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latas's review against another edition
3.0
This was my 2nd book by in the Hill and Jordan series (the first was Retribution) and will be my last. I don't have any patience to read about the protagonists' personal story and psychoanalysis, in an otherwise interesting murder mystery. The plot was suspenseful, but the writing was dull. I got bored by the personal interaction between Jordan and Hill.
Carol Jordan was a highly incompetent cop who doesn't seem to have anything better to do than digging into Tony Hill's father's history, when she had to solve a case of teenagers getting murdered. She is the most annoying and useless character. She didn't have a single contribution to the murder investigation that she was leading and couldn't even figure that they were connected. She drinks on the job too! There was another parallel investigation of a cold case, where Sam did all the work and all she did was rolling her eyes and getting bored while interviewing the suspects.
I found one interesting reference to the mapping technology. This book was published in 2009, a year before Bin Laden was found and killed in Pakistan. There is a hypothesis that they had located Laden using satellite photography. Was that a lucky guess or did she have inside information?
Carol Jordan was a highly incompetent cop who doesn't seem to have anything better to do than digging into Tony Hill's father's history, when she had to solve a case of teenagers getting murdered. She is the most annoying and useless character. She didn't have a single contribution to the murder investigation that she was leading and couldn't even figure that they were connected. She drinks on the job too! There was another parallel investigation of a cold case, where Sam did all the work and all she did was rolling her eyes and getting bored while interviewing the suspects.
I found one interesting reference to the mapping technology. This book was published in 2009, a year before Bin Laden was found and killed in Pakistan. There is a hypothesis that they had located Laden using satellite photography. Was that a lucky guess or did she have inside information?
andrew61's review
3.0
As a character I enjoy criminal profiler Tony Hill, and this was an interesting case if a little unbelievable. The mechanics of the plot and the interaction of the Bradfield team are familiar which is what you want from a good crime series and I will continue to read her books but the plot I felt I couldn't accept and the final interviews ended resolving matters too easily. Still enjoyable non the less.
andrew61's review against another edition
2.0
I am a big Val McDermid fan and have enjoyed the Tony Hill/Carole Jordan series repeatedly, thus I was looking forward to this episode particularly as it was the return of villain Jacko Vance. The first half went well as the escape was credible and his vengeance anticipates ripples through Bradfield and the relationships in the unique investigative team. Unfortunately the promise petered out and the final 20 pages felt too convenient with an implausible ending. Somewhat surprisingly, as often I consider books too long nowadays, I felt the book would have benefited from an extra 30 pages to allow a more tense ending with more input from Vance. That being said I will read on as the plotting and writing is great and I look forward to finding out how their relationship changes post this book.
sooz_767's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best in the Tony Hill series but certainly worth a read if you've been following the series. You cannot read this without reading the preceding books! I listened to this one on audio which I don't do often so not sure if some of the tension was missed due to me listening to it in the car but I just wasn't as gripped by this one as I have been by the rest of the series.
suzannedix's review against another edition
4.0
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.
shahrun's review against another edition
4.0
I may have won this copy on Goodreads Giveaways, but this review is all my own opinion!
I've not read anything before by this author, and throughout the book there are hints at the history of the charachters (covered in previous books). This did not stop me following and enjoying reading this book. I thought it very clever how two plots were woven together. I did not see the outcomes of either story line ending the way they did. I will definatley look out for more from Val McDermid.
I've not read anything before by this author, and throughout the book there are hints at the history of the charachters (covered in previous books). This did not stop me following and enjoying reading this book. I thought it very clever how two plots were woven together. I did not see the outcomes of either story line ending the way they did. I will definatley look out for more from Val McDermid.
syren1532's review
5.0
There's a new chief in town and he's not keen on Carol Jordan's way of working and he's definitely not a fan of Tony Hill. West Mercia Police have the murder of a teenager to solve and call in Tony Hill to work on a profile. He travels to Worcester to help and this also gives him the opportunity to find out more about the inheritance he has just received. Carol and her team are working on cold cases and trying to persuade the new Chief that the team should stay together. Then a teenager is killed, followed by another - can Carol and her team solve the murders without Tony's help? Could there be a connection between their cases? Another great read from Val McDermid - just love this series of books and the relationship between Carol and Tony. Where will it go from here?
