1979 by Val McDermid

418 pages first pub 2021 (view editions)

fiction crime mystery thriller dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Powered by AI (Beta)

Ideal for readers who relish a slow-burning dive into a gritty, recent-historical setting where an underdog reporter’s pursuit of truth exposes systemic rot, offering the tension of a conspiracy without comic-book theatrics and a protagonist whose fight against entrenched prejudice mirrors the larger crime.

Description

Hailed as Britain's Queen of Crime, Val McDermid's award-winning, internationally bestselling novels have captivated readers for more than thirty years. Now, in 1979, she returns to the past with the story of Allie Burns, an investigative journali...

Read more

Community Reviews

3.63
based on 1,102 reviews

Moods

mysterious: 84%

tense: 54%

dark: 41%

adventurous: 39%

emotional: 22%

sad: 18%

informative: 17%

challenging: 12%

reflective: 9%

funny: 6%

hopeful: 4%

inspiring: 3%

lighthearted: 2%


Pace

18% of readers chose fast
64% of readers chose medium
16% of readers chose slow
fast
medium
slow

Plot or character driven?

23% of readers chose Plot
66% of readers chose A mix
10% of readers chose Character
Plot
A mix
Character

Strong character development?

63% of readers chose Yes
14% of readers chose Complicated
21% of readers chose No
Yes
Complicated
No

Loveable characters?

70% of readers chose Yes
20% of readers chose Complicated
8% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Diverse cast of characters?

57% of readers chose Yes
15% of readers chose Complicated
25% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus?

25% of readers chose Yes
21% of readers chose Complicated
50% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Content Warnings

Submitted by users as part of their reviews

Expand filter menu View summary

See all...

Accept and close

By using The StoryGraph, you agree to our use of cookies.
We use a small number of cookies to provide you with a great experience.

Find out more