What a great mystery! Alice Somerville’s grandfather left her an unusual inheritance. He left two brand new Indian motorcycles buried in a Scottish peat bog at the end of WWII. But when Alice goes to collect her treasure, she’s shocked to discover the perfectly preserved body of a man, riddled with bullet holes, wearing Nike trainers from 1992, along with the bikes. Why was this man digging up her grandfather’s treasure and who shot him? Detective Karen Pirie from the Historic Crimes unit is called in to solve the mystery while dealing with office politics and a jealous boss. // This was such a fun story, full of interesting characters. Apparently there are other books in the Karen Pirie series. I had no idea how McDermid was going to pull all the threads together to make a cohesive whole but she managed it. My only two complaints was that it took too long to get the story going and that there was one other distracting story line that I didn’t enjoy. Overall, a solid 4 books. P.S. This was an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and will be released Dec. 2018

I've discovered a favorite new-to-me author! Believable plot, fun characters, great pacing led to a fun evening of reading.

I received an e-ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This was a great outing for Karen Pirie. I really liked that we’re starting to see her incorporate her grief into her new world and move forward into the future.

As always, there’s an interesting historical case and a b-case that’s more modern but very thought provoking and I enjoyed both stories and loved seeing them come to conclusion.

I think enough threads were left open for the next book that I’m really looking forward to how Karen interacts with some new enemies (as well as some new advocates and friends).

If you’re a fan of McDairmid and Karen Pirie, you’re going to enjoy this!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance copy of Broken Ground, the fifth novel to feature DCI Karen Pirie of Police Scotland's Historical Crime Unit.

Karen is out chasing leads on a series of historical rapes when she is asked to divert to Wester Ross where a body has been discovered, buried with some Long sought treasure. As the victim is wearing modern clothing he obviously wasn't buried at the same time as the treasure so who is he, how did he get there and who shot him? Questions that Karen intends to answer.

I thoroughly enjoyed Broken Ground which is a meticulously plotted novel with never a dull moment. I loved everything about it and sat up far too late to finish it in one sitting. It has a bit of everything with the body in the peat bog taking centre stage and occupying much of Karen and her assistant, DC Jason "The Mint" Murray's time but there are a couple of other cases simmering away in the background, an ongoing feud with her boss and a cuckoo in the nest in the shape of DS Gerry McCartney who has been foisted on them. There is also a healthy dose of delicious Scottish black humour.

I am in awe of Ms McDermid's skill in building a credible case from almost nothing. Karen starts slowly with identification of the body and once that's done she starts picking apart his life. As information trickles in it leads to more lines of enquiry, which added to some smart conjecture brings them to a solution. It's all very logical and credible if you accept the basic premise (which probably has some truthful roots). It certainly had me hooked. Helpfully Ms McDermid inserts a narrative of events in 1944 early on in the novel so the reader is better informed on the background than Karen is.

Karen Pirie is an excellent protagonist. She is a caring, smart and resourceful detective who wants to do right by the victims and their families. This does not make her a pushover and I loved her interactions with her boss where, quaking in her boots, she gives better than she gets.

Broken Ground is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

As the first book of Val's I was reading, I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a wonderful weaving of past and present and an ever increasing intrigue as to where the plot would lead. I did not feel as though I was ever at a disadvantage for having no previous knowledge of the Karen Pirie book series but I now know I absolutely must lose myself in each and every one of them! Val McDermid has a new fan!

I would like to thank Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Broken Ground’ by Val McDermid in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
DCI Karen Pirie and her sidekick DC Jason ‘The Mint’ Murray of the Historic Cases Unit are back juggling three separate cases, the discovery of Joey Sutherland’s body buried in a peat bog in 1995, the man who raped sex-workers, and the stabbing of Willow Henderson’s husband Logan and her best friend Dandy Muir. All the while Karen’s boss, ACC Ann Markie, is determined to undermine everything the HCU are working on by getting DS Gerry McCartney to infiltrate their office and report back to her.
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Broken Ground’ which has been cleverly written with a captivating plot and twists and turns. Although it may not contain the excitement of other police thrillers it more than compensates by the imaginative storyline, McDermid’s inspired manner of writing, the quick-witted character of Karen who won’t give up on a case, and loveable Mint who’s not only learning from Karen but is also getting the courage to track down leads by himself. This is a thoroughly entertaining novel and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

I am a long-time fan of Val McDermid, and the Karen Pirie series is my favorite, so I was very pleased to get an ARC of the upcoming release of Broken Ground. This is the best of the series with a very well-constructed plot, nicely developed characters and the taut writing I’ve come to expect from the author. And a good addition to the series. I would recommend that those not familiar with the series start with an earlier volume, however, or there will be some mystifying aspects to this one, not least the frequent “What would Phil do?”.

There are three separate time periods woven into the main story – the end of WWII, the mid-90’s and now (so current that both Brexit and Nicola Sturgeon are mentioned) - but there should not be any difficulty navigating between them. Karen is growing into her role as head of the HCU and beginning the recovery from Phil’s death. Events in the story point towards changes in her personal life and maybe in her professional one as well. A good page-turning read. And now I wait impatiently for the next one.

