Broken Ground
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Narrated by:
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Cathleen McCarron
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By:
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Val McDermid
About this listen
Internationally best-selling author Val McDermid is one of our finest crime writers, and her gripping, masterfully plotted novels have garnered millions of readers from around the globe.
In Broken Ground, cold-case Detective Karen Pirie faces her hardest challenge yet. Six feet under in a Highland peat bog lies Alice Somerville’s inheritance, buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But when Alice finally uncovers it, she finds an unwanted surprise - a body with a bullet hole between the eyes.
Meanwhile, DCI Pirie is called in to unravel a case where nothing is quite as it seems. And as she gets closer to the truth, it becomes clear that not everyone shares her desire for justice. Or even the idea of what justice is.
An engrossing, twisty thriller, Broken Ground reaffirms Val McDermid’s place as one of the best crime writers of her generation.
©2018 Val McDermid (P)2018 WF HowesListeners also enjoyed...
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Clever and very amusing.
- By Megan on 05-07-14
By: Peter Lovesey
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Perfect Remains
- DI Callanach, Book 1
- By: Helen Fields
- Narrated by: Robin Laing
- Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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On a remote Highland mountain, the body of Elaine Buxton is burning. All that will be left to identify the respected lawyer are her teeth and a fragment of clothing. In the concealed back room of a house in Edinburgh, the real Elaine Buxton screams into the darkness…. Detective Inspector Luc Callanach has barely set foot in his new office when Elaine’s missing persons case is escalated to a murder investigation. Having left behind a promising career at Interpol, he’s eager to prove himself to his new team.
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A great disappointment
- By Amazon Customer on 12-20-19
By: Helen Fields
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A Share in Death
- By: Deborah Crombie
- Narrated by: Michael Deehy
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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A week's holiday in a luxurious hotel is just what Scotland Yard's Superintendent Duncan Kincaid needs. But his vacation ends dramatically with the discovery of a dead body in the whirlpool bath. Despite a suspicious lack of cooperation from the local constabulary, Kincaid's keen sense of duty won't allow him to ignore the heinous crime, impelling him to send for his enthusiastic young assistant, Sergeant Gemma James. But the stakes are raised significantly when a second murder occurs....
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series readers, start here
- By connie on 02-09-13
By: Deborah Crombie
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Dr Yes
- By: Colin Bateman
- Narrated by: Stephen Armstrong
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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The hilarious new Mystery Man crime caper from the master of menace and mirth. Beauty is in the eye of the be header. The wife of crime writer Augustine Wogan disappeared shortly after entering the exclusive clinic of the mysterious Dr Yes, plastic surgeon extraordinaire. As fatherhood approaches, the Small Bookseller with No Name is persuaded to investigate. He soon finds himself up to his neck in murder, make-up and madness - and face to face with the most gruesome serial killer since the last one.
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Fun diversion from the usual fair
- By Dennis on 11-09-12
By: Colin Bateman
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She
- By: Pete Brassett
- Narrated by: David McCallion
- Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Detective Inspector Munro is a burly Scottish policeman who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Detective Sergeant West is an intelligent young woman, new to the force, with a lot to prove. When a missing person case lands on their desks, Munro is skeptical there is much to it. But their investigation soon comes to some strange findings, and before long a body is found. With a serial killer on their hands, they must act fast to trace a woman placed at the scene of the crime. Yet discovering her true identity, let alone finding her, proves difficult. And as the plot thickens they realise the crime is far graver than either of them could have imagined.
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Too sick and twisted
- By Marta on 11-04-20
By: Pete Brassett
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What listeners say about Broken Ground
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Paul
- 11-06-22
Loved the book, great narration
The storylines were greatly enhanced by the excellent Scottish narration. The characters come to life, and would have been flatter and less interesting without the Scottish tones.
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- Maine Knitter
- 12-15-18
Well worth waiting for
This is a must-read series for me.
There were multiple stories going on here. Karen and the Mint make a great team. He is growing in his job as a DC. Karen is still ruffling feathers.
The ending (before the epilogue) was a tad disappointing. I found the narrator to be confusing. Too many people sounded like Jason. Even Karen at times.
But this is a great book from a fabulous author. I anxiously await the next book since much was left hanging.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Linda
- 12-19-18
Karen Seemed Out Of Sorts—Missing Phil
A good read but not as good as first 4 books. The story seemed disjointed with lots of back to the past and then to the current time. I liked the descriptions around Edinburgh and the patience Karen showed with Jason, her right hand man. Not sure why her boss took such a dislike to her but then it was revealed. Glad Karen stood up for herself and is speaking for the dead by solving the cold cases. There is always lots of tense moments where she is concerned. She is strong and independent. The way the book ended, I’m expecting to revisit some of the characters and actions. I listened in Audible. The narrator, Cathleen McCarron, had a good voice for the characters.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Knaveheartt
- 03-27-19
Excellent on all counts but for the unfathomable brogue of the narrator
Excellent on all counts but for the unfathomable brogue of the narrator. McCarron excels at her narrative craft but her delivery is difficult to follow for my ears. Story is excellent as well.
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- Anonymous User
- 07-13-23
Excellent interweaving of storylines
The author continues to portray complex characters as this series progresses. As usual, “Broken Ground” presents several storylines that intertwine in unexpected ways.
The author and the narrator bring Scotland to life with rich detail.
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- Donna
- 12-10-18
5
Val Mcdermid's books have just come to my attention, I've been reading the older books. And what fun they all are. In this book I was pleased to see how our detective's Syrian friends are doing. And I wondered how the rest of the book would go as I agreed with our star detective that each of her cases crashed suddenly and seriously. There was one case that ended the book just fine. Whew. What a ride.! If you enjoy a thinking read, this series will be a pleasure for you. How long will I have to wait for the next book?+ Oh, the books stand alone, no need to
read back volumes first. read/ listen.... The narrator reads beautifully and I do enjoy the Scotland sounds as our shared English rolls off her tongue.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Tina - Dragon Momma
- 07-11-21
Loved it!!
story within a story within a story. very well told. I simply loved it.
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- C. Fox
- 03-30-23
Favorite so far
This story was so interesting. All the characters were so well developed and I learned a lot of history. A great listen!!
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- Colin C. Crawford
- 06-28-23
Runs out of steam
Overall this was better than the previous in the series but in a similar fashion, after a complex build up, it seemed the author struggled to end the tales in a compelling manner. It held my attention but I felt a bit let down with the conclusions. Three and a half stars
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- Dot
- 06-18-21
Gritty and satisfying
Only this author can make a paper trail intense! I enjoyed the pace, the performance, and most of all, the detective work. The tidying of loose ends was satisfying, and I love her accuracy of Detroit haunts.
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