A review by travelsalongmybookshelf
Past Lying by Val McDermid

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I’ve become a bit obsessed with these Karen Pirie books and cold cases, they are every bit as gripping as a ‘regular murder’ and this one being set in lockdown gives it an added tenseness. I really felt like I was back in a bubble reading this one, remembering the quietness of our surroundings, and although I worked through it myself and had to go in everyday, it was surreal to be on empty roads and see also to see the fear in peoples faces when you had to meet them face to face on a daily basis. McDermid has taken these feelings and squeezed and amped it up for this one and it is fantastic.

The cold case team are WFH and Karen is housesharing with Daisy her Sergeant, who we met in Still Life. An authors manuscript appears that is a blueprint for an actual crime, the disappearance of Lara Hardie. There are so many similarities, it’s creepy but the problem is, the author is dead and the manuscript is unfinished. 

I loved being back with KP, she is so no nonsense it’s fantastic, I feel I could actually meet her IRL for a good chinwag putting the world to rights. I feel the world pisses her off somewhat but it does me too so we’d make good pals 🤣

It felt very immersive, and being deep in Covid triggered many memories, it’s lump in your throat stuff at times but I found it gripping, compelling and McDermid really does flex her writing muscles and shows just why she wins all the plaudits, this is top drawer!