Thanks to NetGallery, Little,Brown Book Group and the author for allowing me to have this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

'Six feet under in a Highland peat bog lies Alice Somerville’s inheritance, buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But when Alice finally uncovers it, she finds an unwanted surprise—a body with a bullet hole between the eyes. Meanwhile, DCI Pirie is called in to unravel a case where nothing is quite as it seems. And as she gets closer to the truth, it becomes clear that not everyone shares her desire for justice. Or even the idea of what justice is.'

Thanks to Netgalley I was able to read an advanced copy of this book and wasn't disappointed. Although the main action shifts between the current day, the last years of WWll and the mid nineties, gradually merging in a very satisfying way, there are actually three concurrent investigations weaving their way through the book. As always the conflicts inside and outside of Police Scotland heavily influence Karen Pirie's working and private life as she tries to fulfil the Historical Crime Unit's remit.

I loved this book and the obviously extensive research and attention to detail throughout increases the enjoyment and appreciation of just how good Val Mcdermid is at her craft. This book definitely enhances her reputation as one of the best crime writers we as readers have available and deserves to be a huge best seller.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic, Atlantic Monthly Press and Val McDermid for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Broken Ground.
I have always loved reading Me McDermid's books which is why I jumped at the chance to read this novel. I certainly wasn't disappointed either. I loved the buildup of suspense. The storyline was well thought out and fast paced.
A definite must-read for fans of the genre.

Alice Somerville and her husband travel to the Scottish Highlands to excavate her inheritance--two Indian Scout motorcycles from World War II that her grandfather and his mate, Kenny, had stolen and buried rather than see destroyed after the Americans left Scotland. However, the Somervilles unexpectedly uncover a body, a man wearing Nikes, who was presumed murdered. Karen Pirie and her Historic Crimes Unit, Jason "The Mint" Murray and newcomer to the team Gerry McCartney, a Detective Sergeant added to the unit by Assistant Chief Constable Ann Markie, take over the investigation.The book follows Pirie as she learns the identity of the murder victim and traces his killer. Woven into the narrative is not only a caper from World War II but also a domestic violence incident that might be more than it seems as well as an inquiry into violent rapes that occurred in the 1980s. Pirie must contend with aging evidence, long-forgotten memories, and obstinate colleagues while trying to provide answers to grieving families. Unconcerned with politics yet eager to achieve justice for the victims, Pirie can be her own worst enemy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book which is well-written and expertly paced. The book includes crimes from four different time lines: the WWII motorcycle theft, the 1980s rapes, the murder of the man wearing Nikes, and the contemporary domestic violence incident. In lesser hands, this could be confusing or overdone, but here it is fascinating. Perhaps my biggest (and sole) complaint about plot is that Pirie seems to figure out certain elements of the mystery without having much information.

Being set in Scotland made the book more interesting to me. I've read other Scottish detective novels and it was fun to compare and contrast the treatment hallmark Edinburgh highlights. Descriptions of the Highlands made me want to travel there! I will say, though, there were lots of British words I had to look up!

For the most part, Pirie was a sympathetic and engaging character, and The Mint was entirely endearing. Some of the other characters, though, particularly DS McCartney and ACC Markie, seemed to be be one-note foils for Pirie instead of well-developed in their own right. Peripheral characters had what I imaged to be compelling backstories that might be in play in other books in the series. Even so, it is not necessary to read the other books to enjoy this novel. In fact, this is my first Inspector Karen Pirie novel. I don't know how I didn't know about the books before, but I'm eager to read the first four books, I enjoyed Broken Ground so much.

This book is well written and full of mystery and suspense. It’s not my typical read, and took me longer to get into it and finish, but overall a good book with a bit of history thrown in.

Once again, stronger characters and prose by Val Mcdermid make Broken Ground an outstanding crime fiction nove.

Detective Karen Pirie, cold case investigator is called in to solve this twisty turn of a homicide. As with all cases, nothing is what it seems to be.

I'm a big fan of Val McDermid's writing and believe she is one of the best writer of our time. I look forward to reading more from her. The accolades for her work are well deserved.

Another great thriller by McDermid! A great read with twisty plot lines and superb characters. A great beach read

What do coffee shops, Nazi looting and bog bodies have in common?

They all add layers to the latest Karen Pirie novel from international bestselling, multi award-winning author Val McDermid.

51m2bhw8ytxl-_sx332_bo1204203200_In Broken Ground, Karen Pirie is still grieving the loss of her partner, Phil Parhatka, when she's thrown a curve ball. Her boss, ACC Ann Markie, sends a new cop to join her team as a way of spying on her. As she struggles to manage the new addition to her team, guess her boss's motives and stay one step ahead of her, she finds herself pulled into situations that ultimately threaten her career.

