A great book, merging styles from classic detective noir and Agatha Christie sleuths. The plot plays across two continents and focuses on the different moral stances of the two protagonists and the reasons for them. Cool ending and resolution.

Having been a fan of Christopher Brookmyre’s books for a long time – seduced by titles such as ‘Boiling a Frog’ and ‘A Big Boy Did and Ran Away’ and ‘Country of the Blind’, et al – surrendering entirely to his writing and characters, I was positively ecstatic to enjoy an ARC of ‘The Cracked Mirror’, courtesy of Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley.
True to form Mr Brookmyre loads the scales to guarantee the pages keep turning in this mixed genre novel. A Scottish Miss Marple character and a ‘Make My Day’ type US detective are thrown together in cleverly woven scheme, which not only solves murders but slides in AI, psychology, a dabble with philosophy. Corruption, greed, power, secrecy and the nature of reality layer and integrate with the splendid array of characters and events – and (to brag a bit) I worked out who, how and what. I’d love to describe how I did it, but that would be a spoiler, wouldn’t it?
Read and enjoy another Brookmyre success.

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.

Great characters and an unique storyline! I haven't read any of the authors other work but after finishing this one, I will definitely be doing so.
We follow two very different detectives who meet at a wedding and eventually end up working together. They both have different ways of doing things which causes some clashes but intertwines with each other as well, Some of the interactions are funny and you find yourself hoping for them to solve the crime.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this ARC.

Wasn’t sure whether this could work. The premise of a Miss Marple type character and an American private detective, coming together to solve crime, But it did!!
Really enjoyed the book. Great characters and loved the storyline. Brought into the modern day world very successfully.
Highly recommended.

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.

Two completely different detectives working on different investigations eventually come to work together when they meet at a wedding. This is an entertaining story that turns rather bizarre towards the end. I loved the two main characters. Their interaction was very amusing. I was a bit unsure of the silliness but it all worked out eventually and the ending was surprisingly moving. So all in all, this book has a bit of everything in it and it was an enjoyable read.

I liked the book however , I was not able to finish it as it’s was not gripping . I lost interest . But would like to read it on a later date. That for the opportunity to read the book to publisher and netgalley.

Found this difficult to read for a few reasons. I’m not very good at remembering names and there are so many in this book!
Also, I hate bad language and it had way too much of it.
But the premise of the story was good and I enjoyed the way it turned out.

Because Brookmyre is a brilliant writer, this novel is a triumph. Two characters, completely different, one a Scottish woman, Penelope Coyne in the style of Agatha Christie, and the other an LAPD cop, Johnny Hawke. Two different styles of writing and tone involving the solving of crimes. I know I'm being obtuse by not giving more details here, but to do so would give away too much. Suffice to say, this truly is a brilliantly written crime novel in which Brookmyre flexes narrative muscles in a way that is unique. Highly -- *very* highly -- recommended. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the privilege of the ARC.

I have read most of Chris Brookmyre's books both as a solo writer and in collaboration with his wife and have enjoyed them all, This was no exception although I have to say at the outset it is not my favourite, Nonetheless there is a lot to like in this highly original crime story,,

We start off in Perthshire where 82 year old Penny Coyne has been invited to a wedding. She doesn't know why and is finding life a little confusing. Meanwhile in LA, Johnny Hawkes has been suspended from work but in true noir style he ignores this to go off and investigate on his own. His sleuthing takes him to Perthshire where he meets up with Penny.

What I liked about this book: It is very original with a carefully worked out plot. The plot is very clever and original, Both Penny and Johnny are engaging characters. I especially enjoyed the bits set in Scotland and I really liked the humour throughout.

