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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Detective Karen Pirie and her loyal constable Jason "Mint" Murray forms the historical cases unit in Police Scotland. In book #5, Karen and Jason have not one but 3 cases running in parallel. In addition to the cold cases, Karen also gets involved with domestic/murder case that is a typical example of he said/she said.
Karen is overcoming her grief and is slowly working towards life, her nocturnal wanderings have decreased but things in the work front are still a pain. With the change of the ACC who is a female, Karen expects many things but lands up totally with something else especially in the form of a spy in her office who manages to disrupt her usual working methods.
The mystery part of the book is revealed earlier but how Karen manages to overcome the obstacles in bringing a 20-yr old case to court is what makes it a very fascinating read. Val McDermid has already proved her mettle in this genre and this new Karen Pirie book just reinforces it.
Karen is overcoming her grief and is slowly working towards life, her nocturnal wanderings have decreased but things in the work front are still a pain. With the change of the ACC who is a female, Karen expects many things but lands up totally with something else especially in the form of a spy in her office who manages to disrupt her usual working methods.
The mystery part of the book is revealed earlier but how Karen manages to overcome the obstacles in bringing a 20-yr old case to court is what makes it a very fascinating read. Val McDermid has already proved her mettle in this genre and this new Karen Pirie book just reinforces it.
I liked the premise but found this book to have a million flashbacks. Almost like two, maybe more, timelines should have been worked back and forth, but instead, we go back. Again, and again, and again. Granted I haven't read the series and that Karen is a go-getter, but I missed having depth. What motived the killer? All the type of backstory or into the mind of what was going on is majorly missing. Just not there. Now, that said, the in-depth forensics fascinates me. I love that part. It wasn't a bad read at all, but it wasn't what I hoped it would be. That might be my fault, but as a stand-alone, I feel like it's a solid three stars.
Thanks to Net Galley for my copy of this book. This review is my own, left freely.
Thanks to Net Galley for my copy of this book. This review is my own, left freely.
This is book 5 of the DCI Karen Pirie series. This one read easy enough as a stand-alone but, it leaves you hanging and leads you into book 6. DCI Pirie is head of Scotland’s cold case unit. The story leads you through a few cold cases they are working and one current case she accidentally or not so accidentally got involved with.
The story is well written and keeps you guessing.
I would recommend the series.
The story is well written and keeps you guessing.
I would recommend the series.
Very disappointed in this book. There are tons of words that I didn't know and my kindle stated it didn't know the definition. So I guessed. There are a couple of stories going on at the same time. It flashbacks to an earlier time and then present time. Just not a book for me, unfortunately.
What a great mystery! Alice Somerville’s grandfather left her an unusual inheritance. He left two brand new Indian motorcycles buried in a Scottish peat bog at the end of WWII. But when Alice goes to collect her treasure, she’s shocked to discover the perfectly preserved body of a man, riddled with bullet holes, wearing Nike trainers from 1992, along with the bikes. Why was this man digging up her grandfather’s treasure and who shot him? Detective Karen Pirie from the Historic Crimes unit is called in to solve the mystery while dealing with office politics and a jealous boss. // This was such a fun story, full of interesting characters. Apparently there are other books in the Karen Pirie series. I had no idea how McDermid was going to pull all the threads together to make a cohesive whole but she managed it. My only two complaints was that it took too long to get the story going and that there was one other distracting story line that I didn’t enjoy. Overall, a solid 4 books. P.S. This was an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and will be released Dec. 2018
An enjoyable story, and pretty gripping. Although it's part of a series and I havent read any others by her I found the characters easy to connect with. My only issue with it was that it was perhaps a little too drawn out, three murders in one book was too much, especially when the ending didnt even last one chapter. Also sometimes I found her writing style slightly too descriptive, i dont think the reader needs to know exactly which gin and tonic she drinks everytime.
I will read more by her though.
I will read more by her though.
Alice Somerville and her husband travel to the Scottish Highlands to excavate her inheritance--two Indian Scout motorcycles from World War II that her grandfather and his mate, Kenny, had stolen and buried rather than see destroyed after the Americans left Scotland. However, the Somervilles unexpectedly uncover a body, a man wearing Nikes, who was presumed murdered.
