Still Life is the third novel I have read and reviewed in the Karen Pirie series by Val McDermid.

The other two are Broken Ground and The Distant Echo . The first was because someone had suggested this book and the second was because I wanted to read more of the series.

I notice this is my third time using the highly recommend rating for books in this series. 3 for 3 is not bad at all and so I think I need to read some of the others in this series and try branching out to some of her other novels.

DCI Karen Pirie heads Police Scotland’s Historic Case Unit. We Americans would call it cold cases.

This book starts with a freshly dead body in Scotland’s Firth of Forth. It is clearly not a historic case and so it investigated by the regular local police. DCI Karen Pirie is just starting an investigation into a historic case. As the 2 cases progress it becomes apparent that the cases are probably related. DCI Pirie told to lead the combined investigation. A young police officer DS Daisy Mortimer who was in the Firth of Forth case is temporarily assigned to Karen’s unit.

The story is complex with many unexpected turns. I completely enjoyed it and hope to see more of Daisy Mortimer in future novels.

I’ll say it again – Still Life is highly recommend.

I thank Netgalley for the chance to read it before publication.