Out of Bounds

A Karen Pirie Novel

By: Val McDermid

Narrated by: Kathleen McCarron

A stunning new cold case novel from internationally best-selling crime writer Val McDermid about a car crash that opens up an unsolved murder from decades before.

Internationally best-selling author Val McDermid is one of our finest crime writers, whose gripping, impeccably plotted novels have garnered millions of listeners worldwide. In her latest, Out of Bounds, she delivers a riveting cold case novel featuring detective Karen Pirie.

When a teenage joyrider crashes a stolen car and ends up in a coma, a routine DNA test reveals a connection to an unsolved murder from 22 years before. Finding the answer to the cold case should be straightforward. But it's as twisted as the DNA helix itself.

Meanwhile, Karen finds herself irresistibly drawn to another mystery that she has no business investigating - a mystery that has its roots in a terrorist bombing two decades ago. And again, she finds that nothing is as it seems.

An enthralling, twisty listen, Out of Bounds reaffirms Val McDermid's place as one of the most dependable professionals in the mystery and thriller business.

©2016 Val McDermid (P)2016 W. F. Howes

Good story with overdose of liberal propaganda

What did you love best about Out of Bounds?

The development (albeit slow) of Jason, the doggedness of Karen. Really like that she has a network of helpful professionals (not coincidentally all female.)

Would you recommend Out of Bounds to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes - and no. The consistent theme of male/conservative = bad/stupid/lazy, female/liberal causes = smart/noble is tiresome. If you can slog past that there's an intriguing story at heart.

Have you listened to any of Kathleen McCarron’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Never heard her before. The accent is sometimes a bit too thick for non-Scots. She does a great job differentiating characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Just don't do it. In my opinion this makes a better book than movie. Can only see it as a Lifetime melodrama.

Any additional comments?

As I mentioned above, this book is heavily slanted toward ultra-liberal and feminist viewpoints. Syrian refugee heroes (saw that coming from their introduction), a few slams against Trump, snide comments about anyone that doesn't agree with these viewpoints, ineffective men - all are the typical representatives of the staple from this author. More than usual for her, and that's saying something. A more balanced world view would be more palatable. Most of us are in the middle, and well aware there is good and bad in people from both sides. Wish this talented author, and in fairness many others, would leave politics out and just give us a good who-done-it free of propaganda.

A very good, nicely narrated listen

I'd almost give this 5 stars, but the ending was a little unsatisfying, very good, but not quite 5 stars. Otherwise it was a really good story, superbly written and read. I suppose, if I didn't have such a high expectation of Val McDermid I would rate it 5 stars and I'm not sure it's fair that she suffers by being compared to her own exceptional standard.

Fantastic narration

Great Val McDermid writing and some of the best narration I’ve heard, with unique voicing for every character. Highly recommend.

Great plot, awesome reader. I have listened to many of Val's McDermids books. books

Love the story, the person reading the story was super. I really enjoy your books. Good plot and cannot stop listening. I'm a big fan 💕

Tries too hard

Too many interwoven threads - the conclusion runs out of momentum and lacks credibility. I’ve read better from this author.

good. smart writing

it's very much a genre offering but a good one. some interesting observations. well written.

Lovely new narrator

I always love McDermid's novels, but I often don't love the narrators. This time she got a top of the line narrator. I hope she sticks with her.

Excellent police procedural. Terrific narrator.

I am aware that Val McDermid has had a long and distinguished career as an author of mysteries and thrillers, but I must admit that this is the first of hers that I have read. This is an extremely good police procedural that builds suspense gradually and kept me wondering who the antagonist(s) might be. I grew to admire the MC, Chief Inspector Karen Pirie, a strong-willed, dedicated, cold-case detective who has experienced her share of personal tragedies. I found her situation and circumstances, as well as the behavior of the other characters, believable, so much so that I wouldn't have been surprised to learn that this novel was based on a true story.

To see spoilers and links, please see my review on goodreads.

The telling is related in first-person by C.I. Pirie, including her thoughts and dreams, except at one point where the PoV changed for one sentence, which jarred me. (spoiler) As a result, I was more or less informed of the back story that I needed without having to read earlier volumes in this series. There is one cold-case murder and several present day murders that are linked, so the reader needs to pay attention to keep track of the names. I won't expand here on the details of the plot.

I should add that the narrator, Cathleen McCarron, was exceptionally good at giving voice to the various characters. For my American ear, it took me a while to adapt to her Scottish accents and dialects, occasionally even having to replay the last minute, but I could tell that she knew what she was about. After completing the book, I was not surprised to find that she is a professional voice, text, and accent coach, currently based with the Royal Shakespeare Company. (See linked in.) BTW, her first name is misspelled on audible.com and amazon.com, although not on their UK counterparts. In fact, she has narrated over 50 other books.

Fantastic series!

The Karen Pirie books are all tremendously well written; characters, setting details, plot twists. Scot Kathleen McCarron’s narration is perfection. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Brilliant narration

Would you consider the audio edition of Out of Bounds to be better than the print version?

Yes!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Out of Bounds?

It's not so much a memorable moment as the sustained quality of the narration, which is just superb. I was so disappointed to see there are no other readings of hers available on the site

Have you listened to any of Kathleen McCarron’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. Sadly, I can't find any more on Audible.

Any additional comments?

Val McDermid is a master storyteller. This is a great story in the hands of a great narrator.