Scan barcode
chloeap_'s review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
alexarcifre's review
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, and Outing
tasminn's review
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lurker_stalker's review
5.0
4.5 rounded up.
Where to start... Well, first, don't read the damn blurb on Goodreads! It has a massive spoiler that doesn't happen until about 80% into the book. I had read the blurb on NetGalley when I requested the book and I'm glad I did. Let me paste it here for you so you don't have to go anywhere else. I'm still pissed about reading the spoiler.
"It's only January, and the year 1979 has already brought blizzards, strikes, power cuts, and political unrest. For journalist Allie Burns, however, someone else's bad news is the unmistakable sound of opportunity knocking, an opportunity to get away from the "women's stories" her editors at the Scottish daily The Clarion keep assigning her. Striking up an alliance with budding investigative journalist Danny Sullivan, Allie begins covering international tax fraud, then a group of Scottish ultranationalists aiming to cause mayhem ahead of a referendum on breaking away from the United Kingdom. Their stories quickly get attention and create enemies for the two young up-and-comers. As they get closer to the bleeding edge of breaking news, Allie and Danny may find their lives on the line.
The first novel in a brand-new series for McDermid, 1979 is redolent of the thundering presses, hammering typewriters, and wreaths of smoke of the Clarion newsroom. An atmospheric journey into the past with much to say about the present, it is the latest suspenseful, pitch-perfect addition to Val McDermid's crime pantheon."
Now that we have that out of the way, we can get to the actual review.
I've read a few books by McDermid and I think this is my favorite. I honestly can't wait to get my hands on the next in the Allie Burns series. She's my kind of heroine: smart, brave, and open minded. And she's just starting with her journalistic career so I know there will be plenty of great adventures in her future.
I listened to the audiobook and am not sorry at all because I LOVE a Scottish accent. Helen (Simone Lahbib) from Bad Girls got me hooked. I might have appreciated having both the audio and the ebook for this one because the Glaswegian accent was a bit tough to understand at times and I know I missed some words here and there.
The story and the writing were fantastic. I was drawn in immediately and loved Danny and Allie and wanted to kick brother Joseph in the nuts so many times it would have constituted a workout. Bastard. And because it was set in 1979, there's plenty of misogyny and homophobia and other shit you would expect.
Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for hooking me up with the audiobook and an even bigger thanks to Ms. McDermid for writing such a great book and characters that felt incredibly real. I'll miss Allie and Danny. And Rona. Can't wait to see more of Rona.
Where to start... Well, first, don't read the damn blurb on Goodreads! It has a massive spoiler that doesn't happen until about 80% into the book. I had read the blurb on NetGalley when I requested the book and I'm glad I did. Let me paste it here for you so you don't have to go anywhere else. I'm still pissed about reading the spoiler.
"It's only January, and the year 1979 has already brought blizzards, strikes, power cuts, and political unrest. For journalist Allie Burns, however, someone else's bad news is the unmistakable sound of opportunity knocking, an opportunity to get away from the "women's stories" her editors at the Scottish daily The Clarion keep assigning her. Striking up an alliance with budding investigative journalist Danny Sullivan, Allie begins covering international tax fraud, then a group of Scottish ultranationalists aiming to cause mayhem ahead of a referendum on breaking away from the United Kingdom. Their stories quickly get attention and create enemies for the two young up-and-comers. As they get closer to the bleeding edge of breaking news, Allie and Danny may find their lives on the line.
The first novel in a brand-new series for McDermid, 1979 is redolent of the thundering presses, hammering typewriters, and wreaths of smoke of the Clarion newsroom. An atmospheric journey into the past with much to say about the present, it is the latest suspenseful, pitch-perfect addition to Val McDermid's crime pantheon."
Now that we have that out of the way, we can get to the actual review.
I've read a few books by McDermid and I think this is my favorite. I honestly can't wait to get my hands on the next in the Allie Burns series. She's my kind of heroine: smart, brave, and open minded. And she's just starting with her journalistic career so I know there will be plenty of great adventures in her future.
I listened to the audiobook and am not sorry at all because I LOVE a Scottish accent. Helen (Simone Lahbib) from Bad Girls got me hooked. I might have appreciated having both the audio and the ebook for this one because the Glaswegian accent was a bit tough to understand at times and I know I missed some words here and there.
The story and the writing were fantastic. I was drawn in immediately and loved Danny and Allie and wanted to kick brother Joseph in the nuts so many times it would have constituted a workout. Bastard. And because it was set in 1979, there's plenty of misogyny and homophobia and other shit you would expect.
Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for hooking me up with the audiobook and an even bigger thanks to Ms. McDermid for writing such a great book and characters that felt incredibly real. I'll miss Allie and Danny. And Rona. Can't wait to see more of Rona.
snon's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
lunainsomnia's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Spoilers!!
Didn't super love the "the only non predatory guy in the office is gay" and him dying (bury your gays anyone? ) but that's nitpicking, as always i loved mcdermids writing, it's gripping, personal, emotional, beautiful and just incredible
Didn't super love the "the only non predatory guy in the office is gay" and him dying (bury your gays anyone? ) but that's nitpicking, as always i loved mcdermids writing, it's gripping, personal, emotional, beautiful and just incredible
aliciagoeser's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lhart2222's review against another edition
1.0
DNF 140 pages in.
