5 Réponses2026-07-29 13:05:38
It's 'Past Lying,' which came out in 2023. I've read all her books, and this one feels like a writer confidently playing with form. The constraints of the lockdown setting force innovation in the storytelling. It's not just a gimmick; it's integral to the plot's mechanics and themes. For anyone interested in the craft of mystery writing, it's a fascinating case study.
8 Réponses2026-07-29 04:43:43
Could go either way. Her publisher sometimes markets the same book differently in different regions, which is infuriating. I’ve seen a McDermid novel labeled as a standalone in the US but as ‘A Karen Pirie Novel’ in the UK. Your best bet is to check the copyright page; it usually says if it’s part of a series or features a recurring character.
Don’t rely on the cover blurb alone.
3 Réponses2026-07-29 02:22:03
Awards? For DeMille? That's not really the point of reading him. You pick up a John Corey novel for the sarcastic narration and the page-turning plots, not to see if it won a medal. The real 'award' is that feeling when you finish a 600-page book in two days because you couldn't put it down. Let the literary snobs have their prizes; I'll take a reliably entertaining story any day of the week.
7 Réponses2026-07-29 18:45:20
Can't say I followed the award cycles for it. I was just grateful to spend more time with Dave and Clete. Their friendship in this one feels more vital and tender than ever, with the shadow of mortality hanging over everything. That's the core of the book for me.
7 Réponses2026-07-29 03:53:31
The connection is in the research dive. Every McDermid book teaches you something—about forensic pathology, police protocols, historical events. The new one is no different. That commitment to authenticity, to getting the details right so the fiction feels more real, is a constant. It's why her books are as educational as they are thrilling.
You finish not just entertained, but with a new piece of esoteric knowledge. That pattern—the thrilling lecture—is a hallmark. Whether she's explaining soil analysis or blockchain tracing, the eager student in her comes through. That authorial curiosity is a through-line that makes even her most disparate books feel part of the same intellectually stimulating project.
5 Réponses2026-07-29 23:46:38
McDermid is great with tech, but here the tech is almost old-school: paper, letters, drafts. The theme is analog crime in a digital age. The clues are physical artifacts that have survived. It's a testament to the enduring power of the written word, even as a piece of evidence. In a world of encrypted messages and deleted files, a manuscript in a drawer is a tangible, stubborn piece of the past. The crime theme celebrates the materiality of evidence. Solving it requires a tactile engagement with the past—holding the paper, examining the handwriting. It feels refreshingly grounded and deliberate.
4 Réponses2026-07-29 02:54:35
I read a review that called it 'vintage Clark,' which to me is better than any award. It means the magic was still there. An award might try to frame the book as something new and important, but 'vintage Clark' tells me I'm in for the comfort and suspense I signed up for.
4 Réponses2026-07-29 05:23:33
Think of it like a playlist. You can listen to an artist's greatest hits ('A Place of Execution', 'The Skeleton Road', 'Past Lying') or you can listen to their albums in order. The album experience gives you the deeper cuts and the narrative flow. The greatest hits are all killer, no filler. Both are valid. What kind of reader are you?
5 Réponses2026-07-23 04:17:15
Honestly, just google 'Val McDermid series order' and you'll find a dozen lists. But the fun part is arguing about where Karen Pirie really starts. It's a rite of passage in McDermid fandom. Some will die on the hill of 'The Distant Echo'. Others swear by 'A Darker Domain'. I'm team 'Darker Domain'. It feels like the proper pilot episode. The earlier book is a backdoor pilot, to use TV terms. Both are great reads, though.
3 Réponses2025-07-17 19:52:46
while the latest installment hasn't snagged any major awards yet, it's still early days. The series as a whole has a loyal fanbase and consistently hits bestseller lists, which speaks volumes about its quality. Awards or not, Robb's blend of gritty crime-solving and the evolving relationship between Eve and Roarke keeps readers hooked. The newest book might not have trophies, but it's got that addictive storytelling that makes the series stand out. Sometimes, fan love means more than awards anyway.