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rossini2020's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookscatsyarn's review against another edition
3.0
I started reading this and then thought I had seen the adaptation with Juliet Stevenson....and then realized I didn't remember a thing about it. So, poor memory for the win because this was a fast, enjoyable mystery.
spencesational's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely fantastic read.
Actually, I heard this rather than read it.
A young girl goes missing in the Derbyshire Dales and is presumed dead. A man is arrested for her rape and murder (despite no body ever being found), is convicted and is hanged. But was he the killer?
Originally released in 1999 it has since been aired on UK television (2008) where it was nominated for the TV Dagger at the Crime Thriller Awards and in the US under the title of Masterpiece: Contemporary in 2009.
The beginning is really slow for the first 150 to 200 pages and I was tempted to give up at this stage. Thankfully I didn't and it just got better and better from thereon in.
The fact that it is based on a true story and that I live not too far at all added to the fascination for me and it is not a surprise that this is (as of 28th August 2020) No.1 on Amazon's book charts.
This is the first Val McDermid book I have read/listened to and if the rest are even half as good as this was I am quickly going to be a Val McDermid fan.
It is no wonder that this book has won numerous awards and since its re-release I can see more on the way. Every. Single. One. Deserved.
Actually, I heard this rather than read it.
A young girl goes missing in the Derbyshire Dales and is presumed dead. A man is arrested for her rape and murder (despite no body ever being found), is convicted and is hanged. But was he the killer?
Originally released in 1999 it has since been aired on UK television (2008) where it was nominated for the TV Dagger at the Crime Thriller Awards and in the US under the title of Masterpiece: Contemporary in 2009.
The beginning is really slow for the first 150 to 200 pages and I was tempted to give up at this stage. Thankfully I didn't and it just got better and better from thereon in.
The fact that it is based on a true story and that I live not too far at all added to the fascination for me and it is not a surprise that this is (as of 28th August 2020) No.1 on Amazon's book charts.
This is the first Val McDermid book I have read/listened to and if the rest are even half as good as this was I am quickly going to be a Val McDermid fan.
It is no wonder that this book has won numerous awards and since its re-release I can see more on the way. Every. Single. One. Deserved.
hoarderreader's review against another edition
3.0
The revelation at the end is the only thing that saved this boring police story of getting a bad mark.
sarahrobins11's review against another edition
3.0
A strong 3.85. Long book but full of loads of detail. Story looks back at a crime when a girl goes missing and the following investigation. Super interesting and perfect for crime lovers!
urlphantomhive's review against another edition
4.0
READ IN DUTCH
My first book from Val McDermid and it didn't disappoint me. I had seen the series with Tony Hill, but this isn't one of them.
I liked to see into one village so closed to strangers, I couldn't even believe there are actually places where people still live like that. I liked the plot, but sometimes it was a little bit slow and taking the speed out of it, which didn't make it easy to continue reading. It also had the doom to be my Holidaybook, and as I don't seem to be able to read whenever I'm on holiday, this might not have helped either.
My first book from Val McDermid and it didn't disappoint me. I had seen the series with Tony Hill, but this isn't one of them.
I liked to see into one village so closed to strangers, I couldn't even believe there are actually places where people still live like that. I liked the plot, but sometimes it was a little bit slow and taking the speed out of it, which didn't make it easy to continue reading. It also had the doom to be my Holidaybook, and as I don't seem to be able to read whenever I'm on holiday, this might not have helped either.
jupitershallemerge's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 I almost gave up on this book at about 20-30% but I decided to give it another try. Eventually I enjoyed it.
seddso's review against another edition
4.0
'A gut wrenching tragedy , with a shocking ending ' is how I'd describe this book. Set in the sixties and 1998, this book tells the tale of an abduction and possible murder of a teenager , at the same time as the Moors Murderers were wreaking havoc on the Yorkshire Moors . I was drawn right into this tale of families, the law, wrongdoings and retribution and am still mulling over the morals of everyone concerned. This is a great read- try it.