Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although this is billed as a cold case story, it isn’t quite. Nearly half of the story takes place in the past, starting with the discovery of our murder victim and continuing on for several months of the initial investigation. I didn’t mind that aspect, but after a while it dragged on and I wanted to move on to the current day.
It’s clear that McDermid didn’t intend Karen Pirie to become the star of her own series. She’s a VERY minor character in this first book. But having read a few of the later books, I’m glad she did get promoted to leading lady.
It was interesting to see the characters age and mature. The killer became obvious by the 3/4 mark, but it was still interesting. The killer was incredibly nuanced, especially with their morals.
It was a smidge too long, but a great story. And man does it drive me crazy that McDermid has no problem killing off the most lovable characters!
It’s clear that McDermid didn’t intend Karen Pirie to become the star of her own series. She’s a VERY minor character in this first book. But having read a few of the later books, I’m glad she did get promoted to leading lady.
It was interesting to see the characters age and mature. The killer became obvious by the 3/4 mark, but it was still interesting. The killer was incredibly nuanced, especially with their morals.
It was a smidge too long, but a great story. And man does it drive me crazy that McDermid has no problem killing off the most lovable characters!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence
Minor: Rape, Murder
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Solid mystery!
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
When I began reading, I anticipated giving this book a 4⭐️ review, even though the killer was telegraphed within the first 25 pages. The writing and characters were interesting enough that I wanted to know where it would take me. However, once the book hit the halfway mark, I began to lose faith in the writer’s abilities to deliver a satisfying narrative. She began giving me glimpses of the action through the eyes of the killer, with absolutely no reasonable motives for anything they were doing. Endless red herrings and dubious suspects didn’t ever obfuscate who the culprit was; it just made that character’s behavior ridiculously unbelievable. And the final chapter info dump that supposedly explained it all was wholly inadequate.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I didn't think much of this book, and by the end was 'hate reading'.
I chose it in part because the subtitle implied here was the first book of a series where the sleuth was a woman. Not so. Karen Pirie is here a minor, minor character, who only appears in the latter part of the book. So, in reading I kept waiting for the perspective to change from the four young men who find the dying body of Rosie Duff, to Karen Pirie. Never happens.
Meantime, our four focus characters have confusing (although cute) nicknames, and are hard to tell apart. No help from the audio book narrator - and, oh god, the upspeak. Is it really that prevalent in Scotland? Cliche phrases, and a guessable solution, with a technicolor red herring.
I fear Ngaio Marsh has completly spoiled me for mysteries.
I chose it in part because the subtitle implied here was the first book of a series where the sleuth was a woman. Not so. Karen Pirie is here a minor, minor character, who only appears in the latter part of the book. So, in reading I kept waiting for the perspective to change from the four young men who find the dying body of Rosie Duff, to Karen Pirie. Never happens.
Meantime, our four focus characters have confusing (although cute) nicknames, and are hard to tell apart. No help from the audio book narrator - and, oh god, the upspeak. Is it really that prevalent in Scotland? Cliche phrases, and a guessable solution, with a technicolor red herring.
I fear Ngaio Marsh has completly spoiled me for mysteries.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(Audiobook) A very tense story throughout! I was very invested in what was happening. Even though I guessed whodunnit from the moment that character entered the story, there are plenty of twists and turns.
Told mainly from the point of view of four witnesses who are accused of murder (rather than mainly from the point of view of the detectives, which is more typical I think) in 1978, and the impact this has on them at the time and 25 years later when a cold case review begins.
Also want to say, all the police officers in this story are as useful as a chocolate teapot, so I'm interested to read more "Karen Pirie mysteries" to see if she actually develops.
Written in 2004, it is quite interesting reading about 20 year old technology; also thinking about the 25 year gap in the story (1978/9 to 2003/4) feeling like eons, what would that be like today? 1999 seems quite clear in my mind ...
Told mainly from the point of view of four witnesses who are accused of murder (rather than mainly from the point of view of the detectives, which is more typical I think) in 1978, and the impact this has on them at the time and 25 years later when a cold case review begins.
Also want to say, all the police officers in this story are as useful as a chocolate teapot, so I'm interested to read more "Karen Pirie mysteries" to see if she actually develops.
Written in 2004, it is quite interesting reading about 20 year old technology; also thinking about the 25 year gap in the story (1978/9 to 2003/4) feeling like eons, what would that be like today? 1999 seems quite clear in my mind ...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder
Minor: Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced