Books by Val McDermid

Book SynopsisThe Number One bestselling crime series featuring Dr Tony Hill, hero of TV's Wire in the Blood. The award-winning Val McDermid is at the height of her powers in this tense masterclass in psychological suspense.The race is on to uncover the identity of a murderer with nothing to lose and everything to kill for.When Robbie Bishop, star midfielder for the Bradfield Vics, is poisoned by a rare and deadly toxin, profiler Dr Tony Hill and trusted colleague DCI Carol Jordan have their work cut out for them. Robbie was adored, so the public want answers but the answers aren''t coming, and trails are running cold.Then a bomb explodes in the football stadium, causing massive casualties and another man dies from poisoning. Is there a link between the cases? And what are the motives for these crimes? The clock is ticking for Tony and Carol and the death toll keeps risingTrade Review‘McDermid is at the peak of her murderous craft’ Mirror 'The Queen of serial killers in this country keeps her end up…. few can scoop Val on throat-clutching narrative… Marvellous' Daily Mail ‘All the craft, panache and pace that we have come to expect from this outstanding writer… Vintage stuff: unplug the phone, lock the door and prepare to read in a sitting’ Guardian ‘Peerless … One of the world’s finest crime writers, McDermid is currently at the top of her game’ Glasgow Herald ‘McDermid’s writing gets better and better’ Spectator

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Book SynopsisThe Number One bestselling crime series featuring Tony Hill, hero of TV's Wire in the Blood, written by the award-winning Val McDermid. This is a psychological thriller and serial killer that will keep you up at night.For some, there is nothing so sweet, so thrilling, as the torment of others A dead girl lies on a blood-soaked mattress, her limbs spread in a parody of ecstasy. The scene matches a series of murders which ended when irrefutable forensic evidence secured the conviction of one Derek Tyler. But Tyler''s been locked up in a mental institution for two years, barely speaking a word except to say that ''the Voice'' told him to do it.Top criminal psychologist Dr Tony Hill is prepared to think the unthinkable this is not a copycat murder but something much stranger. While DCI Carol Jordan and her team mount a desperate and dangerous undercover police operation to trap the murderer, Hill heads towards a terrifying face-off with one of the most perverse killers he has ever encoTrade Review‘One of McDermid's finest, which is saying a lot' The Times ‘An especially taut and inventive thriller. This is McDermid on top form’ Daily Mail 'Serial killers are thankfully rare. It is a tribute to the power of Val McDermid's imagination that she made this one seem so believable' Daily Telegraph 'Complex, combative and nuanced' Express ‘No one compares to McDermid’ Guardian 'Val McDermid is an intelligent, supremely talented novelist and with this latest tale, she is writing at the height of her power. Utterly compelling' Glasgow Herald

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Book SynopsisThe Number One bestselling crime series featuring Dr Tony Hill, hero of TV's Wire in the Blood, written by the award-winning Val McDermid. The hunt for a serial killer leads from Britain through Europe in this terrifying psychological thriller.A twisted killer targeting psychologists has left a grisly trail across Europe.Dr Tony Hill, expert at mapping the minds of murderers, is reluctant to get involved. But then the next victim is much closer to homeMeanwhile, his former partner DCI Carol Jordan is working undercover in Berlin, on a dangerous operation to trap a millionaire trafficker. When the game turns nasty, Tony is the only person she can call on for help.Confronting a cruelty that has its roots in Nazi atrocities, Tony and Carol are thrown together in a world of violence and corruption, where they have no one to trust but each other.Trade Review'Val McDermid is one of the few crime authors who can be convincing when it comes to 'writing tough' yet retain a powerful emotional insight… McDermid is doing something quite extraordinary with the crime fiction suspense thriller' Scotland on Sunday 'This is a hugely ambitious novel, involving three police forces, of which the British seem to be the most Machiavellian' Express Praise for Val McDermid: 'Val McDermid is a roaring Ferrari amid the crowded traffic on the crime-writing road' Independent 'McDermid has become our leading pathologist of everyday evil… The subtle orchestration of terror is masterful' Guardian

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Book SynopsisThe Number One bestselling, award-winning Queen of crime fiction Val McDermid delivers a searing psychological suspense thriller. A serial killer is on the loose. His victims? Crime writersA murderer is at large, hunting with a bloodlust that shatters all the conventional wisdom on how serial killers operate.Professor Fiona Cameron is a psychologist who uses computer technology to track serial offenders. She vowed never to work for the Met again after they went against her advice and screwed up an investigation as a result. But when her lover, thriller writer Kit Martin, tells her a fellow crime novelist has been murdered, Fiona can't help taking an interest.With the killer striking again, Fiona is caught in a race against time, not only to save a life, but to bring herself redemption, both personal and professional.Trade Review'She is the real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers; no-one can plot or tell a story like she can. The hairs on my neck literally stood up' Express 'McDermid has become our leading pathologist of everyday evil… The subtle orchestration of terror is masterful' Guardian 'Dark, clever and timely' Scotland on Sunday Praise for Val McDermid: 'Val McDermid is a roaring Ferrari amid the crowded traffic on the crime-writing road' Independent ‘Manchester's answer to Thomas Harris’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisA collection of atmospheric short stories written by internationally bestselling, award-winning Val McDermid. A fabulous festive treat featuring classic tales alongside exclusive, never-before-seen material.

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Book SynopsisIn this special 20th anniversary edition, Lee Child introduces the Gold Dagger award-winning serial killer thriller that began the Number One bestselling crime series featuring clinical psychologist Dr Tony Hill, hero of TV's much-loved Wire in the Blood.You always remember the first time. Isn't that what they say about sex? How much more true it is of murderUp till now, the only serial killers Tony Hill had encountered were safely behind bars. This one's different this one's on the loose.Four men have been found mutilated and tortured. As fear grips the city, the police turn to clinical psychologist Tony Hill for a profile of the killer. But soon Tony becomes the unsuspecting target in a battle of wits and wills where he has to use every ounce of his professional nerve to survive.A tense, beautifully written psychological thriller, The Mermaids Singing explores the tormented mind of a serial killer unlike any the world of fiction has ever seen.Trade Review'Compelling and shocking', Minette Walters 'Terrifying but stylish, cruel and compassionate. Truly, horribly good' Frances Fyfield , Mail on Sunday 'Gripping, intelligent stuff' The Times 'A superb psychological thriller' Cosmopolitan 'A deliciously gruesome serial killer thriller. Ms McDermid finds new ways to shock and revolt us' New York Times

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Book Synopsis Jane Austen in the hands of queen of crime, Val McDermid. Get ready for a very different Northanger Abbey. Trade ReviewPraise for Northanger Abbey: 'Val McDermid’s brilliant re-working of Jane Austen’s original shows that innocent, bookish girls in thrall to the supernatural have changed surprisingly little in two centuries. Witty and shrewd, full of romance and skulduggery – I loved it.'J.K. ROWLING ‘Brilliant… I was utterly charmed by this newfangled Austen and look forward eagerly to Alexander McCall Smith’s Emma’John Sutherland, Financial Times ‘Funny and brilliantly written’ Jenny Colgan, Guardian ‘Northanger Abbey is funny, clever, subversive and Scottish. No bonnets – all brio’JEANETTE WINTERSON ‘I picked up Northanger Abbey one evening and didn’t stop reading until I’d finished it. It’s an exquisitely realised tale of the uncertainty and brutality of teenage years told with the lightness of touch and humour that Val is famous for. Utter brilliance from McDermid’ SUSAN CALMAN ‘McDermid’s reworking of the original novel is intelligent, amusing and well-written… captures beautifully how it feels to be a teenager… McDermid is a subtle and witty writer and it’s hard to imagine a better evocation of the spirit of the original.’ THE TIMES ‘A fun rendering… McDermid’s Abbey, with its passageways and dark corners, is fantastic, and this novel is a lark.’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘McDermid’s great virtue is to have made Austen’s characters seem fresh in the way they would have been for her first readers… I can imagine Jane herself applauding.’ SUNDAY EXPRESS ‘Note perfect… breezy, vital, inventive… Her obvious pleasure in the task is as contagious as Austen’s wit.’ THE SCOTSMAN Praise for The Austen Project: ‘The Austen Project is a breathtaking tribute to Jane Austen. I can’t wait to read the other five “updates” while being reminded to reread, joyfully, the originals’ Washington Post

