BookBingeKaren Pirie Books in Order
MysteryThriller
Scotland's cold case unit, run by a detective who refuses to let the past stay buried.
Here is the complete Karen Pirie reading order — all 7 books by Val McDermid, in the order you should read them:
Publication order (recommended)
- The Distant Echo(2003)
- A Darker Domain(2008)
- The Skeleton Road(2014)
- Out of Bounds(2016)
- Broken Ground(2018)
- Still Life(2020)
- Past Lying(2023)
Good news: for this series, publication order and chronological order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many books are in the Karen Pirie series?
There are 7 books in the Karen Pirie series by Val McDermid, beginning with The Distant Echo (2003) and most recently Past Lying (2023).
What is the first Karen Pirie book?
The first book is The Distant Echo, published in 2003. That's where new readers should start.
Should I read Karen Pirie in publication or chronological order?
Publication and chronological order are identical for this series, so just follow the list.