I have a history with Val McDermid, and her wonderful protagonist Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie of Police Scotland. Back in 2016, I read and reviewed Out of Bounds by Val McDermid, #4 in the series with this feisty female protagonist. At that time, I said, “I’m not sure why I haven’t read Val McDermid before, or why I wanted to read this one, but I am so glad it happened…McDermid fans may already be familiar with Chief Inspector Karen Pirie of Police Scotland, as Out of Bounds is #4 in the series. I plan to read the first three in the series (The Distant Echo, A Darker Domain, and The Skeleton Road), but this story doesn’t require any prior knowledge, and functions as a standalone novel.” Then, in 2018, I read and reviewed Broken Ground, #5 in the series, and admitted I never got to the first three, but I definitely would since I had really enjoyed #5.

Now it is 2020 and now DCI Karen Pirie and the Historic Cases Unit of Police Scotland are back,  investigating the discovery of a female skeleton in a campervan parked in the garage of a woman who died following a traffic accident.  Around the same time, fishermen find a body as they’re pulling in their catch.  The body is identified as being that of James Auld and Karen and DC Jason ‘The Mint’ Murray are brought in to investigate, as James is the brother of another cold case, involving the disappearance of an “important man.” They are joined by DS Daisy Mortimer, who would be a great spinoff character with her own series… 

It’s a challenge to write anything about books in this series without giving something away, and I don’t do spoilers, so I’ll just say the plotting is terrific, and as usual with Ms McDermid’s books, I learned a few things. Karen’s personal life comes in, but doesn’t take over the story. The characters are incredibly real.  I’m so happy I discovered this author! Fans will love it, and there will be many new fans. Five stars.