Silent Bones - Val McDermid

 Silent Bones - Val McDermid

Pub. Date: Dec. 2, 2025

DCI Karen Pirie, Chief of Police Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit, and her team are confronted with two chilling cold cases. A mudslide triggered by torrential rains uncovers the skeletal remains of an investigative journalist, long presumed to have murdered his fiancée and vanished. It transpires that he was murdered shortly after his fiancée, and the search intensifies to uncover the motive behind their deaths, which may have been related to one of his ongoing investigations.

When the brother of a man who supposedly died in an accidental fall turns up with evidence that it might not have been an accident after all, the team has its second case to investigate. 

Val McDermid is one of my go-to authors. This is the eighth in her Karen Pirie series; it is the fifth that I have read. It would work as a stand-alone.

McDermid’s signature style is evident in this cleverly plotted, engrossing, and fast-paced read, filled with secrets, twists, and turns. I enjoyed learning a bit about Scottish politics and some of the procedures that are unique to their justice system. 

I enjoy the main character, Pirie. She is portrayed as strong, intelligent, empathetic, and vulnerable. In her quest for truth and justice for victims’ families, she often makes no friends. DS Jason Murray, affectionately known as “The Mint”, is endearing.  DS Daisy can be both earnest and flippant. 

These complex cases lead to a thought-provoking ending that raises questions about the reality of seeking justice in the world of cold cases. 

Thanks to @NetGalley and @GroveAtlantic @AtlanticCrime for the DRC.

*****