obviously confident in her writing, and it shows in her ability to keep you guessing. Moreover, Karen Pirie's character has room to evolve. I felt her sense of mourning and loss, but also her strength and resolve to move forward and break from her interpersonal shell of grief. The story never gets stale or derivative. I look forward to her next book—it’s never too late to be a fan!
In fact, Karen Pirie struck a nerve—a woman on top of her game in the police business, but personally grieving for a monumental loss--her boyfriend’s death. And, although this is my first McDermid book, I can confidently report that an inaugural Mcdermid reader can delight in this well-paced, thoughtful novel. You won’t feel that you forfeited anything that interferes with the thorough thrill of the story.
The excitement essentially starts with a body in a peat bog, discovered when a couple was searching for a couple of Indian motorcycles that was buried by the woman’s grandfather during WWII. It’s fascinating that peat can preserve a body for decades—perhaps centuries, right down to the eyelashes. The found body (I won’t tell you how old the body was, although you learn early on) is one thread of many, as the story stitches together with plot and rotating time periods. The author admirably constructs a coherent story by stitching all these time periods together. And McDermid artfully includes a few subplots, which are seamlessly employed to add suspense, complexity, and deepen character.
Equally impressive was McDermid’s handling of setting; I felt like I was back in Scotland again. The way she described the urban and remote, rural areas of the Highlands was virtually poetic. I didn’t expect this in a police procedural, but she installed me visually in Edinburgh, allowing me to recall the streets, hills, waterways, and architecture. And in other parts of the Highlands, she placed us in some sparsely inhabited and rolling hills, forested land, estuaries, lochs, and Firths. It gave me chills to read what I had once seen.
The narrative pace is energetic yet unhurried, but I finished it in a few days as the story heated up. Not everything is tied up in a bow, either. A few strands may be followed up in the next book, perhaps twisted into a new vigorous plot. McDermid is obviously confident in her writing, and it shows in her ability to keep you guessing. Moreover, Karen Pirie's character has room to evolve. I felt her sense of mourning and loss, but also her strength and resolve to move forward and break from her interpersonal shell of grief. The story never gets stale or derivative. I look forward to her next book—it’s never too late to be a fan!
August 21, 2018
A Scottish police procedural (thanks to Net Galley for their free preview in exchange for an honest review.) I haven't read a ton of McDermid and I didn't much care for her protagonist DCI Karen Pirie who ostensibly is still suffering from the loss of her significant other and seems to be taking it out on everyone else. That her boss has it in for the Historic Crimes Unit and has planted a spy in her midst in the form of DS McCartney doesn't help. Her boss is but a caricature of the bitch boss. I would have liked to understand her more. But I suppose seeing her only through Pirie's eyes the view we get is biased in the extreme.
A body has been found by a couple with the help of a crofter. They had been trying to dig up two Indian motorcycles, presumed now to be worth a considerable sum, that had been buried by the woman's grandfather who was "taking" them rather than let them be destroyed as post-war trash. Unbeknownnst to them, the pannier of one also contained a slug of diamonds that another GI was trying to smuggle out of Europe. I was a bit surprised they hadn't bothered to look in the pannier before burying it, but never mind.
I was a bit disappointed with this book. The characters just weren't particularly likeable, not that it's a necessary criteria for liking a bit. They just seemed a bit "off."
Note that the formatting in this ARC for Kindle is really awful, but I assume it will have been fixed by the time of publication.
A body has been found by a couple with the help of a crofter. They had been trying to dig up two Indian motorcycles, presumed now to be worth a considerable sum, that had been buried by the woman's grandfather who was "taking" them rather than let them be destroyed as post-war trash. Unbeknownnst to them, the pannier of one also contained a slug of diamonds that another GI was trying to smuggle out of Europe. I was a bit surprised they hadn't bothered to look in the pannier before burying it, but never mind.
I was a bit disappointed with this book. The characters just weren't particularly likeable, not that it's a necessary criteria for liking a bit. They just seemed a bit "off."
