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The Cracked Mirror
FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW
THIS IS NOT THAT CRIME NOVEL
You know Johnny Hawke. Hard-bitten LAPD homicide detective. Always in trouble with his captain, always losing partners, but always battling for the truth, whatever it takes.
You know Penny Coyne. The little old lady who has solved multiple murders in her otherwise sleepy village, despite bumbling local police. A razor-sharp mind in a Sunday best hat.
Against all the odds, against the usual story, their worlds are about to collide. It starts with a dead writer and a mysterious wedding invitation. It will end with a rabbit hole that goes so deep, Johnny and Penny might just come to question not just whodunnit, but whether they want to know the answer.
A cross-genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly, The Cracked Mirror is the most imaginative and entertaining crime novel of the year, a genre-splicing rollercoaster with a poignantly emotional heart.
THIS IS NOT THAT CRIME NOVEL
You know Johnny Hawke. Hard-bitten LAPD homicide detective. Always in trouble with his captain, always losing partners, but always battling for the truth, whatever it takes.
You know Penny Coyne. The little old lady who has solved multiple murders in her otherwise sleepy village, despite bumbling local police. A razor-sharp mind in a Sunday best hat.
Against all the odds, against the usual story, their worlds are about to collide. It starts with a dead writer and a mysterious wedding invitation. It will end with a rabbit hole that goes so deep, Johnny and Penny might just come to question not just whodunnit, but whether they want to know the answer.
A cross-genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly, The Cracked Mirror is the most imaginative and entertaining crime novel of the year, a genre-splicing rollercoaster with a poignantly emotional heart.
480 pages, Hardcover
Published July 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
August 6, 2024
The blurb of this book says (and yes, it is in capitals!: "FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT THAT CRIME NOVEL", and after reading this I must concur! Got to thank Chris Brookmyre. for rightly determining that this one would work for me. Imagine a maverick L.A. police detective working with a Scottish septuagenarian woman crime solver, as they both look to prove a seemingly dead-cert suicide is anything but!
The Cracked Mirror is a screenplay that the creative who allegedly committed suicide was working from to produce a film of the same title. This starts of as an interesting and intriguing detective thriller that draws our protagonists to the same wedding in Scotland; but that's just the start of this awesome read. Brookmyre has absolutely written 'not that crime novel'. I can't say much more without spoiler-ing, but anyone looking for truly innovative and well written read this is it! I was hugely surprised and entertained at the turns this book took. Thank you for sharing your talent with the world Mr Brookmyre. This is easily in the top 10 of the ARCs I have been sent. I should say, get out and grab a copy the book was published in July :)
2024 read
The Cracked Mirror is a screenplay that the creative who allegedly committed suicide was working from to produce a film of the same title. This starts of as an interesting and intriguing detective thriller that draws our protagonists to the same wedding in Scotland; but that's just the start of this awesome read. Brookmyre has absolutely written 'not that crime novel'. I can't say much more without spoiler-ing, but anyone looking for truly innovative and well written read this is it! I was hugely surprised and entertained at the turns this book took. Thank you for sharing your talent with the world Mr Brookmyre. This is easily in the top 10 of the ARCs I have been sent. I should say, get out and grab a copy the book was published in July :)
2024 read
July 4, 2024
4.5 rounded up
“ A cross genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly”… and yes, it’s definitely that. Meet Ms Penelope Coyne, she’s in her 80s, lives in the pretty village of Glen Cuthar in Scotland and is close friends with Inspector Saeeda Sattar. A possessor of a razor sharp mind which she is putting to good use to try to work out why Mr Brendan Gault is found dead in the chapel, but even she is struggling to understand why she’s received a mysterious wedding invitation. She is the 21st century Miss Marple. Her polar opposite is rule breaker, Johnny Hawke a hard nosed LAPD detective and reminiscent of a Connelly character. Currently everything is a bit of a blur for Johnny and now to cap it all he’s got a new partner in Ibanez and he wonders who the poor guy has annoyed to get partnered with him as his previous ones have a way of ending up dead. It’s the usual tough day on the “mean streets” of LA when they get a call to go to a Hollywood studio where a young male has been found dead. From this point on things go from very bad to way worse and coincidences and connections takes Johnny to Scotland and into Pennies orbit. The novel alternates between the two with clever chapter headings and with a seamlessly flowing storyline.
This could’ve been a right old mess in the hands of a less skilled and capable writer than Chris Brookmyre. He has created a lively, entertaining, fast paced and complex multi-layered storyline, including crimes that date back 20 years. It’s a fascinating and constantly changing dramatic thriller full of incident with oodles of plot twists, which keeps you riveted and with some good red herrings into the bargain. Did I pick up the breadcrumb clues along the way? Of course not!
There’s so much to praise in this ambitious novel. In Penny Coyne (what a pun), the author has done a superb job of evoking the queen of crime, and although I’ve only read a couple of Connelly’s books, he’s captured the spirit of those via Johnny and with what happens in LA. These two characters are so well crafted and clearly they are chalk and cheese and the contrast couldn’t be stronger, and yet they become unlikely allies. They grow to respect each other’s skills and so they pit together their collaborative brains to figure out the increasingly puzzling conundrum and mounting list of fatalities. It’s a very unusual but very compelling duo and watching their relationship go through its various stages is compelling. The dialogue is good throughout but especially so between these two.
I would never guess the truth of how this pans out in a million years as it’s so inventive but the author makes me totally buy into it.. The ending is poignant and the ultimate end is very enigmatic and leaves you pondering.
Overall, this is the Chris Brookmyre novel I’ve liked the most despite the large cast of characters to get your head around. It’s creative, very different. The settings are excellent, they’re vividly described and used most effectively. I love the humour which is laugh out loud on occasions. I can recommend this. to fans of the mystery thriller genre are looking for something that is a little bit out of the ordinary .
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
“ A cross genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly”… and yes, it’s definitely that. Meet Ms Penelope Coyne, she’s in her 80s, lives in the pretty village of Glen Cuthar in Scotland and is close friends with Inspector Saeeda Sattar. A possessor of a razor sharp mind which she is putting to good use to try to work out why Mr Brendan Gault is found dead in the chapel, but even she is struggling to understand why she’s received a mysterious wedding invitation. She is the 21st century Miss Marple. Her polar opposite is rule breaker, Johnny Hawke a hard nosed LAPD detective and reminiscent of a Connelly character. Currently everything is a bit of a blur for Johnny and now to cap it all he’s got a new partner in Ibanez and he wonders who the poor guy has annoyed to get partnered with him as his previous ones have a way of ending up dead. It’s the usual tough day on the “mean streets” of LA when they get a call to go to a Hollywood studio where a young male has been found dead. From this point on things go from very bad to way worse and coincidences and connections takes Johnny to Scotland and into Pennies orbit. The novel alternates between the two with clever chapter headings and with a seamlessly flowing storyline.