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Book SynopsisThe second riveting crime novel in the Karen Pirie series, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid.A superb mystery' The TimesFrom the creators of Line of Duty and Bodyguard, KAREN PIRIE is now on ITV, starring Lauren Lyle (Outlander)Twenty-five years ago, a woman and her baby son were kidnapped and held to ransom. Catriona Grant ended up dead and little Adam''s fate has remained a mystery ever since.When a new clue is discovered in a deserted Tuscan villa along with grisly evidence of a recent murder cold case expert DI Karen Pirie is assigned to follow the trail.She''s already working a case from the same year. During the Miners'' Strike of 1984, pit worker Mick Prentice vanished. Where did he really go? And is there a link to the Grant mystery?The truth is stranger and far darker than fiction.Trade Review‘An absorbing novel, one of her best’ The Times ‘Val McDermid is a born storyteller… absorbing reading’ Sunday Telegraph ‘A searing piece … McDermid orchestrates the tension with authority… After reading McDermid’s novel, readers may wish that more crime fiction would have the guts to take on serious issues’ Express ‘Torture, warped psyches, unspeakable cellars: Val McDermid sends you to bed with lights blazing’ Sunday Times ‘One of the best modern writers of crime fiction … Excellent’ Scotland on Sunday Praise for Val McDermid: 'No one rivals Val McDermid’s skill at writing truly terrifying thrillers’ Good Housekeeping ‘The real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers' Daily Express 'McDermid's capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing' The Times ‘Val McDermid is undoubtedly the queen of British crime’ Observer 'McDermid’s expertly juggled plotlines and masterful handling of pace and tension tick all the best boxes’ Guardian ‘The queen of crime is still at the top of her game’ Independent ‘One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review ‘Her writing is never less than excellent’ Crime Time

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Book SynopsisThe award-winning and Number One bestselling Val McDermid crafts an electrifying psychological suspense thriller that mixes history, heritage and heinous crimes.A 200 year-old-secret is now a matter of life and death.And it could be worth a fortune.It''s summer in the Lake District and heavy rain over the fells has uncovered a bizarrely tattooed body. Could it be linked to the old rumour that Fletcher Christian, mutinous First Mate on the Bounty, had secretly returned to England?Scholar Jane Gresham wants to find out. She believes that the Lakeland poet William Wordsworth, a friend of Christian''s, may have sheltered the fugitive and turned his tale into an epic poem which has since disappeared.But as she follows each lead, death is hard on her heels. The centuries-old mystery is putting lives at risk. And it isn''t just the truth that is waiting to be discovered, but a bounty worth millions Trade Review‘An irresistible combination of contemporary psychological thriller and historical mystery' Tess Gerritsen ‘Cunning and gripping… A substantially entertaining novel which grips the reader’s interest from the first page until the final deeply satisfying sentence’ Express ‘Trying to solve a 200-year-old mystery becomes increasingly lethal and readable' Mirror ‘One of the world’s leading mystery writers…Thomas Harris crossed with Agatha Christie, if you will… A great read. England’s heritage history has never been so chilling’ Observer ‘Safe for the squeamish… one of her best’ Literary Review

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Book SynopsisKAREN PIRIE RETURNS. A MASTERFUL THRILLER BY THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER VAL MCDERMID__________Edinburgh, haunted by the ghosts of its many writers, is also the cold case beat of DCI Karen Pirie. So she shouldn''t be surprised when an author''s manuscript appears to be a blueprint for an actual crime.Karen can''t ignore the plot''s chilling similarities to the unsolved case of an Edinburgh University student who vanished from her own doorstep. The manuscript seems to be the key to unlocking what happened to Lara Hardie, but there''s a problem: the author died before he finished it.As Karen digs deeper, she uncovers a spiralling game of betrayal and revenge, where lies are indistinguishable from the truth and with more than one unexpected twist . . .The Queen of Crime Val McDermid is at the top of her game in her most gripping and fiendishly clever case yet.Praise for Val McDermid''McDeTrade ReviewPirie is her most sympathetic protagonist and Past Lying one of her most devious and delightful cases * The Times *The Queen of Crime shows no sign of abdicating. Past Lying is as complex, as satisfying and as readable as anything she's written - which makes it another jewel in Val McDermid's crown -- Mick HerronAtmospheric . . . The novel-within-a-novel is not a new device, but McDermid uses it to memorable effect in a piece of fiction that vividly recreates the anxious early months of the Covid pandemic -- Crime Pick of the Month * Sunday Times *A chilling, twisting triumph. Past Lying is a classic mystery, brilliant, heart-stopping and seamless. No one does it better than Val McDermid -- Chris WhitakerVal McDermid's latest offering proves once again why she reigns supreme in the world of crime fiction . . . The intricate and clever plot balances fact and fiction while the heroine Karen Pirie is as captivating as ever. For fans of the series, it's like a reunion with old friends, and for newcomers, it's an invitation to dive into a world of suspense and intrigue where McDermid's storytelling prowess shines through as she skilfully explores themes of betrayal and revenge, leaving readers guessing with every unexpected twist. Simply a must-read for anyone who appreciates top-notch crime fiction * Yours *Original, ingenious, and oh so twisty! It left me breathless -- Belinda BauerThe ingenious plot kept me guessing all the way through. It delivers on every level -- Marian KeyesWith an intricate plot, authentic dialogue, rich details, and masterly McDermid twists and turns, [Past Lying] will delight Pirie fans, existing and new -- Starred review * Library Journal *Riveting . . . McDermid keeps the twists coming hard and fast, and she bolsters them with sharp observations about the toll of Covid on the public psyche. This page-turner grips from the outset and doesn't let go -- Starred review * Publishers Weekly *Ingenious, humane, and all too telling as a reminder of the costs of the pandemic even on its survivors * Kirkus *[McDermid] ingeniously flips over the rug and examines the pattern in reverse. Karen and her supporting cast are absorbing, providing insight into the restrictions on police work during the pandemic and plenty of Scottish flavour * Booklist *[Pirie] is an appealing character . . . McDermid [has] fun describing the inner workings of the crime-fiction profession, including the creation of stories and the politics, favouritism, resentment, jealousy and score-settling found behind the scenes * Literary Review *A spiralling game of betrayal and revenge. A real tour-de-force * Irish Independent *The eerie landscape of Scotland's capital provides the backdrop to a new thriller from McDermid signalling the return of her much-loved detective Karen Pirie * Scotsman *A cracking read * Daily Express *A deadly game of revenge. Another twisty thriller * Heat *Past Lying sees McDermid simultaneously at her darkest and most playful. The central plot is a wonderfully tricksy story within a story within a story * Mail on Sunday *McDermid plots her novels in masterly style. She holds the reader's attention and provokes our curiosity . . . Her ingenuity commands respect . . . McDermid is deservedly popular and now acclaimed as the Queen of Crime. She is a fine carpenter, her books always well-constructed. She has the confidence to take her time in the telling of her story . . . She is at her ingenious best here * Scotsman *A complex plot of jealous writers, straying spouses and effective twists. This novel within-a-novel conceit, used to lead the detectives to more concrete evidence, sharply delivers a suitably unsettled atmosphere . . . Affecting * Irish Times *This is such a brilliantly conceived plot line that I was squirming with glee as I turned each page. McDermid is in rare form here, and the book never fails to entertain and surprise . . . Past Lying is a wonder to behold. I place it directly next to McDermid's finest works, like A Place of Execution and The Wire in the Blood. Her use of the pandemic is one of the most clever I have seen to date, and the story within a story that constantly references such greats as Agatha Christie and the aforementioned Highsmith makes this a novel that cannot be missed * Bookreporter *The narrative takes on the characteristics of nested dolls . . . Head and shoulders above many crime novels * Crime Fiction Lover *

