Reading Order
Karen Pirieseries.seoTitleShort
Start with The Distant Echo and continue through all 7 books in the listed reading order.
Start Here
Start with The Distant Echo
Book 1 by Val McDermid
Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.
Complete List
Karen Pirie reading order
Ends with Past Lying
- 1
Book 1:The Distant Echo
Val McDermid
Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.
- 2
Book 2:A Darker Domain
Val McDermid
Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.
- 3
Book 3:The Skeleton Road
Val McDermid • 2014
A skeleton is discovered in a derelict Edinburgh building, and Karen Pirie is asked to find a name for the dead. The identification leads her across Europe, where old wars and modern grudges collide.
- 4
Book 4:Out of Bounds
Val McDermid • 2016
A new DNA lead links a current investigation to a long-forgotten crime. As Karen Pirie digs through old files and reluctant memories, she finds a case built on secrets—and people who still want it buried.
- 5
Book 5:Broken Ground
Val McDermid • 2018
A body turns up during building work, pulling Karen Pirie into a mystery rooted in land, money, and family loyalty. What looks like an old disappearance quickly becomes a present-day danger.
- 6
Book 6:Still Life
Val McDermid • 2020
When a body is pulled from the water with no clear identity, Karen Pirie is handed a puzzle with missing pieces. Her search for who he was opens a decade-old trail of secrets, money, and betrayal.
- 7
Book 7:Past Lying
Val McDermid • 2023
During Scotland’s lockdown, Karen Pirie receives an unfinished crime manuscript that reads like a blueprint for a real disappearance: an Edinburgh University student who never came home. She has to separate fiction fr...
Quick Answers
Karen Pirie FAQ
What is the best order to read the Karen Pirie series?
The recommended reading order is the numbered order shown on this page, starting with The Distant Echo.
How many books are in the Karen Pirie series?
There are 7 books currently listed in the Karen Pirie series on GurusReads.
Where should I start with the Karen Pirie series?
New readers should start with The Distant Echo, the first book in the reading order.
Is the Karen Pirie series complete?
Based on the publication years we have, the series appears likely complete and spans releases from 2014 to 2023.