Val McDermid books?

[museumum]

Many years ago I tried reading a McDermid book, no idea which, and found it too graphic / violent.
then I found and devoured all the Karen Pirrie books which I really enjoyed. And I’ve just read “a place of execution” and it’s BRILLIANT!!!

so… what next? Any tips? Which are horribly gruesome (I’ll avoid) and which are great?

thanks.

I don't remember any of her books being extremely violent or graphic? Are you sure it was one of hers?

I don't like the Carol/Tony Jordan ones, they're too graphic.
She has a series about a journalist - Lindsay? Something. They're no good.

So I think you've read her best books already!

Yes the 1979 and 1989 are the journalist one and are not gory. I enjoyed them! I’ve heard that one series is a bit more unpleasant and would rather avoid too!

A Place of Execution is her best book, I think - it’s a standalone novel and not gruesome (although be warned there are a couple of brief plot-relevant descriptions of child sex abuse). It’s a fantastic novel - so atmospheric and brilliantly plotted. The Wire in the Blood series on the other hand is horribly gruesome - I read one which had a scene so horrible it still comes into my mind years later.

The first two Carol and Tony books are the most gruesome. Though The Wire in the Blood (second one) was in part based on Saville.

Her Kate Brannigan books skip along ok.

If you like her, you might like Chris Brookmyre’s Jasmine Sharp trilogy.

Right I asked AI, that said that the Wire in the blood series is the same as the Carol/jordan series and is the most gory.

There is also the Kate brannigan series which is not gory.

Disclaimer, this was AI and might be bollocks.

Yes, the Wire in the Blood series features Tony Hill and Carol Jordan. The one I read was the one with the Jimmy Savile-esque character. Definitely avoid if you dislike torture porn.

I love her books, but yes the Carol and Tony ones can be very grim.

Agree, the journalist ones are great though only 2 in the series so far. I liked Karen Pirie but couldn't hack any of the others, way too graphic for me!

Great thanks. I’ll try Kate Brannigan and maybe those 1979/89 ones. Wire in the blood I’ll avoid.

She also wrote the Lindsay Gordon series which are good, although I preferred Kate Brannigan. I too avoid the Wire in the Blood series.

Trick of the Dark is my favourite stand alone one. I also like Lindsay Gordon. I've just read Union Jack, about trade unions, which was a fun quick read.

The stand alone The Grave Tattoo is good as well as Kate Brannigan, the Lynsey Gordon ones are ok and scarily based on her own career!

Lindsay Gordon book are more cosy crime than gory, and a bit amateurish.She hadn't really found her stride. "Amateur sleuth" is a tricky thing to pull off unless you're confident in your character.

Tony Hill/Carol Jordan are definitely gory, I'd give them a swerve.

Brilliant. This is exactly the info I was looking for. Thank you.

I'm currently reading 1979.
I'm not a huge crime reader but thought I'd give this ago.

I think it's just warming up, introducing characters etc and no whiff of a murder yet!

Another one recommending Kate Brannigan having found Carol and Tony too much.

Also try the Matilda Darke books by Michael Wood maybe. I found them around the same time as I did Karen Pirie and alternated them through a chunk of last year.

I read her short story collection 'Christmas is Murder', really enjoyed it. I'm not into gore at all, found these entertaining.

Doesn't get better than A Place of Execution

I enjoyed the Wire in the Blood ones, but had seen the TV series first so knew what was coming.

The early ones (possibly the amateur sleuth?) are awful. Read one that was like Malory Towers but with lesbians and murder. Dreadfully written. They were before her hard hitting crime stuff though.

Haven't read the Karen Piries. For those who have, are they more like WitB or Malory Towers?

Karen Pirie is more like WITB. The Karen Pirie TV series was on ITV 3 this week. It was a bit slow starting, but it got much better.

Oh great thanks! I might have a look.

With the Pirie books they are best read in order.