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Book SynopsisThe second gripping thriller in the Kate Brannigan series, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid.No one can plot or tell a story like McDermid' ExpressPI Kate Brannigan is hired to investigate a series of strange financial scams across Manchester. At first it looks like a discrepancy with the paperwork, but the deeper Kate digs, the murkier the case becomes.Before long she's up to her neck in crooked land deals and murder and her own life is on the lineTrade Review‘Kate Brannigan deserves promotion to the top rank, alongside Kinsey Millhone and V.I. Warshawski. Plot, characterization, pace are all first-rate, and Brannigan is one of the most likeable of all today’s PIs’Sunday Telegraph ‘A satisfying range of villains, Manchester and its environs turn deeply sinister and Brannigan toughs and wisecracks her way to a solution.’The Times Praise for Val McDermid: 'No one rivals Val McDermid’s skill at writing truly terrifying thrillers’ Good Housekeeping ‘The real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers' Daily Express 'McDermid's capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing' The Times ‘Val McDermid is undoubtedly the queen of British crime’ Observer 'McDermid’s expertly juggled plotlines and masterful handling of pace and tension tick all the best boxes’ Guardian ‘The queen of crime is still at the top of her game’ Independent ‘One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review ‘Her writing is never less than excellent’ Crime Time

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Book SynopsisTHE ENTHRALLING KAREN PIRIE MYSTERY FROM THE NO.1 BESTSELLER. THE KAREN PIRIE SERIES IS NOW A MAJOR ITV SERIES STARRING LAUREN LYLE''The queen of crime is still at the top of her game'' Independent''Gripping, thought-provoking and original - a tour-de-force'' Literary ReviewWhen a skeleton is discovered hidden at the top of a crumbling, gothic building in Edinburgh, Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is faced with the unenviable task of identifying the bones. As Karen''s investigation gathers momentum, she is drawn deeper into a dark world of intrigue and betrayal. Meanwhile, someone is taking the law into their own hands in the name of justice and revenge -- but when present resentment collides with secrets of the past, the truth is more shocking than anyone could have imagined . . .If you love The Skeleton Road, don''t miss Silent Bones - the brand-new Karen Pirie thriller, available to order now.Praise for Val McDermid:''Grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go'' Daily Mail''As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get'' Sunday Express''One of today''s most accomplished crime writers'' Literary Review''McDermid remains unrivalled'' ObserverThis is the third book in the bestselling Karen Pirie series.Trade ReviewVal McDermid, what a diva of crime! ... an acute and credible psychological thriller - Sunday Examiner on The Vanishing PointAs ever, McDermid's gift for taking ordinary, everyday events and giving them a sinister twist, plus her keen observations of human nature, make for a truly gripping tale - Sunderland Echo on Cross and Burn

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Book SynopsisThe brand new, gripping, chilling novel from Val McDermid, featuring two of the most distinctive and unforgettable characters in crime fiction: Tony Hill and Carole Jordan

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Book SynopsisChilling tales of murder and revenge from the queen of the psychological thriller

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Book SynopsisThe first step on the road to change is to imagine possibility.Imagine A Country offers visions of a new future from an astonishing array of Scottish voices, from comedians to economists, writers to musicians. Edited, curated and introduced by bestselling author Val McDermid and geographer Jo Sharp, it is a collection of ideas, dreams and ambitions, aiming to inspire change, hope and imagination. Featuring:Ali Smith, Phill Jupitus, A.L. Kennedy, Alan Cumming, Kerry Hudson, Greg Hemphill, Carol Ann Duffy, Chris Brookmyre, Alison Watt, Alasdair Gray, Leila Aboulela, Ian Rankin, Selina Hales, Sanjeev Kohli, Jackie Kay, Damian Barr, Elaine C. Smith, Abir Mukherjee, Anne Glover, Alan Bissett, Louise Welsh, Jo Clifford, Ricky Ross, Trishna Singh, Cameron McNeish, Alexander McCall Smith, Carla Jenkins, Don Paterson, and many more . . .Trade ReviewAn ambitious, thought-provoking, diverse collection of imaginings. I laughed, I cried -- WILL DEANA fascinating and rich collection * * The National * *Thoughtful . . . idealistic and interesting * * Scotsman * *

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Book Synopsis KAREN PIRIE RETURNS IN 2023. A MASTERFUL THRILLER BY THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER VAL MCDERMID THE HEART-POUNDING NEW NOVEL IN THE KAREN PIRIE SERIES, NOW A MAJOR ITV SERIES STARRING LAUREN LYLE__________Edinburgh, haunted by the ghosts of its many writers, is also the cold case beat of DCI Karen Pirie. So she shouldn''t be surprised when an author''s manuscript appears to be a blueprint for an actual crime.Karen can''t ignore the plot''s chilling similarities to the unsolved case of an Edinburgh University student who vanished from her own doorstep. The manuscript seems to be the key to unlocking what happened to Lara Hardie, but there''s a problem: the author died before he finished it.As Karen digs deeper, she uncovers a spiralling game of betrayal and revenge, where lies are indistinguishable from the truth and with more than one unexpected twist . . .The Queen of Crime Val McDermid iTrade ReviewPirie is her most sympathetic protagonist and Past Lying one of her most devious and delightful cases * The Times *The Queen of Crime shows no sign of abdicating. Past Lying is as complex, as satisfying and as readable as anything she's written - which makes it another jewel in Val McDermid's crown -- Mick HerronAtmospheric . . . The novel-within-a-novel is not a new device, but McDermid uses it to memorable effect in a piece of fiction that vividly recreates the anxious early months of the Covid pandemic -- Crime Pick of the Month * Sunday Times *A chilling, twisting triumph. Past Lying is a classic mystery, brilliant, heart-stopping and seamless. No one does it better than Val McDermid -- Chris WhitakerVal McDermid's latest offering proves once again why she reigns supreme in the world of crime fiction . . . The intricate and clever plot balances fact and fiction while the heroine Karen Pirie is as captivating as ever. For fans of the series, it's like a reunion with old friends, and for newcomers, it's an invitation to dive into a world of suspense and intrigue where McDermid's storytelling prowess shines through as she skilfully explores themes of betrayal and revenge, leaving readers guessing with every unexpected twist. Simply a must-read for anyone who appreciates top-notch crime fiction * Yours *Original, ingenious, and oh so twisty! It left me breathless -- Belinda BauerThe ingenious plot kept me guessing all the way through. It delivers on every level -- Marian KeyesWith an intricate plot, authentic dialogue, rich details, and masterly McDermid twists and turns, [Past Lying] will delight Pirie fans, existing and new -- Starred review * Library Journal *Riveting . . . McDermid keeps the twists coming hard and fast, and she bolsters them with sharp observations about the toll of Covid on the public psyche. This page-turner grips from the outset and doesn't let go -- Starred review * Publishers Weekly *Ingenious, humane, and all too telling as a reminder of the costs of the pandemic even on its survivors * Kirkus *[McDermid] ingeniously flips over the rug and examines the pattern in reverse. Karen and her supporting cast are absorbing, providing insight into the restrictions on police work during the pandemic and plenty of Scottish flavour * Booklist *[Pirie] is an appealing character . . . McDermid [has] fun describing the inner workings of the crime-fiction profession, including the creation of stories and the politics, favouritism, resentment, jealousy and score-settling found behind the scenes * Literary Review *A spiralling game of betrayal and revenge. A real tour-de-force * Irish Independent *The eerie landscape of Scotland's capital provides the backdrop to a new thriller from McDermid signalling the return of her much-loved detective Karen Pirie * Scotsman *A cracking read * Daily Express *A deadly game of revenge. Another twisty thriller * Heat *Past Lying sees McDermid simultaneously at her darkest and most playful. The central plot is a wonderfully tricksy story within a story within a story * Mail on Sunday *McDermid plots her novels in masterly style. She holds the reader's attention and provokes our curiosity . . . Her ingenuity commands respect . . . McDermid is deservedly popular and now acclaimed as the Queen of Crime. She is a fine carpenter, her books always well-constructed. She has the confidence to take her time in the telling of her story . . . She is at her ingenious best here * Scotsman *A complex plot of jealous writers, straying spouses and effective twists. This novel within-a-novel conceit, used to lead the detectives to more concrete evidence, sharply delivers a suitably unsettled atmosphere . . . Affecting * Irish Times *This is such a brilliantly conceived plot line that I was squirming with glee as I turned each page. McDermid is in rare form here, and the book never fails to entertain and surprise . . . Past Lying is a wonder to behold. I place it directly next to McDermid's finest works, like A Place of Execution and The Wire in the Blood. Her use of the pandemic is one of the most clever I have seen to date, and the story within a story that constantly references such greats as Agatha Christie and the aforementioned Highsmith makes this a novel that cannot be missed * Bookreporter *The narrative takes on the characteristics of nested dolls . . . Head and shoulders above many crime novels * Crime Fiction Lover *

