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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book...but it turns out there are at least five other books in this series (i.e. also featuring Tony Hill and Carol Jordan and many of the other characters) and I really should have started with an earlier one. The characters were well drawn and believable, but it was obvious that a lot has gone on in previous books that have made them the characters that they are now. The book jumped around a lot to tell the story from different points of view and to tell different parts of the story that were happening at the same time. This worked really well (built the suspense and the pace didn't suffer), but I did find it a bit of a challenge keeping on top of all the different characters, particularly all of the detectives.
The way that the story-line about Tony's father tied up at the end was just too neat and tidy and unrealistic...but all in all a good read, kept me entertained for a few nights.
The way that the story-line about Tony's father tied up at the end was just too neat and tidy and unrealistic...but all in all a good read, kept me entertained for a few nights.
I thoroughly enjoy this murder mystery. It was a page turner for me, just couldn't put it down after I really got started on it. Wasn't too crazy about the ending but it is book 7 of a series and they might all end similarly. I highly recommend it.
Being a huge Val McDermid fan I have been waiting for the next installment of the Tony & Carol series on pins and needles! And I was not disappointed. Val has made some brave decisions in this book and I wonder if all her fans will appreciate them. There are great twists and turns and some might not be satisfied with the ending but overall, another success from a great author. Now all I have to do is wait for the next one!
My shameful pleasure is murder mysteries and police procedurals and Val McDermid is one of the best.
Having said that, this wasn't her best book. I was on to her quickly and found the last chunk where the police had to catch up with me tortuous. Also, she seemed distracted from her usually great tension and thrill building and more interested in exploring the psychology of one of the main characters. The sub plot (the 'other' murder) was unrelated to the whole and the ending fizzled instead of popping.
Don't know about the rest of the Val McDermid fans, but I don't really see Hill and Jordan working as a couple and so I don't care if they get together. And who were all these people that she introduced but didn't really develop? Expanding her horizons for the next book, maybe?
Having said that, this wasn't her best book. I was on to her quickly and found the last chunk where the police had to catch up with me tortuous. Also, she seemed distracted from her usually great tension and thrill building and more interested in exploring the psychology of one of the main characters. The sub plot (the 'other' murder) was unrelated to the whole and the ending fizzled instead of popping.
Don't know about the rest of the Val McDermid fans, but I don't really see Hill and Jordan working as a couple and so I don't care if they get together. And who were all these people that she introduced but didn't really develop? Expanding her horizons for the next book, maybe?
Reading a Val McDermid mystery is like having dinner at your favorite restaurant: you know you're going to love it, and the end result is going to leave you happy. This is no different. Well, without the "happy" feeling at the end. Jacko Vance and Vanessa Hill are going to haunt my nightmares... Just saying.
"The Fever of the Bone" is the sixth instalment in Val McDermid's Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, and it's a relief to see McDermid finally cut some slack on our beloved characters.
Okay, so we have another serial killer, this time mutilating teenagers whose only connection is a vague likeness and their use of a social networking site. The plot is intricate and well-paced, with McDermid's signature blend of suspense, horror, and psychological insight.
What sets this book apart is the evolution of Tony and Carol's relationship. After their relentless trials in previous books, seeing them find some semblance of peace and stability is refreshing. Their dynamic is as compelling as ever, but a newfound tenderness adds depth to their interactions.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
Okay, so we have another serial killer, this time mutilating teenagers whose only connection is a vague likeness and their use of a social networking site. The plot is intricate and well-paced, with McDermid's signature blend of suspense, horror, and psychological insight.
What sets this book apart is the evolution of Tony and Carol's relationship. After their relentless trials in previous books, seeing them find some semblance of peace and stability is refreshing. Their dynamic is as compelling as ever, but a newfound tenderness adds depth to their interactions.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
Val McDermid's "The Retribution" offers a gripping return to the twisted world of Tony Hill and Carol Jordan, delivering a tense and engaging narrative to fans of the series. McDermid's seasoned hand at crafting crime fiction shines through, and the plot unfolds with a brisk pace and well-constructed tension. The story draws heavily on past storylines, with familiar threats resurfacing rather than presenting fresh cases for our protagonists to investigate.
The return of Jacko Vance, a villain with a personal vendetta against Hill and Jordan, brings a chilling tension to the narrative. McDermid doesn't shy away from the grotesque; the violence is at times graphic, and readers with a predilection for darker, more visceral crime fiction will find this element satisfying, though it may not suit the faint of heart.
The novel continues the shifting dynamic between Tony and Carol, whose relationship is at the heart of the series. McDermid clearly cherishes these characters but is fearless in continuing to subject them to the worst of ordeals. Hill and Jordan face profound personal and professional hardships, and it's this willingness to push her protagonists to the brink that keeps the series emotionally resonant.
McDermid also excels at fleshing out even minor characters, imbuing them with enough backstory and depth to elicit genuine emotional investment. When calamities befall them - and believe me, there are many - the reader feels the full weight of the tragedy. This creates a visceral connection.
While the plot's predictability may be a minor flaw for those craving more inventive twists, McDermid manages to neatly tie up the novel's primary threads. The ending is satisfying, but crucially, it leaves the characters' personal lives and careers hanging in unresolved tension.
In sum, this is a solid addition to the series, with enough suspense and emotional depth to keep readers invested, even if it does recycle familiar territory. McDermid's writing is as sharp as ever, and the authenticity she imbues into her characters ensures that readers will continue to care deeply about their fates, no matter how dark the journey becomes.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
The return of Jacko Vance, a villain with a personal vendetta against Hill and Jordan, brings a chilling tension to the narrative. McDermid doesn't shy away from the grotesque; the violence is at times graphic, and readers with a predilection for darker, more visceral crime fiction will find this element satisfying, though it may not suit the faint of heart.
The novel continues the shifting dynamic between Tony and Carol, whose relationship is at the heart of the series. McDermid clearly cherishes these characters but is fearless in continuing to subject them to the worst of ordeals. Hill and Jordan face profound personal and professional hardships, and it's this willingness to push her protagonists to the brink that keeps the series emotionally resonant.
McDermid also excels at fleshing out even minor characters, imbuing them with enough backstory and depth to elicit genuine emotional investment. When calamities befall them - and believe me, there are many - the reader feels the full weight of the tragedy. This creates a visceral connection.
While the plot's predictability may be a minor flaw for those craving more inventive twists, McDermid manages to neatly tie up the novel's primary threads. The ending is satisfying, but crucially, it leaves the characters' personal lives and careers hanging in unresolved tension.
In sum, this is a solid addition to the series, with enough suspense and emotional depth to keep readers invested, even if it does recycle familiar territory. McDermid's writing is as sharp as ever, and the authenticity she imbues into her characters ensures that readers will continue to care deeply about their fates, no matter how dark the journey becomes.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
Love Val McDermid and she knocks another one out of the park. Could not put it down.
First time that I have read a book by McDermid. The story is very suspenseful, dramatic, and at times, gruesome. I gave it four stars instead of five because of the terrible relationship the two main characters had with one another. I would have at least expected that they find some type of closure before the book ended.
This ranks up there in the "forego sleep so I can read this book" category. Bloody amazing