Silent Bones

Silent Bones is brilliant - really intricate, gripping and asking some tough questions; a perfect crime novel – KATE MOSSEA beautifully structured, witty and twisty novel with the friendship between the magnificent Karen Pirie and her team at its heart – ANN CLEEVESA propulsive, razor-sharp thrill-ride full of humour, heart, and trademark twists. I love Karen Pirie, and Silent Bones adds to a classic series that just keeps getting better – CHRIS WHITAKERExcellent * THE TIMES *Powerful, moving and wise - Val McDermid’s books are always enthralling – HARLAN COBENA corkscrew twist at every turn * DAILY MAIL *Showcases the agile plotting that makes this among the best crime fiction series today * IRISH TIMES *McDermid blends procedural tension with eerie rural isolation * I PAPER *Although Pirie is well worth following, the main reason to do so is McDermid’s fiendishly elaborate plotting… It’s fun to read too - right up to a final plot twist that not even the world’s finest clairvoyant could see coming * SCOTSMAN *McDermid delivers suspense, authentic characters and an exploration of hidden power and deceit * WOMAN & HOME *A gripping mystery to dive into * HEAT *McDermid is at the top of her game in the masterful latest installment of her DCI Karen Pirie series … McDermid’s procedural instincts are as strong as ever, and she balances them with wrenching developments in Karen’s personal life … Readers will rest easy knowing they’re in the hands of a seasoned storyteller * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, STARRED REVIEW *Fiendishly elaborate plotting, fun to read [with] a final plot twist that not even the world’s finest clairvoyant could see coming * SCOTSMAN *The bones in question actually speak volumes … readers will be rewarded by a richly textured experience * KIRKUS REVIEWS *Another exquisite mystery * CANBERRA WEEKLY *Val McDermid’s most tortuous, tense and ingeniously planned novel yet * PS MAGAZINE *Once again, Val McDermid has given us a top-tier example of what crime writing should be. SILENT BONES excels in plot, setting and characterization * DEADLY PLEASURES MYSTERY MAGAZINE *Pirie herself is a nuanced character … I don’t want to give away the grand finale, but it was about the most true-to-life ending I could imagine * BOOKPAGE *A masterclass in Scottish cold case investigation and politics in a tightly wound plot … The author realistically draws together the plots, avoiding coincidences and combining believable clues with solid police insight … McDermid’s various series and standalones have put her in the top tier of mystery writers * SUN SENTINEL *Not many writers can stand toe to toe with Val McDermid … SILENT BONES is so deviously plotted, with McDermid always in full command, that I read it while holding my breath practically the entire time. It is an exhilarating read and a worthy entry in this memorable series * BOOKREPORTER *What makes this book such a rush is the way McDermid turns what seem like separate cold cases into a single maze of past crimes, corruption, and the kind of dark secrets that only very powerful people can hide … By the time the twist lands, you are picking your jaw up off the floor and wondering why you have not been reading Val McDermid all along – TERESA BROCK, BEST THRILLER BOOKSTurn yourself over to a skilled mystery author who will take you on a perfect literary journey. Plot, pacing, characters - everything works… Pirie and her team go about their rapidly expanding workload with characteristic thoroughness and good humour, and you sense a satisfying conclusion will be the end result. – CRIME FICTION LOVER, TOP 5 BOOKS OF 2025

Val McDermid is an international number one bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than forty languages. Her multi-award-winning series and standalone novels have been adapted for TV and radio, most notably the Wire in the Blood series featuring clinical psychologist Dr Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan. The Karen Pirie novels have now been adapted for a major ITV series.

Val has been chair of the judges for the Wellcome Book Prize and the Gordon Burn Prize, and has served as a judge for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Man Booker Prize and the Royal Society Book Prize. She is the recipient of eight honorary doctorates and is an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford. She is a visiting professor in the Centre of Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Among her many awards are the CWA Diamond Dagger recognising lifetime achievement and the Theakston’s Old Peculier award for Outstanding Contribution to Crime Writing. Val is also an experienced broadcaster and much-sought-after columnist and commentator across print media.