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Book SynopsisThe fourth riveting thriller in the Kate Brannigan series, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid.The Queen of Crime is still at the top of her game' IndependentWhen a Monet is stolen from a stately home, Manchester-based private eye Kate Brannigan goes head to head with organized crime as she hunts the thieves through Europe.Meanwhile, someone is leaving a trail of bodies across the Northwest. As Kate confronts some harsh truths in her own life, the case stretches her love and loyalty to its limits.Trade Review‘Stunningly exciting, horrifyingly good’Ruth Rendell ‘This book has a sense of gravitas and intelligence utterly beyond lesser writers in the field’Ian Rankin ‘Terrific chiller from Manchester’s answer to Thomas Harris’Guardian ‘A clever and exciting thriller’Sunday Telegraph ‘A compelling combination of sexual-political mischief and Jacobean psychological intensity’Sunday Times (of The Wire in the Blood) Praise for Val McDermid: 'No one rivals Val McDermid’s skill at writing truly terrifying thrillers’ Good Housekeeping ‘The real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers' Daily Express 'McDermid's capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing' The Times ‘Val McDermid is undoubtedly the queen of British crime’ Observer 'McDermid’s expertly juggled plotlines and masterful handling of pace and tension tick all the best boxes’ Guardian ‘The queen of crime is still at the top of her game’ Independent ‘One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review ‘Her writing is never less than excellent’ Crime Time

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Book SynopsisThe first novel in the bestselling Karen Pirie seriesThe award-winning Number One bestseller and Queen of crime fiction Val McDermid carves out a stunning psychological thriller. The past is behind them, but what's still to come will tear them apartFrom the creators of Line of Duty and Bodyguard, KAREN PIRIE is now on ITV, starring Lauren Lyle (Outlander)Some things just won't let go.The past, for instance.That night in the cemetery.The girl's body in the snow.On a freezing Fife morning four drunken students stumble upon the body of a woman in the snow. Rosie has been raped, stabbed and left for dead in an ancient Pictish cemetery. And the only suspects are the four young men now stained with her blood.Twenty-five years later the police mount a cold case' review of Rosie's unsolved murder and the four are still suspects. But when two of them die in suspicious circumstances, it seems that someone is pursuing their own brand of justice. For the remaining two there is only one way to avoiTrade ReviewPraise for The Distant Echo: ‘A classic … McDermid pulls out all the stops. Impeccable’ Guardian ‘A few more sly, old-fashioned whodunits like this and she’ll join the sturdy ranks of the queens of crime, on course to become Dame Val or Baroness McDermid’ Sunday Times ‘She has created some of the most appealing figures in current crime fiction. Val McDermid has used the crime genre to write a novel that, above everything else, celebrates life and loyalty’ TLS ‘A real page-turner and another McDermid triumph’ Observer ‘A powerful story of murder and revenge … an exciting page-turner’ Sunday Telegraph Praise for Val McDermid: ‘The queen of crime’ Independent 'No one rivals Val McDermid’s skill at writing truly terrifying thrillers’ Good Housekeeping ‘The real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers' Daily Express 'McDermid's capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing' The Times ‘Val McDermid is undoubtedly the queen of British crime’ Observer 'McDermid’s expertly juggled plotlines and masterful handling of pace and tension tick all the best boxes’ Guardian ‘The queen of crime is still at the top of her game’ Independent ‘One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review ‘Her writing is never less than excellent’ Crime Time

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Book SynopsisThe stunning first novel in the Kate Brannigan series, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid.This is crime writing of the very highest order' The TimesIntroducing Kate Brannigan, Manchester's most-loved private detective a woman who won't take no for an answer.As a favour, Kate agrees to track down a missing songwriter, Moria Pollock. It was supposed to be a nice simple case, but the search soon leads Kate into the dark underworld of Leeds, Manchester and Bradford and finally to a shocking confrontation with a killerTrade Review‘Solid pleasure… this moves along with the speed of a Porsche, so smooth you can almost kid yourself you haven’t been sitting on the edge of your seat throughout’Mail on Sunday ‘Zippy action, a well-crafted plot and some refreshingly gritty northern truths’The Times Praise for Val McDermid: 'No one rivals Val McDermid’s skill at writing truly terrifying thrillers’ Good Housekeeping ‘The real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers' Daily Express 'McDermid's capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing' The Times ‘Val McDermid is undoubtedly the queen of British crime’ Observer 'McDermid’s expertly juggled plotlines and masterful handling of pace and tension tick all the best boxes’ Guardian ‘The queen of crime is still at the top of her game’ Independent ‘One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review ‘Her writing is never less than excellent’ Crime Time

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Book SynopsisThe third stunning thriller in the Kate Brannigan series, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid.This is crime writing of the very highest order' The TimesManchester-based private eye Kate Brannigan thought it would be safe to let her boyfriend help out with her investigation. But now he's behind bars and she's been left caring for his eight-year-old son.Soon Kate finds herself drawn into the world of drug traffickers, child pornographers, and violent gangland enforcers bringing her face to face with death in the most terrifying investigation of her career.Trade Review‘Tough, funny and intensely topical. McDermid stands out as one of the few contemporary writers actually nourished by the here and now’Literary Review ‘Fast, fluently told story: Kate is as tough as Warshawski but less hung up on political correctness’Daily Mail ‘Kate Brannigan is wonderful’Frances Fyfield Praise for Val McDermid: 'No one rivals Val McDermid’s skill at writing truly terrifying thrillers’ Good Housekeeping ‘The real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers' Daily Express 'McDermid's capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing' The Times ‘Val McDermid is undoubtedly the queen of British crime’ Observer 'McDermid’s expertly juggled plotlines and masterful handling of pace and tension tick all the best boxes’ Guardian ‘The queen of crime is still at the top of her game’ Independent ‘One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review ‘Her writing is never less than excellent’ Crime Time

