'The Queen of Crime shows no sign of abdicating. Past Lying is as complex, as satisfying and as readable as anything she's written - which makes it another jewel in Val McDermid's crown'
- Mick Herron
'A chilling, twisting triumph. Past Lying is a classic mystery, brilliant, heart-stopping and seamless. No one does it better than Val McDermid'
- Chris Whitaker
'The ingenious plot kept me guessing all the way through. It delivers on every level'
- Marian Keyes
'With an intricate plot, authentic dialogue, rich details, and masterly McDermid twists and turns, [Past Lying] will delight Pirie fans, existing and new'
- Library Journal
'Riveting . . . McDermid keeps the twists coming hard and fast, and she bolsters them with sharp observations about the toll of Covid on the public psyche. This page-turner grips from the outset and doesn't let go'
- Publishers Weekly
'Ingenious, humane, and all too telling as a reminder of the costs of the pandemic even on its survivors'
- Kirkus
'[McDermid] ingeniously flips over the rug and examines the pattern in reverse. Karen and her supporting cast are absorbing, providing insight into the restrictions on police work during the pandemic and plenty of Scottish flavour'
- Booklist