This could’ve been a right old mess in the hands of a less skilled and capable writer than Chris Brookmyre. He has created a lively, entertaining, fast paced and complex multi-layered storyline, including crimes that date back 20 years. It’s a fascinating and constantly changing dramatic thriller full of incident with oodles of plot twists, which keeps you riveted and with some good red herrings into the bargain. Did I pick up the breadcrumb clues along the way? Of course not!
There’s so much to praise in this ambitious novel. In Penny Coyne (what a pun), the author has done a superb job of evoking the queen of crime, and although I’ve only read a couple of Connelly’s books, he’s captured the spirit of those via Johnny and with what happens in LA. These two characters are so well crafted and clearly they are chalk and cheese and the contrast couldn’t be stronger, and yet they become unlikely allies. They grow to respect each other’s skills and so they pit together their collaborative brains to figure out the increasingly puzzling conundrum and mounting list of fatalities. It’s a very unusual but very compelling duo and watching their relationship go through its various stages is compelling. The dialogue is good throughout but especially so between these two.
I would never guess the truth of how this pans out in a million years as it’s so inventive but the author makes me totally buy into it.. The ending is poignant and the ultimate end is very enigmatic and leaves you pondering.
Overall, this is the Chris Brookmyre novel I’ve liked the most despite the large cast of characters to get your head around. It’s creative, very different. The settings are excellent, they’re vividly described and used most effectively. I love the humour which is laugh out loud on occasions. I can recommend this. to fans of the mystery thriller genre are looking for something that is a little bit out of the ordinary .
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 29, 2024
Loved this. Complex, clever, funny and absolutely crazy in parts. This, for me, was a return to the Chris Brookmyre of old where you'd start with something innocuous - a team building exercise or a school outing say and end up with a terrorist siege or in hell. Yes, this was Brookmyre at his convoluted, crazy best.
However I am at a loss as to explain the plot simply because it starts out with two seemingly random murders and ends up with the mother of all twists - best read the synopsis.
There are myriad twists along the way but the whole story is carried beautifully by detectives Johnny Hawke and Penny Coyne. Johnny is the hardboiled LA detective and Penny is a gifted amateur who solves murders in a tiny village in Scotland where, she admits, there are a lot more murders than there should be. They are a great double act but both with secrets of their own.
I realise that this novel may not be for everyone but if you've read One Fine Day or Pandaemonium then you'll know what kind of genius lunacy you're in for. Sit back and enjoy every word.
If I could give a piece of advice I'd say don't get hung up on remembering all the names or the chapter headings just follow the story.
Lastly, two very small niggles. The first is the use of the phrase "Holly golly" by Johnny. It would have been annoying had Penny used it but Johnny? No. The second was Johnny's occasional use of "I'mma". I try not to be a grammar Nazi but it's a non-word and it didn't feel like it fitted with the way he spoke.
Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the advance review copy. Very much appreciated.
However I am at a loss as to explain the plot simply because it starts out with two seemingly random murders and ends up with the mother of all twists - best read the synopsis.
There are myriad twists along the way but the whole story is carried beautifully by detectives Johnny Hawke and Penny Coyne. Johnny is the hardboiled LA detective and Penny is a gifted amateur who solves murders in a tiny village in Scotland where, she admits, there are a lot more murders than there should be. They are a great double act but both with secrets of their own.
I realise that this novel may not be for everyone but if you've read One Fine Day or Pandaemonium then you'll know what kind of genius lunacy you're in for. Sit back and enjoy every word.
If I could give a piece of advice I'd say don't get hung up on remembering all the names or the chapter headings just follow the story.
Lastly, two very small niggles. The first is the use of the phrase "Holly golly" by Johnny. It would have been annoying had Penny used it but Johnny? No. The second was Johnny's occasional use of "I'mma". I try not to be a grammar Nazi but it's a non-word and it didn't feel like it fitted with the way he spoke.
Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the advance review copy. Very much appreciated.
July 18, 2024
It starts with Penelope Coyne (an elderly ‘Miss Marple’ figure) becoming aware of a murder in her small Scottish village. A man has been strangled in the church confessional booth. Having already solved a number of murders in this quiet place - a rather odd claim in itself – she’s determined to somehow involve herself in the investigation.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Jonny Hawke is nursing a headache. He’s woken up in a room he doesn’t recognise, next to a woman he’s struggling to identify. Jonny is a police lieutenant who, we will learn, has a habit of getting his partners killed. His maverick ways have delivered results, but at a hefty price. He’s soon picked up by his latest partner and is off to visit the scene of what appears to be the suicide of a male writer. There seems little doubt that the man took his own life, but his boss want’s the i’s to be fully dotted on this one.
These two threads – an old school murder mystery and a contemporary hardboiled detective tale – are rather odd bedfellows, and yet they are to be merged into a broader story that’s distinctly different to anything I’ve come across before. It’s a book that really demands that you don’t know too much before launching yourself into it, so I’ll pretty much halt my description of the plot there.
I’m an admirer of Brookmyre’s writing; his stories are usually well constructed and include a mix of wry humour, social comments, and plotlines/themes that often surprise and delight. His standalone novels, in particular, are written in a way that had you not known they were from the same pen, you’d swear they were born from a different hand. He’s stylistically brave and adventurous, and this might just be his most outlandish experiment to date.
My own opinion of this one is that it’s a mix of highs and lows. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the storyline, and I particularly loved the chemistry that developed between the two leading characters. On the downside, I found it challenging to follow the complex unfolding of the tale, with its large cast. In addition, the final denouement felt rather convoluted and also somewhat unsatisfying. As a result, I’m finding it a hard book to rate. It’s probably something just north of three stars for me, but I’m going to round up rather than down simply because of the story’s originality and also because of my admiration for the mind that conceived it.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Jonny Hawke is nursing a headache. He’s woken up in a room he doesn’t recognise, next to a woman he’s struggling to identify. Jonny is a police lieutenant who, we will learn, has a habit of getting his partners killed. His maverick ways have delivered results, but at a hefty price. He’s soon picked up by his latest partner and is off to visit the scene of what appears to be the suicide of a male writer. There seems little doubt that the man took his own life, but his boss want’s the i’s to be fully dotted on this one.
These two threads – an old school murder mystery and a contemporary hardboiled detective tale – are rather odd bedfellows, and yet they are to be merged into a broader story that’s distinctly different to anything I’ve come across before. It’s a book that really demands that you don’t know too much before launching yourself into it, so I’ll pretty much halt my description of the plot there.
I’m an admirer of Brookmyre’s writing; his stories are usually well constructed and include a mix of wry humour, social comments, and plotlines/themes that often surprise and delight. His standalone novels, in particular, are written in a way that had you not known they were from the same pen, you’d swear they were born from a different hand. He’s stylistically brave and adventurous, and this might just be his most outlandish experiment to date.