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Book SynopsisA riveting Kate Brannigan thriller, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid.Val McDermid remains unrivalled' ObserverKate Brannigan's having a bad week. Her boyfriend's death notice is in the paper and her plan to catch a team of fraudsters is in disarray.Kate can't even cry on her best friend's shoulder, for Alexis has worries of her own. Her girlfriend's pregnant, and when the doctor responsible for the fertility treatment is murdered, Alexis needs Kate like she's never done before.Delving into the alien world of medical experimentation, Kate confronts betrayal and cold-blooded greed as she fights to save not only her livelihood, but her life as wellTrade Review‘One of my favourite authors’Sara Paretsky ‘Kate Brannigan is truly welcome… she is refreshingly funny’ Daily Mail ‘This is crime writing of the very highest order’ Marcel Berlins, The Times ‘McDermid packs it all into 237 highly readable pages’ Natasha Cooper, TLS ‘A powerful sense of place and the usual flak of misanthropic one-liners’ Literary Review Praise for Val McDermid: 'No one rivals Val McDermid’s skill at writing truly terrifying thrillers’ Good Housekeeping ‘The real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers' Daily Express 'McDermid's capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing' The Times ‘Val McDermid is undoubtedly the queen of British crime’ Observer 'McDermid’s expertly juggled plotlines and masterful handling of pace and tension tick all the best boxes’ Guardian ‘The queen of crime is still at the top of her game’ Independent ‘One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review ‘Her writing is never less than excellent’ Crime Time

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Book SynopsisA gripping Kate Brannigan thriller, from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Val McDermid.Val McDermid remains unrivalled' ObserverManchester PI Kate Brannigan finds herself with no choice but to take the only case on offer: bodyguarding a paranoid soap star.But the glitzy world of showbusiness has a darker side. And as Kate scratches the surface, she uncovers dramas, threats and bitter rivalries. And when a self-styled Seer to the Stars' is murdered, Kate is left with more questions than answers.Trade Review‘Stunningly exciting, horrifyingly good’Ruth Rendell ‘This book has a sense of gravitas and intelligence utterly beyond lesser writers in the field’Ian Rankin ‘Terrific chiller from Manchester’s answer to Thomas Harris’Guardian ‘A clever and exciting thriller’Sunday Telegraph ‘A compelling combination of sexual-political mischief and Jacobean psychological intensity’Sunday Times (of The Wire in the Blood) Praise for Val McDermid: 'No one rivals Val McDermid’s skill at writing truly terrifying thrillers’ Good Housekeeping ‘The real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers' Daily Express 'McDermid's capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing' The Times ‘Val McDermid is undoubtedly the queen of British crime’ Observer 'McDermid’s expertly juggled plotlines and masterful handling of pace and tension tick all the best boxes’ Guardian ‘The queen of crime is still at the top of her game’ Independent ‘One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review ‘Her writing is never less than excellent’ Crime Time

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Book SynopsisA riveting psychological thriller from the Number One bestselling Queen of crime fiction Val McDermid.In the Peak District village of Scardale, thirteen-year-old girls didn't just run away. So when Alison Carter vanished in the winter of '63, everyone knew it was a murder.Catherine Heathcote remembers the case well. A child herself when Alison vanished, decades on she still recalls the sense of fear as parents kept their children close, terrified of strangers.Now a journalist, she persuades DI George Bennett to speak of the hunt for Alison, the tantalizing leads and harrowing dead ends. But when a fresh lead emerges, Bennett tries to stop the story plunging Catherine into a world of buried secrets and revelations.One of the all-time greats special in every way' Lee ChildThis book changed everything I thought I knew about crime fiction' Belinda Bauer, bestselling author of SnapEvery now and then, a writer transforms the landscape of the literary canon: Val McDermid is one such writer' Fiona Cummins, bestselling author of RattleJust mesmerizing' Joseph Knox, bestselling author of SirensA brilliant book' Holly Watt, award winning author of To the Lions''From the first pages, we know we''re in the hands of a master '' Jeffrey DeaverBeautifully written'Daily Telegraph''One of the best detective stories I''ve read'' Ruth RendellPossibly the best McDermid has written'Sunday TelegraphPerfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths and Lynda La Plante.Trade Review‘One of the all-time greats – special in every way’Lee Child ‘This book changed everything I thought I knew about crime fiction’ Belinda Bauer, bestselling author of Snap ‘Every now and then, a writer transforms the landscape of the literary canon: Val McDermid is one such writer…It both moves and shocks, and yet compels us to read on. A Place of Execution reveals her as a master of her craft’ Fiona Cummins, bestselling author of Rattle ‘Just mesmerizing’ Joseph Knox, bestselling author of Sirens ‘A brilliant book. Val McDermid develops each character and location exquisitely, while the story blazes to an astonishing ending’ Holly Watt, award winning author of To the Lions 'From the first pages, we know we're in the hands of a master this book will earn its author a place in that rare pantheon – the truly literary suspense novel' Jeffrey Deaver ‘Beautifully written … It may be that McDermid will write better novels than this in the future, but I do not see how’ Daily Telegraph 'One of the best detective stories I've read' Ruth Rendell ‘A substantial book and an impressive one, possibly the best McDermid has written and it takes this most accomplished writer into higher territory’ Sunday Telegraph 'A Place of Execution is a wake-up call to crime writers everywhere. A terrific and original novel, brilliantly executed' Mirror

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Book SynopsisThe ferociously readable, #1 bestselling crime thriller that led to the much-loved ITV showWholly satisfying' Ian RankinYoung girls are disappearing nationwideDr Tony Hill sets his team a task: find a link between the cases.Only one officer comes up with a theory, but it's too wild that is, until one of their number is murdered and mutilated.Tony has started a game one where hunter and hunted can all too easily be reversed. He has baited an aggressor whose charming manner hides a warped and sick mindWhen a killer is hiding in plain sightWho can stop them?Truly frightening' The TimesSly and sophisticated, weaving the mundane with the stomach-churningly depraved' ExpressTrade Review'The book [has] a sense of gravitas and intelligence utterly beyond lesser writers in the field … This is a wholly satisfying read which cleverly subverts tradition and expectation’ Ian Rankin, Scotland on Sunday 'This is a shocking book, stunningly exciting, horrifyingly good. It is so convincing that one fears reality may be like this and these events the awful truth' Ruth Rendell 'The Wire in the Blood is truly frightening, McDermid's capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing … Tony Hill, driven and disturbed, is an appealing and original character. This is a writer who just gets better and better' The Times 'Terrific chiller from Manchester's answer to Thomas Harris … Thank God for Tony Hill and psychological profiling' Guardian 'Val McDermid is an accomplished storyteller, and this scary, fast-moving tale is engrossing' Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisBuy Val McDermid''s masterful new thriller, 1989, now!''No-one can plot or tell a story like she can. The hairs on my neck literally stood up'' Daily Express''So gripping it puts your life on hold'' The Times''You should have been a detective. If there''s one thing the last year has proved, it''s how good you are at finding things out. Things that are buried so deep nobody even thinks twice about them. The sort of things that turn people''s lives inside out once they''re exposed.'' Meet Tony Hill''s most twisted adversary - a killer with a shopping list of victims, a killer unmoved by youth and innocence, a killer driven by the most perverted of desires. The murder and mutilation of teenager Jennifer Maidment is horrific enough on its own. But it''s not long before Tony realises it''s just the start of a brutal and ruthless campaign that''s targTrade ReviewSo gripping that it puts your life on hold. * The Times *She is the real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers; no-one can plot or tell a story like she can. The hairs on my neck literally stood up. * Jenni Murray, Daily Express *McDermid remains unrivalled at yoking chilling scenarios to a pulsing narrative; and Hill's torment is palpable in this scary, dark thriller. Brilliant * Observer *Everything a great detective novel should be: pacy, gripping, clever and stylish and, most of all, a fantastic read. * Sunday Express *Another cracker in the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series from the most imaginative creator of serial killers we have. * Daily Mail *Gripping, well-written, nail-biting stuff * Waterstone’s Books Quarterly *One of our finest crime writers. * The Times *A moving novel, not just a gripping one. * Financial Times *As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get. * Sunday Express *McDermid's mastery of this genre is evident, particularly in her dialogue, in which there is rarely a false note. * TLS *McDermid's books are getting better and better...an absorbing novel of character. * Literary Review *...reminds us just how finely plotted and intelligently written McDermid's novels are. More please - and soon. * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisPre-order Val McDermid''s masterful new thriller, 1989, now!''No one can tell a story like she can'' Daily Express''The queen of psychological thrillers'' Irish Independent_________When Charlie Flint is sent a mysterious package of cuttings about a brutal murder, it instantly grabs her attention. The murder occurred in the grounds of her old Oxford college - a groom battered to death just hours after his wedding. As his bride and wedding guests sipped champagne, his alleged killers were slipping his bloodstained body into the river.Charlie doesn''t know who sent the package, or why, yet she can''t get the crime out of her head. But as she delves deeper, and steps back into the mysterious world of Oxford colleges, she realises that there is much more to this crime than meets the eye...A stunning standalone thriller from the number one bestseller.__________Trade ReviewWonderfully compelling stuff Daily Mail A workout for the grey cells, perfectly executed Daily Telegraph This standalone from the Scottish force of nature, and creator of Robson Green's Wire In The Blood TV series, is a brutally clever story Daily Mirror Keeps you guessing till the last page Bella Layered with emotional and psychological complexity, this outstanding page-turner has television success written all over it Scottish Daily Record An accomplished thriller, jumping from the past to the present and back with ease, taking in a range of characters and their perspectives...Trick of the Dark had me ruminating for days Sunday Tribune A broad, winding murder mystery Sunday Telegraph Thoughtful, tender and always entertaining Guardian

