Publishers Weekly
10/08/2018
In McDermind’s fine fourth novel featuring Edinburgh Det. Chief Insp. Karen Pirie (after 2016’s Out of Bounds), Alice and Will Somerville, a married couple, set out on a treasure hunt in the Scottish Highlands. They have a map to guide them to the spot where Alice’s grandfather buried two American motorcycles in protective boxes in 1944 when he was serving in the British army. To their surprise, they discover a body along with the motorcycles in the peat. When Pirie is called to the scene—a rarity for a cold case detective, getting to see the body in situ—she realizes the peat’s preservation properties have worked in her favor. A forensic anthropologist identifies the victim as a professional athlete, who disappeared around 1995, based on his shoes. But even with a name, reconstructing a decades-old murder is tricky, and this time there’s a lot of pressure from above to solve it. Meanwhile, Pirie becomes embroiled in a contemporary crime involving domestic violence. As always, McDermid’s story lines are as richly layered as her protagonist. Agent: Jane Gregory, David Higham Assoc. (U.K.) (Dec.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Broken Ground
“Pirie is a satisfyingly wry and hard-edged character, and McDermid’s dry tone heightens the growing suspense.”—Guardian (UK)
“Val McDermid’s DCI Karen Pirie is a realistic figure, rooted in research and acting in accordance with the law. She is one of McDermid’s most appealing sleuths . . . McDermid writes with warmth and authority, building Karen’s cases with conviction and making the reader root for her in every possible way. You know you’re in safe hands from the first page.”—BookOxygen
“This is Val McDermid, so it will be both gripping and unputdownable.”—The Bookseller (UK)
“Val McDermid seamlessly weaves multiple mysteries, modern forensics, and old grudges into one story that practically trembles from the narrative tension. Broken Ground is another smart procedural from an expert of the form.”—Kristen Lepionka, author of the Roxane Weary mystery series
“There’s a reason readers around the world look forward to a new book by the ‘queen of crime’ and Val McDermid’s legions of fans will not be disappointed with this one… McDermid never puts a foot wrong. Her prose is so clear and engaging, this is a book that will keep you turning pages. Like Pirie, you will be hungry for just that one more bit of evidence.”—Crime Fiction Lover
“McDermid’s novels about cold cases have solid plots and fascinating forensic detail.”—Sunday Times (UK)
Praise for Out of Bounds:
“A thriller as steely and superlative as its heroine” —O, The Oprah Magazine
“Tightly plotted . . . McDermid applies her formidable intelligence and muscular style to the kind of urban crime novel that gives Scotland its tough rep and vigorous lingo . . . It’s the brawny characters and their beefy dialect that really keep us coming back to this superior series.”— New York Times Book Review
“No one writes sturdier mysteries than Val McDermid.”— Chicago Tribune
“There are few other crime writers in the same league as Val McDermid. Her stories are ingeniously plotted, moody . . . Absorbing . . . It’s Karen’s character that’s the enduring draw of this series . . . Out of Bounds is another terrific and intricate suspense novel by a writer who has given us 30 of them.”— Washington Post
“[McDermid] balances the intense character studies in Out of Bounds with an inside view of the Scottish legal system and again shows her acuity in producing intelligent thrillers.” —Associated Press
“McDermid gives us the female heroine that doesn’t fit the mould, and in the best way.”— National Post (Canada)
“None is more deserving of the queen-of-crime mantle than Val McDermid . . . I would like to see a great deal more of DCI Pirie.”— Irish Times
Library Journal
11/01/2018
Alice Summerville and her husband travel to the Scottish Highlands in search of a legacy buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II and bequeathed to her just before his death. Aided by the property owner, they ascertain the exact location and dig into a peat bog, unearthing both the treasure and a corpse. When it's determined that the body was buried long after the end of the war, DCI Karen Pirie, head of the Historical Crimes Unit of the Edinburgh Police, is called in to catch a killer on the loose for nearly 20 years. While seeking justice for this murder, Karen must also deal with a superior with an ax to grind who has planted a mole in the unit, a cold case involving a serial rapist, and an overheard conversation that may lead to a fresh crime{amp}mdash;all while grieving the loss of her partner. VERDICT Prolific author McDermid (Out of Bounds) has crafted a tight police procedural with a strong female lead. While this is number five in the series, newcomers are brought up to speed. Fans of Tana French and Ian Rankin will be delighted. [See Prepub Alert, 6/10/18.]{amp}mdash;Susan Santa, Shelter Rock P. L., Albertson, NY
Kirkus Reviews
2018-09-17
The accidental discovery of a body is the starting point for the latest mystery featuring the Scottish cold-case detective Karen Pirie.
Karen is still working in the historical crimes unit and recovering from the death of her lover. Her burden is made heavier because her boss, using Karen's tendency to flout the rules as an excuse, wants to get rid of her. To that end, she's made an addition to Karen's unit, an arrogant cop meant to function as a snitch. When a woman decides to unearth the two vintage American motorcycles her grandfather buried near the end of World War II, she gets a surprise when she finds a body (preserved by the surrounding peat bog) where the second bike should be. Karen's investigation predictably leads her to trouble when clues point to a well-regarded property developer out to benefit those on the lower economic rung. The novel is laced with details about the difficulties—and the price—of life in Edinburgh, and this feeds nicely into the part of the plot that deals with the developer who becomes a suspect. A subplot about domestic violence, though it involves settings introduced earlier in the series, takes over the book just as the plot about the body buried in the bog is gearing up. One of the best things about this series is the details of Karen's working life, the obstacles as well as the satisfactions, and the small pleasures of her off hours.
The mystery itself has a stop-start rhythm, but as a novel about the too-consuming work life many of us lead, it's timely and recognizable.