My own opinion of this one is that it’s a mix of highs and lows. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the storyline, and I particularly loved the chemistry that developed between the two leading characters. On the downside, I found it challenging to follow the complex unfolding of the tale, with its large cast. In addition, the final denouement felt rather convoluted and also somewhat unsatisfying. As a result, I’m finding it a hard book to rate. It’s probably something just north of three stars for me, but I’m going to round up rather than down simply because of the story’s originality and also because of my admiration for the mind that conceived it.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2024
What an absolutely very cleverly thought out plot and what absolutely likable and very real characters! Miss Penny Coyne stays in her character of ‘a lady like Miss Marple’ during the whole story and yet in the end she’s changed a bit (for the good or the bad that is for every reader to find out). Johnny Hawke is exactly who he needs to be in this story: a man with hidden depths. Together they find themselves in an adventure they would have never dreamed of.
The plot is multi-layered with lots of real surprises and what I liked most about this book is that although there are things happening that are utterly impossible, you could start to believe that somewhere, in the not so distant future, they would be possible.
The story brings us from the streets of LA to the quiet village of Glen Cuthar and numerous other places and slowly the story unfolds. The ending was very well done and a little heartbreaking. I would love to read more of this author and I can recommend this book to all readers who would like to try a story that is very believable and very unbelievable at the same time.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Netgalley for this review copy.
The plot is multi-layered with lots of real surprises and what I liked most about this book is that although there are things happening that are utterly impossible, you could start to believe that somewhere, in the not so distant future, they would be possible.
The story brings us from the streets of LA to the quiet village of Glen Cuthar and numerous other places and slowly the story unfolds. The ending was very well done and a little heartbreaking. I would love to read more of this author and I can recommend this book to all readers who would like to try a story that is very believable and very unbelievable at the same time.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Netgalley for this review copy.
July 19, 2024
Out 18th July 2024
FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW
THIS IS NOT THAT CRIME NOVEL
Ok so no spoilers, which makes this difficult to summarise; this is essentially multiple stories in one book, so we have the typical older lady sleuth detective who solves murders in a sleepy Scottish town: Penny Coyne and then we have the LAPD homicide detective Johnny Hawke who does what's necessary to get results, regardless of the trouble he gets in.
So our usual tropes, but this is not what you expect, yes their paths cross, but what happens then is not what you expect.
This is such a clever book, with so many layers, crossing multiple genres, but still has a lot of heart. Sometimes you're not sure who to trust or like, but I always had a soft spot for Penny and Johnny.
I absolutely loved that this was a fast paced book, and the way the story was told and unfolded. From the concept of the book to the execution this is a one of a kind book, that I'm still processing.
Yes there are a lot of characters, which would usually put me off, but they are so cleverly written, you only need to focus on the main characters and the plot.
This is my first time reading a Brookmyre book, but I'm certain it won't be the last.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon
Happy to make friends on all socials
FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW
THIS IS NOT THAT CRIME NOVEL
Ok so no spoilers, which makes this difficult to summarise; this is essentially multiple stories in one book, so we have the typical older lady sleuth detective who solves murders in a sleepy Scottish town: Penny Coyne and then we have the LAPD homicide detective Johnny Hawke who does what's necessary to get results, regardless of the trouble he gets in.
So our usual tropes, but this is not what you expect, yes their paths cross, but what happens then is not what you expect.
This is such a clever book, with so many layers, crossing multiple genres, but still has a lot of heart. Sometimes you're not sure who to trust or like, but I always had a soft spot for Penny and Johnny.
I absolutely loved that this was a fast paced book, and the way the story was told and unfolded. From the concept of the book to the execution this is a one of a kind book, that I'm still processing.
Yes there are a lot of characters, which would usually put me off, but they are so cleverly written, you only need to focus on the main characters and the plot.
This is my first time reading a Brookmyre book, but I'm certain it won't be the last.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon
Happy to make friends on all socials
April 9, 2024
I have read several previous novels of Chris Brookmyre’s novels, so I was curious to find out about his new novel The Cracked mirror. The title reminds me of an Agatha Christie novel, but the story is far from that.
There is two storylines firstly set in Scotland 80-year-old Penny Coyne has just come back from her holidays and has started investigating a murder where a body is found near a local church.
She has also been invited to a wedding, but she doesn’t know who invited her.
LAPD cop Jonny Hawke doesn’t always work by the rule book, but his boss has sent him to investigate a possible suicide with a new partner in toe. But the problem when Johnny gets new partners, they end up dead and that’s what just happened. Johnny is suspended but carries on with the investigation under his own steam which leads him to Scotland where he meets Penny Coyne.
When I first started reading this, I often wondered what relevance with the two characters was as they are so different from each other, and I did think if this was a mistake in the book. But As I carried on this storyline became intriguing and I was enjoying it mostly until we got to part three. For me I thought that style of the writing then changed dramatically after that, and I got so overwhelmed with the characters. I started losing interest and I nearly didn’t finish it. But I carried on, although the ending was a bit weird, I enjoyed he conclusion. 3.5 stars from me.
There is two storylines firstly set in Scotland 80-year-old Penny Coyne has just come back from her holidays and has started investigating a murder where a body is found near a local church.
She has also been invited to a wedding, but she doesn’t know who invited her.
LAPD cop Jonny Hawke doesn’t always work by the rule book, but his boss has sent him to investigate a possible suicide with a new partner in toe. But the problem when Johnny gets new partners, they end up dead and that’s what just happened. Johnny is suspended but carries on with the investigation under his own steam which leads him to Scotland where he meets Penny Coyne.
When I first started reading this, I often wondered what relevance with the two characters was as they are so different from each other, and I did think if this was a mistake in the book. But As I carried on this storyline became intriguing and I was enjoying it mostly until we got to part three. For me I thought that style of the writing then changed dramatically after that, and I got so overwhelmed with the characters. I started losing interest and I nearly didn’t finish it. But I carried on, although the ending was a bit weird, I enjoyed he conclusion. 3.5 stars from me.
August 4, 2024
In his latest novel Chris Brookmyre manages to successfully combine two seemingly incompatible sub-genres of crime fiction: the classic English mystery of the inter war years and the modern hard-boiled L.A. Noir thriller. Miss Marple meets Harry Bosch. In this case the former is represented by Penny Coyne, a little old lady who has solved numerous crimes, much to the annoyance of local villains and embarrassment of Police Scotland. For the latter we have maverick LAPD homicide detective Johnny Hawke, always willing to bend the rules to uphold the law.
