The Skeleton Road

By: Val McDermid

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

International best-selling crime writer Val McDermid is one of the most dependable professionals in the mystery and thriller business, whose acutely suspenseful, seamlessly plotted novels have riveted millions of readers worldwide. In her latest, The Skeleton Road, she delivers a gripping standalone novel about a cold case that links to the Balkan Wars of the 1990s.

In the center of historic Edinburgh, builders are preparing to convert a disused Victorian Gothic building into luxury flats. They are understandably surprised to find skeletal remains hidden in a high pinnacle that hasn't been touched by maintenance for years. But who do the bones belong to, and how did they get there? Could the eccentric British pastime of free climbing the outside of buildings play a role? Enter cold case detective Karen Pirie, who gets to work trying to establish the corpse's identity. And when it turns out the bones may be from as far away as the former Yugoslavia, Karen will need to dig deeper than she ever imagined into the tragic history of the Balkans: to war crimes and their consequences, and ultimately to the notion of what justice is and who serves it. The Skeleton Road is an edge-of-your-seat, unforgettable read from one of our finest crime writers.

©2014 Val McDermid (P)2014 Recorded Books

So enjoy Davina Porter as a narrator!

the story is fantastic! Will definitely enjoy more my this author! I would enjoy a sequel with the same characters.

Not the Val McDermid I know and love

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I tried to listen to this book twice, but just couldn't get through it. It seems out-of-style compared to all the other fabulous books I've listened to by this author, and I found there was no central character that I was rooting for, and the storyline was different (and boring as far as I'm concerned) from any of her previous work.

A hard read but great story

Something different from Val Mcdermid, though with a familiar character. A complex and engrossing story, well-narrated. No sugar-coating, tough plot lines, but worth it.

loved this story

It's always a pleasure to have a Val McDermid book at hand and even more of a treat when Davina Porter narrates.

A Dark Story About War, Revenge and Loss

Great mystery and humanity story. McDermid has a way of bringing today's world into her mysteries and that way it all feels authentic. This story is about a skeleton discovered with a bullet hole in the head on top of a building that has been abandoned for the past 20 years. It goes to the cold case squad and DCI Karen Pirie is in charge. There is a connection to Oxford and the university and to the Balkan Wars. There are two different investigations under way. One is looking for a vigilante killer of war criminals and another is looking for the killer of the skeleton. As in past books by McDermid, the investigations swerve into each other but don't merge. It is a fast paced and intriguing book. It left me thinking about it long after I finished listening to the marvelous Davina Porter narrate it. It takes place mostly in Scotland but there are side trips to Croatia and to Oxford. If you haven't read McDermid, do yourself a favor and get with it. She has been writing for years. This book is the 4th in her newest series involved Karen Pirie but she has earlier series that I plan to start soon.

Davina Porter is a perfect narrator for Karen Pirie.

Slivers of Yugoslavia

What did you love best about The Skeleton Road?

The background subject was unique.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Skeleton Road?

Several, but spoilers

Did Davina Porter do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Fair enough. I usually enjoy the speech patterns from "across the pond" but this was a little thick for me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Too much analysis may punch gaps in the logic, but I enjoyed the story. I found the background of Yugoslavia fresh. Val McD always gives a good ride.

Nope

I've liked a few other Karen Pirie novels but this one lost me when it started disgorging chunks of history. Yes, the countries that were once Yugoslavia are interesting, and the history is sad and complicated, but maybe write a novel about it instead of trying to stuff it into a Karen Pirie book.

Narrator is seriously off-putting

The first Karen Pirie book (A Darker Domain) had a wonderful Fife narrator who nailed all the accents. This narrator, Davina Porter, changes Scottish accents within characters and between characters. Her Welsh sounds South East Asian, her Irish sounds English, and she consistently mispronounces Scottish place names. Did anyone check the narration? It's quite annoying to listen to.

The storyline itself is ok- fairly horrific descriptions of the war in the former Yugoslavia and the characters are not particularly endearing, with the exception of Karen Pirie who is fantastic. Not the best Karen Pirie or Val McDermid story. Given all this, I'd suggest skipping this one.

By MzLoo

Different. Not as captivating or horrifying as Echo of a Distant Past or The Place of Execution.

Davina's lovely voice and Karen's beautiful mind!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend to a friend. Karen Pirie's investigating techniques are down to earth and technologically advanced. The reader learns the background of the Balkan's in a through a relationship, which made that information more personal and meaningful. I am new to reading Val McDermid but plan to read more and Davina Porter's narration is beautiful.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Skeleton Road?

One of the most memorable moments of The Skeleton Road is hearing the storing of the massacre in Micha's hometown. It is a moment I will never forget.

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

Absolutely loved Davina Porter's performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes if had time.