The Cracked Mirror is a story with many layers. As described in the blurb, it unites a tough LA detective, Johnny Hawke, with a seemingly genteel Scottish spinster, Penny Coyne (yes, I know!) a librarian who solves crime in her quaint village. Penny would never break a rule (she know the sorts of consequences that can follow) but she does have some surprises for Hawke (who is of course, Mr Rule Breaker, always at odds with his own boss, and with a string of dead partners behind him).

Each is presented in their own segment, which has its distinct title ("The Cracked Mirror" being one). Hawke is working on a high-stakes murder at a Hollywood film studio, but is about to be suspended and thrown off the case when strings are pulled by those with, well, pull. Coyne investigates a death at a local church, which she solves before moving on to a Society wedding - to which she's been invited, but doesn't know why. Indeed, this isn't the only instance of Penny's memory proving unreliable - an experience shared by Hawke, planting seeds of there being something unsettling going on even before the two, improbably, meet in one story.

Which is where things go REALLY weird. What has so far read as basically a pastiche of two different crime genres, if an entertaining one, then pivots to become something all its own. It isn't an oddball crime story in which the two mismatched detectives have to work together and earn each others' respect. Or rather, it is, it can't avoid being that, but that's almost incidental, it provides some fun but it's not the point. Unfortunately I can't say what the point is without being spoiler, so you'll just have to take it from me, Brookmyre is on top form here and if you think the story as presented is fiendish, well, you've seen nothing yet. This book simply bowled me over.

It wasn't just the way that Brookmyre maintains the structure of the two, very different, narratives - using it to show events from two quite distinct perspectives - while fusing the whole thing into a powerful, engaging and much more distinct unity. Yes, there are cracks here which we will eventually understand once we know what's going on, but those cracks also make sense in terms of the frames of reference of Penny and Johnny. Unlikely events which befall our hapless protagonists do have their own logic, but as they happen, the vividness of Brookmyre's writing sweeps the reader up so were less concerned with the why, as with the "how do they get out of this?"

No, it wasn't just that. I found these characters growing on me. The more I learned about who they were, the more heart I saw this novel had. Behind the different brands of detective genius which the two display (with Penny, especially, showing great ingenuity even though apparently out of her comfort zone in the LA sunshine) there's a real sense of loss, of burned bridges and deep hurt, which drives them to behave as they do (whether to step over the line, or treat it as a religion) and which makes them, in combination, a formidable force.

Come for the high concept, stay for the vivid, relatable characters and their strange world.

Overall, a fun and rather tricksy novel that kept me guessing although - when I went back and thought about it - Brookmyre played a straight bat and left enough hints to work out what is happening. Also, a book that plays some wonderful games with genre conventions and the reader's expectations.

The Cracked Mirror is a gripping and twisty story, and, hopefully, I will manage to talk about it without giving too much away. In Los Angeles, LAPD detective Jonathan Hawke and his new partner are investigating what it appears to be the suicide of a screenwriter. The body was found inside a room locked from the inside and with no other exits, then why Hawke is convinced that there is more to this death and continues to investigate despite his boss’ protests?

Meanwhile, in Scotland, Penny Coyne is the Miss Marple of her little village where murders seem to be an everyday occurrence. She gets a mysterious invitation to an exclusive wedding which ends up with what appears to be another suicide. As Penny and Hawke’s paths cross, they will have to figure out what is going on as things are not at all what you expect.

This book took me completely by surprise. Action-packed, fast-paced, multi-layered, and suspenseful, nothing is what I expected and it kept me on my toes, although there were a few things that I found slightly difficult to follow. This is not my first Chris Brookmyre’s novel and I love his writing style and I enjoy how he manages to perfectly connect everything together.

The Cracked Mirror is described as “a cross-genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly” and I think there couldn’t be a more apt description for this gripping page-turner!

In this uniquely imaginative novel, we first seem to be immersed in two alternating mysteries. The first involves a Miss Marple style cozy mystery with Penny Coyne, an elderly woman who has solved many murders in her tiny, perfect Scottish village. She is a librarian who lately has been suffering memory lapses and fears she may soon have to move to a nursing home.

In the second mystery, Jonny Hawke, a maverick, hardboiled LAPD officer, not too unlike Harry Bosch, is investigating an apparent suicide of a Hollywood script writer, who he believes was in fact murdered. He has a history of getting his partners killed and is suspended when his latest partner doesn’t even last twenty four hours before dying a horrible death.

Somehow these two narratives merge when Penny Coyne’s and Jonny Hawke’s worlds collide at a wedding at an upmarket hotel in Scotland. A more unlikely pairing would be hard to imagine, but somehow it works, despite them being polar opposites in personality, style and regard for the rules. Eventually these well-crafted characters get to know and respect each other very well though their similarly sharp minds, ability to think outside the box and make swift deductions. The dialogue between them is also razor sharp and often witty.