In the first section of the novel, through alternating chapters, Penny manages to solve the murder of a local cake shop owner whose body was discovered in the confessional of the local church. She also receives an invitation to a posh wedding where she’s unfamiliar with both the bride and the groom. Meanwhile, in Hollywood, Johnny is attempting to solve a murder which the authorities are happy to write off as a suicide. In doing so his latest partner is killed and he only just escapes himself from a fire. He is then suspended and decides to follow his main suspect who just happens to be attending the same wedding Penny has been invited to.
And that is where they eventually meet, but not before they encounter another murder disguised as a suicide. When it turns out even the police cannot be trusted, Johnny and Penny find themselves fugitives trying to solve three murders which, although two decades and continents apart bear remarkable similarities with casts of characters which seem to mirror each other. Once back in California they descend further down a rabbit hole where even their sense of reality is challenged.
This was quite a long novel with a large cast of characters and numerous plot twists which strained the boundaries of the genre. However, the meticulous plotting and originality, interlaced with the author's trademark social observations and sense of humour, made it highly satisfying. Admittedly, there are several strong contenders but this could well be Chris Brookmyre’s finest novel to date. I’ll have to settle with awarding it five stars, although it deserves six.
In the first section of the novel, through alternating chapters, Penny manages to solve the murder of a local cake shop owner whose body was discovered in the confessional of the local church. She also receives an invitation to a posh wedding where she’s unfamiliar with both the bride and the groom. Meanwhile, in Hollywood, Johnny is attempting to solve a murder which the authorities are happy to write off as a suicide. In doing so his latest partner is killed and he only just escapes himself from a fire. He is then suspended and decides to follow his main suspect who just happens to be attending the same wedding Penny has been invited to.
And that is where they eventually meet, but not before they encounter another murder disguised as a suicide. When it turns out even the police cannot be trusted, Johnny and Penny find themselves fugitives trying to solve three murders which, although two decades and continents apart bear remarkable similarities with casts of characters which seem to mirror each other. Once back in California they descend further down a rabbit hole where even their sense of reality is challenged.
This was quite a long novel with a large cast of characters and numerous plot twists which strained the boundaries of the genre. However, the meticulous plotting and originality, interlaced with the author's trademark social observations and sense of humour, made it highly satisfying. Admittedly, there are several strong contenders but this could well be Chris Brookmyre’s finest novel to date. I’ll have to settle with awarding it five stars, although it deserves six.
April 2, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Abacus for this ARC to review.
Firstly, I love Brookmyre. I have been with him from the start. I have been a beta reader and a proofreader for a good few of his early books, so I certainly know the author’s writing well enough.
While I liked this and had fun with it, it is definitely not up there with his best. However, on finishing this read I was (in hindsight) overly critical. The overall premise is a bit silly, but on reflection a lot of his work is; in a good way. One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night is one of my favourite books (not just of his) and it’s utterly, brilliantly, ridiculously laugh-out-loud bonkers.
Here, Brookmyre is clearly going for a Bosch / Miss Marple mash-up and when you get down to it, it’s a lot of fun. Silly, but fun nonetheless.
There is a twist, which I partially caught, but don’t want to get into spoiler territory. On reflection, it does address some of the contrivances I felt were in the text, but they were there during the read and I felt them off-putting.
The reason why I don’t rate this higher (and perhaps its because I haven’t read him for a while), is that Brookmyre never used to shy away from really hammering home a strong stance on a particular viewpoint; be it religious, political or other. He could be absolutely brutal and I was waiting for it, but he plays it very safe with this one, which seems very…un-brookmyre like.
However, when you get down to it, like most of his work, it’s just good fun.
Firstly, I love Brookmyre. I have been with him from the start. I have been a beta reader and a proofreader for a good few of his early books, so I certainly know the author’s writing well enough.
While I liked this and had fun with it, it is definitely not up there with his best. However, on finishing this read I was (in hindsight) overly critical. The overall premise is a bit silly, but on reflection a lot of his work is; in a good way. One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night is one of my favourite books (not just of his) and it’s utterly, brilliantly, ridiculously laugh-out-loud bonkers.
Here, Brookmyre is clearly going for a Bosch / Miss Marple mash-up and when you get down to it, it’s a lot of fun. Silly, but fun nonetheless.
There is a twist, which I partially caught, but don’t want to get into spoiler territory. On reflection, it does address some of the contrivances I felt were in the text, but they were there during the read and I felt them off-putting.
The reason why I don’t rate this higher (and perhaps its because I haven’t read him for a while), is that Brookmyre never used to shy away from really hammering home a strong stance on a particular viewpoint; be it religious, political or other. He could be absolutely brutal and I was waiting for it, but he plays it very safe with this one, which seems very…un-brookmyre like.
However, when you get down to it, like most of his work, it’s just good fun.
March 4, 2024
My Rating: 1⭐️ not my cup of tea at all… Very Disappointed!!!
NetGalley Synopsis
Forget what you think you know… You know Penny Coyne. The little old lady who has solved multiple murders in her otherwise sleepy village, despite bumbling local police. A razor-sharp mind in a twinset and tweed.
You know Johnny Hawke. Hard-bitten LAPD homicide detective. Always in trouble with his captain, always losing partners, but always battling for the truth, whatever it takes.
Against all the odds, against the usual story, their worlds are about to collide. It starts with a dead writer and a mysterious wedding invitation. It will end with a rabbit hole that goes so deep, Johnny and Penny might just come to question not just whodunnit, but whether they want to know the answer.
*A cross-genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly.
Well I should have read that last line a little closer… a cross-genre hybrid of Agatha Christie… I could have saved myself the trouble. I have never read anything that is Agatha Christie adjacent or similar that I have enjoyed… I believe its just not for me… this was no different. And to be honest I haven’t read anything from Michael Connelly but the bits that were from Hawkes perspective I think were likely more his style and that was ok… but the Penny ones… talk about snore fest for me…
Now what I will say is this was CLEVER I really didn’t know how the author was going to intersect the two stories that were not even running in the same country let alone with the same characters but honestly that was clever and excellent writing. There is no doubt about it that Brookmyre is talented… however…. The story just dragged on and on and on and on… this is nearly 500 pages and ALOT is happening but it felt like it was all happening underwater, in slow motion trapped in mud… come on… I shouldn’t feel bored by a story that has two stories multi POV and multi-countries with multi-mysteries.
I wasn’t a fan of Penny… I thought she was whatever… I mean good on her shes a little old lady that can solve mysteries… but she was kind of a nothing to me… and she was boring. Johnny was a bit better but again very stereotypical and ME MAN YOU WOMAN kind of dude… whatever cause that doesn’t particularly bother me except again I was still bored… either way for me this was a huge miss.
