This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →
Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
A lot
A cold case disappearance; a historical kidnapping; the miners' strike violence is depicted
Language
Some
Some strong language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Some sexual content in the kidnapping investigation
Substance Use
Barely any
Mild content
Emotional Intensity
A lot
The politics of the miners' strike and the way betrayal was remembered by a community built on loyalty; Karen's investigation into the gap between the public story and the private truth
What this book is about
DI Karen Pirie investigates the cold case of Mick Prentice, who walked away from his family during the 1984 miners' strike and was never seen again. Simultaneously, a woman kidnapped twenty years ago is potentially in contact with the police again. Val McDermid's second Karen Pirie novel is deeply rooted in the history of the miners' strike and the specific community it created — a world of solidarity and betrayal that shaped Scotland's working class for a generation. The investigation moves between the past and present with the series' characteristic precision.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
second Karen Pirie novel by Val McDermid; deeply rooted in miners' strike history
Reader Verification
Be the first to verify
this rating
Have you read A darker domain? Submit a community rating to confirm or correct the AI estimate. Your review helps other readers make an informed choice.
Rate this book →Free · ~5 minutes · No account required
Similar reads
More Mystery books from the catalog.
Think this AI estimate is off?
Flag an inaccuracy →Where to Buy
Affiliate links — BookLens earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.