Sadly I failed to finish this book 😞 I just could not get on with the writing style. It was too wordy and just wasn’t gripping me.

Me and Heather (@books.on.the.moon ) tried to do this as a buddy read but just like me Heather wasn’t a fan either.

Thankyou to @netgalley and @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for sending me this book to read and review, sorry I couldn’t finish it. I did try

My initial thoughts were a little worrying after delving into the first chapter where this book suspiciously used the title close to an Agatha Christie classic and then introduced an elderly spinster with a nephew into the story. Quickly, I was taken across the pond to hear the story of an LAPD homicide detective and I wondered if the printers had printed the wrong chapter as it was so different to the opening piece. In the following chapters and the first part of the book we have two completely separate stories, one based in LA and another in Scotland. It was only after the two individuals merged in Scotland, did this story really take off for me. This is a long book and this perhaps explains why it took so long to really start and to begin to understand why these two detectives, one professional and one amateur, combined to lead us through the last part of the story. The publishing industry is torn apart in the latter stages. I did wonder if this was based on a real story. I probably wouldn't have chosen this book had it not been for the links to Agatha Christie, but I’m pleased I did because in the end I became more and more interested and having read for several hours I certainly wasn't going to stop before knowing the who and the why.

A very different book to anything I have read previously. I chuckled at the title as doing a search on my Kindle the second book in the search was Agatha Christie book The Mirror Cracked and the book does partially lean towards Agatha Christie style. For me it was a little drawn out so it lost a star for that but definitely quite original and at times entertaining. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Quite a different read from Chris Brookmyre that merges 2 very different detectives from quite contrasting lives together to solve a mystery that spans America and Scotland.

Slow moving but whilst still very much able to catch your attention this is a complex story to piece together.

In parts quite dark and moving for a mystery, it definitely offers something quite apart from the norm and comes highly recommended as this odd couple make for an intriguing, exciting and often humour filled investigative team.

Very good

Johnny Hawke is an LAPD homicide detective. Penny Coyne is an octogenarian who has solved several mysteries in her local, quiet village and against all odds their worlds collide.

I don’t want to say too much about this plot as I think it’s best to go in not knowing much to avoid spoiling parts. I was initially drawn to this as I loved the idea of a cross over of detective genres, with the hybrid being Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly. It was definitely an intriguing, complex and original read. I found it started strongly and I was interested to understand what was happening and where the story would go. There was an interesting twist which was definitely unexpected.

Although this started strongly I found that my interest started waning as the story progressed and it became quite slow, possibly because the novel was so long. I have to admit to being confused at times also. This is a novel worth checking out though, especially for those who want to read something clever and a little different. I could imaging this being made into a film. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Well... this one started out as what felt like a reasonably regular cosy crime mystery when we meet Penny Coyne who, as the local amateur sleuth, is trying to solve a murder at a nearby church. Then we switch to Johnny Hawke, seasoned LAPD homicide detective who skirts close to the edge of what he is allowed to do, but is always trying to find the truth, whose boss has assigned him to a high-profile Hollywood case.

I don't want to say more, because I am so glad I went in not knowing too much about this story. The only thing I will say is, as far apart as the two stories start, Penny and Johnny do cross paths and it may just be the next buddy-cop partnership we all need!

What a roller coaster! The book starts fairly straight forward with Penny Coyne trying to solve a murder in Scotland and Johnny Hawke in LA. Johnny's search ends up in Scotland with Penny and they team up to solve both murders, but it becomes more complicated. I really enjoyed reading the book even when I guessed the major twist but then some things didn't tie up. It does get complicated and I started to get the characters muddled. A great read but a disappointing ending. I had hoped that this was a new series with Penny and Johnny working as a team.
This is the first Chris Brookmyre book I have read and will certainly read more.
I would have given three and a half stars but gave four as I did enjoy reading it.

I could not have been more excited when I saw a new book was going to be published by Chris Brookmyre. After reading and absolutely loving The Cut a few years ago, I have been tirelessly working my way back through his back catalogue - including all the Jack Parlabane novels.