I am disappointed too cause I loved the sound of it… but I will make sure I never pick up another book that is “like” Agatha Christie cause I never ever Vibe with them. I think maybe one day I may read an actual Agatha Christie to see if I actually like her work… but anything that is LIKE it… definitely not for me. I would prefer it to be the actual famous author and go… yeah thats not for me… cause now its put me off her writing before I have even given her a chance. So… we shall see.
Either way… I am keeping this short… its one star.. I am positive lots of people will like this… but I did not.
Thank you to Abacus, NetGalley and the author for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
NetGalley Synopsis
Forget what you think you know… You know Penny Coyne. The little old lady who has solved multiple murders in her otherwise sleepy village, despite bumbling local police. A razor-sharp mind in a twinset and tweed.
You know Johnny Hawke. Hard-bitten LAPD homicide detective. Always in trouble with his captain, always losing partners, but always battling for the truth, whatever it takes.
Against all the odds, against the usual story, their worlds are about to collide. It starts with a dead writer and a mysterious wedding invitation. It will end with a rabbit hole that goes so deep, Johnny and Penny might just come to question not just whodunnit, but whether they want to know the answer.
*A cross-genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly.
Well I should have read that last line a little closer… a cross-genre hybrid of Agatha Christie… I could have saved myself the trouble. I have never read anything that is Agatha Christie adjacent or similar that I have enjoyed… I believe its just not for me… this was no different. And to be honest I haven’t read anything from Michael Connelly but the bits that were from Hawkes perspective I think were likely more his style and that was ok… but the Penny ones… talk about snore fest for me…
Now what I will say is this was CLEVER I really didn’t know how the author was going to intersect the two stories that were not even running in the same country let alone with the same characters but honestly that was clever and excellent writing. There is no doubt about it that Brookmyre is talented… however…. The story just dragged on and on and on and on… this is nearly 500 pages and ALOT is happening but it felt like it was all happening underwater, in slow motion trapped in mud… come on… I shouldn’t feel bored by a story that has two stories multi POV and multi-countries with multi-mysteries.
I wasn’t a fan of Penny… I thought she was whatever… I mean good on her shes a little old lady that can solve mysteries… but she was kind of a nothing to me… and she was boring. Johnny was a bit better but again very stereotypical and ME MAN YOU WOMAN kind of dude… whatever cause that doesn’t particularly bother me except again I was still bored… either way for me this was a huge miss.
I am disappointed too cause I loved the sound of it… but I will make sure I never pick up another book that is “like” Agatha Christie cause I never ever Vibe with them. I think maybe one day I may read an actual Agatha Christie to see if I actually like her work… but anything that is LIKE it… definitely not for me. I would prefer it to be the actual famous author and go… yeah thats not for me… cause now its put me off her writing before I have even given her a chance. So… we shall see.
Either way… I am keeping this short… its one star.. I am positive lots of people will like this… but I did not.
Thank you to Abacus, NetGalley and the author for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2024
Miss Marple meets Michael Connelly could be an easy tagline for award-winning Scottish author Chris Brookmyre’s superb new novel, but that distillation severely underplays all that is going on in The Cracked Mirror, a truly mind-bending mystery.
Yes, Penny Coyne is a tweed-wearing, elderly librarian in a sleepy Scottish village who has helped the local constabulary solve many murders (or done so despite their bumbling). And yes, Johnny Hawke is a hard-bitten LAPD homicide detective with a maverick streak who’s willing to bend the rules to find the truth and catch the bad guys. At the start, as Brookmyre flicks readers between unfolding mysteries in Los Angeles and Scotland, it seems like The Cracked Mirror is two books, or sub-genres, in one. Then Penny and Johnny’s worlds begin to mesh, as she answers a mysterious wedding invitation at a Scottish manor, and Johnny trails a person of interest to the same venue.
As the oddball pairing are thrust together, The Cracked Mirror becomes a helter-skelter thrill ride that will have readers furrowing their brow and whirring through the pages. Are the echoes among some tragic suicides coincidence or something worse? Why are Penny’s local police targetting Johnny, a fellow cop even if one from across the pond? It’s a tale with storytelling at its heart – the trail snakes through screenwriting, book publishing, and video games companies – and with plenty of heart among the hurly burly.
A terrific tale that’s unlike anything else you’ll probably read this year.
[This review was originally written for Good Reading magazine]
Yes, Penny Coyne is a tweed-wearing, elderly librarian in a sleepy Scottish village who has helped the local constabulary solve many murders (or done so despite their bumbling). And yes, Johnny Hawke is a hard-bitten LAPD homicide detective with a maverick streak who’s willing to bend the rules to find the truth and catch the bad guys. At the start, as Brookmyre flicks readers between unfolding mysteries in Los Angeles and Scotland, it seems like The Cracked Mirror is two books, or sub-genres, in one. Then Penny and Johnny’s worlds begin to mesh, as she answers a mysterious wedding invitation at a Scottish manor, and Johnny trails a person of interest to the same venue.
As the oddball pairing are thrust together, The Cracked Mirror becomes a helter-skelter thrill ride that will have readers furrowing their brow and whirring through the pages. Are the echoes among some tragic suicides coincidence or something worse? Why are Penny’s local police targetting Johnny, a fellow cop even if one from across the pond? It’s a tale with storytelling at its heart – the trail snakes through screenwriting, book publishing, and video games companies – and with plenty of heart among the hurly burly.
A terrific tale that’s unlike anything else you’ll probably read this year.
[This review was originally written for Good Reading magazine]
January 8, 2024
The Cracked Mirror is my first 5 star read of 2024, however, it's a tricky one to review as saying too much about the plot or even the characters runs the risk of spoiling what was a perfectly judged and ingenious twist.
The novel begins by introducing us to two characters - a renegade LAPD cop cast in the mould of a Michael Connolly hero, Johnny Hawke, and a Marple-esque Scottish pensioner named Penelope Coyne - both solving a murder on their home turf. Two such disparate settings and characters (and, indeed, narrative styles) could feel messy and confusing in the hands of a lesser writer, but Brookmyre is more than capable of guiding the reader through the switches of tone. And when Hawke finds a clue that takes him to a society wedding in Scotland, the stage is set for the two stories to cohere into one.
And speaking of Brookmyre, what a joy it was - as a fan of his writing as far back as the 1990s and his early Jack Parlabane novels - to see him back on form. Which is not to say I haven't enjoyed his recent novels, which have tended to hew to a more conventional thriller format: I have enjoyed them all greatly. But The Cracked Mirror harks back to when Brookmyre was more than just a good thriller writer, but someone who experimented with form, who came up with audacious characters and plot twists, his books always shot through with a vein of the darkest humour possible and a keen eye for social justice.
I would strongly recommend giving The Cracked Mirror a try, although unfortunately I can't even couch my recommendation in the usual 'if you liked x you'll like this', because even that runs the risk of spoilers. Suffice it to say that I couldn't have loved this book more.