Note that the formatting in this ARC for Kindle is really awful, but I assume it will have been fixed by the time of publication.
October 29, 2018
Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is, in many ways, a typical Val McDermid heroine. Feisty, uncompromising, determined and compassionate; certainly cut from the same cloth as Lindsay Gordon, Kate Brannigan and Carol Jordan.
As head of the Historic Cases Unit (which is, in essence, just her and her naive but loyal assistant Detective Constable Jason “Mint� Murray) Karen is called out to investigate the case of a large man buried in a peat bog along with a couple of World War II motorcycles. The story here takes us back to Antwerp in late 1944 just before the city is liberated by the Canadian Army. There is an intricate and fascinating storyline which links Antwerp to the dead man and right through to a prominent person in the present day.
On top of this Karen finds herself unwittingly caught up in a domestic dispute which ends in murder and deal with her immediate superior Ann Markie who holds a personal grudge against Karen.
Yet another masterclass in writing an intelligent, gripping police procedural from Val McDermid.
As head of the Historic Cases Unit (which is, in essence, just her and her naive but loyal assistant Detective Constable Jason “Mint� Murray) Karen is called out to investigate the case of a large man buried in a peat bog along with a couple of World War II motorcycles. The story here takes us back to Antwerp in late 1944 just before the city is liberated by the Canadian Army. There is an intricate and fascinating storyline which links Antwerp to the dead man and right through to a prominent person in the present day.
On top of this Karen finds herself unwittingly caught up in a domestic dispute which ends in murder and deal with her immediate superior Ann Markie who holds a personal grudge against Karen.
Yet another masterclass in writing an intelligent, gripping police procedural from Val McDermid.
September 4, 2018
Peat bogs are dangerous places...
DCI Karen Pirie of Police Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit is in the middle of re-investigating a series of rapes when she is diverted to a crime scene in the Highlands. A woman and her husband are on a kind of treasure hunt, looking for something that the woman’s grandfather buried in a peat bog long ago. They find the spot, but when they dig down into the peat, they are shocked to discover not only the looted items but the body of a man, almost perfectly preserved. The body only dates back to the 1990s, though, so Karen must unravel the mystery of who killed the man and why. And Karen also finds herself involved almost by accident in the investigation of another crime, one that she hoped she’d prevented. Meantime her new boss has given her an extra team member, a thing Karen would be grateful for if only she felt there wasn’t an ulterior motive behind it...
I’m thoroughly enjoying the Karen Pirie books and this is another excellent addition to the series. Now that a national police force has taken the place of the old regional forces in Scotland in real life, it gives fiction writers the ability to have their detectives travel all over the country, and McDermid is as comfortable writing about the Highlands as she is her hometown of Edinburgh. I’m biased, I know, but I love that McDermid has set this series back in Scotland after too long away. She gives an amazingly good sense of place and a wholly authentic feel to contemporary Scottish life. Forget the unrealistic gun-totin� gang wars of so much “Tartan Noir� or the tartan twee of the cosier side of Scottish crime fiction (usually written by nostalgic Canadians or Americans). This is modern Scotland: warts and all, for sure, but also with a vibrant, well educated population and a professional police force where dysfunctional drunken mavericks wouldn’t be tolerated.
This falls very much under the category of police procedural rather than mystery or thriller. Karen and her team identify their suspect fairly early on and most of the book is about how they go about finding the evidence to make a case that would stand up in court. It’s an intriguing and realistic look at how policing is done, but could perhaps be a little dull in the wrong hands. McDermid, however spices the whole thing up by having the HCU working on other cases alongside the main one, by throwing in some office politics, and by having some great characterisation of Karen herself, her young sidekick Jason, her friends and colleagues, not to mention the suspects and witnesses they deal with along the way. Karen is well into recovery from her grief now (deliberately vague, in case people haven’t read the earlier books) and McDermid has handled that whole storyline superbly, I feel � never letting it be forgotten or glossed over, but not making either Karen or the reader wallow endlessly.