What I love about Brookmyre’s writing is his ability to transport you immediately to a particular time and place - one occasion in this book was a particular bar order of Hendricks and Fevertree tonic with cucumber. But that’s just an example - a previous book subtlely mentions being RickRolled - and there are countless other little Easter Eggs to discover.

The writing is exceptionally clever. The Cracked Mirror winds seamlessly through genres: hard boiled detective fiction, cozy whodunnit to the seemingly unlikely sci fi alternate realities. As soon as Italian Calvino was mentioned, I know this novel was going to get mega meta.

And it’s not just a story about story writing, a novel about novelists, a creation about creators. It’s a political and philosophical comment on what life is. What is consciousness? What does it mean to exist? To live? How is technology about to change the world we live in forever?

Oh, and there’s no doubt that Brookmyre’s legendary ridiculous violence and action sees a place here too. There’s always a place for an indestructible anti-hero.

Chris Brookmyre is very good at delivering off-beat twists and keeping readers on their toes. His latest book, The Cracked Mirror, is a witty and surprising novel that revels in over turning the crime fiction conventions that we all love.

It is difficult to describe The Cracked Mirror without inadvertently giving away some of the surprises, and I think that I will stick to what the publishers provide:

“FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW
THIS IS NOT THAT CRIME NOVEL

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.”

As the plot summary suggests, the book opens with the two protagonists pursuing their own mysteries. In the small Scottish town of Glen Cluthar Penny has just come back from her holidays and has started investigating a murder in the nearby local church. She has also been invited to a wedding, but she doesn’t know who invited her. While in Los Angeles Johnny Hawke has suspicions that the open and shut suicide that he is investigating is not as straight forward as it seems. Very quickly the two storylines come together.

The plot generally moves along at a reasonable pace, although it does lag at times, and the writing is always witty and engaging. Brookmyre brings plenty of humour to story with some good one-liners and nice descriptions, especially of Glen Cluthar and its inhabitants, and the many tourists ("spatial awareness of blind hippos").

As protagonists, Penny and Hawke tend towards caricature, but that is probably the point. As the book progresses they become more fleshed out and nuanced, and there is genuine poignancy and reflection at times. The other characters are also well sketched and interesting. There is a big twist towards the end, although there are plenty of clues from the beginning suggesting what might be happening, and the various minor mysteries and ‘whodunits’ are cleverly resolved.

I really enjoyed The Cracked Mirror. I suspect that it might not be to everyone’s taste, but it is certainly well worth reading.

Penny Coyne and Johnny Hawke make an unlikely crime fighting pairing. Thrown together at a society wedding, both with a background in crime solving, Penny and Johnny must work together to find out what really happened to the bride. But the mystery doesn’t stop there, with historic deaths and current corruption expanding the web surrounding the influential Pierpoint family. Penny and Johnny must travel far and wide, and have their own fair share of adventures to crack the case.

With a fascinating mash up of Christie-esque cosy crime and tough guy LAPD cop action, The Cracked Mirror is a joy to read. There are twists and turns galore, an army of supporting characters and the protagonists own personalities to explore.

The ending is definitely divisive, and some readers may decide it’s not for them, but the journey to get there is well worth it!

The synopsis intrigued me for one, but when I started it I wasn't sure at all. There are two different stories at the start and there was flitting between the two. It was not until the two joined that I really then got a feel for the story.

So, Johnny Hawke is a homicide detective and he plays a different game to the milder mannered Penny Coyne who is an older lady in a small Scottish village.

How the two join up is pretty good and I did enjoy the contrast between the two. They are both brought together for a wedding of a prominent publishing family. While waiting to for the ceremony to take place there is a death. It is similar to one the Johnny has just left in LA, he had been following a lead that brought him to the UK and Penny is there by invitation although the connection between her the the family is very tenuous.

AS I mentioned earlier, I didn't quite get this to start with but then suddenly once it gelled I was hooked, there banter between the Detective and the Elderly mystery solver was very good. The author has drawn out their traits and personalities well and this adds a lot to the story. There is some real thriller and danger moments as well as quite a few unanswered questions. Things seem to happen rather quickly and links are made quite fast.

