Mysteries Galore.com

Reviewed by Jud Hanson

Paddy Meehan, reporter for a local paper in Scotland, gets a shocking phone call: her longtime friend and former romantic interest has been found murdered. To her surprise, he has left her his house and a manuscript for a book that he was working on with a fellow reporter. The manuscript sheds new light on previous incidents of unrest between Catholics and Protestants and suggests that the Catholics may have a traitor among them. When Terry’s co-author is also killed, Paddy knows she’s hit a nerve with someone. The police are of no help and warn her in a not-so-subtle fashion to let the story go but she is like a dog with a bone. Can Paddy safely navigate the maze of secrets and find out the truth or will she fall victim to the unknown killers?

Slip of the Knife by Denise Mina is a fascinating murder mystery set in the United Kingdom. She uses centuries old unrest between Catholics and Protestants as a backdrop. I believe the authenticity of this novel, right down to the local slang, is due to the actress herself living in the United Kingdom. I must admit that at times the meaning of a sentence was hard to determine but having read other novels set in the UK definitely helped me enjoy the book more. Mina is an accomplished author, having won the Barry Award for best British crime novel in 2006 and was a finalist for Edgar,
Macavity and Anthony awards for best novel in 2007. Her award winning style definitely shows with this novel. This is the first book I’ve read by Denise Mina but it will not be the last. I would give this novel 4 out of 5 stars without hesitation.