I really enjoyed my first Val McDermid novel The Distant Echo, that I earmarked her as an author to look out for. With a huge back catalogue to her name, there was a large selection of books I could have read by the author. However, I opted for one of her newest, and the first in her Allie Burns series, 1979. This was a mistake.
Reading the blurb, nothing about this book seems to be spectacular. The main reason behind my excitement was the author.
Set in the same year as the title, we follow a female journalist who’s looking to prove her gender is irrelevant when it comes to writing news. Her co-worker Danny finds himself amid his biggest ever story. The story in question involves insurance fraud. Yeah, I know, riveting. When it comes to the plot this is all I have after 140 pages.
So that’s it. 140 pages and nothing of note has happened. The front of this book advertises it as a thriller. Unless it means every other mundane task seems thrilling after reading it, then it’s incorrect. Boring is the only word that comes to mind.
When I say in 140 words nothing happened I mean it. I usually give slow-burn books a chance but this was my limit. Even if it did soar into action, I could never overlook my displeasure up to this point, so it would have probably been capped at a 3-star read regardless.
So the plot stunk, but were the characters or setting any better? No. Cliched beyond belief the main pair of protagonists felt incredibly ordinary. Set in Scotland like a multitude of other books, it seems the book's personality is based around this, and the year it’s set. We get it, Scotland is cold and 1979 was 40 years ago.
Overall, I was severely disappointed. Boring might be an understatement. The first of the Allie Burns series is a no from me. This review might seem harsh but I got no enjoyment out of this book.
I really enjoyed my first Val McDermid novel The Distant Echo, that I earmarked her as an author to look out for. With a huge back catalogue to her name, there was a large selection of books I could have read by the author. However, I opted for one of her newest, and the first in her Allie Burns series, 1979. This was a mistake.
Reading the blurb, nothing about this book seems to be spectacular. The main reason behind my excitement was the author.
Set in the same year as the title, we follow a female journalist who’s looking to prove her gender is irrelevant when it comes to writing news. Her co-worker Danny finds himself amid his biggest ever story. The story in question involves insurance fraud. Yeah, I know, riveting. When it comes to the plot this is all I have after 140 pages.
So that’s it. 140 pages and nothing of note has happened. The front of this book advertises it as a thriller. Unless it means every other mundane task seems thrilling after reading it, then it’s incorrect. Boring is the only word that comes to mind.
When I say in 140 words nothing happened I mean it. I usually give slow-burn books a chance but this was my limit. Even if it did soar into action, I could never overlook my displeasure up to this point, so it would have probably been capped at a 3-star read regardless.
So the plot stunk, but were the characters or setting any better? No. Cliched beyond belief the main pair of protagonists felt incredibly ordinary. Set in Scotland like a multitude of other books, it seems the book's personality is based around this, and the year it’s set. We get it, Scotland is cold and 1979 was 40 years ago.
Overall, I was severely disappointed. Boring might be an understatement. The first of the Allie Burns series is a no from me. This review might seem harsh but I got no enjoyment out of this book.
burns_cheadle's review
4.0
4.5 stars: strong recommendation
In 1979, Val McDermid takes a page from her own past and casts the spotlight on a young journalist, Allie Burns, who writes for a Glasgow-based newspaper during a time when female journos were relegated to writing the "women's stories"—human interest, miracle babies and the like. Allie, however, has bigger plans and she earns her chops (and the grudging respect of her tough-as-nails editor) by relentlessly pursuing hard investigative stories. Those stories, however, put Allie and her colleague Danny on a collision course with darker forces (no spoilers so that's as far as I will take it). The plot is well-paced and contains sufficient surprises to satisfy McDermid fans who have come to expect intelligence and resourcefulness from strong female leads like Carol Jordan, Kate Brannigan and Karen Pirie. In a recent interview, Val McDermid stated her intention to write the Allie Burns series as a succession of stories one decade apart (i.e., 1979, 1989, 1999, 2009 and 2019), allowing us to experience the tumultuous changes of those decades through Allie's eyes as her career progresses. I, for one, eagerly look forward to following Allie's journey.
In 1979, Val McDermid takes a page from her own past and casts the spotlight on a young journalist, Allie Burns, who writes for a Glasgow-based newspaper during a time when female journos were relegated to writing the "women's stories"—human interest, miracle babies and the like. Allie, however, has bigger plans and she earns her chops (and the grudging respect of her tough-as-nails editor) by relentlessly pursuing hard investigative stories. Those stories, however, put Allie and her colleague Danny on a collision course with darker forces (no spoilers so that's as far as I will take it). The plot is well-paced and contains sufficient surprises to satisfy McDermid fans who have come to expect intelligence and resourcefulness from strong female leads like Carol Jordan, Kate Brannigan and Karen Pirie. In a recent interview, Val McDermid stated her intention to write the Allie Burns series as a succession of stories one decade apart (i.e., 1979, 1989, 1999, 2009 and 2019), allowing us to experience the tumultuous changes of those decades through Allie's eyes as her career progresses. I, for one, eagerly look forward to following Allie's journey.