Karen Pirie returns in a thrilling new novel from the internationally bestselling Val McDermid

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