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Book SynopsisBuy Val McDermid''s masterful new thriller, 1989, now!___________________''Brilliant . . . sensational . . . unforgettable'' Guardian''The queen of crime is still at the top of her game'' IndependentThere is one serial killer who has shaped and defined police profiler Tony Hill''s life. One serial killer whose evil surpasses all others. One serial killer who has the power to chill him to the bone: Jacko Vance.And now Jacko is back in Tony''s life. Even more twisted and cunning than ever before, he is focused on wreaking revenge on Tony - and DCI Carol Jordan - for the years he has spent in prison.Tony doesn''t know when Jacko will strike, or where. All he knows is that Jacko will cause him to feel fear like he has never known before - and devastate his life in ways he cannot imagine...A gripping new thriller in the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, from the number one bestsTrade ReviewIt's perhaps fitting that for McDermid's 25th novel she's revisited her most thrillingly murderous creation, Jacko Vance * Daily Mirror *Val McDermid's 25th novel is stunningly good, but it comes with a health warning. It is truly disturbing * The Times *McDermid never pulls her punches in her graphic descriptions of the evils men (and women) inflict on each other...tension filled from start to finish * Irish Independent *Her writing is taut, her plotting pacy... McDermid is particularly good at analysing human damage and its effects * Scotsman *To write one brilliant book is hard. To write 25 is a miracle. That is what Val McDermid has achieved over the course of her career and it's why she is a much-loved legend in the literary world...the pace here is flawless and the various storylines are expertly interwoven...a superb crime novel * Sunday Express *Brilliant ... sensational ...unforgettable * Guardian *It's a tribute to McDermid's skill as a storyteller that she deliberately creates a trio of central characters who are essentially incapable of conventional empathy yet still manages to sustain reader sympathy right through to the coldly brutal finale * Irish Times *McDermid has pulled out all the stops, delivering a fast-moving tale * Herald *

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Book SynopsisIt's every parent's worst nightmare - your child abducted while you look on, helpless. But five-year-old Jimmy's life is shrouded in secrets, and his mother will be forced to make the most difficult choice of her life - a choice that will affect everyone around her...Trade ReviewMcDermid's ability to wrong-foot the reader remains second to none: highly recommended Guardian A psychological thriller, but it's also a splendidly mordant comment on our fame culture and its consequences The Times McDermid handles the various strands of the story with consummate mastery, and the reader is swept along to the story's genuinely shocking denouement Irish Independent This is a gripping psychological thriller from the beginning to the unexpected ending. A first class novel and McDermid's best to date Woman's Way Ireland Intelligent and hypnotically readable ... entertaining and thought-provoking book Spectator A gripping tale Choice An efficiently crafted psychological thriller with an ending that knocks you sideways Independent on Sunday A McDermid standalone is always an event to cherish because you don't know who you'll meet or where you'll be taken Daily Mirror The strands come together and lead to an eye-blinkingly effective climax. (An) intelligent and hypnotically readable thriller...entertaining and thought provoking Spectator

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Book SynopsisBuy Val McDermid''s masterful new thriller, 1989, now!__________________''The queen of crime is still at the top of her game'' Independent''No one can plot or tell a story like she can'' Daily ExpressSomeone is brutally killing women. Women who bear a striking resemblance to former DCI Carol Jordan. The connection is too strong to ignore and soon psychological profiler Tony Hill finds himself dangerously close to the investigation, just as the killer is closing in on his next target.This is a killer like no other, hell-bent on inflicting the most severe and grotesque punishment on his prey. As the case becomes ever-more complex and boundaries begin to blur, Tony and Carol must work together once more to try and save the victims, and themselves.A breathless, thrilling mystery from the number one bestseller.__________________ Praise for Val McDermid: ''ItTrade ReviewDark, tense and pacy, McDermid's fans will love this * Irish Sunday Mirror *McDermid is as smooth a practitioner of crime fiction as anyone out there * New York Times Book Review *McDermid earns her customary high marks for planting clues, mastering procedural detail and maintaining suspense as the net closes. As usual, however, the endlessly fraught relationships among the continuing characters are the real draw. * Kirkus Reviews *McDermid's fiendishly clever eighth novel featuring forensic psychologist Tony Hill and detective Carol Jordan... is not to be missed * Publisher's Weekly *The book can be read as a story about a hunter/ killer. But it is also a fascinating study of his opponents, the infinitely complex Hill and the clever Sleuth Jordan * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisBuy Val McDermid''s masterful new thriller, 1989, now!___________________''The Queen of Crime reigns again with a thrill from Hill'' Independent ''No one can plot or tell a story like she can'' Daily Express''That day, waiting had been almost unbearable. He wanted something more spectacular, something that couldn''t be ignored. These deaths needed to make a mark . . .'' Psychological profiler Tony Hill is trained to see patterns, to decode the mysteries of human behaviour, and when he comes across a series of suicides among women tormented by vicious online predators, he begins to wonder if there is more to these tragedies than meets the eye. Similar circumstances, different deaths. Could it be murder? But what kind of serial killer wants his crimes to stay hidden? Former DCI Carol Jordan has her own demons to confront, but with lives at staTrade ReviewThe real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers; no one can plot or tell a story like she can * Daily Express *The Queen of Crime reigns again with a thrill from Hill * Independent *McDermid remains unrivalled . . . Brilliant * Observer *With the deaths of PD James and Ruth Rendell, Val McDermid is the obvious successor as Britain's Queen of Crime. For me, she has already held that title for many years. Her latest novel, starring the socially awkward but clever criminal profiler Tony Hill and ace detective Carol Jordan, demonstrates her supremacy -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *McDermid still writes with the telltale verve that's won her the accolade queen of psychological thrillers * Guardian *No one rivals Val McDermid's skill at writing truly terrifying thrillers * goodhousekeeping.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisDon''t miss Past Lying, the twisty new Karen Pirie thriller''It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go'' Daily Mail''Incredibly suspenseful'' Sunday Mirror__________''There are lots of things that ran in families, but murder wasn''t one of them . . .''When a teenage joyrider crashes a stolen car and ends up in a coma, a routine DNA test could be the key to unlocking the mystery of a twenty-year-old murder inquiry. Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is an expert at solving the unsolvable. With each cold case closed, justice is served. So, finding the answer should be straightforward, but it''s as twisted as the DNA helix itself.Meanwhile Karen finds herself irresistibly drawn to another case, one that she has no business investigating. And as she pieces together decades-old evidence, Karen discovers the most dangerous kinds of secrets. Secrets that someone is willTrade ReviewAn incredibly suspenseful thriller, elegantly plotted with smartly drawn characters and fascinating detail * Sunday Mirror *What superlatives are there left to describe the phenomenon that is the multi award-winning McDermid? . . . Told with McDermid's legendary verve and eye for detail, it grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go * Daily Mail *It is evident in her 30th novel that her mastery of the crime has matured well * Sunday Express *[An] engaging new novel . . . McDermid's 30th novel offers fascinating insights into the ethical dilemmas thrown up by advances in forensic science * Sunday Times *Her books combine ironclad storytelling technique, cogent commentaries on modern society and an attitude to the crime genre's long history that is both interrogative and innovative . . . we are reminded that the new Queen of Crime is still at the top of her game * Independent *McDermid's expertly juggled plotlines and masterful handling of pace and tension tick all the best boxes, but what makes this book a real cracker is Pirie herself - grieving, insubordinate and dogged in her pursuit of the various culprits * Guardian *Quite simply, nobody does British crime writing better . . . [a] twisty, deliciously tangled thriller * Peterborough Telegraph *As intelligent and chillingly good as ever * Good Housekeeping *Packed with intrigue, warmly drawn characters and dollops of tension, McDermid's 30th novel leaves the reader looking forward to the 31st * Irish Independent *On her 30th novel . . . none is more deserving of the queen-of-crime mantle than Val McDermid . . . I would like to see a great deal more of DCI Pirie * Irish Times *McDermid proves herself to be as adept as ever at mixing thrilling crime fiction with psychological study . . . Karen is a compelling character, and her personal baggage lends Out of Bounds a great backstory . . . she writes with a brisk light touch, but the book does not stint on realistic detail. Out of Bounds is a fine, tense, and multi-layered addition to the canon of the queen of Scottish crime fiction * Irish Sunday Business Post *It's a treat to watch DCI Pirie once again as she pursues a tantalising forensic trail through a brilliantly realised Scottish setting . . . the back-and-forths with her pusillanimous boss, as she deflates his attempts to undermine her, are a particular joy * Scotland on Sunday *McDermid concocts complex plots with plenty of twists and red herrings. At times the tension is palpable and there are genuine surprises . . . McDermid is a dab hand at creating enough plausibility to make her contributions to the genre intensely readable * Sunday Herald *A celebrated crime author with an attention to detail which makes her stories both gripping and totally authentic * Western Daily Press *Her thrillers never fail to entertain, and this - her 30th (!) novel - is no exception. Another twisted treat * Heat *

