"Twenty-five years ago, the daughter of the richest man in Scotland and her baby son were kidnapped and held to ransom. But Catriona Grant ended up dead and little Adam's fate has remained a mystery ever since. When a new clue is discovered in a deserted Tuscan villa - along with grisly evidence of a recent murder - cold case expert DI Karen Pirie is assigned to follow the trail.
She's already working a case from the same year. During the Miners' Strike of 1984, pit worker Mick Prentice vanished. He was presumed to have broken ranks and fled south with other 'scabs'... but Karen discovers that the reported events of that night don't add up. Where did he really go?"

An excellent mystery with strong characters providing me an insight into a not-so-long-ago chapter of Scottish history of which I did not know much. For me the story shows how important it is to always be honest and bear the consequences of what you have done and to do it quickly for if you try to cover your tracks it can only get worse...

Travelling as a wishlist RABCK to another bookcrosser. Happy reading!

Thank you so much, Columbina, this has arrived safely in Nepal! I really appreciate your sending it so far--thank you also for the sweet puppy card and BC labels, too. And I love the cat label you've used to register it - is that your cat, I wonder? It's adorable. Thank you again, I'll let you know when I've read it and what I thought.

Read this is in a marathon over the last two days; I've heard a lot about Val McDermid but it's the first of her books I've actually read. Very interesting book (only minor plot flaws that a good editor should have caught). I guessed some parts of the mystery early on, but not how it all came together (trying not to give away spoilers). Must say, it all went very dark at the end, that quite surprised me and soured things a little. But I loved Karen Pirie and her irreverent approach to her superiors, how she did what she thought was right and was never cowed or browbeaten as some characters in male-dominated fields are often portrayed. Also, as Colombina said, a very interesting glimpse into a period of time that I was unfamiliar with. Will definitely keep my eyes out for more by this author.

Given to an interested reader at a garage sale yesterday.