Broken Ground Audiobook By Val McDermid cover art

Broken Ground

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Broken Ground

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

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 Howes
Crime Fiction Detective Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Broken Ground

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    142
  • 4 Stars
    59
  • 3 Stars
    21
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    157
  • 4 Stars
    32
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    125
  • 4 Stars
    53
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!!

story within a story within a story. very well told. I simply loved it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!