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Book SynopsisBuy Val McDermid''s masterful new thriller, 1989, now!''One of the most surprising twists you''ll read this year. Outstanding'' Irish Independent''Engrossing . . . a colossal reminder of just why McDermid has been the queen of crime for three decades'' Heat''Murdered people don''t kill themselves . . .''A quiet night on a country road. The stillness shattered by a car engulfed in flames, and a burned body discovered in the driver''s seat. As the investigation unfolds, DCI Carol Jordan and psychological profiler Tony Hill quickly realise that this is more than just a tragic accident. And so begins the hunt for a truly terrifying killer, someone who believes he is invisible, untraceable and untouchable.As other victims are found to have met the same terrible fate, and with more women at risk, Tony and Carol are drawn into a dark and twistedTrade Review[T]horoughly pleasing, engaging, indeed compelling, a very fine piece of craftsmanship. It will reward those who have followed the Jordan and Hill sequence, and send latecomers back to the earlier novels. * Scotsman *Val McDermid, known as the queen of psychological thrillers, surpasses herself here, delivering one of the most surprising twists you'll read this year. Outstanding. * Irish Independent *The tenth outing for the much-loved duo is a reliably engrossing thriller - and one that ends with a colossal reminder of just why McDermid has been the queen of crime for three decades. * Heat *Elegantly plotted, it's pure class * Sunday Mirror *Dark and expert crime writing . . . beautifully crafted * The Arts Desk *McDermid ratchets up the tension . . . [her] most expressive and emotional novel to date, giving readers more than just a clever criminal to get their teeth into. * The National *There aren't many to touch her for insight into the minds of hunter and hunted. -- Susan HillHere is another gripping crime novel by Val McDermid . . . an exciting book by one of today's most accomplished crime writers * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisDon''t miss Past Lying, the twisty new Karen Pirie thriller___________________''A compulsively readable tale'' Irish Times''Another stellar read from McDermid, and further evidence that her Queen of Crime status will not be challenged'' Scotsman''Somebody has been here before us. And he''s still here . . .''When a body is discovered in the remote depths of the Highlands, DCI Karen Pirie finds herself in the right place at the right time. Unearthed with someone''s long-buried inheritance, the victim seems to belong to the distant past - until new evidence suggests otherwise, and Karen is called in to unravel a case where nothing is as it seems.It''s not long before an overheard conversation draws Karen into the heart of a different case, however - a shocking crime she thought she''d already prevented. As she inches closer to the twisted truths at the centre of these murTrade ReviewThere is nothing more gratifying than watching a master craftswoman at work, and she is on fine form here * Observer *Another stellar read from McDermid, and further evidence that her "Queen of Crime" status will not be challenged * Scotsman *The masterly handling of the pace and plot, blended with brilliant characterisation, show why best-selling writer Val McDermid retains her title of new Queen of Crime * People *McDermid's deceptively languid style, sly black humour and metronomic sense of pacing delivers a compulsively readable tale * Irish Times *Her trademark combination of macabre suspense and a light touch keep you reading gratefully * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisBuy Val McDermid''s masterful new thriller, 1989, now!_______________''The queen of crime is still at the top of her game'' Independent''No one can tell a story like she can'' Daily Express''One of today''s most accomplished crime writers'' Literary Review''We are all creatures of habit. Even murderers . . .''When human remains are discovered in the grounds of an old convent, it quickly becomes clear that someone has been using the site as their personal burial ground. But with the convent abandoned long ago and bodies dating back many years, could this be the work of more than one obsessive killer?The investigation throws up more questions as the evidence mounts but, after their last disastrous case, Tony Hill and Carol Jordan can only watch from afar. As tTrade ReviewThe ingenuity with which Val McDermid keeps her crime-fighting duo fresh is as captivating as her deftly plotted denouement * Scotland on Sunday *McDermid's storytelling is as classy and compelling as ever * Observer *This is McDermid on exemplary form, generating the requisite suspense but never forgetting that the characterisation of Hill and Jordan is a key ingredient * Financial Times *'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' * Independent *Elegantly choreographed . . . McDermid fashions a finale which tees up the next thriller in this sequence admirably * The Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisThe breathtaking new DCI Karen Pirie thriller from number one bestseller and queen of crime, Val McDermid. When a body is pulled from the sea, Karen must reopen a case from a decade before, drawing her into a sinister world of betrayal and dark secrets.Trade ReviewThe sense of McDermid's books getting entangled with real life is particularly powerful * The Times *Still Life shows that she is still at the height of her powers . . . deeply enjoyable, one of her best * Scotsman *An elegant and richly satisfying read * Daily Mail *Tremendous. An effortlessly gripping read * The Observer *Her most exhilarating, breath-taking thriller yet * East Anglian Daily Times *