The discovery of a body in a peat bog seems like a reasonable thing for a cop to investigate, but as part of Scotland's Historic Cases Unit (HCU) Karen isn't usually on scene to examine a murder victim. However, when Dr. River Wilde calls her to tell her about the victim that's been recovered, Karen heads straight for Clashstronach and finds herself under fire from boss for agitating the local police and not following chain of command.

While her new team member is secretly reporting her every move to Markie, Karen manages to find herself in more hot water when she stops in at a favorite coffee shop and overhears a discussion she decides to address. A woman who alleges her husband has assaulted her is planning to confront him at the family home and Karen cautions that this might not be a good idea. Those aren't her only concerns, and when the situation turns deadly Markie learns about Karen's peripheral involvement and tries to use it against her.

Karen must navigate office politics, identify a victim and find their killer and address her own guilt about how she handled the situation at the coffee shop. Meanwhile, the man who owns the property where the body was found is worth a second look, and Karen struggles to determine whether or not she can trust him and whether or not she might be ready for another chance at love.

There's a lot going on in Val McDermid's latest novel. I've never read a novel by McDermid that I haven't enjoyed and Broken Ground is a compelling addition to McDermid's impressive list of publishing credits. This is one part thriller, one part suspense, one part procedural and all character. The intensity builds as the story progresses and the core plot never gets in the way of Karen's growth and personal journey. All the key elements to a great story combine in perfect measure and kept me turning pages late into the night because McDermid has delivered, yet again, an unputdownable read. Want to read a damn good crime fiction thriller? Pre-order now. Fans of Scottish crime fiction, fans of police procedurals, fans of strong female protagonists and fans of stories with a bit of a historical twist all have something to champion with Broken Ground. And fans of Val McDermid can rest assured that she's at the top of her game with her latest offering.

Review will appear online at https://toesixpress.wordpress.com/ on August 15.

Broken Ground is the fifth book in this series. The main storyline was good but not having read the previous four books I didn’t understand the relationship between the main characters that had been developed earlier. Combine that with the unfamiliar use of language and constant back-stabbing of the characters and it turned out to be a disappointing read.

The main storyline centers around a pair of motorcycles buried in Scotland at the end of WWII by a couple of yanks who were going home to the US and planned to return for the motorcycles at some time in the future. Unbeknownst to them, another yank hid a stash of stolen goodies in the saddlebags of one of the motorcycles thinking the bikes were going to be shipped back to the states. Many years later a couple, guided by their grandfather’s map, finance a search for the Motorcycles with the intent to ship them back to the states. If they are in good condition they are worth many thousands of dollars to collectors. The dig produces one pristine motorcycle and one dead body. Thus begins the twisted tale that follows.

If you have read and enjoyed the previous four books in the series I would recommend you continue your ongoing story with Broken Ground. It doesn’t work well as a stand-alone book because you won’t understand the interaction of the characters and because many things are left unresolved at the end to be continued in the next book of the series.

Thank you, NetGalley, for offering me a free advance copy of this novel for my honest review.

Good mystery, a tad bit to flavored locally for me but the story is a great mix of past and present. 4 from and for me. Enjoy

I love Val McDermid’s books. She always delivers a great story. Her characters come to life and you care what happens to them.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.
This book is another addition to the authors long career and he is at the top of his game here. He weaves together the main and two subplots with ease.
With this book McDermid is at the top of his game

Broken Ground is a story of war crimes, stolen diamonds, cold cases and the Scotland police.
Val McDermid takes you into the wild bogs of Scotland where the Historical Cold Case police department solves murder cases as old as 75 years.

This latest edition to the DCI Karen Pirie series is set in Wester Ross in 1944 and current day Edinburgh. Whilst very different places, Val McDermid uses them almost as characters alongside the detectives and civilians who populate the novel. It is very easy to picture the stark beauty of the north west as well as imagine the determination necessary to make a living out of this unforgiving countryside. Similarly, Edinburgh is portrayed as a city with many different moods. Benign and sophisticated from the tourist’s point of view yet retaining an edgy, unpredictable quality.
Karen heads up the Historic Cases Unit in the Gayfield Square police station; her side kick is the increasingly capable and utterly loyal DC Jason Murray. She has an excellent record and is respected and admired by many within the force. However, for personal reasons, this novel sees her head to head again and again with the grim Assistant Chief Constable Ann Markie. McDermid’s talent for dialogue ensures that there are several memorable exchanges, the reader rooting for Karen as ever!
In ‘Broken Ground’ Karen is involved in two very different cases: the murder of a young man back in the 90s and two murders resulting from an ongoing vicious domestic scenario. McDermid’s focus on powerful women in this novel is very interesting as she explores their motivations and choices. Whilst a successful ‘whodunnit’ will always have an enthralling plot, false clues and a number of suspects, it is not just these features which make ‘Broken Ground’ such a good read. Karen Pirie is a really appealing, credible, strong central character who has her more than her fair share of ups and downs, and it will be intriguing to see what happens to her next!
My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.