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A review by canada_matt
The Retribution by Val McDermid
4.0
Just when the reader's seen all the twists that McDermid could posit in her novels, a new take on an oft-told storyline makes for another must-read novel. Through a series of cost-saving measures, the MIT is about to be dismantled and its team assigned to other forces. Until then, DCI Jordan embarks on a case to discover who is behind a number of prostitute slayings in and around Bradfield. Each woman is slain in a unique way, leaving the team to wonder if there is a connection. With a similar 'MINE' tattoo left on each woman, the connection appears strong, but motive and suspects come up dry. While Jordan and the team seek to use this swan song case to show their worth, news comes that convicted killer, Jacko Vance, has escaped. Having been behind bars for over a decade, Vance is set to settle scores (seeking his own form of 'retribution', as the book's title suggests) with those responsible for his time in jail, namely DCI Jordan and Dr. Hill. While Vance keeps a low profile, plotting his revenge, Hill and Jordan are on high alert, trying to guess his next move. Vance's plot begin to play out, striking at the core of those who played a great role in his incarceration. While the horrors heighten, Jordan and Hill commence a strain on their relationship (however it might be defined), with reconciliation far from certain. With the MIT on shaky ground, two serial killers on the loose, and the Hill-Jordan bond in shambles, McDermid recounts a powerful story where racing against the clock may not fix all issues at hand. A thrilling resurrection of McDermid's most cunning killer in this page-turner, in which series fans get a much needed thrill and dose of horror all at once.
McDermid's seventh novel does not lessen its thriller impact, even with the revisited characters and somewhat predicted storyline, as insinuated in the title. An avid series reader might have hoped for something along these lines, as it forces both Hill and Jordan to revisit their early time together and what began the effective 'specialist team' angle that has worked so well for the novels, as well as for both its main characters. With a blatant discussion of Jordan's stress coping mechanism, the infallibility scorecard is finally evened. While numerous authors have brought back old nemeses to to battle with their protagonists, few have the ability to tackle so nefarious a villain in as graphic a way as McDermid has done. All while balancing an alternative story line that keeps the reader guessing from the outset.
Kudos, Madam McDermid for your ongoing novels that educate, entertain, and scare the bejesus out of readers.
McDermid's seventh novel does not lessen its thriller impact, even with the revisited characters and somewhat predicted storyline, as insinuated in the title. An avid series reader might have hoped for something along these lines, as it forces both Hill and Jordan to revisit their early time together and what began the effective 'specialist team' angle that has worked so well for the novels, as well as for both its main characters. With a blatant discussion of Jordan's stress coping mechanism, the infallibility scorecard is finally evened. While numerous authors have brought back old nemeses to to battle with their protagonists, few have the ability to tackle so nefarious a villain in as graphic a way as McDermid has done. All while balancing an alternative story line that keeps the reader guessing from the outset.
Kudos, Madam McDermid for your ongoing novels that educate, entertain, and scare the bejesus out of readers.