Val McDermid's Karen Pirie series continues to be one of my favorites. Pirie is a bastion in the Harry Bosch School of Policing. In Broken Ground, she says "My ambition is to clear cases that everybody else has given up on. To give answers to people that have been waiting way too long to find out who blew a hole in their lives and why." That makes her just the type of character most crime fiction fans love.

Karen Pirie will succeed, no matter what it takes, and if it means she'll lose her job... so be it. This makes her a bitter pill to swallow for those above her who pay more attention to spreadsheets and the bottom line cost of things, and her boss is determined to get rid of her no matter how high her clearance rate is.

There are only two people in the Historic Cases Unit (HCU): Karen and a young Detective Constable known as The Mint. The Mint isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but Karen prefers to work with him as a known entity rather than deal with the unknown... who joins the unit as DS Gerry McCartney, a man who doesn't understand the mission of such a unit nor does he want to. One of the things I like so much about this series is that The Mint isn't mere comic relief. He's a good-natured young man who wants to do a good job, and he is getting better. How? He's "channeling" Karen's deceased partner and Karen herself-- and it's working. Good role models do make a difference.

There's enough going on with the characters to keep readers occupied, but the two cases the HCU is working on are compelling, too. And that's par for the course in this series. Strong characters and strong mysteries. If you haven't made the acquaintance of Karen Pirie, I strongly recommend that you do so. Start at the beginning with the award-winning The Distant Echo. ( )

Karen Pirie 5

This lady is known as the Queen of Crime for no other reason than her books and writing are outstanding. Broken Ground is meticulously researched, a brilliant crime story presented in a very readable form, and concluding in a most satisfactory manner.

Karen is head of the Historic Crimes Unit (HCU) and is researching the rape and murder of some working girls from 1984. As always she is assisted by Jason “Mint” Murray where respect has to be earned and Jason needs to prove his importance to the team. There is some wonderful interplay between Karen and Jason, praise given but just as soon taken…”He was, she thought, a decent if limited man”. Running alongside this historic case a body is unearthed in the remote depths of the highlands preserved by the rich peat in which it had lain for many years. Both cases will test the resolve of our intrepid two and call into question Karen’s professional judgment. Her new manager ACC Ann Markie is also intent on destroying the career of DCI Pirie, a personal vendetta is brewing and a final confrontation will take us to the very heart of the Scottish parliament and in particular the 1st minister.

Karen Pirie is a wonderful believable police officer, we feel her pain, a woman committed to uncovering the truth whatever the personal cost. An intricate plot, a killer hidden in plain sight for many years and a possible love interest makes Broken Ground one of the best crime stories I have ever read. Highly, highly recommended. ( )

I had the great joy of reading OUT OF BOUNDS and BROKEN GROUNDS back-to-back. Both books are really good. I quite like that in this book Karen Pirie seems to be on the brink of happiness after the loss of Phil a year before. Also, the case is really interesting. A body is found in with a treasure from WW2, however, the body is more recent than so. So, the question is, who is this man and who killed him?

If there is one thing I love is it cold cases and that's why I enjoy this series so much. I especially liked that the case in question dates back all the way to the WW2 Now it's up to Karen and her team to try to figure out who the dead man is and who was it that killed him. But, it's not an easy case to solve, a great deal of digging must be done. Meanwhile, while Karen is working this case does she also overhear a heated discussion in a café and she can't resist butting in. This will have some consequences...

BROKEN GROUND is an excellent crime novel. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! ( )

Good novel
1st of the Karen Pirie series I have read.
DCI Karen Pirie works in Edinburgh as a Detective in the Historic Crimes Unit.
She and her colleague Detective Jason Mint are trying to unravel the discovery of a body in the Highlands of a man found in a Peat bog they reckon he died in 1995.
They quickly discover is name is Joey Sutherland who used to compete in the Highland games, he was discovered with 2 old pristine Motorbikes that were buried after World War II
The book jumps back and forth a bit to tell the whole story.
After the War an American called Arnie Burke who worked undercover in Belgium stole some Diamonds from a Nazi.
He was transferred to Scotland he wanted to smuggle the diamonds home to the States but as he knew his bag would be searched he hid the diamonds on a motorbike that was meant to be shipped back. There was no room for the Motorbikes on the boat these were then acquired by two British soldiers. They buried these bikes well and where going to get them once the War was finally over. They didnt know about the Diamonds.
Artie tracks one of the British men down before he dies and gets the map, Artie tries to find the Bikes a few time but doesn't manage to. He gets old and dies he leaves the map to his Grand daughter Shirley O Shaughnessy she is a young student comes over to Scotland hires Joey to dig up the Bikes takes the Diamonds then kills him.

Jump 18 years later OShaugnessy is a big time Property developer who helps builds affordable houses for the Scottish Government.
Karen Pirie is warned off arresting her but she does it anyway while OShaugnessy is visiting the Scottish First Minister.

Good tale this. I enjoyed it. ( )