Killing the Shadows - Val McDermid

For 560 pages I devoted my concentration to this novel. Two days of reading were put into McDermid’s work. I, the reader, invested my time and energy in her story and by the end I felt cheated. I felt the time had been stolen; after promising so much throughout the novel I was ultimately left disappointed. THE PLOTS Three main plots develop within the book. The investigation of each is being aided by Fiona Cameron, a psychologist who uses computer techniques and crime linkage to assist the police in tracking down serial killers. The shortest sub plot involves the killing of some tourists in Spain. To some extent this section could ...  Read the complete review

Crime fiction is by far one of my favourite genres of fiction, I love the way crime authors build suspense, the way the novels twist and turn until you are not sure where they are heading and the finale which always keeps you on the edge of the seat. Indeed there are many crime and forensic novels on offer in the shop, some better than others. Val McDermid is by far one of the better crime authors, although relatively new to the scene. If you like authors such as Patricia Cornwall then I think you should read on with interest. ~~The author~~ Val McDermid grew up in Scotland and then studied English at Oxford University. After being a journalist for 16 ...  Read the complete review

I don’t think that I’ve read a book written by Val McDermid before so from the first page it was like starting out in unexplored territory, not knowing what to expect. The main character is Professor Fiona Cameron, in her late thirties and lives with crime thriller writer Kit Martin in London. She is a psychologist, teaches but also uses computers to build up crime linkage and geographical profiles to help the police in their search for serial killers. She works out where they may physically live and the links between crimes by inputting details into a specially designed programme rather than character profiles, an idea that I find fascinating. ...  Read the complete review

Professor Fiona Cameron is a psychologist who uses computer technology to help the police track serial offenders. After the police screwed up one of her cases, she is working in Toledo when her lover Kit Martin, a novelist, tells her a fellow novelist has been murdered. Before long, the killer has struck repeatedly and Fiona finds herself caught up in a race to stop him and to bring both personal and professional redemption for herself. Val McDermid’s previous novel, ‘A Place Of Execution’ was superb. I am pleased to say that this is no exception. It is an intricate, tightly plotted and fast-paced novel, with a good deal of ...  Read the complete review

Val McDermid is fast becoming one of my favourite crime/thriller authors with 15 novels under her belt to date. Her latest book "Killing the Shadows" is everything I expect of her and more. In the latest book we meet Professor Fiona Cameron - a psychologist who has developed a computer program that 'profiles' serial killers to help the police catch them. She used to work with and had success with the Metropolitan Police, until on one particular investigation they went against her advice resulting in the death of more people and the release of 'her suspect' leaving the case unsolved, from then on she refused to assist the police with ...  Read the complete review