What I wasn't so sure about: I did find the story confusing at times. Perhaps it was the number of characters, I couldn't keep track of them but that is probably because it's an e-book. It's harder to flick back through e-books than through real books. I'd recommend this to readers who already like Chris Brookmyre's works but I'm not sure that if it was the first I'd read by him, that I'd go on to read more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This really confused me at first. It opens with an elderly Scottish librarian who has returned from a trip to find that there has been a murder in her village. Naturally we pin her down as the sleuth from the set genre of Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes. Penny has a strong relationship with the police force and is known to solve many of their cases. Within a few chapters we seem to jump into a completely different realm. I had to check I had been sent the correct document. We are in LA and our protagonist is a brash, no rules, soon to be an ex detective. There is a suicide/murder that he is determined to solve. Brookmyre knits the two genres together when Jonny's clue takes him to Scotland for a wedding which results in an identical suicide/ murder. Penny is there although she has no idea why she should have been invited. The two join forces in solving the mystery and hunting down the killer.
Throughout the novel there are several hints that things are not as they seem to be when Penny, an extremely likeable character appears to know places and directions in America she claims not to have visited. The plot thickens as they get closer to the solution but boy are there twists and turns along the way. I have to admit I guessed the twist three quarters of the way in but as was invested in the characters I had to keep reading.

This book unites two very different styles, the comfy crime genre with Sci fi fiction brilliantly. It was a breath of fresh air and well executed.
Highly recommend and thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

Not for me - I’m disappointed that I didn’t warm to this book. The concept is quirky and I liked the sound of it. As it turns out I was just frustrated during reading and I didn’t find it pleasurable. Thank you for the opportunity to read it

I thank the author, Publishers and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book in return for a fair review.
I read and enjoyed many of the Jack Parlabane books, but then came the wonderful Ambrose Parry [half of whom is Chris Brrokmyre] series and I began to follow him seriously. If you are intrigued by the idea of combining a cosy Scottish village mystery with a much more hard-boiled LA detective thriller then this book is for you. I was hooked from the second chapter and had no idea where the story was headed. The two main characters are excellently developed and the plot is extremely clever. I thorougjly recommend this book and look forwward to more from Chris.

I loved this book! A lovely twist brings the two story strands together. The first few chapters may confuse a little, but keep with it. I just couldn't stop reading it. How are murders in Scotland and California connected? Two rather different protagonists work on the cases.

Every mystery is touted as 'twisty' but this one really deserves the title! It's everything it's cracked up to be.

Initially, the two storylines and styles are worlds apart, but this is an intentional clash that is a beautiful mechanism for the character development when the two protagonists ' worlds do collide.

I guessed the twist just before it happened, and thought 'oh no, what a terrible and annoying cliche.' But even though my guess was correct, it wasn't terrible at all: it just kept getting twistier and twistier until it came out the other side of every trope ever invented.

I also loved the literary references dotted throughout, very tongue-in-cheek and beautifully integrated into the plot.

Many mysteries strive to be unique by being too clever for their own good; this one is cleverer than all of them, but blindingly good.

Interesting idea for a detective novel - a mash up of a Miss Marple type sleuth and an LA investigator. They cross paths at a society wedding in Scotland. For me, I would have preferred one or the other as I couldn’t entirely enage with the characters or the mixing of genres.

Well that’s one weird book! To start with I thought the two narratives were written by different authors but then they became entwined! The storyline was fascinating until it turn to science fiction & just became confusing.

The Mirror Cracked. Review

What a glorious mash up of two and more, completely different stories and opposing genres! You think-how can he possibly make this work??

But the genius thing is he can and he does. Cosy crime, hard-boiled American thriller and even a little Scottish noir. Not to mention sci-fi undertones.

As the blurb suggests, this is not your ordinary crime novel. It is so much more. The story unfolds at pace, with many an unexpected twist and turn as the main characters seek to uncover the truth of some suspiciously unlikely deaths.

The two protagonists form an unlikely partnership, each remaining true to themselves, their genres and their own personal stories. They are authentic and all too human -portrayed with warmth and understanding by an brilliant author of perception and empathy.The development of their poignant relationship, sensitively expressed, adds real depth and emotional resonance to a gripping mystery story.

A one-off or the start of a whole new category of crime fiction? Fingers crossed for the latter.!

Will post to Amazon and The BookLoad when published. Happy to get a reminder email

A smart meta-mystery that blends together multiple micro-genres, The Cracked Mirror operates best when it focuses on its vacilitating pair of rootworthy protagonists, the grizzled, washed-up detective fresh out of LA and a modern Marlowe novel, and an elderly investigator in rural Scotland who more than resembles a certain Christie archetype. While its twists sometimes threaten to derail the story, it nails the execution mostly, and if nothing else proves to be an entertaining ride.