Killing the Shadows

September 3, 2001
Though McDermid skillfully alternates point of view and creates memorable scenes and complex characters, her latest falls short of the high standard set by her previous novel, A Place of Execution
(2000), which was an Edgar finalist. Psychology professor Fiona Campbell, a consultant with London's Metropolitan Police, specializes in crime linkage and geographical profiling using sophisticated computer technology. The competitive, self-confident Fiona was recently replaced on a case by another expert, who ended up misleading the police; their suspect, whom Fiona had thought innocent, was eventually released. While Fiona is working with the Spanish police to catch a vicious murderer, a new situation comes to light back in the U.K.: the serial killings of successful thriller writers who are threatened, then murdered following details from their most popular novel. Fiona lives with Kit Martin, author of—you guessed it—popular thrillers about serial killers. Their best friend, Det. Superintendent Steve Preston, needs Fiona's help in yet another investigation. Initially, she refuses to resume working with the police, but the personal dimensions draw her in. After much misdirection, the cases mesh, with a Spanish connection. McDermid builds suspense by inserting passages from the thriller novels, e-mails, crime Web sites and the killer's journal. Unfortunately, the killer's motive is somewhat unconvincing, while the reader can anticipate most of the plot twists. Nonetheless, given the acclaim for A Place of Execution, expect strong sales. (Oct. 12)FYI:McDermid won Britain's Gold Dagger Award for best crime novel in 1995.

September 1, 2001
Criminal psychologist Fiona Cameron is trained to look for patterns in murders. Therefore, when two writers of thrillers are murdered, one in Scotland and one in Ireland, she grows worried about her lover, Kit Martin, a British crime novelist. While trying to protect Kit, Fiona must carry on with her work as a psychology professor and a consultant with the Spanish authorities investigating a series of murders in Toledo. McDermid, whose A Place of Execution appeared on the New York Times Book Review's Notable Books list in 2000, has created a complex character in Fiona. She is brilliant, beautiful, practical, passionate, and strong if somewhat overly assertive. Although the repartee between Fiona and Kit is corny, the relationship is believable. McDermid's style is melodramatic in places, and her foreshadowing is heavy-handed, but overall this is a compelling, intricately plotted page-turner. Recommended for public libraries. Jane la Plante, Minot State Univ., ND

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2001
The prolific and ever-popular McDermid is known for her nerve-jangling suspense thrillers with gripping plots and characters who are smart and attractive but slightly flawed. Her sixteenth book will doubtless win kudos from fans and critics alike. A demonic serial killer is murdering well-known crime writers by reenacting the most gruesome parts of their best-selling books. Noted psychological profiler Dr. Fiona Cameron has a personal interest in the case, not only because it offers a challenge even to her considerable skills, but also because her lover, Kit Martin, writes crime thrillers, and if Fiona's profiling doesn't identify the killer soon, Kit could become his next victim. To Fiona's horror, the killer gets past the careful security she's set up for Kit and spirits him away to a remote cottage in Scotland, where a slow and agonizing death is on the agenda. A gripping read with layers of plot complexity, heart-stopping suspense, and guts and gore aplenty.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)