This was the summer he discovered what he wanted–at a gruesome museum of criminology far off the beaten track of more timid tourists. Visions of torture inspired his fantasies like a muse. It would prove so terribly fulfilling.The bodies of four men have been discovered in the town of Bradfield. Enlisted to investigate is criminal psychologist Tony Hill. Even for a seasoned professional, the … professional, the series of mutilation sex murders is unlike anything he’s encountered before. But profiling the psychopath is not beyond him. Hill’s own past has made him the perfect man to comprehend the killer’s motives. It’s also made him the perfect victim.
A game has begun for the hunter and the hunted. But as Hill confronts his own hidden demons, he must also come face-to-face with an evil so profound he may not have the courage–or the power–to stop it…
The Mermaids Singing is a chilling and taut psychological mystery from Val McDermid.
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This is my first venture into the criminal writings of McDermid & it’s easy to see why her fans become addicted to the perfectly crafted thrillers that she produces. Everything was spot on, profiling, police procedures, characters & scenes, building up to a grand finale one cleverly woven step at a time. Can’t wait for the next one.
If you like psychological thrillers you will love this. I found it a fantastic read. I loved everything about this book. Best of all, it’s the first in the series and I can’t wait to read the rest. One of the reasons I haven’t previously read any of this series is I enjoyed the TV series and sometimes that ruins the book. Not in this case. The casting and acting is superb and closely follows the book.
Dr Hill is called in for the first time to profile a serial killer who tortures his victims and dumps them in the gay community area of the city. The characters, settings and psychology are all brutally believable and the plot is full of twists and surprises. Dr Hill’s skills are put to the ultimate test. Best read of 2014 so far.
One of the joys of crime fiction is the number of series available, whether by established or new authors. While many police procedurals are similar or different versions of the same formula, some are more distinctive.
The Mermaids Singing, written in the 1990s, introduces psychological profiler Tony Hill. He’s a damaged character with a lot to prove, especially to police forces used to solving crimes by the book. After three murders the police refuse to connect, he’s brought in secretly to help identify and capture a serial killer. He’s teamed with Carol Jordan, an ambitious fast-track detective inspector, who’s also got a lot to prove to her male colleagues.
The killer, who’s obsessed with torture, is a meticulous planner, well ahead of the police. The trouble is, they won’t acknowledge him and give him the credit and publicity he feels he deserves. When Tony Hill enters the arena, you know there’s going to be a battle of intellects and wills. After all, this is a thriller at heart.
While the chapters relating to the killer were disturbing, they were restrained and essential to the thriller element of the story, increasing the tension as the story headed for an inevitable confrontation.
The characters of Jordan and Hill were well drawn and realistic. The pace was steady, building to an exciting climax with a neat, if predictable twist. It posed a few unanswered questions, but didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.
I would certainly recommend the book as the writing is first rate, the story well told, and the atmosphere deadly but electric.
What a disappointment. Boring. I thought the characters were uninteresting and predictable. Yes, it was gruesome and it had a lot of potential. Every time I started getting into it then it was followed by a bunch of boring nothing.
Great start to a wonderful series.Dr.Hill is a fantastic character.