pickCatching up in the Karen Pirie series, which I really enjoy. This one finds Karen and her team trying to investigate a case during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns. It has a book with a book element too. You can‘t ever tell how everything is going to come together in the end, which works for me in a crime novel.
pick#DetJohnRebus # 1
Rebus is haunted by his in discernible memories,tugging at his brain,crying to be released.What is the link between his life and the strings of knots & crosses that mysteriously arrive at his house? Gritty & shocking. Definitely up for # 2 in this series. #serieslove2025
pickJackson Brodie steps in to help defuse a road-rage incident in Edinburgh. He, the rager and the ragee, and another witness bounce off each other over the next few days as various storylines come together.
Funny in places and a few too many flashbacks to characters' early lives, but still good to see how it all fitted together. Martin was the character I identified with most strongly and I wish his story hadn't concluded quite the way it did.
pickI have been enjoying this series immensely and this novella (#3.5 in the series) is no exception. The combination of mystery, historical fiction, time travel and the hint of romance meets all my wants for a fun read. This one had Mallory taking the lead in a case and had her meeting up with Charles Dickens. I highly recommend starting with the first in the series “A Rip Through Time“. 4.25/5 stars
pickAnother novella with a mini-mystery for Mallory and Gray. Mallory is excited to see Charles Dickens perform. As she and Gray angle for an autograph, they are introduced to the author by Gray‘s ex-lover. Gray‘s ex has a little blackmail problem and Mallory agrees to take the case. There was less tension and danger, but it is always nice to meet historical figures and be reminded that people are the similar no matter the time period. 3/5 ⭐️
pickLatest Karen Pirie was good fun. Set in lockdown a librarian at the national archives links a crime writers manuscript to the disappearance of a young woman. With lots of nods and winks to the Scottish crime writing community, I think val macdermid enjoyed making the villains fellow crime writers. I enjoy the characters in the series, + it also still feels strange remembering lockdown. Hopefully, a new one soon + maybe a further TV adaptation
pickA novella from the Rip in Time series, Cocktails & Chloroform finds Mallory and Gray uncovering a trafficking ring preying on young Edinburgh women. A fast paced adventure that is a 3.5 ⭐️ blast.
so-so