Downsides � there’s some swearing, though less than in most Scottish crime fiction, and bits of it, especially relating to the office politics, triggered my over-sensitive credibility monitor. Also, one of the problems of living in such a small country is that all our successful people tend to know each other, and it was very obvious throughout that McDermid thinks of our First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, as a friend. There’s a little too much rather sycophantic praise of her and the Scottish Government in general for my taste � most of us, like the people in most democracies, have a rather higher level of healthy scepticism when it comes to our leaders.
But these were minor issues that didn’t spoil my absorption in the story. I loved wandering the streets of Edinburgh with Karen, travelling north with her, meeting up with her friends again, and seeing how Jason is maturing and growing in confidence in each book. I enjoyed Karen’s visit to Glasgow and McDermid’s tongue-in-cheek nods to the old rivalry between the citizens of Scotland’s two biggest cities. The pacing is excellent so that, although it’s a longish read, I never found it dragging. The main storyline of the murder is intriguing, with parts of it going back to the war, though most of the book is firmly set in the present day. I even learned a small piece of Scotland’s history I didn’t know before. Third person, past tense, of course, as all the best books are.
It would work fine as a standalone. I have read a couple of these out of order and actually missed one or two of the earlier ones, but I haven’t felt that’s left me struggling in any way. In short, highly recommended � I hope McDermid sticks with this series for a long time to come.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Little, Brown Book Group.
DCI Karen Pirie of Police Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit is in the middle of re-investigating a series of rapes when she is diverted to a crime scene in the Highlands. A woman and her husband are on a kind of treasure hunt, looking for something that the woman’s grandfather buried in a peat bog long ago. They find the spot, but when they dig down into the peat, they are shocked to discover not only the looted items but the body of a man, almost perfectly preserved. The body only dates back to the 1990s, though, so Karen must unravel the mystery of who killed the man and why. And Karen also finds herself involved almost by accident in the investigation of another crime, one that she hoped she’d prevented. Meantime her new boss has given her an extra team member, a thing Karen would be grateful for if only she felt there wasn’t an ulterior motive behind it...
I’m thoroughly enjoying the Karen Pirie books and this is another excellent addition to the series. Now that a national police force has taken the place of the old regional forces in Scotland in real life, it gives fiction writers the ability to have their detectives travel all over the country, and McDermid is as comfortable writing about the Highlands as she is her hometown of Edinburgh. I’m biased, I know, but I love that McDermid has set this series back in Scotland after too long away. She gives an amazingly good sense of place and a wholly authentic feel to contemporary Scottish life. Forget the unrealistic gun-totin� gang wars of so much “Tartan Noir� or the tartan twee of the cosier side of Scottish crime fiction (usually written by nostalgic Canadians or Americans). This is modern Scotland: warts and all, for sure, but also with a vibrant, well educated population and a professional police force where dysfunctional drunken mavericks wouldn’t be tolerated.
This falls very much under the category of police procedural rather than mystery or thriller. Karen and her team identify their suspect fairly early on and most of the book is about how they go about finding the evidence to make a case that would stand up in court. It’s an intriguing and realistic look at how policing is done, but could perhaps be a little dull in the wrong hands. McDermid, however spices the whole thing up by having the HCU working on other cases alongside the main one, by throwing in some office politics, and by having some great characterisation of Karen herself, her young sidekick Jason, her friends and colleagues, not to mention the suspects and witnesses they deal with along the way. Karen is well into recovery from her grief now (deliberately vague, in case people haven’t read the earlier books) and McDermid has handled that whole storyline superbly, I feel � never letting it be forgotten or glossed over, but not making either Karen or the reader wallow endlessly.
Downsides � there’s some swearing, though less than in most Scottish crime fiction, and bits of it, especially relating to the office politics, triggered my over-sensitive credibility monitor. Also, one of the problems of living in such a small country is that all our successful people tend to know each other, and it was very obvious throughout that McDermid thinks of our First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, as a friend. There’s a little too much rather sycophantic praise of her and the Scottish Government in general for my taste � most of us, like the people in most democracies, have a rather higher level of healthy scepticism when it comes to our leaders.