It is not until the last part of the story that the real story is revealed, there is a lead up to this and I did have that eureka moment. You know the one where you "no! It can't be !!!" or words to that effect!

Once this is revealed the story takes on a completely different feel and that part I enjoyed. This story is one that is set out in stages, the slower start followed by the main story and then finally the realisation that what you thought you knew has completely changed.

This is not your usual crime, mystery and thriller story. It is one that is different in several respects but also similar in others. Very convoluted I know, sorry. If you are looking for a story that is a mix of mystery, thriller and crime then this is one you may enjoy. I do think this will divide readers but for me I am glad I read it and I would recommend it.

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author but “The Cracked Mirror” just did not do it for me. I almost gave up at the beginning- it only started to get vaguely interesting a third of the way through.
The first part of the book felt like I was reading two different stories with so many characters I really could not get my head round all of them. I really had to force myself to pick up the book which is not a good sign.
Penny Coyne is a Miss Marple type of investigator, elderly but good at solving crimes in her native Scotland . When invited to a local wedding at a posh hotel she witnesses a suicide which she suspects is murder. However she has no idea who has invited her to the function which is rather odd.
Johnny Hawke is a police lieutenant in Los Angeles and he’s also investigating a suicide which again appears to be suspicious. In the course of his enquiry Johnny runs into some trouble and although suspended he decides to continue the investigation.
Somehow the two team up when Johnny follows the trail to the UK and once this happens the book becomes more interesting as they try and work out what is going on and how the deaths are connected.
That being said I found the denouement very strange and I almost felt cheated. The explanation was hard to believe and I found the final third of the novel which dealt with computer games almost as bewildering as the first part.
Unfortunately this was not a book I particularly enjoyed although I quite liked the two main characters. I think it was the plot that I found difficult to comprehend and the strange ending which left me slightly confused . There were also too many minor characters which meant I could barely remember who some of them were.
I did finish the book and I liked Penny and Johnny so I’m giving “The Cracked Mirror “3 stars with the proviso that it might appeal more to another reader.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

I have reviewed The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre for book recommendation and sales site LoveReading.co.uk. I’ve chosen this novel as a LoveReading Star Book and Liz Pick of the month for August. The review (see link) appears on our website and will be circulated in our newsletters.

You know Johnny Hawke. Hard-bitten LAPD homicide detective. Always in trouble with his captain, always losing his partners, but always battling with the truth, whatever it takes. 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 Sunday best hat. 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 just come to question not just whodunnit, but whether they want to know the answer.

This book is quite long, with just under five hundred pages. We get two storylines - the first is set in Scotland, and eighty-year-old Penny Coyne, who is investigating the murder of a body found at the local church. The second is LAPD cop Johnny Hawke, who has been sent to investigate a possible suicide with a new partner. The crime eventually leads Johnny to Scotland, where he meets Penny.

Don't let the premise put you off this book, as it nearly did me. Filled with clues, twists, interesting main characters. I loved Penny. Even though they live on different sides of the pond, Johnny and Penny find themselves at the same wedding in Scotland. This is a cleverly written story that's part cosy crime, part thriller.

Published 18th July 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #ChrisBrookmyre for my ARC of #TheMirrorCracked in exchange for an hinest review.

A great, fun and inventive piece of crime fiction- I love it when authors get creative with a genre and mix it up a bit, and in the hands of the brilliant Chris Brookmyre this absolutely works. It literally is Miss Marple meets hard-boiled LA cop: alternate chapters with apparently no relation until it all ties together but in quite unexpected ways, and with hefty helpings of mystery, humour, action, and pathos along the way.

I'm writing this review a few weeks after reading (I often do this to gather my thoughts), and it makes me not only want to read it again but has reminded me how much (and why) I love Brookmyre, and to go back and read more of his books! A cracking (ha ha) read, and deserves to be a hit. Would make a great movie, too...

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A 'cracking' detective crossover, prepare yourself for a book hangover because when the realisation dawns it's like having a bucket of iced water tipped over your head.

