Foyles

(Hardback)

by Ruth Clough

An exceptionally well constructed storyline that was really well written. I so enjoyed it I found it difficult to put down. Thoroughly recommend it. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.

(Hardback)

by Judy Odom

Silent Bones welcomes back Karen Pirie in the much anticipated book 8 in the series. Val McDermid doesnt disappoint and this is my favourite book of the series (until book 9). Karen and her cold case team are investigating two historic cases. One a victim is found buried under a highway and he himself was thought to have run when his fiancee was murdered. The second is was a tragic accident but the family feels it wasnt investigated properly. The same names keep popping up in both cases and when one thread is unravelled it leads to another and before long the team will have their answers. Now to prove it. Val McDermid does her usual fantastic job of writing beautifully, the characters are all real and the plot is tightly woven. Once you start reading Silent Bones you wont be able to stop.

(Hardback)

by Christine Rennie

Silent Bones by Val McDermid is a totally engrossing murder mystery of a journalist found buried under a motorway, when after heavy rain causes a landslide. This is a case for the Historical Cases Unit led by Karen Pirie and her team. Sam Nimmo was an investigative journalist, when he disappeared after the death of his pregnant girlfriend, for which he was considered to be the prime suspect. Although Sam looked into the murky world of politics and Scotland’s bid for independence before he disappeared. There is also the death of a hotel worker who died after a fall down steps, but now there is an allegation that his death wasn’t accidental and an earlier death is also looked into which could then be linked to the hotel worker’s death. There are suddenly plenty of historical cases to be investigated and looked at again. Will those responsible be brought to justice? Highly recommended

(Hardback)

by Lovetoread2023

Silent Bones is another strong addition to Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie series. Karen is, as always, a force to be reckoned with, and I love the way these books dig into cold cases — it’s such a great premise that never gets old. It was also a pleasure catching up with the familiar cast of characters, who remain one of the series’ biggest strengths. This one is brutal in parts, with two plots running alongside each other. For me, one storyline worked far better than the other, which made the book feel slightly uneven. While still compelling and readable, I didn’t think it was quite as strong as some of the earlier Karen Pirie novels. Overall, it's a solid read — not McDermid’s best, but certainly one that fans of the series will enjoy.

(Hardback)

by Emma Alvey

When torrential rain causes a landslide on a Scottish motorway it uncovers human remains that are soon identified as belonging to journalist Sam Nimmo, who disappeared eleven years earlier after the murder of his pregnant fiancée. He was the prime suspect, but now Karen Pirie and her Historic Cases Unit must discover how and why he was buried beneath the tarmac. Meanwhile, the team are reopening the investigation into the accidental death of hotel manager Tom Jamieson after his brother comes in with new evidence that seems to point to foul play. Soon, the evidence leads them to the elite book club Tom had joined shortly before his death. What are they hiding and just how far will they go to keep their secrets? Intriguing, mysterious and suspenseful, this enthralling thriller had me glued to its pages. Val McDermid is a crime fiction powerhouse so I jumped at the chance to read this book, which is the eighth book in the Karen Pirie series, even though it had been a while since I’d read this series. But I never felt lost or confused as McDermid succinctly catches the reader up with past events and the lives of Karen and her team. I was quickly immersed in this twisted web of power, corruption, secrets, lies, deceit and murder. Expertly written, shrewdly choreographed, perfectly paced and full of heart and humour, McDermid’s crime-writing credentials are evident on every page. The book is filled with a cast of compelling characters that I loved reading. I loved the camaraderie and banter of Karen and her team, and how deftly they solve these old crimes. I liked that McDermid includes just the right amount of their personal lives to help us develop a connection with them that will keep you coming back for another instalment. The background characters are also fascinating to read and there were some unscrupulous characters that I couldn’t wait to see punished for their crimes. My heart raced and I was on the edge of my seat as Karen and her team untangled the intricate web to find the truth and finally get justice for these victims. A must-read for anyone who enjoys a tense and twisty police procedural.

This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.