But these were minor issues that didn’t spoil my absorption in the story. I loved wandering the streets of Edinburgh with Karen, travelling north with her, meeting up with her friends again, and seeing how Jason is maturing and growing in confidence in each book. I enjoyed Karen’s visit to Glasgow and McDermid’s tongue-in-cheek nods to the old rivalry between the citizens of Scotland’s two biggest cities. The pacing is excellent so that, although it’s a longish read, I never found it dragging. The main storyline of the murder is intriguing, with parts of it going back to the war, though most of the book is firmly set in the present day. I even learned a small piece of Scotland’s history I didn’t know before. Third person, past tense, of course, as all the best books are.
It would work fine as a standalone. I have read a couple of these out of order and actually missed one or two of the earlier ones, but I haven’t felt that’s left me struggling in any way. In short, highly recommended � I hope McDermid sticks with this series for a long time to come.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Little, Brown Book Group.
October 16, 2020
“Broken Ground" unfolds with several story lines told separately and then alternating. Some cases are mundane, some historic, and some shocking, but all are interesting, colorful, and refreshing. The adventure begins in 1944, Wester Ross, Scotland as a hole is painfully yet carefully dug in the peat; two large crates are slowly lowered and quietly covered.
Edinburgh Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie works Historic Cases because she believes people deserve answers. She provides readers with background information about personal relationships, job dynamics, and friendships as she and her team go about their jobs and everyday activities. They are a unique group with plenty of dedication as well as processional conflicts, tempered by humor, sarcasm, and wit. They have “fun� nicknames such as Dog Biscuit and Mint, and are constantly plagued by “Bloody traffic on the bridge.� The team has several complex cases requiring solid detective work. When a long buried body is discovered buried in a peat bog, they conduct an intense and far-reading investigation, searching through old records, drudging up a past that no one wants to remember, and finding things that were meant to remain hidden.
McDermid also gives readers a feel for Scotland’s unique geography, poetically describing mountains that rise from the plateau and make an abrupt statement; land that sweeps upwards to peaks and ridges, some rounded and gentle, others jagged and savage, and a crisp blue sky with tattered shreds of clouds that enhance every color. Lyric language, unique cadence, and expressive vocabulary make every line exceptional and distinctive.
“Broken Ground� is compelling and beautifully written. I was given a review copy of “Broken Ground� by Val McDermid Atlantic Monthly Press, and Ingram Publisher Services. I now want to get an audio copy just to hear the gorgeous tone and rhythm of the narrative.
Edinburgh Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie works Historic Cases because she believes people deserve answers. She provides readers with background information about personal relationships, job dynamics, and friendships as she and her team go about their jobs and everyday activities. They are a unique group with plenty of dedication as well as processional conflicts, tempered by humor, sarcasm, and wit. They have “fun� nicknames such as Dog Biscuit and Mint, and are constantly plagued by “Bloody traffic on the bridge.� The team has several complex cases requiring solid detective work. When a long buried body is discovered buried in a peat bog, they conduct an intense and far-reading investigation, searching through old records, drudging up a past that no one wants to remember, and finding things that were meant to remain hidden.
McDermid also gives readers a feel for Scotland’s unique geography, poetically describing mountains that rise from the plateau and make an abrupt statement; land that sweeps upwards to peaks and ridges, some rounded and gentle, others jagged and savage, and a crisp blue sky with tattered shreds of clouds that enhance every color. Lyric language, unique cadence, and expressive vocabulary make every line exceptional and distinctive.
“Broken Ground� is compelling and beautifully written. I was given a review copy of “Broken Ground� by Val McDermid Atlantic Monthly Press, and Ingram Publisher Services. I now want to get an audio copy just to hear the gorgeous tone and rhythm of the narrative.
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