The novel begins by introducing us to two characters - a renegade LAPD cop cast in the mould of a Michael Connolly hero, Johnny Hawke, and a Marple-esque Scottish pensioner named Penelope Coyne - both solving a murder on their home turf. Two such disparate settings and characters (and, indeed, narrative styles) could feel messy and confusing in the hands of a lesser writer, but Brookmyre is more than capable of guiding the reader through the switches of tone. And when Hawke finds a clue that takes him to a society wedding in Scotland, the stage is set for the two stories to cohere into one.
And speaking of Brookmyre, what a joy it was - as a fan of his writing as far back as the 1990s and his early Jack Parlabane novels - to see him back on form. Which is not to say I haven't enjoyed his recent novels, which have tended to hew to a more conventional thriller format: I have enjoyed them all greatly. But The Cracked Mirror harks back to when Brookmyre was more than just a good thriller writer, but someone who experimented with form, who came up with audacious characters and plot twists, his books always shot through with a vein of the darkest humour possible and a keen eye for social justice.
I would strongly recommend giving The Cracked Mirror a try, although unfortunately I can't even couch my recommendation in the usual 'if you liked x you'll like this', because even that runs the risk of spoilers. Suffice it to say that I couldn't have loved this book more.
January 5, 2024
When you read a Chris Brookmyre novel, things are never as they seem. This book is full of twists and turns, and is very clever. The relationship between the main characters, Jack and Penny is delightful, especially with the 80 something Penny's approach to life. As events unfold, red herrings abound and the ending had me gobsmacked. Alert readers might have noticed some of the clues earlier than me. For those who like their crime novels just a bit different, this is great fun. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC to read and freely review.
July 30, 2024
Really really good, the best I’ve read of his so far. I met Chris a few days ago where he signed this book and did a Q&A and he’s very interesting.
July 15, 2024
To be honest, as I sit down to write this review I’ve absolutely no idea what’s going to come out of my fingers. ‘The Cracked Mirror’ is unlike anything I’ve ever read, and it made my head spin. It’s also one of those books that is impossible to review without being extremely vague, or do the genius plot justice.
The book description mentions a mix between Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly. And at the beginning of the story that is most definitely true. Penelope Coyne, who lives in a tiny village in Scotland that seems to have some kind of murder pandemic, is very reminiscent of Miss Marple. I adored her immediately. On the other side of the world, Jonathan Hawke is an LAPD detective who is quite possibly heavily inspired by Bosch. I must admit at that point I preferred Penny’s chapters. There are often instances where American settings just don’t seem to work for me, and whenever the story was set in Los Angeles, I couldn’t wait to get back to Scotland.
Both of these characters are investigating apparent suicides. At some point, their paths will cross and without wanting to give anything away, let’s just say things go somewhere entirely unexpectedly. That moment when I realised what was going on, my jaw dropped and I needed a moment to absorb it all. What an incredibly clever and refreshing way to tell a crime story.
‘The Cracked Mirror’ is a book you should go into knowing as little as possible. I have a feeling it is most likely a story one will either love or not, not quite a middle way. Sure, some technicalities may have gone slightly over my head but I was hugely intrigued from start to finish, probably adding many frown lines to my forehead along the way, but happy to let the author lead me wherever it was he was going with this complex tale. These two characters couldn't possibly be more different from each other, yet somehow an unlikely kind of friendship is formed. And this is done so well that ... well, I can't really say but there might have been a tiny lump in my throat at some point.
Do yourself a favour : go in blind and keep an open mind, dear readers. And you too might find this one thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining.
The book description mentions a mix between Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly. And at the beginning of the story that is most definitely true. Penelope Coyne, who lives in a tiny village in Scotland that seems to have some kind of murder pandemic, is very reminiscent of Miss Marple. I adored her immediately. On the other side of the world, Jonathan Hawke is an LAPD detective who is quite possibly heavily inspired by Bosch. I must admit at that point I preferred Penny’s chapters. There are often instances where American settings just don’t seem to work for me, and whenever the story was set in Los Angeles, I couldn’t wait to get back to Scotland.
Both of these characters are investigating apparent suicides. At some point, their paths will cross and without wanting to give anything away, let’s just say things go somewhere entirely unexpectedly. That moment when I realised what was going on, my jaw dropped and I needed a moment to absorb it all. What an incredibly clever and refreshing way to tell a crime story.
‘The Cracked Mirror’ is a book you should go into knowing as little as possible. I have a feeling it is most likely a story one will either love or not, not quite a middle way. Sure, some technicalities may have gone slightly over my head but I was hugely intrigued from start to finish, probably adding many frown lines to my forehead along the way, but happy to let the author lead me wherever it was he was going with this complex tale. These two characters couldn't possibly be more different from each other, yet somehow an unlikely kind of friendship is formed. And this is done so well that ... well, I can't really say but there might have been a tiny lump in my throat at some point.
Do yourself a favour : go in blind and keep an open mind, dear readers. And you too might find this one thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining.
July 3, 2024
"FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW.
THIS IS NOT THAT CRIME NOVEL."
Talk about understatement of the year.
Up to this point I had never read anything by Chris Brookmyre, but seeing that blurb I knew I wanted to.
When I opened The Cracked Mirror I expected an Agatha Christie/ Michael Connelly mashup. I got that, and so much more.
Without giving the plot away, there are two storylines, one in Scotland and one in Los Angeles. Each storyline has an unexplained murder, and its own central character. The two storylines eventually merge, and that's when the fun really begins.
I'm not kidding when I say there's a lot going on, what with multiple POV's and locations, red herrings galore, and a big reveal that will leave you reeling. Then there's that poignant ending. In a nutshell, prepare to be mind blown.
Massive thanks to Little Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
THIS IS NOT THAT CRIME NOVEL."
Talk about understatement of the year.
Up to this point I had never read anything by Chris Brookmyre, but seeing that blurb I knew I wanted to.
When I opened The Cracked Mirror I expected an Agatha Christie/ Michael Connelly mashup. I got that, and so much more.
Without giving the plot away, there are two storylines, one in Scotland and one in Los Angeles. Each storyline has an unexplained murder, and its own central character. The two storylines eventually merge, and that's when the fun really begins.
I'm not kidding when I say there's a lot going on, what with multiple POV's and locations, red herrings galore, and a big reveal that will leave you reeling. Then there's that poignant ending. In a nutshell, prepare to be mind blown.
Massive thanks to Little Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
July 8, 2024
It's challenging to describe this book without giving too much away, but The Cracked Mirror hit all the right notes for me. I was so engrossed that I finished it in just two days despite its length. I had such an enjoyable experience that I would recommend it blindly, though I recognize some of its aspects may not appeal to everyone.
