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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Really enjoyed this. Bought a few years ago and never read. While it’s #6 it wasn’t spoiled as I’m familiar with the characters via the tv series but never read any of the books so it was like jumping into an episode for me. Definitely think I’ll read them in the future in the correct order as there are some plot points that are continuing throughout.
Relationships (personal, business, familial, friendship) are complicated things, as the 6th Tony Hill and Carol Jordan book FEVER IN THE BONE explores.
The central investigation centres around the brutal deaths of a number of apparently unconnected teenage victims. Starting out with a look at the victims themselves, and therefore into their family relationships, McDermid simultaneously weaves in a closer look at the families of her main characters. Tony's hitherto unknown father, and his non-relationship with his mother; the strange little "family" that is Hill and Carol Jordan's friendship; even the family that is the Carol's specialist investigation squad. Tellingly, McDermid also explores the relationships that people form in the world of social networking (going so far, it seems, as to create the social networking environment referred to in the book - which has now closed down I believe).
One of the most important things I noticed in reading FEVER OF THE BONE is that even though I'm all over the place with this series, there was no point when I felt I was missing out on something from an earlier book. I think a reader could jump into the series just about anywhere and find themselves engaged from the start. Sure there's some relationship development - particularly between Tony and Carol - that's going on, but it's carefully paced and it's not hard to work out what the backstory is. Mind you, it probably does help to realise that part of McDermid's great skill as a writer is evident in Tony. He's undoubtedly one of the most engaging annoying characters you're ever going to encounter in crime fiction. Possibly not surprising when you consider that his profiling style is to somehow or other think himself into the head of a killer, but it's definitely not a recipe for being an all sunshine and happy smiling times sort of a bloke.
There is some backstory to Tony, from his childhood through to the recent discovery of the identity of the father that he never knew. There are a lot of reasons for Tony to be complicated and they are explored in FEVER OF THE BONE. There are undoubtedly reasons for Carol to be complicated also. And that's another relationship that gets an airing in FEVER OF THE BONE - Carol has a new boss - James Blake. She has gone from having the support of her superiors, including their understanding that Tony's consultancy role on major investigations is a given, to a new boss who isn't supportive, is borderline dismissive and extremely suspicious of the combination of personal and professional between Tony and Carol. When he stops Carol from using Tony as a consultant to this investigation, he cuts off a lifeline that she's relied upon. Not just because of his skill as a profiler, but because Carol feels safe when Tony is around. Eventually Tony is able to hand Carol a way of ensuring his involvement, but with that comes an offer of major change in both their lives. As the investigation is resolved, the future becomes the next mystery - for them and for the reader.
With every book I read in this series, I find something new to admire. The way that McDermid works with her characters, exposing flaws, highlighting strengths, making them human whilst not overtly looking for sympathy. Obviously this is strongest in the main characters, but there is also evolution in the supporting character set. The way she humanises the victims - again flaws, strengths and all. There's good, solid, old-fashioned police investigating going on, supported admirably by clever technology, but the emphasis is the right way around - the hi-tech supports the slog, enhances the hunches, and tightens up the timeframes within the investigation. And finally, there's a clever, tight and quite chilling plot, with some unexpected but perfectly believable twists and turns that lead to a final resolution that will make the reader think long and hard about assumptions and prejudices.
The central investigation centres around the brutal deaths of a number of apparently unconnected teenage victims. Starting out with a look at the victims themselves, and therefore into their family relationships, McDermid simultaneously weaves in a closer look at the families of her main characters. Tony's hitherto unknown father, and his non-relationship with his mother; the strange little "family" that is Hill and Carol Jordan's friendship; even the family that is the Carol's specialist investigation squad. Tellingly, McDermid also explores the relationships that people form in the world of social networking (going so far, it seems, as to create the social networking environment referred to in the book - which has now closed down I believe).
One of the most important things I noticed in reading FEVER OF THE BONE is that even though I'm all over the place with this series, there was no point when I felt I was missing out on something from an earlier book. I think a reader could jump into the series just about anywhere and find themselves engaged from the start. Sure there's some relationship development - particularly between Tony and Carol - that's going on, but it's carefully paced and it's not hard to work out what the backstory is. Mind you, it probably does help to realise that part of McDermid's great skill as a writer is evident in Tony. He's undoubtedly one of the most engaging annoying characters you're ever going to encounter in crime fiction. Possibly not surprising when you consider that his profiling style is to somehow or other think himself into the head of a killer, but it's definitely not a recipe for being an all sunshine and happy smiling times sort of a bloke.
There is some backstory to Tony, from his childhood through to the recent discovery of the identity of the father that he never knew. There are a lot of reasons for Tony to be complicated and they are explored in FEVER OF THE BONE. There are undoubtedly reasons for Carol to be complicated also. And that's another relationship that gets an airing in FEVER OF THE BONE - Carol has a new boss - James Blake. She has gone from having the support of her superiors, including their understanding that Tony's consultancy role on major investigations is a given, to a new boss who isn't supportive, is borderline dismissive and extremely suspicious of the combination of personal and professional between Tony and Carol. When he stops Carol from using Tony as a consultant to this investigation, he cuts off a lifeline that she's relied upon. Not just because of his skill as a profiler, but because Carol feels safe when Tony is around. Eventually Tony is able to hand Carol a way of ensuring his involvement, but with that comes an offer of major change in both their lives. As the investigation is resolved, the future becomes the next mystery - for them and for the reader.
