Bought for my NSSSBSS partner.

Sent to my NSS partner

I'm getting a bit behind with my reviews and progress on my reading. Also, can't believe I didn't journal this on receipt to a belated thank-you to dolph1n.

I see I started on this book on 15 December and made slow progress at first, not because I wasn't enjoying it but rather because other things were going on and I was restricted to a chapter or two every evening before going to sleep. Even so, that does, I'm afraid, suggest that this wasn't as compelling as some of Val's books. I did race through the dénouement on a miserable Christmas Day when I woke feeling wretched with 'flu and to that extent it delivered a reasonably satisfy conclusion, but I wouldn';t class it as one of Val's best.

All the same, it's nice to see the author going back to her roots in the once-gritty Fife coalfield, reaching back into a past before the area became overrun by the new bourgeoisie of Edinburgh-commuting professionals. And I did like the protagonist, feisty and distinctly unglamorous Karen Pirie waving two determined fingers at her bosses., I hope we see more of her.