The plot is complex and multilayered, involving multiple ‘suicides’ over twenty years and just when you think you’ve got to the core, Brookmyre throws a huge twist into the works that is guaranteed to make your mind reel. It was almost too much for my little brain to grasp, but if you feel the same do hang in there as it’s worth it, especially the ending which is so heart rending it will take your breath away.

Mashing together multiple genres, this inventive mystery is not only smart but often humorous and hugely entertaining. There is never a dull moment in the fast paced plot, to the point where sometimes your head will spin. It’s a book that requires a good degree of concentration, with a large cast of secondary characters, to the point where it sometimes became difficult to remember who they all are. But don’t waste too much time worrying about it, just go with the flow and trust Penny and Jonny to carry the show. They know what they’re doing and all will become clear in time. Recommended for all fans of crime novels, especially those looking for something a little different and a whole lot of fun.

Super sp;it crime thriller by Chris Brookmyre.
The worlds of an elderly librarian who solves the unfeasibly high number of suspicious deaths in a sleepy scottish village, c;lashes with an LAPD detective who won't follow the rules and who is a danger to any detective assigned to partner him. Suicides that look a bit too convincing peak the interest of both detectives and they will have to work together to solve the crimes. But there is a twist - and it is a great one. Brookmyre switches well between the characters and develops the story well before bringing them together. Classy and stylish thriller,

An interesting novel from an author who is always interesting! This is a mash up between a Mrs Marple type sleuth and an all action LAPD detective. Two separate investigations come together in a way that throws two very different characters together.
Locked rooms murders and mysteries based in the entertainment industry, the murders, books, film and video games combine in unexpected ways.
It’s a fun, easy and quick read. Some good ideas here (some of which are somewhat telegraphed) but is also felt like there was more the author could have given us.. But you sense the author had fun and you will too, but you might also feel a tad underwhelmed.

There’s a fine line between genius and madness and though this book will mess with your head, Chris Brookmyre undoubtedly comes out on the side of genius.

Penny Coyne, our first protagonist sounds familiar. A retired librarian, Penny lives in the douce village of Glen Couthar in Perthshire. She is used to solving murders, for this quiet but pretty village has had its fair share. She even has a nephew who dotes upon her. As she prepares to set her mind to solving the latest murder – a dead body has been found in the local church – she is somewhat distracted by receiving an invitation to a wedding at the grand Crathie Hall. Penny’s not quite sure who might have added her name to the invitation list, but of course she will attend. So far, so Golden Age Marple-esq mystery. Her dead body – The Case of The Corpse in the Confessional – will have to simmer.

But wait! Next in our protagonist list is the rugged Johnny Hawke. Hawke’s partners have an unfortunate habit of dying on the job, which doesn’t make Hawke popular with his boss or other cops on the job. In Everyone Dies Alone, Hawke is an L.A. cop with an attitude problem, investigating a suicide at a Hollywood film studio. But Hawke is not convinced it was a suicide… it all looks a bit too neat for comfort. Following a lead while suspended, and in pursuit of a character he does not trust, Hawke finds himself at Crathie Hall in Perthshire.

So we understand that we in the world of meta fiction writ large and as these two completely different protagonists investigate their own cases, inevitably their paths cross. Its fair to say that there’s no immediate meeting of minds, but after a while they recognise that each has qualities useful to the other. Both protagonists are beautifully drawn and although they are so clearly unalike, they learn a respect for each other’s abilities and come together to deal with what rapidly becomes a mounting death toll.

Brookmyre has these two genres of crime fiction down pat – and the cosy crime of Marple mashed with the hard boiled police procedural reminiscent of a Sam Spade style detective is so beautifully styled you can see the hommage Brookmyre is paying to both genres.

The Cracked Mirror, though, is so much more than an hommage. Just when you think you have a handle on where this highly entertaining book is going, Brookmyre takes all you think you know and turns it on its head.

With a big cast of characters and a multi layered plot, the reader wonders who to trust and why the UK police have turned on Hawke.

The plot is multi-layered with many surprises, spanning two continents. Threaded through with a huge vein of humour and with two characters who should not work together but absolutely do, this is a rip roaring story that both intrigues and entertains.

Brookmyre drops clues, leaves Easter Eggs and every character adds a layer of meaning to help you understand what is going on. The pace is strong in Perthshire and even faster in L.A. and my head was whirling as I realised where Brookmyre was taking me.

Verdict: A brilliant, surprising, beautifully crafted book of the kind that only comes along once in a very long time. Now that I know, I will go back and read it again – I can see that there are things I have missed. This is genius on the page and deserves all the stars.