With every book I read in this series, I find something new to admire. The way that McDermid works with her characters, exposing flaws, highlighting strengths, making them human whilst not overtly looking for sympathy. Obviously this is strongest in the main characters, but there is also evolution in the supporting character set. The way she humanises the victims - again flaws, strengths and all. There's good, solid, old-fashioned police investigating going on, supported admirably by clever technology, but the emphasis is the right way around - the hi-tech supports the slog, enhances the hunches, and tightens up the timeframes within the investigation. And finally, there's a clever, tight and quite chilling plot, with some unexpected but perfectly believable twists and turns that lead to a final resolution that will make the reader think long and hard about assumptions and prejudices.
As usual, Dr. Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan are up to their knees in the blood of innocents! This time, someone is killing 14-year-old children. If that isn't awful enough, Jordan has a new boss, too. Blake, the new chief, doesn't want Hill called in when a boy's body is discovered, horrifically mutilated. He thinks he needs to save money by using a department profiler, instead of calling in an outside consultant like Hill. When the department man proves to be a fool, Jordan and her team defy Blake and soon Dr. Hill is pointing them in the right direction. There is more at stake than whether Hill is the profiler on the case - Blake wants to close Jordan's special murder team down.
Hill is working hard on the murders, but he's doing so to avoid something else - he has information about his father in an envelope sitting on his table. Vanessa, his evil mother, overplayed her hand by trying to force Tony to sign a paper when he was drugged with painkillers in a hospital in the last book. Jordan walked into the room just in time to prevent the signing. The paper was his father's will, leaving Tony all of his money, and his mother was trying to trick him into signing over the inheritance to her. Tony is now rich, but he is very reluctant to have anything to do with this. He had no idea of who his father was - and he's feeling a little upset about finally learning what his horrible mother did so many years ago to drive his father away. Will his own mental neurosis become worse? The tortures Vanessa inflicted on him when Tony was a child were completely destructive to his ability to be normal. What if Hill's father left because Tony was a 'bad seed'? Tony is thinking about leaving it alone.
Secrets will be revealed.
Hill is working hard on the murders, but he's doing so to avoid something else - he has information about his father in an envelope sitting on his table. Vanessa, his evil mother, overplayed her hand by trying to force Tony to sign a paper when he was drugged with painkillers in a hospital in the last book. Jordan walked into the room just in time to prevent the signing. The paper was his father's will, leaving Tony all of his money, and his mother was trying to trick him into signing over the inheritance to her. Tony is now rich, but he is very reluctant to have anything to do with this. He had no idea of who his father was - and he's feeling a little upset about finally learning what his horrible mother did so many years ago to drive his father away. Will his own mental neurosis become worse? The tortures Vanessa inflicted on him when Tony was a child were completely destructive to his ability to be normal. What if Hill's father left because Tony was a 'bad seed'? Tony is thinking about leaving it alone.
Secrets will be revealed.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The pacing of this book was so weird. Super slow, hard to get into, and then within the last few chapters EVERYTHING is happening.
The characters are all a bit dull too…
The “twist” was alright.
The characters are all a bit dull too…
The “twist” was alright.
This book made me feel the most unusual thing.
After reading Val McDermid's stories about Tony Hill & Carol Jordan for years, this book is the one I finished, put down and felt ... nothing. I was completely apathetic and this feeling stayed with me for two more days, just because of this book.
This might seem like a bad thing, but for an author to make me love the characters so much that it altered my own life to become something else for a few days is just amazing!
After reading Val McDermid's stories about Tony Hill & Carol Jordan for years, this book is the one I finished, put down and felt ... nothing. I was completely apathetic and this feeling stayed with me for two more days, just because of this book.
This might seem like a bad thing, but for an author to make me love the characters so much that it altered my own life to become something else for a few days is just amazing!
Definitely gripping. Unfortunately I started this series w/#7 so much of the characters' backstory was lost on me. I do hope to read others in the series - especially because this one clearly opened the door for another one. Loved the Grave Tattoo which is why I wanted to try some other titles by this author.
Another fantastic instalment in the Hill & Jordan series from one of my favourite authors, and a welcome reminder of why Crime Fiction was my first literary love.
When a teenager is murdered in gruesome circumstances, it becomes clear thar a psychopath unmoved by youth and innocence is responsible. But before long, DCI Carol Jordan and criminal profiler Tony Hill realise that the murder is just the start of a ruthless campaign targeting a seemingly unconnected group of young people, which means they need to act fast if they want to catch the killer before any more lives are mercilessly taken.
As always, I loved how McDermid introduces seemingly separate narratives & investigations before cleverly weaving them together in a tense, dramatic race to uncover the killer before it’s too late. Alongside the case developments, this sixth instalment also offers further insight into some of the characters working within the specialised team, and we learn more about the dynamics and complexities of Tony’s & Carol’s personal lives too.
Another compelling police procedural that kept me guessing and hooked until the very end.
When a teenager is murdered in gruesome circumstances, it becomes clear thar a psychopath unmoved by youth and innocence is responsible. But before long, DCI Carol Jordan and criminal profiler Tony Hill realise that the murder is just the start of a ruthless campaign targeting a seemingly unconnected group of young people, which means they need to act fast if they want to catch the killer before any more lives are mercilessly taken.
As always, I loved how McDermid introduces seemingly separate narratives & investigations before cleverly weaving them together in a tense, dramatic race to uncover the killer before it’s too late. Alongside the case developments, this sixth instalment also offers further insight into some of the characters working within the specialised team, and we learn more about the dynamics and complexities of Tony’s & Carol’s personal lives too.
Another compelling police procedural that kept me guessing and hooked until the very end.
mysterious