This book is the second book in the Karen Pirie series. Detective Inspector Karen Pirie is in charge of the Cold Case department in Fife, Scotland; she works primarily with Detective Sergeant Phil Parhatka. A woman reports that her father has been missing for over 20 years, from the time of the Miner’s Strike of 1984. At the time they thought he had deserted the family and gone to Nottingham to work the mines there; as a result the family was shunned by the community. But now the daughter needs to find her father because her son is dying and in need of a bone marrow transplant. This investigation doesn't really fit into the Cold Case criteria for Karen's department, but she takes it on anyway. Shortly after that, new information shows up in Italy related to a kidnapping that also took place in 1984 in Fife, and that case is added to Karen's workload.
My Thoughts...
- I liked that the story went back and forth between 1984 and 2007. For some readers, this would be a negative and it can be confusing. There are no chapter breaks, but it is clear when the story transitions to a new location or time, so I was OK with that.
- I was especially interested in the strike and what it did to the mining community. I have read a Reginald Hill novel, Under World, from 1988, that is about the aftermath of the strike. Another book about the strike is GB84 by David Peace, which I have not read.
- There are many interesting secondary characters. The kidnapped woman was the daughter of a very important man in Scotland, Sir Broderick Maclennan Grant. His daughter was killed and her infant son was never seen again after a botched ransom exchange. He wants to find his grandson, but he also is very controlling and manipulative and expects the police to bow to his will. Investigative journalist Bel Richmond is the one who finds the clue in modern-day Tuscany, and she is the one who does the sleuthing in Italy. And then there is Sergeant Phil Parhatka, a very likable character and the perfect working partner for Karen.
- After all the investigative work comes together, the ending is kind of abrupt. Some reviewers complained about this, but it worked perfectly for me. The book was already long enough, I did not need any further results spelled out for me.
- I was very impressed with this book. The subject is serious, and Karen takes her responsibilities seriously, but there is plenty of humor in the story. At this point I think A Darker Domain will be one of my top books of 2024.
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Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2010 (Orig. pub. 2008)
Length: 368 pages
Format: Trade paperback
Series: Karen Pirie, #2
Setting: Scotland and Italy
Genre: Police Procedural
Source: On my TBR pile since 2017.
16 comments:
I like past/present connections in stories, too, Tracy. And McDermid handles those links really effectively, in my opinion. The miners' strike was a pivotal point in recent history, so I'm glad it's explored here. McDermid weaves history like that into her stories very well, in my opinion.
I'm glad to hear your thoughts on this book, Tracy. I have a couple of the books in this series, but haven't picked them up to read as yet. I have watched the TV adaptation. Have you tried that? Wonder what you thought about it and how it compares. Hope have a nice Thanksgiving!
Margot, I hope the next book in this series is as good as this one. I am eager to read it. McDermid does write really well. I will have to try her newer series also.
Kay, I had heard a lot of praise for this series, so I had to try this second book. I had forgotten a lot about the first book in the series, even though I remember liking it. Per my review, it was divided into two parts, past and present, not shifting back and forth between the two timelines throughout the book, like the 2nd book is.
But getting to the TV adaptation, I saw that too and liked it a lot. Both the TV show and the books do put a focus on how women are treated in the police, although the Karen Pirie character has no problem dealing with that. I would have liked to see it continue with more seasons.
I enjoy dual time-lines when done properly. I've not read anything by Val McDermid, but I'm pretty sure I have one of hers somewhere in my Kindle. I need to read it!
Kelly, I usually like dual timeline novels and this one worked very well for me. I have read the first book in the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, and it was too suspenseful and violent for me.
I have read several of her other books and even got a book signed at an event but haven't tried this series - now I definitely will!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Constance, I hope you do try this series, and that you like whichever book you try. If you read the second one first, it does spoil the 2nd one. I should have included that in my review.
You have a Happy Thanksgiving too. We have a quiet Thanksgiving watching movies, and I am looking forward to that.
I like cold case series so I'm not sure why I just read book one of this series and no more. VM writes wonderfully and the sense of place is excellent. This one sounds very good although I'm not a huge fan of double timelines.
I really must read this one, I've only read a few books by McDermid. I live in Fife and the strike is still very much in our memories. Jack couldn't get to work as the police presumed that four men in a car must be on their way to picket a mine. They were four men on their way to teach at a local school, car sharing as they were asked to do! It was a horrible time though.
Cath, the sense of place is very well done in this book for sure. After reading my review on the 1st book, I did remember that the book was in two parts in that one; part one was when the crime took place and was not solved and part two was 25 years later when it is reopened. That is an entirely different format than this one. The main thing in the first one is that Karen Pirie doesn't show up until the 2nd half. I liked that one a lot too though. I think I just like McDermid's writing. Too bad I can't handle that other series featuring Tony Hill and Carol Jordan.
Katrina, I had forgotten that you live in Fife. I don't know how I forgot, because you often talk about walks in Fife or your garden in Fife. I am sure you were very aware of the strike and it affected your life.
I hope you do read A Darker Domain and I would like to know if you think it is a good depiction of that time.
I've only read one book by McDermid, but I remember liking it. Haven't read any in this series, though Karen Pirie sounds like a character I would like. Plus, any book set in Scotland! :D
Lark, You are so right about Scotland. Most fiction books I have read set in Scotland really show off the setting. I am not that thrilled with traveling but I love to be transported there in a book. I like McDermid's writing so I will be continuing this series as long as it entertains me.
Wow one of your favorites of 2024. That is good to know. I think the mining aspect interests me (my husband is a geological engineer in mining/gas field) and the strike. Interesting to see what Katrina says above about those times in Fife, Wow. Nice review.
Thanks, Susan. I had heard many good reports on this series in general, but I was surprised that I liked the book so much. I was immersed in it immediately and the repercussions of the strike were very interesting.
Geological engineering sounds like an interesting and demanding field.
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