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Broken Ground


Synopsis


Don't miss Past Lying, the twisty new Karen Pirie thriller


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'A compulsively readable tale' Irish Times

'Another stellar read from McDermid, and further evidence that her "Queen of Crime" status will not be challenged' Scotsman

'Somebody has been here before us. And he's still here . . .'

When a body is discovered in the remote depths of the Highlands, DCI Karen Pirie finds herself in the right place at the right time. Unearthed with someone's long-buried inheritance, the victim seems to belong to the distant past - until new evidence suggests otherwise, and Karen is called in to unravel a case where nothing is as it seems.

It's not long before an overheard conversation draws Karen into the heart of a different case, however - a shocking crime she thought she'd already prevented. As she inches closer to the twisted truths at the centre of these murders, it becomes clear that she's dealing with a version of justice terrifyingly different to her own . . .

Number one bestseller Val McDermid returns with a breathtakingly atmospheric and exhilarating novel.

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Praise for Val McDermid:

'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail

'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express

'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review

'McDermid remains unrivalled' Observer

'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' Independent

This is the fifth book in the bestselling Karen Pirie series.

Summary

Chapter 1: Foundations

* Introduces the protagonist, Lily, a young woman struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic event.
* Lily moves to a rural town to escape her past, but she encounters hostility and suspicion from the locals.
* Example: Lily arrives in the town of Broken Ground and is met with cold stares and whispers from the residents. They view her as an outsider and fear that she will disrupt their peace.

Chapter 2: Roots

* Lily begins to explore the town and its history, uncovering secrets that have been buried for years.
* She learns about a missing girl, Sarah, who vanished a decade ago and whose disappearance remains unsolved.
* Example: Lily discovers an old newspaper article about Sarah's disappearance. The article hints at a dark secret within the town that has been kept hidden.

Chapter 3: Seeds

* Lily becomes entangled in the investigation of Sarah's disappearance, determined to find the truth.
* She faces resistance from the townsfolk, who are reluctant to revisit the past.
* Example: Lily approaches a former police officer involved in Sarah's case. The officer stonewalls her, saying the investigation is closed and that she should move on.

Chapter 4: Growth

* Lily uncovers more clues about Sarah's disappearance, pointing to a suspect who has deep-rooted connections in the town.
* She realizes that the truth is dangerous and threatening to those who protect it.
* Example: Lily discovers that a prominent town official was involved in Sarah's disappearance. She confronts him, but he denies everything and threatens her to keep silent.

Chapter 5: Harvest

* Lily confronts the true villain, exposing their dark secret and the web of lies they have woven.
* The revelation shakes the town to its core, forcing the townsfolk to face the horrors they have long hidden.
* Example: Lily gathers evidence and presents it to the town, revealing the identity of Sarah's killer and the motive behind her disappearance. The truth is unveiled, but it comes at a great cost.