The book follows two main characters with distinct storylines: Johnny Hawke, a classic LAPD detective who bends the rules when necessary, is investigating a suspiciously tidy suicide. Meanwhile, Penny Coyne, an 80-year-old librarian renowned in her Scottish small town for solving local murders, is drawn into a mystery of her own. These two narratives converge at a mysterious wedding, leading Johnny and Penny to collaborate on a case that seems beyond their individual capacities.
Throughout the story, we're presented with peculiar details and seemingly nonsensical moments, which, honestly, were the main allure for me. I kept wondering, "What the heck is going on?" and couldn't stop reading. By the 75% mark, I did guess the primary outcome, but there were still some surprising details that I loved the author for including.
There's no doubt that the author has crafted a complex and thrilling adventure. The Cracked Mirror is a genre-bending, mystery-filled, addictive crime novel featuring two likable and very different protagonists who make an unexpectedly great team. If you're open-minded and willing to embrace the journey, you're in for a blast. It's definitely one of my 2024 favorites.
The book follows two main characters with distinct storylines: Johnny Hawke, a classic LAPD detective who bends the rules when necessary, is investigating a suspiciously tidy suicide. Meanwhile, Penny Coyne, an 80-year-old librarian renowned in her Scottish small town for solving local murders, is drawn into a mystery of her own. These two narratives converge at a mysterious wedding, leading Johnny and Penny to collaborate on a case that seems beyond their individual capacities.
Throughout the story, we're presented with peculiar details and seemingly nonsensical moments, which, honestly, were the main allure for me. I kept wondering, "What the heck is going on?" and couldn't stop reading. By the 75% mark, I did guess the primary outcome, but there were still some surprising details that I loved the author for including.
There's no doubt that the author has crafted a complex and thrilling adventure. The Cracked Mirror is a genre-bending, mystery-filled, addictive crime novel featuring two likable and very different protagonists who make an unexpectedly great team. If you're open-minded and willing to embrace the journey, you're in for a blast. It's definitely one of my 2024 favorites.
July 18, 2024
Wow! Wow! Wow! I started this wondering how could CB mix Agatha Christie and Michael Connolly ( as the book has been described) . What a story! Johnny Hawke is an LA cop who breaks the rules in order to get to the truth. Penny Coyne ( aged 82!) never breaks the rules and has managed to solve several cases in the past. Despite being in opposite sides of the pond, they find themselves unexpectedly at the same wedding in Scotland. There is a death which resembles the one Hawke is investigating in LA - so he and Penny become unlikely partners. The narrative is complex, convoluted and gripping. Lots of characters with a part to play - but is everything as it seems? The ending is a huge reveal which only when you finish the story will you realise there were subtle clues all the way through. This is not a run of the mill whodunnit but a new slant on the old story. This book is different to CB’s others ( most of which I’ve read) and I am mightily impressed by this new departure. I loved it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC ebook in return for an honest review.
January 10, 2024
Chris Brookmyre in top form with this roller coaster of a murder mystery that’s mind-blowingly clever and laced with his usual dry wit.
Penny Coyne (dreadful pun of a name) is an elderly Miss Marple like character who has helped solve numerous murders in her little village in Perthshire.
On the other side of the world is Johnny Hawke, a tough cynical LAPD detective whose partners have an unfortunate habit of ending up dead.
When Penny receives a puzzling wedding invite and Johnny, following a lead, turn up at the same venue, these two mismatched characters end up working together, both in Scotland and California, to solve a series of incredibly complex crimes with events dating back over twenty years.
It shouldn’t work but it does and I defy anyone not to be moved by the ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Little Brown Book Group UK for an ARC
Penny Coyne (dreadful pun of a name) is an elderly Miss Marple like character who has helped solve numerous murders in her little village in Perthshire.
On the other side of the world is Johnny Hawke, a tough cynical LAPD detective whose partners have an unfortunate habit of ending up dead.
When Penny receives a puzzling wedding invite and Johnny, following a lead, turn up at the same venue, these two mismatched characters end up working together, both in Scotland and California, to solve a series of incredibly complex crimes with events dating back over twenty years.
It shouldn’t work but it does and I defy anyone not to be moved by the ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Little Brown Book Group UK for an ARC
April 10, 2024
Having 15 successful murder investigations in the village under her belt, octogenarian Penny Coyne finds herself involved in another.
Meantime, Johnny Hawke, maverick, mouthy LA cop has been sent, on his home turf, to confirm a recent suicide.
It might sound unlikely that these two sleuths and their cases would ever intersect, but they do and then the fun starts.
The Cracked Mirror is an unusual, clever and immensely entertaining read. While the multi layered plot demands full attention (as does the huge cast of characters), complete suspension of disbelief is cushioned by this writer’s trademark spikey, dry dialogue and the delightful company of Lieutenant Hawke and Ms Coyne.
This read was a real winner for me.
With thanks to Netgalley UK and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity to read it.
Meantime, Johnny Hawke, maverick, mouthy LA cop has been sent, on his home turf, to confirm a recent suicide.
It might sound unlikely that these two sleuths and their cases would ever intersect, but they do and then the fun starts.
The Cracked Mirror is an unusual, clever and immensely entertaining read. While the multi layered plot demands full attention (as does the huge cast of characters), complete suspension of disbelief is cushioned by this writer’s trademark spikey, dry dialogue and the delightful company of Lieutenant Hawke and Ms Coyne.
This read was a real winner for me.
With thanks to Netgalley UK and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity to read it.
January 26, 2024
I really tried to get into this book, but the style of writing just put me off. It seemed like it was trying to be both Agatha Christie and Colin Dexter and I just couldn't read past chapter 1.
July 10, 2024
I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author but “The Cracked Mirror” just did not do it for me. I almost gave up at the beginning- it only started to get vaguely interesting a third of the way through.
The first part of the book felt like I was reading two different stories with so many characters I really could not get my head round all of them. I really had to force myself to pick up the book which is not a good sign.
Penny Coyne is a Miss Marple type of investigator, elderly but good at solving crimes in her native Scotland . When invited to a local wedding at a posh hotel she witnesses a suicide which she suspects is murder. However she has no idea who has invited her to the function which is rather odd.
Johnny Hawke is a police lieutenant in Los Angeles and he’s also investigating a suicide which again appears to be suspicious. In the course of his enquiry Johnny runs into some trouble and although suspended he decides to continue the investigation.
Somehow the two team up when Johnny follows the trail to the UK and once this happens the book becomes more interesting as they try and work out what is going on and how the deaths are connected.
That being said I found the denouement very strange and I almost felt cheated. The explanation was hard to believe and I found the final third of the novel which dealt with computer games almost as bewildering as the first part.
Unfortunately this was not a book I particularly enjoyed although I quite liked the two main characters. I think it was the plot that I found difficult to comprehend and the strange ending which left me slightly confused . There were also too many minor characters which meant I could barely remember who some of them were.