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Book SynopsisThe first breathtaking thriller in a brand-new series from number one bestseller Val McDermid.Trade ReviewPraise for 1979 * - *The Queen of Crime has done it again, this time with Allie Burns, a relentless investigative journalist who birddogs crime and terror back in the days of typewriters and smoke-filled newsrooms. Masterfully set in Edinburgh, 1979 transports us from the first page. Val McDermid's latest is more than just a compelling story. It's an irresistible and palpable journey that's especially gratifying in today's remote world -- Patricia CornwellA brilliant novel by a supremo of the genre at the height of her powers. A cast of engaging new characters promise to make this an unmissable new series and a thrilling addition to the genre -- Peter JamesA tour-de-force by the amazing McDermid. From the very first pages she effortlessly transports us back in time . . . The plot and characters are remarkable and compelling. Hopefully, we will see the crackerjack Allie Burns back on the pages. The Queen of Crime has delivered another masterpiece -- David BaldacciVal McDermid is the absolute QUEEN. It's great that this is the first of a new series. Allie is a fabulous character, I'll go wherever she takes me and I'm dying to see what she does next -- Marian KeyesPacked full of Val McDermid's trademark brilliance, 1979 is a thrilling snapshot of a fascinating era -- Jane HarperMcDermid is at her considerable best here . . . The good news is that this excellent novel marks the start of a new series * Guardian *A brilliant thriller, as well as a perfect snapshot of the social and political issues of the time. If there's a novel that better captures what working on a newspaper was like back in the day, I can't think of it -- Linwood BarclayUnrivalled. Unmissable. Unforgettable. 1979 is Val McDermid at her nail-biting, heart-rending best -- Chris WhitakerWhile "gripping" is an adjective over-used in book reviews, it's a fitting description of a sensational novel. A surefire bestseller from one of Britain's most accomplished writers * Sunday Express *A new series from Val McDermid promises to be an event - and 1979 delivers. It's full of wit, thrills and incisive social observation, and features, in Allie Burns, a marvellous new character to follow through the years to come -- Mick HerronAbsolutely fantastic. I have been reading Val McDermid for twenty-five years, so I am really saying something when I tell you I enjoyed this novel the most. Immersive in its authenticity and pungently atmospheric . . . For someone who remembers the print newsrooms in their heyday, it was a trip into the past so realistic I could smell the fag smoke on my clothes -- Chris BrookmyreMcDermid can do edge-of-seat suspense better than most novelists . . . An excellent opener to what promises to be an outstanding series * Spectator *Brilliant characters, masterful plotting and a pitch-perfect evocation of the heyday of newspapers. I loved it -- Chris HammerA nail-biting new series * Observer *A fast-paced triple whammy of a thriller, with all three plots, each credible, running simultaneously. It uses all the crime-writing skills she has honed over the years, and adds something else - a pin-sharp portrait of tabloid journalism in its messy, misogynistic 1970s heyday. Allie Burns is off to a flying start, and well worth following down the decades * The Scotsman *A fast-paced triple whammy of a thriller, with all three plots, each credible, running simultaneously. It uses all the crime-writing skills she has honed over the years, and adds something else - a pin-sharp portrait of tabloid journalism in its messy, misogynistic 1970s heyday. Allie Burns is off to a flying start, and well worth following down the decades * The Scotsman *Val McDermid was a newshound at the time and it shows . . . This is her best book in years * The Times, Book of the Month *Allie is a gratifyingly multi-faceted character, and the sociopolitical elements here add a frisson * Financial Times *The work of a writer at the peak of her powers * Herald *The fast-paced storytelling flows irresistibly, and McDermid marshals a wide-ranging cast of characters with aplomb * Irish Times *Her evocation of the Winter of Discontent is spare and skilful . . . allowing the characters, not the period, to take centre stage * Scotland on Sunday *Captures the bleakness and misery of the era with pitch-perfect accuracy * Irish Independent *A superb evocation of the humiliations and triumphs of being a junior reporter, set against the backdrop of the broken Britain of 1979 . . . Riveting * Daily Express *A novel as touching as it is gripping * Big Issue *There are all sorts of reasons to love this book, from the unvarnished truth about newsrooms in the late 70s, to glimpses into social history . . . Engrossing * The i *An engrossing read * Sunday Post *A delightful throwback . . . McDermid looks back in anger - and with some measure of affection - at the vexed era she lived through that gave rise to her socially engaged mysteries * Washington Post *The Crime Queen has done it again and created a character we will all come to know and love. A masterpiece * Daily Record *A pacey read * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERTHE SECOND THRILLING NOVEL IN VAL MCDERMID''S NEW ALLIE BURNS SERIES___________There''s nothing like a killer story . . . 1989. The world is changing, and Allie Burns is still on the front line, covering the stories that count.Although Allie is no longer an investigative journalist, her instincts are sharper than ever. When she discovers a lead about the exploitation of society''s most vulnerable, Allie is determined to give a voice to those who have been silenced. As Allie edges closer to exposing the truth, she travels behind the Iron Curtain, to East Berlin on the brink of revolution. The dark heart of the story is more shocking than she ever imagined. And to tell it, Allie must risk her freedom and her life . . . The latest Allie Burns thriller, set a decade after the bestselling first novel in the ground-breaking, iconic new series.

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERKaren Pirie returns . . . Pre-order Past Lying, the eagerly-awaited new Karen Pirie thriller, publishing October 2023___________1989. The world is on the brink of revolution and journalist Allie Burns is a woman on a mission. When she discovers a lead about the exploitation of society''s most vulnerable, Allie is determined to investigate and give voice to the silenced.Elsewhere, a ticking clock begins the countdown to a murder. As Allie begins to connect the dots and edges closer to exposing the truth, it is more shocking than she ever imagined. There''s nothing like a killer story, and to tell it, Allie must risk her freedom and her life . . .The brand-new unmissable, heart-stopping thriller from number one bestseller, Val McDermid___________Praise for the Allie Burns series''McDermid is at her considerTrade Review1989, by reigning queen of UK crime Val McDermid, is a sequel to her change-of-pace 1979 , the memorable beginning to a quintet of books set in a Glaswegian tabloid office . . . This is every bit as accomplished as its predecessor, with the same crisp sense of an increasingly distant era * Financial Times *One of Britain's most successful crime novelists . . . The novel evokes glorious nostalgia for those who recall mobile phones like house bricks and laptops the size of suitcases * Sunday Times *A book of many parts . . . [McDermid is] subverting the crime genre to her own ends. How the remaining three volumes will turn out is anyone's guess * The Times *There is a great deal to enjoy in this novel . . . McDermid remains a masterly setter of a scene and developer of a storyline. There is an agreeable warmth to much of the book, and the evocation of the world of journalism and politics of the late 20th century is convincing . . . [A book] that will be deeply enjoyed * Scotsman *Studded with a wealth of period detail . . . It whips along like bushfire * Herald *McDermid convincingly recreates the grim era of AIDS, Lockerbie and Hillsborough while providing several juicy mysteries for the reader to gnaw on * Daily Mirror *Praise for 1979 * - *The Queen of Crime has done it again . . . Irresistible -- Patricia CornwellMcDermid is at her considerable best here * Guardian *A supremo of the genre at the height of her powers . . . An unmissable new series -- Peter JamesAllie is a fabulous character, I'll go wherever she takes me and I'm dying to see what she does next -- Marian KeyesMcDermid can do edge-of-seat suspense better than most novelists . . . An excellent opener to what promises to be an outstanding series * Spectator *A tour-de-force . . . The Queen of Crime has delivered another masterpiece -- David BaldacciPacked full of Val McDermid's trademark brilliance, 1979 is a thrilling snapshot of a fascinating era -- Jane HarperWhile "gripping" is an adjective over-used in book reviews, it's a fitting description of a sensational novel. A surefire bestseller from one of Britain's most accomplished writers * Sunday Express *A nail-biting new series * Observer *Allie Burns is off to a flying start, and well worth following down the decades * Scotsman *A new series from Val McDermid promises to be an event - and 1979 delivers . . . A marvellous new character to follow through the years to come -- Mick Herron

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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