syren1532's review against another edition
5.0
The seventh in the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series of books by Val McDermid and didn't disappoint. Tony and Carol are preparing for the move to Worcester when a killer they put in jail escapes and they soon realise he's out for revenge. Carol loses someone very close to her and turns on Tony as he hadn't anticipated who the killer would target. Tony's loss is more material but he feels the loss of Carol's support more acutely. At the same time the MIT team are trying to find out who is killing prostitutes on the streets of Broadfield and what his motive is. Really enjoyed the story and the unexpected conclusion to the escapee's spree was surprising.
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Tony Hill & Carole Jordan book that I've read, and I got the impression that was a rich backstory that would have given this more depth and context. Without it, some of Carol's actions seemed petty.
I liked the villain. He was truly despicable and unexpected and vile. It wasn't just a matter of soaking on more gore; it was really looking at what would cause pain.
I do plan to read some of the earlier novels, which might impact my appreciation for this one.
I liked the villain. He was truly despicable and unexpected and vile. It wasn't just a matter of soaking on more gore; it was really looking at what would cause pain.
I do plan to read some of the earlier novels, which might impact my appreciation for this one.
futurelegend's review against another edition
3.0
Another enjoyable if routine romp in the world of Tony Hill the emotionally-damaged psychologist and feisty detective Carol Jordan. Somebody is picking off apparently random teenagers by grooming them on a social networking group and then luring them to a messy demise. DCI Jordan is forbidden from consulting Dr Hill by her new Chief Constable and in any case Tony has been summoned to another part of the the country on an apparently unrelated case. But will they be able to work their magic together?
I have to say that, on the basis two pieces of information both available to Carol Jordan, I'd accurately done my own bit of profiling before much more than a hundred pages were up, but it took another 400 pages for Tony and Carol and her team to come up with a denouement. I have a strong sense that the author is hoist with her own petard; she intended Tony Hill to be a one off in The Mermaids Singing and by her won admission she'd said everything there was to know about Tony in that first book, but it's this series that brings the money in via television. The feeling of strain here is palpable. The dark and disturbing goings on of Mermaids is missing; our killer doesn't do torture but rather gives the victims a painless death before mutilating them. The focus is less on the murders and much more on the interactions and relationships between the investigators, and there's a clear leaning towards the much gentler Lindsay Gordon lesbian romance mysteries. There's a heart-warming if unconvincing subplot for Tony Hill, who feels more and more like an awkward extra in his own series, and there's a forgettable cold case to be resolved without adding anything to the whole. The whole caboodle is about 250 pages too long and I'm sure this is more a reflection of the marketing department's demands than Val's qualities as a writer.
I have to say that, on the basis two pieces of information both available to Carol Jordan, I'd accurately done my own bit of profiling before much more than a hundred pages were up, but it took another 400 pages for Tony and Carol and her team to come up with a denouement. I have a strong sense that the author is hoist with her own petard; she intended Tony Hill to be a one off in The Mermaids Singing and by her won admission she'd said everything there was to know about Tony in that first book, but it's this series that brings the money in via television. The feeling of strain here is palpable. The dark and disturbing goings on of Mermaids is missing; our killer doesn't do torture but rather gives the victims a painless death before mutilating them. The focus is less on the murders and much more on the interactions and relationships between the investigators, and there's a clear leaning towards the much gentler Lindsay Gordon lesbian romance mysteries. There's a heart-warming if unconvincing subplot for Tony Hill, who feels more and more like an awkward extra in his own series, and there's a forgettable cold case to be resolved without adding anything to the whole. The whole caboodle is about 250 pages too long and I'm sure this is more a reflection of the marketing department's demands than Val's qualities as a writer.