Karen Pirie and her Historic Crimes Unit, Jason "The Mint" Murray and newcomer to the team Gerry McCartney, a Detective Sergeant added to the unit by Assistant Chief Constable Ann Markie, take over the investigation.The book follows Pirie as she learns the identity of the murder victim and traces his killer. Woven into the narrative is not only a caper from World War II but also a domestic violence incident that might be more than it seems as well as an inquiry into violent rapes that occurred in the 1980s. Pirie must contend with aging evidence, long-forgotten memories, and obstinate colleagues while trying to provide answers to grieving families. Unconcerned with politics yet eager to achieve justice for the victims, Pirie can be her own worst enemy.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book which is well-written and expertly paced. The book includes crimes from four different time lines: the WWII motorcycle theft, the 1980s rapes, the murder of the man wearing Nikes, and the contemporary domestic violence incident. In lesser hands, this could be confusing or overdone, but here it is fascinating. Perhaps my biggest (and sole) complaint about plot is that Pirie seems to figure out certain elements of the mystery without having much information.
Being set in Scotland made the book more interesting to me. I've read other Scottish detective novels and it was fun to compare and contrast the treatment hallmark Edinburgh highlights. Descriptions of the Highlands made me want to travel there! I will say, though, there were lots of British words I had to look up!
For the most part, Pirie was a sympathetic and engaging character, and The Mint was entirely endearing. Some of the other characters, though, particularly DS McCartney and ACC Markie, seemed to be be one-note foils for Pirie instead of well-developed in their own right. Peripheral characters had what I imaged to be compelling backstories that might be in play in other books in the series. Even so, it is not necessary to read the other books to enjoy this novel. In fact, this is my first Inspector Karen Pirie novel. I don't know how I didn't know about the books before, but I'm eager to read the first four books, I enjoyed Broken Ground so much.
Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for providing an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Karen Pirie and her Historic Crimes Unit, Jason "The Mint" Murray and newcomer to the team Gerry McCartney, a Detective Sergeant added to the unit by Assistant Chief Constable Ann Markie, take over the investigation.The book follows Pirie as she learns the identity of the murder victim and traces his killer. Woven into the narrative is not only a caper from World War II but also a domestic violence incident that might be more than it seems as well as an inquiry into violent rapes that occurred in the 1980s. Pirie must contend with aging evidence, long-forgotten memories, and obstinate colleagues while trying to provide answers to grieving families. Unconcerned with politics yet eager to achieve justice for the victims, Pirie can be her own worst enemy.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book which is well-written and expertly paced. The book includes crimes from four different time lines: the WWII motorcycle theft, the 1980s rapes, the murder of the man wearing Nikes, and the contemporary domestic violence incident. In lesser hands, this could be confusing or overdone, but here it is fascinating. Perhaps my biggest (and sole) complaint about plot is that Pirie seems to figure out certain elements of the mystery without having much information.
Being set in Scotland made the book more interesting to me. I've read other Scottish detective novels and it was fun to compare and contrast the treatment hallmark Edinburgh highlights. Descriptions of the Highlands made me want to travel there! I will say, though, there were lots of British words I had to look up!
For the most part, Pirie was a sympathetic and engaging character, and The Mint was entirely endearing. Some of the other characters, though, particularly DS McCartney and ACC Markie, seemed to be be one-note foils for Pirie instead of well-developed in their own right. Peripheral characters had what I imaged to be compelling backstories that might be in play in other books in the series. Even so, it is not necessary to read the other books to enjoy this novel. In fact, this is my first Inspector Karen Pirie novel. I don't know how I didn't know about the books before, but I'm eager to read the first four books, I enjoyed Broken Ground so much.
Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for providing an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There is a reason McDermid is known as the Queen of Crime! This has to be one of the best crime novels that has been written, the plot is so intricately woven and thoroughly unpredictable. Somehow three investigations are finely balanced in this book, yet each gets packaged up and reaches a conclusion in its own manner. I look forward to picking up the next in the Karen Pirie series.
Enjoyable mystery set in Edinburgh and the highlands ties WWII chicanery and modern police procedural. Many of the usual tropes including class differences, potential corruption and risk to our heroine are present in satisfying quantities. The good gals (and guys) are enjoyable and we want the bad people to be brought down.
“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.