Beneath the Bleeding by Val McDermid

Mystery

Dr. Tony Hill is bedridden after an attack at a mental ward and an axe to the knee. It's really not a good time to be immobile when a top footballer is admitted to the hospital and the staff finds out that he has been poisoned with ricin. He passes away and Detective Chief Inspector Carol Jordan is called in to investigate. Researching from a hospital bed, Tony is frustrated at the lack of progress he makes, but eventually finds a possible connection to another mysterious poisoning case.

During the memorial for this football player, an alleged terrorist attack occurs, bombing the stadium and killing many. Could these be connected? Why was the stadium targeted?

I haven't read a Hill/Jordan mystery for a while but this one felt pretty lazy. The bombing builds up for a very long time and then only takes place in the last third of the book and really has nothing to do with anything else in the book. It just didn't connect for me. Then when they finally catch the murderer, though we sort of know the motive, the murderer refuses to give the full story on why he did it. It's like McDermid didn't want to bother sorting out that part of the story.

Definitely not my favourite Hill/Jordan mystery. I hope Jordan sorts out her drinking problem soon but I doubt that'll be the case.

First Line: "The phases of the moon have an inexplicable but incontrovertible effect on the mentally ill."

Rating:
(4.5/5)

Killing the Shadows by Val McDermid

Mystery

Fiona Cameron is a psychologist that uses data to come up with geographies and theories on crimes. The police regularly call on her for help, though with a recent rape and murder case decided to call one of Fiona's colleagues who ended up botching the case. Fiona vows that she won't work with the Met again. Except they need her help and she needs them when a killer starts to murder mystery writers. Fiona's boyfriend is a mystery writer and she wants to make sure the police catch the killer before anything happens to him.

The description of what Fiona does was rather interesting, however when she describes it, it begins sounding like common sense. It made me wonder why the police need to bring in someone to explain these things. The only item that analysis was really needed for was geographies of where the killer may live or work.

Fiona isn't my favourite McDermid character, but she's not the worst either. She was a bit self-righteous and treated one of her best mates pretty shitty but got angry at him for her stupidity.

I wondered for a while why McDermid was putting so many crimes in to a single book with different killers. It was difficult to keep straight at first but eventually worked itself out and made sense.

First Line: "The haar moves up from the steel-grey waters of the Firth of Forth, a solid wall of mist the colour of cumulus."

Rating:
(3.5/5)

Fever of the Bone

Fever of the Bone by Val McDermid
Mystery

This is the sixth book in the Tony Hills series. The premise of each is somewhat the same, Tony Hill is vulnerable in his life and his job, Carol Jordan and her team have to prove themselves and the dynamics between the two are complex and in turmoil. Does this make a ho-hum read. Definitely not!!!! McDermid has out-done herself with the best in the series.

Jennifer Maidment, a Worcester teen has been found murdered and sexually mutiliated. Tony is brought in as the profiler. Meanwhile, Carol and her team are on a three month probation under her new boss, James Blake. Blake is not sure of the team's contributions and finds the use of Tony as a profiler too expensive.

Carol is given a new murder to investigate and it is strikingly similar to Tony's case. A teen lured into meeting someone from the latest teen social network, Rigarmole is lured to his death. What is the motive and can this serial killer be stopped?

As a side story Tony gets to spend some time in his father's house he has inherited. Tony is so very insecure and vulnerable and I think this is what the reader likes so much about him. This book is definitely a page-turner. I can't wait for the next in the series.

First Line: "It all comes down to blood in the end"

Rating:
(4.5/5)

A Darker Domain

A Darker Domain by Val McDermid
Mystery

Detective Sergeant Karen Pirie deals with cold cases.

Twenty-four years ago, a wealthy reclusive Scottish business man, Brodie Grant, lost his daughter in a botched kidnapping and never did find his grandson. Bel Richmond, an investigative reporter finds evidence of the kidnapping while on holiday in Tuscany. Bel goes directly to Grant who grants her access to himself and directs her investigations. Although Pirie is called in on the case, Grant only gives her minimal information and even orders Richmond not to give the police further help.

Misha Gibson walks into the police station to report her father missing. Only it happened over twenty years ago. She needs to find him in order to save her son medically. Pirie starts investigating to find out Misha's father is not where everyone thought and has vanished. Coincidentally at the same time as one of his friends also vanished and was thought to have committed suicide.

Pirie is a wonderful character. She seems to handle her boss quite adroitly and continues to investigate the cases in spite of his hindrance. McDermid is wonderful at turning seeming ordinary people like Pirie into great characters. I certainly hope her story continues.

First Line: "The voice is soft, like the darkness that encloses them."

Rating:

(4.0/5)

The Last Temptation

The Last Temptation by Val McDermid
Mystery

Carol Jordan is now working undercover in Europe trying to catch a mastermind drug trafficker. She is still reeling over her breakup with criminal profiler, Dr. Tony Hill. Carol is working at getting into the confidence of the drug trafficker.

A serial killer is on the loose in Europe, always striking near waterways. The serial killer is psychotic because of Nazi atrocities. Carol ends up being on the serial killers death list.

Carol needs help in order to get 'into' the mind of the drug trafficker. Who can she call? Dr. Tony Hill, who has retired from this line of work, comes to her rescue. She also is investigating the serial killer and who better to help her but Tony Hill.

This book has a lot of twists and turns as McDermid always delivers. A great psychological thriller!

First Line: "Blue is one colour the Danube never manages."

Rating:

(4.0/5)