A detective story like no other, this was an absolutely insane read but in the best way possible!

Chris Brookmyre somehow manages to blend Miss Marple-style cosy crime with Dirty Harry style hard-boiled crime, with a sci-fi-esque twist, and makes the whole thing work brilliantly. Readers are taken through a series of strangely familiar crimes, linked by characters and circumstances but each with a different set-up and new suspect pool. We dip into the worlds of Hollywood, publishing and gaming – three of my favourite settings to read about – seeing each crime from both the cosy and hardboiled perspectives as the two main characters, Penny Coyne and Johnny Hawke, slowly learn to work together.

It’s difficult to really describe the book any more than that without giving away spoilers or hints that might ruin the beautiful, delicately balanced work of art that is this story. It is complex, clever, entertaining and definitely unique – must-read for jaded crime fans looking for something completely different!

I was sent a copy of The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre to read and review by NetGalley. What a brilliant read! I loved the way that the two different genres of murder mystery were woven together and the further into the novel the more intense it became. To begin with you couldn’t see how the two different sides to the story would converge but once they did, Wow! I really didn’t want to put this book down and in the end was sorry to have read it so quickly, but I didn’t feel I had any choice! Definitely one for the Christmas stockings this year!

"Full disclosure, this might not be the safer option. People who work with me tend to end up dead."

Johnny Hawke is the archetypal LAPD detective: hardboiled, rebellious and troubled. His partners tend to end up dead. Penny Coyne is a typical cosy crime murder-solving old lady, living in a village in Scotland that has a higher-than-normal body count.

Johnny is assigned to close a case in which an up-and-coming Hollywood screenwriter has shot and killed himself, having locked himself in a room at a studio party. Except something doesn't sit well with Johnny. When he begins to investigate, things go very, very wrong.

Penny is attending the lavish wedding of two publishers, though she has no idea who invited her and why. But when the bride is found hanging inside a belltower, the door locked from the inside, her world is turned upside down.

Johnny's investigations lead him to Scotland, and into Penny's world. The two could not be more different but if they want to find out what is happening, they'll have to work together. The thing is, nothing can prepare them for what they'll find.

I have to say I was rather impressed by this highly entertaining genre-bending thriller/crime fiction novel which is a Miss Marple meets Harry Bosch crossover. While I kind of figured out what was happening around midway through the book, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. Johnny and Penny are fabulous characters. The plot is intriguing and full of clues the reader can follow (like a good Christie whodunit).

The author is excellent at building tension and increasing the action until it reaches its final crescendo, though by the end I had to keep my wits about me not to lose all the threads. A romp of a read.

I had never read this author before and now realise that while I assumed I would be reading a modern-day Miss Marple, this is not this author's intent - although the publisher's blurb suggests this. I found it challenging to see where this was going for most of the read but accept now my expectations were too fixed. Its a new form of crime fiction for me & will read some of his other works - now that I can see this is a new genre in the making


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

I really tried with this novel but gave up at about 60%. Maybe just the wrong time for me but I was just too confused and didn’t connect to the characters. I did like the sardonic humour but it was t enough to persevere.

A brilliant blend of the genres best bits, Brookmyre is at the top of his game here. Relentlessly funny, but still razor sharp as the best thriller writers.

Very clever, very entertaining book.
At first you can't see the connection between the main characters but once they get together wow!
The characters come to life on the page and are very believable even if the situations they find themselves in are quite complex.
A totally unpredictable but compelling read.

The exceptional brain-twisting mystery by Chris Brookmyre certainly lives up to its billing as an exceptional brain twisting mystery.
The novel begins with a murder in the church and in true Agatha Christie style a little old lady Penny Coyne helps to solve the mystery. We are the whisked away to America where Johnny Hawke, an LAPD detective who doesn’t play by the rules, is looking into a suicide where things aren’t quite what they seem. The chance of Penny and Johnny meeting in the same novel would appear to be highly unlikely but of course this is a novel where anything can happen. The road the novel takes us on has many twists and turns before we meet an incredible twist in the last section. Most enjoyable!

After the first couple of chapters I thought I was in a book with crime fighting characters alike to Miss Marple and Columbo. I just didn’t know where the storyline was taking me. The more I read the more I became intrigued. The ending came as one that I would never have guessed, A very good book which I wholeheartedly recommend..

I was debating with myself how much I could actually say about this book, but the blurb does it neatly for me:
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 come to question not just whodunnit, but whether they want to know the answer.
So I was trying to reconcile these two parallel stories (well actually there are three), one minute I'm in a sleepy English village with an octogenarian little old lady who has somehow solved multiple murders, the next I'm in Hollywood with a hard-boiled PI - maybe I should have read the blurb LOL.