I did finish the book and I liked Penny and Johnny so I’m giving “The Cracked Mirror “3 stars with the proviso that it might appeal more to another reader.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
The first part of the book felt like I was reading two different stories with so many characters I really could not get my head round all of them. I really had to force myself to pick up the book which is not a good sign.
Penny Coyne is a Miss Marple type of investigator, elderly but good at solving crimes in her native Scotland . When invited to a local wedding at a posh hotel she witnesses a suicide which she suspects is murder. However she has no idea who has invited her to the function which is rather odd.
Johnny Hawke is a police lieutenant in Los Angeles and he’s also investigating a suicide which again appears to be suspicious. In the course of his enquiry Johnny runs into some trouble and although suspended he decides to continue the investigation.
Somehow the two team up when Johnny follows the trail to the UK and once this happens the book becomes more interesting as they try and work out what is going on and how the deaths are connected.
That being said I found the denouement very strange and I almost felt cheated. The explanation was hard to believe and I found the final third of the novel which dealt with computer games almost as bewildering as the first part.
Unfortunately this was not a book I particularly enjoyed although I quite liked the two main characters. I think it was the plot that I found difficult to comprehend and the strange ending which left me slightly confused . There were also too many minor characters which meant I could barely remember who some of them were.
I did finish the book and I liked Penny and Johnny so I’m giving “The Cracked Mirror “3 stars with the proviso that it might appeal more to another reader.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
July 19, 2024
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
oh my goodness me what have i just read....
a miss marple copy cat but its something more as well as two people one a detective and the other a little old lady somehow and work a murder case
theres a lot more involved and without giving out any clues its best you read it yourselves
though there are quite a few characters to get to know but it all comes together with answers that are stranger than fiction....
but its an interesting play on an agatha christie character...
oh my goodness me what have i just read....
a miss marple copy cat but its something more as well as two people one a detective and the other a little old lady somehow and work a murder case
theres a lot more involved and without giving out any clues its best you read it yourselves
though there are quite a few characters to get to know but it all comes together with answers that are stranger than fiction....
but its an interesting play on an agatha christie character...
July 28, 2024
Well, this is a book with a difference! A very innovative story.
As another reviewer said, there’s an awful lot of characters in this, particularly when the plot switches back to LA, and it got quite technical then, even for someone who worked in IT for forty years though I don’t do games. That said, I did like this book, particularly the bits set in Scotland.
As another reviewer said, there’s an awful lot of characters in this, particularly when the plot switches back to LA, and it got quite technical then, even for someone who worked in IT for forty years though I don’t do games. That said, I did like this book, particularly the bits set in Scotland.
August 20, 2024
Very clever, complex plot…well played!
Hadn’t got a clue where it was going till it happened. So appreciative of the little recap at the end.
Hadn’t got a clue where it was going till it happened. So appreciative of the little recap at the end.
July 25, 2024
Different but clever and well written.
July 22, 2024
Incredible genre-busting storytelling.
Imagine an Agatha Christie novel hits a Michael Connelly novel at 100mph on the motorway, and this is the result of trying to piece it all back together.
Imagine an Agatha Christie novel hits a Michael Connelly novel at 100mph on the motorway, and this is the result of trying to piece it all back together.
May 10, 2024
3* The Mirror Cracked by Chris Brookmyre, a smart high concept thriller.
Penny lives a less than quiet life in her pretty Perthshire village, with a reputation for solving murders and supporting the local police. When a body is found in the confession box of the local church, Penny is quickly into detective mode, but not before she is mysteriously invited to a significant society wedding. Johnny is a 'seat of his pants and don't bother with the rules' kind of LA detective. Sent out to look into a high-profile suicide, he suspects that all isn't as simple as his superiors want it to be. And then the clues take him to Perthshire ...
Mixing up genres is a tricky thing to pull off, not least the tone and pace. Here we have Agatha Christie's Marple meets noir meets Michael Connelly (and lots more besides but I won't spoil the fun). This is a hugely enjoyable book where you get sucked into every part of its universe. The plot is a little 'involved' with a lot of characters, so it certainly isn't one for a quick read but it is certainly a book that is full of twists and turns, which are extremely clever right to the end.
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC
Penny lives a less than quiet life in her pretty Perthshire village, with a reputation for solving murders and supporting the local police. When a body is found in the confession box of the local church, Penny is quickly into detective mode, but not before she is mysteriously invited to a significant society wedding. Johnny is a 'seat of his pants and don't bother with the rules' kind of LA detective. Sent out to look into a high-profile suicide, he suspects that all isn't as simple as his superiors want it to be. And then the clues take him to Perthshire ...
Mixing up genres is a tricky thing to pull off, not least the tone and pace. Here we have Agatha Christie's Marple meets noir meets Michael Connelly (and lots more besides but I won't spoil the fun). This is a hugely enjoyable book where you get sucked into every part of its universe. The plot is a little 'involved' with a lot of characters, so it certainly isn't one for a quick read but it is certainly a book that is full of twists and turns, which are extremely clever right to the end.
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC
June 18, 2024
This is genuinely one of the most entertaining, interesting (and funny!) books I've read in ages. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but like the flap copy says, you have to "Forget what you think you know. This is not that crime novel." Instead, it's a crime novel that bends, flips and melds genres so that you're always kept on your toes, and I know I'm going to be thinking about its many layers for a long time.
July 23, 2024
I love it when authors mash up different sub genres and do it well! With this beauty we get the cosy, vintage feel of a Ms Marple with the edgy, tightly packed thriller with a MMC who reminds me of Martin Riggs and every other "living on the edge" kind of detective!
Octogenarian Penny lives in rural Scotland and has still has all her marbles, thank you very much.
Johnny is the epitome of hard-charging, LAPD detective and like the great Dirty Harry, his partners kind of end up dead! But he's way out of his element when his investigation takes him to Scotland.
The story flows really well between these two POV and the different feel of the characters stays distinct and somehow just blends so well! The plot twists are enticing and as with any good Marple, there must be multiple red herrings!
They may be complete opposites in just about everything but these two odd ducks make a forceful pairing! The humour helps it to not be complete straight forward crime novel and it really helps meld everything together.
Octogenarian Penny lives in rural Scotland and has still has all her marbles, thank you very much.
Johnny is the epitome of hard-charging, LAPD detective and like the great Dirty Harry, his partners kind of end up dead! But he's way out of his element when his investigation takes him to Scotland.
The story flows really well between these two POV and the different feel of the characters stays distinct and somehow just blends so well! The plot twists are enticing and as with any good Marple, there must be multiple red herrings!
They may be complete opposites in just about everything but these two odd ducks make a forceful pairing! The humour helps it to not be complete straight forward crime novel and it really helps meld everything together.
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