Wow. Just Wow.

A complex and riveting thriller to challenge your imagination. An LAPD cop and an English amateur sleuth put their wits in an incredible set of murders. There is a complex plot and a lot of characters live and imaginary to come to grips with but it could blow your mind

“Forget what you think you know – this is not that crime novel”, states the publicity for Chris Brookmyre’s new mystery novel. And it’s really not, although I was mightily confused from the get go as to what exactly I was getting myself into.

We start with a … shall we say homage to Miss Marple, perhaps, or Murder She Wrote? The unfortunately named Penny Coyne is very much in the vein of these characters, solving a truly unlikely number of murders in her sleepy little Scottish village.

And then on the other side of the world we have hard-bitten LA homicide detective, Johnny Hawke. You’ll recognise his story too, not least when his angry captain demands his badge and his gun, and warns him against continuing the investigation by himself. The investigation? Well, it’s a locked-room can-only-be-suicide… right? Oh, you so know it’s not. But that’s very much just the tip of the iceberg.

It’s not long before this very unlikely duo are thrown together, trying to solve each others’ mysteries – in more ways than one.

This started off as such an odd read – not bad, but perhaps a little mannered? A little too much ‘in the style of’. I really did wonder where it was all going. Even when that side of things settles down the ‘where is this all going?’ is very much the play, and honestly I really enjoy the kind of mystery where I’m trying to solve not just the on-page crime(s) but also figure out the author’s game.

The collision of the two very different types of crime pastiche and two very, very different kinds of detectives works well. Perhaps a little too well – the clash between Penny and Johnny smooths over a little too easily, I felt, albeit with reason. But, I think that robbed it a little of the culture clash that I expected a bit more of after the opening.

Eventually the penny – pun intended – dropped and I more or less figured out where the story was heading, and I was more or less right. It’s still a fun ride finding out the hows. I will offer one piece of advice: don’t do as I did, and stay up far too late finishing it all off because it’s only another *cough* pages and I wanted to know. I think doing that spoiled a bit of the ending for me, as I just wasn’t alert enough to catch … something… and felt just a tad baffled.

Overall, though, this was a fun read. From ‘hmm’ beginnings I ended up rather enjoying the blend of genres and mixed pastiche, although it could have been done a little more strongly imo, playing into the tropes a little more. Still, it was fun seeing other characters picking up on the movie references and such 🙂

It took me a while to get into this one as it very much felt as I was reading two completely separate books for a while. The contrast between Johnny LAPD and Penny in Scotland could not have been more stark. When the stories finally combine, I though the book got a lot stronger, if things got a little confusing at times with the different characters and subplot timelines. I definitely was not expecting the outcome and thought this was quite clever (if a little scary!). I liked both Johnny and Penny as characters and thought they blended well together and provided enough substance for most types of reader.

It's challenging to describe this book without giving too much away, but The Cracked Mirror hit all the right notes for me. I was so engrossed that I finished it in just two days despite its length. I had such an enjoyable experience that I would recommend it blindly, though I recognize some of its aspects may not appeal to everyone.

The book follows two main characters with distinct storylines: Johnny Hawke, a classic LAPD detective who bends the rules when necessary, is investigating a suspiciously tidy suicide. Meanwhile, Penny Coyne, an 80-year-old librarian renowned in her Scottish small town for solving local murders, is drawn into a mystery of her own. These two narratives converge at a mysterious wedding, leading Johnny and Penny to collaborate on a case that seems beyond their individual capacities.

Throughout the story, we're presented with peculiar details and seemingly nonsensical moments, which, honestly, were the main allure for me. I kept wondering, "What the heck is going on?" and couldn't stop reading. By the 75% mark, I did guess the primary outcome, but there were still some surprising details that I loved the author for including.

There's no doubt that the author has crafted a complex and thrilling adventure. The Cracked Mirror is a genre-bending, mystery-filled, addictive crime novel featuring two likable and very different protagonists who make an unexpectedly great team. If you're open-minded and willing to embrace the journey, you're in for a blast. It's definitely one of my 2024 favorites.