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Past Lying

Karen Pirie Novels, Book 7

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Past Lying

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Lauren Lyle
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THE HEART-POUNDING NEW NOVEL IN THE KAREN PIRIE SERIES, NOW A MAJOR ITV SERIES STARRING LAUREN LYLE

Edinburgh, haunted by the ghosts of its many writers, is also the cold case beat of DCI Karen Pirie. So she shouldn't be surprised when an author's manuscript appears to be a blueprint for an actual crime.

Karen can't ignore the plot's chilling similarities to the unsolved case of an Edinburgh University student who vanished from her own doorstep. The manuscript seems to be the key to unlocking what happened to Lara Hardie, but there's a problem: the author died before he finished it.

As Karen digs deeper, she uncovers a spiraling game of betrayal and revenge, where lies are indistinguishable from the truth and with more than one unexpected twist . . .

The Queen of Crime Val McDermid is at the top of her game in her most gripping and fiendishly clever case yet.

©2023 Val McDermid (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd Crime Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedurals Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Cold Case Haunted Heartfelt Suspense
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Silent Bones By: Val McDermid
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I loved Lauren Lyle in Outlander and the Karen Pirie ITV program, she’s a good actor but not the best reader. Was she given proper coaching for this and how did the producers let this out? Lauren’s delivery is better towards the end but there are many, over 10, mispronounced place names, as an Edinburgher this is infuriating, where was the quality control? Come on producers, get this sorted out, I put this problem firmly at your feet. Did Val/her team not listen to this?
It’s another fab part of this series but I will now read the book, very much the quality you expect from Vals writing.

Great Story, poor production

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I had been so looking forward to this novel, having thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the Karen Pirie series. Lauren Lyle is a great actor who i have enjoyed watching on TV, but the reading of this novel is halting to say the least. She stops mid-sentence regularly, which is so annoying. I had to stop listening. I will read the book myself instead. Very disappointing. Why couldn't they just have stuck with the previous narrator, who was excellent?

Dreadful narration

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I have returned this, as the narration is terrible. It’s flat and monotonous, with odd prononciation of place names, and little variety between characters. I was looking forward to another KO story, but this is coming across as really dull

Spoilt by very poor narration

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I think it’s probably the best of the Pirie series yet, for plot, character and an insightful look at our recent crazy times. Personally I’m like the narrator s voice and she’s good at dialogue, as you’d expect from an actor. But …. the weird …. pauses-and-running-together-other-words-of-the-other…..text, does give the impression there was a single on sight read through with no do-overs. Which was a shame.

Really good book, narration less so

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Great story as always but felt thee narrator to be flat, so hard to move to a new narrator. Mid way through a series

Great story -get the book

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