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alastairhm's review against another edition
3.0
Could have been better, disappointed with the ending seemed a bit rushed.
janp's review against another edition
4.0
#7 in Hill/Jordan series and sequel to Hill/Jordan #2, "The Wire in the Blood" featuring Jacko Vance.
As usual, great read by Val McDermid.
As usual, great read by Val McDermid.
kbc's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I could figure out how to indicate on Good Reads that I've only read this book ONCE.
waynewaynus's review against another edition
4.0
Love this theory, however I cannot believ I missed the last three books in the series.
lnatal's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book as a digital ARC from the publisher through Net Galley in return for an honest review.
Even after watching several episodes of this TV series, this is the first book I read by Val McDermid.
The plot is based on the escape of Jacko Vance which aim is to revenge his imprisonment due to a previous work of investigation performed by the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan.
Entwined with Jacko's story, Tony and Carol started to investigate a serial killer who murdered street prostitutes and signed his victims post-mortem by making a tattoo on the inside of their wrist.
However the reader is driven to focus the attention into Vance’s final goal. Even Tony, an experienced psychologist, made a clear prognostic of Jacko’s mind classifying him as a true psychopath, he wasn’t able to foresee the full dimension of his fury against him and Carol.
The author managed to keep reader’s full attention into this chilling and gripping story.
therewithal's review against another edition
3.0
Wow, Tony and Carol can't catch a break. At the end of the last book they were planning to move in together and on track to possibly being happy, and then McDermid goes and literally burns it all down with this one. I hope there's going to be another book, because the ending of this one would be the worst ending for the series.
jillheather's review against another edition
2.0
Book 7 in a series of author throws up roadblocks to keep the Designated Couple from moving ahead.
Jacko Vance is back and fairly boring. Tony and Carol are really close to getting together, then don't. Old characters make cameos. All ends about as well as it ever ends in serial killer novels. Some of the books in this series are great, but not this one. It feels final, but leaves room for what I hope to be a better ending (not happier, just more interesting).
Mostly, though, I want to know what happens to the cat.
Jacko Vance is back and fairly boring. Tony and Carol are really close to getting together, then don't. Old characters make cameos. All ends about as well as it ever ends in serial killer novels. Some of the books in this series are great, but not this one. It feels final, but leaves room for what I hope to be a better ending (not happier, just more interesting).
Mostly, though, I want to know what happens to the cat.
stackwoodlibrary's review against another edition
3.0
McDermid keeps this series fresh (considering the number of sociopath serial killers Tony & Carol deal with) - this book brings back one of the worst of the lot.
If you've not read any of the series, it'll work alone, but I recommend starting with "The Mermaids Singing".
Or try some of the stand-alones like "The Vanishing Point".
If you've not read any of the series, it'll work alone, but I recommend starting with "The Mermaids Singing".
Or try some of the stand-alones like "The Vanishing Point".
negotiumperambulans's review against another edition
5.0
Everything readers wants in a good detective story and even more. The only problem is that it's so damn hard to put this book down once you've started reading.
bethkemp's review against another edition
5.0
New Tony Hill/Carol Jordan novel - excruciatingly tense as ever!
If you haven't read any of the Tony Hill/Carol Jordan series before, and you're a crime fan, I'd strongly recommend that you do - and also that you don't go on reading this review, as this is book seven in the series. I won't be spoiling this book here, but I can't promise to be spoiler-free for earlier novels.
I've always enjoyed the complexity of the relationships in these novels, and this instalment goes further than ever before in making life impossible for Tony and Carol. There are two major plotlines here: Jacko Vance, villain of The Wire in the Blood, escapes from prison and is hellbent on revenge, and an unknown killer is murdering prostitutes and tattooing them "mine". As always with McDermid's writing, this is not a book for the faint hearted; she does not shy away from the gruesome and the grisly, even when this means tormenting much-loved characters. But of course, it's not just Carol and Tony: Carol's Major Incident Team are under new pressure as they are being disbanded, they want to solve the prostitute killer case to prove themselves and, as the team who put him away, they are all in danger from Vance as well.
As ever, we see the story from various angles, and are often privy to what a killer will do next. There is an incredible amount of tension in this novel, which is heightened by this additional information. This is a skilful piece of writing which controls reader expectation perfectly, managing pace and tension to an exquisite degree.
Overall, this is an essential part of the Tony Hill/Carol Jordan story and I would urge lovers of earlier instalments to read it.
If you haven't read any of the Tony Hill/Carol Jordan series before, and you're a crime fan, I'd strongly recommend that you do - and also that you don't go on reading this review, as this is book seven in the series. I won't be spoiling this book here, but I can't promise to be spoiler-free for earlier novels.
I've always enjoyed the complexity of the relationships in these novels, and this instalment goes further than ever before in making life impossible for Tony and Carol. There are two major plotlines here: Jacko Vance, villain of The Wire in the Blood, escapes from prison and is hellbent on revenge, and an unknown killer is murdering prostitutes and tattooing them "mine". As always with McDermid's writing, this is not a book for the faint hearted; she does not shy away from the gruesome and the grisly, even when this means tormenting much-loved characters. But of course, it's not just Carol and Tony: Carol's Major Incident Team are under new pressure as they are being disbanded, they want to solve the prostitute killer case to prove themselves and, as the team who put him away, they are all in danger from Vance as well.
As ever, we see the story from various angles, and are often privy to what a killer will do next. There is an incredible amount of tension in this novel, which is heightened by this additional information. This is a skilful piece of writing which controls reader expectation perfectly, managing pace and tension to an exquisite degree.
Overall, this is an essential part of the Tony Hill/Carol Jordan story and I would urge lovers of earlier instalments to read it.