Penny Coyne is beginning to think she might be losing her memory, especially when she receives an invitation to a swish wedding at a Scottish castle which will also signify the merger of two publishing houses. Penny has no inkling of why she has been invited, surely briefly working for the groom's father forty-plus years ago can't be the reason?

Johnny is investigating what looks like a clear case of suicide in a Hollywood film set, but he's not convinced, then his new partner is killed after someone deliberately torches the film studio to conceal the evidence. His only clue is that the deceased man's writing partner has left LA for Scotland to attend a wedding. The longer Johnny is in Scotland the more similarities he sees between his case in LA and the events in Scotland - almost as if his was the film version and this is the book ...

I have never read a Chris Brookmyre novel before, although my sister has recommended him to me, so I had no idea what to expect. It did take a while to get into this, particularly when the book wrenches from Hollywood to a sleepy Scottish village and back again, but once Penny and Johnny were both at the wedding things started to come together. I must admit I had a smidgen of suspicion about what was happening, but the unravelling of the plot(s) was very satisfying.

Overall, I loved it, a total Mindf*ck.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley..

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre, is an a buddy crime novel with a twist about two detectives from different sides of the mystery genre,

First we Have Penny Coyne, a little old lady who lives in Scotland, from the cozy end of the genre with Johnny Hawke, from the rule breaking cop from L.A. who keeps losing his partners.

Both of whom become connected by two locked room murders which have surprising connections with each other as well as one from the past.

Just Wow

The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre is one of those books that you start reading and you think it is taking the reader in one direction, but by the end of the novel you end up in a completely different place.

Firstly the writer Chris Brookmyre has done a brilliant job with the layout and the writing style of the novel, with the book being divided in two parts one from each of the main character's perspective,

However what makes this more amazing is both of the characters in the books are written differently and not just in the personality of the character that you normally get with dual perspective. No, these are written in different categories of the same genre.

The first is Penny Coyne’s section an elderly woman from a small Scottish village, is from the cozy end of the mystery genre.

With the parts of the book about her written, in the classic cozy mystery style,

While the other character, Johnny Hawke, a hard-bitten detective from L.A. parts are written in the style of that novel.

With the novel switching between each perspective throughout,

All these leads the novel to a number of twists and turns throughout that will have you dropping your Jaw in a good and bad way as you read the novel but by the time you reach the end The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre will have you wanting more from this gender stretching mystery thriller.

Very clever premise for a crime novel and one that Brookmyre pulls off successfully. This the first time I’d read one of his books and it won’t be the last.

I've read a lot of thrillers recently and what attracted me to this one was the description, but also the title, The Mirror Cracked from Side to Side is my favourite Agatha Christie movie adaptation, and so the description of the Penny Coyne put me in mind of that.

It was such an interesting premise, the totally different lives of the two main characters and based on the description I was intrigued to see how their paths would cross.

I wanted to love this, it seemed perfect old crossed with new, cosy mystery crossed with a thriller. There are a lot of characters in this book and that's where I first started struggling. Then the plot takes on an almost sci-fi/tech feel and I started to flag a bit.

I think this is a really unique type of book and there will be appeal, I'm not sure it was right for me and those who read the blurb might not expect the deviation in genre, but the writing was good and well thought out to maintain the story across the genres.

I’ve enjoyed Chris Brookmyre’s previous books such as A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil and more recently The Cliff House, so I was excited to read his latest book – The Cracked Mirror.

Penny Coyne is a retired lady living in a remote Scottish village who has a penchant for solving murders and Johnny Hawke is a LAPD Homicide Detective with a reputation for losing his partners. When they team up to solve a locked room suicide mystery, things start to unravel quickly.

I wanted to really like The Cracked Mirror, but I’ll admit I didn’t find it the easiest of reads. We start off with two different crimes in two different countries to introduce our characters. I found this a little frustrating right off the bat as it was hard to see how they would converge together to make one storyline. We then have the two of them trying to solve 3 very similar cases which seem to be linked. Each case has a wide array of characters and companies and backstories to try and get in your head and a lot of times they are referenced within the other cases as being similar. I found this really hard to keep track of, to be honest.

I really enjoyed the characters – Penny in particular is great, a quintessential British lady wanting to uphold moral values and doing her best not to outright lie, even in the middle of several murder investigations and some shoot outs.

There’s a brilliant twist towards the end which peaked my interest and really pulled all of the threads together, but this comes at about 90% of the way through the book. Sadly, I didn’t really feel that the payoff was worth the amount of pages I’d spent feeling a bit confused and frustrated up until that point.

Overall, The Cracked Mirror is a clever crime thriller, but there’s too many strands and characters to try and keep track off. The twist is brilliant but it comes too late in the story to save it, I’m afraid. Thank you to NetGalley & Little Brown Book Group UK – Abacus for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.