THE HEART-POUNDING TOP 10 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
THE KAREN PIRIE THRILLERS HAVE BEEN ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR ITV SERIES STARRING LAUREN LYLE

'Another jewel in Val McDermid's crown' MICK HERRON
'A must-read for anyone who enjoys top-notch crime fiction' YOURS
'A chilling, twisting triumph. Past Lying is a classic mystery' CHRIS WHITAKER
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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 spiralling 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. And don't miss Silent Bones, the next Karen Pirie thriller - available to order now.

PRAISE FOR VAL MCDERMID

'McDermid is at her considerable best' GUARDIAN

'Irresistible' PATRICIA CORNWELL

'A brilliant novel by a supremo of the genre' PETER JAMES

'Outstanding' SPECTATOR

'Another masterpiece' DAVID BALDACCI

'Sensational. One of Britain's most accomplished writers' SUNDAY EXPRESS

'Wickedly entertaining' DAILY MAIL


Past Lying was a No.2 Sunday Times bestseller in paperback on 10/02/2024

Pirie is her most sympathetic protagonist and Past Lying one of her most devious and delightful cases * The Times *
The Queen of Crime shows no sign of abdicating. Past Lying is as complex, as satisfying and as readable as anything she's written - which makes it another jewel in Val McDermid's crown -- Mick Herron
Atmospheric . . . The novel-within-a-novel is not a new device, but McDermid uses it to memorable effect in a piece of fiction that vividly recreates the anxious early months of the Covid pandemic -- Crime Pick of the Month * Sunday Times *
A chilling, twisting triumph. Past Lying is a classic mystery, brilliant, heart-stopping and seamless. No one does it better than Val McDermid -- Chris Whitaker
Val McDermid's latest offering proves once again why she reigns supreme in the world of crime fiction . . . The intricate and clever plot balances fact and fiction while the heroine Karen Pirie is as captivating as ever. For fans of the series, it's like a reunion with old friends, and for newcomers, it's an invitation to dive into a world of suspense and intrigue where McDermid's storytelling prowess shines through as she skilfully explores themes of betrayal and revenge, leaving readers guessing with every unexpected twist. Simply a must-read for anyone who appreciates top-notch crime fiction * Yours *
Original, ingenious, and oh so twisty! It left me breathless -- Belinda Bauer
The ingenious plot kept me guessing all the way through. It delivers on every level -- Marian Keyes
With an intricate plot, authentic dialogue, rich details, and masterly McDermid twists and turns, [Past Lying] will delight Pirie fans, existing and new -- Starred review * Library Journal *
Riveting . . . McDermid keeps the twists coming hard and fast, and she bolsters them with sharp observations about the toll of Covid on the public psyche. This page-turner grips from the outset and doesn't let go -- Starred review * Publishers Weekly *
Ingenious, humane, and all too telling as a reminder of the costs of the pandemic even on its survivors * Kirkus *
[McDermid] ingeniously flips over the rug and examines the pattern in reverse. Karen and her supporting cast are absorbing, providing insight into the restrictions on police work during the pandemic and plenty of Scottish flavour * Booklist *
[Pirie] is an appealing character . . . McDermid [has] fun describing the inner workings of the crime-fiction profession, including the creation of stories and the politics, favouritism, resentment, jealousy and score-settling found behind the scenes * Literary Review *
A spiralling game of betrayal and revenge. A real tour-de-force * Irish Independent *
The eerie landscape of Scotland's capital provides the backdrop to a new thriller from McDermid signalling the return of her much-loved detective Karen Pirie * Scotsman *
A cracking read * Daily Express *
A deadly game of revenge. Another twisty thriller * Heat *
Past Lying sees McDermid simultaneously at her darkest and most playful. The central plot is a wonderfully tricksy story within a story within a story * Mail on Sunday *
McDermid plots her novels in masterly style. She holds the reader's attention and provokes our curiosity . . . Her ingenuity commands respect . . . McDermid is deservedly popular and now acclaimed as the Queen of Crime. She is a fine carpenter, her books always well-constructed. She has the confidence to take her time in the telling of her story . . . She is at her ingenious best here * Scotsman *
A complex plot of jealous writers, straying spouses and effective twists. This novel within-a-novel conceit, used to lead the detectives to more concrete evidence, sharply delivers a suitably unsettled atmosphere . . . Affecting * Irish Times *
This is such a brilliantly conceived plot line that I was squirming with glee as I turned each page. McDermid is in rare form here, and the book never fails to entertain and surprise . . . Past Lying is a wonder to behold. I place it directly next to McDermid's finest works, like A Place of Execution and The Wire in the Blood. Her use of the pandemic is one of the most clever I have seen to date, and the story within a story that constantly references such greats as Agatha Christie and the aforementioned Highsmith makes this a novel that cannot be missed * Bookreporter *
The narrative takes on the characteristics of nested dolls . . . Head and shoulders above many crime novels * Crime Fiction Lover *
Fans definitely won't be disappointed * YOU Magazine *
McDermid is on top form with another Karen Pirie thriller of deceit and vengeance, set against the disquiet of a global pandemic. It's a clever, complicated story of lies, manipulation and revenge. * Sunday Times South Africa *
McDermid's wickedly entertaining double mystery blends a brilliantly twisty plot with compassion for the personal tragedies inflicted by the pandemic -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *

Val McDermid is an international number one bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than forty languages. Her multi-award-winning series and standalone novels have been adapted for TV and radio, most notably the Wire in the Blood series featuring clinical psychologist Dr Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan. The Karen Pirie novels have now been adapted for a major ITV series.

Val has been chair of the judges for the Wellcome Book Prize and the Gordon Burn Prize, and has served as a judge for the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Man Booker Prize and the Royal Society Book Prize. She is the recipient of eight honorary doctorates and is an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford. She is a visiting professor in the Centre of Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Among her many awards are the CWA Diamond Dagger recognising lifetime achievement and the Theakston's Old Peculier award for Outstanding Contribution to Crime Writing. Val is also an experienced broadcaster and much-sought-after columnist and commentator across print media.

www.valmcdermid.com
Instagram @quineofcrime