Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Skeleton Road

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £19.99

Buy Now for £19.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

When a skeleton is discovered hidden at the top of a gothic Victorian building in Edinburgh, which is scheduled for renovation, Cold Case Squad detective Karen Pirie is given the task of identifying the decades-old bones. Her investigation leads her back to past conflicts, false identities and buried secrets...

©2014 Val McDermid (P)2014 W F Howes Ltd
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

1979 cover art
The Murderer's Son cover art
A Long Time Dead cover art
The Turning of Our Bones cover art
Above Suspicion cover art
The Infirmary: A DCI Ryan Mystery (Multicast Drama) cover art
The Silent Girls cover art
Hush cover art
Western Approaches cover art
Down Cemetery Road cover art
The Black Echo: Special Edition cover art
Ghost Gifts cover art

Critic reviews

"McDermid remains unrivalled… Brilliant" ( Observer on Cross and Burn)

What listeners say about The Skeleton Road

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    960
  • 4 Stars
    484
  • 3 Stars
    189
  • 2 Stars
    39
  • 1 Stars
    30
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    995
  • 4 Stars
    387
  • 3 Stars
    118
  • 2 Stars
    39
  • 1 Stars
    22
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    880
  • 4 Stars
    400
  • 3 Stars
    198
  • 2 Stars
    52
  • 1 Stars
    31

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A real drama, with world events and human relationships

What made the experience of listening to The Skeleton Road the most enjoyable?

I leaned a lot about the Balkan conflict I didn't know before.
The plot carried me along, even through some chunky historical sections.
I could really visualise the scenes: rooftops, views, kitchens, people talking to each other. It was like watching a film (whilst doing my knitting).

Who was your favorite character and why?

Maggie - she was believable, real, interesting and unpredictable.

What does Cathleen McCarron bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The narrator managed to modify her voice a bit, but not too much, for different characters. She used pauses for dramatic effect, but also kept it moving. It's a very long book, and I didn't tire of listening to her. I think if I was just reading it, without Cathleen's narration, I might have skipped some bits, and thus missed out on some historical narration.

Any additional comments?

The narrator might want to verify how to pronounce Greek place names. I think the place called in English "Chania" is pronounced by Greeks "Haan - Yah" with the accent on the "Yah". But this is a small point and did not detract from my enjoyment.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Entertaining but bit thin on suspense

Another book in the Karen Pirie series, which I've enjoyed so far. The story is a bit lacking in suspense, but is interesting. It jumps back and forth, so you need to focus to keep track of everything. There was a dark turn which might affect my enjoyment of future books in this series, but I'll give the next one a go.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

another awesome story

story was Great, gripping to the end. narration was Ok, very poor Welsh accent, some accents very good. Maybe just do the ones you're good at. but otherwise fab I'd listen again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great thriller...

... set amongst an even greater modern catastrophe. Excellently read and fine delivery. A definite must read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

predictable

aye sure u know who done it half way thru and you finish it but hardly read it again...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable read

A bit predictable from about halfway through but thoroughly enjoyed this book. Excellent history lesson as well as a typical thriller fictional story. Very well narrated - I’m relatively new to audio books and this has been the best narration so far.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The Skeleton Road

A slow burner. Start slightly patchy, even caused me to think I’d made a mistake choosing it but it gathered pace, I finished it enjoyed it, eventually!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Worth sticking with

I was uncertain whether to buy this book or not as it had mixed reviews. I did find it hard going to begin with but stuck with it and by around half way through began to enjoy it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

First read of This author

This is the first time I have read this aurthor, after recommendations from a friend I got one and have enjoyed it, I have all ready purchased another 3

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Val McDermid at her best

I love Val McDermid so I am biased, but this is such a great listen! Such a complex narrative. Wow.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!