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Summary: A Novel You Won't Soon Forget
Review: In December 1963, Alison Carter disappears from her home in the small village of Scardale, a tiny farming community set apart from the outside world. Newly promoted Inspector George Bennett is assigned to the case and works tirelessly, round the clock to find out what happened to the girl. After several false starts and dead ends, he finally arrests a suspect and brings him to trial.....Fast forward to 1998: With the help of George Bennett, journalist Catherine Heathcote has written the definitive book on the whole Alison Carter affair. But just before the book is to come out, she receives a letter from the now retired inspector, asking her to stop publication. New information, he won't divulge, has come to his attention and he is adamant that the book never be published. Catherine now feels she needs to reinvestigate and go back over the entire case to find out why.....A Place of Execution is an eloquently written, remarkable book, full of atmosphere and suspense. The book is divided into two parts. The first, a mystery/police procedural, could stand alone. In fact, the last scene of the first section is so harrowing, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat, holding your breath. The second section, the investigative journalist at work, takes you back over the events of thirty-five years ago, but this time, from a different perspective. Put together, Val McDermid has written an amazing, intricately plotted novel, full of great, interesting characters with strong voices, vivid, riveting scenes and a powerful ending that will knock your socks off. A Place of Execution is an intense and gripping thriller, definitely one of this years best and a book that shouldn't be missed.
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Summary: Brilliant work
Review: It was just a couple weeks before Christmas when teenager Alison Carter disappeared. Perhaps in London no one would notice, but in the tightly woven farming community of Scarsdale, that is a frightening shocker. Detective Inspector George Bennett takes charge of the inquiry in the small Derbyshire hamlet, knowing this case could end his career before it starts. With no clues and even fewer suspects, the police turn to the lass' stepfather Philip Hawkin as the alleged killer.In 1998, journalist Catherine Heathcote wants to write a true crime book focusing on the Carter case. She obtains cooperation from the now retired George. However, as Catherine conducts her research, George learns something new that shakes him. Soon he suffers a heart attack that leaves him unconscious, and if he survives, he will probably be brain damaged. Already highly regarded by fans and critics, Val McDermid has written her masterpiece, a novel that is a sure shot to make all the lists. A PLACE OF EXECUTION is a serious tome centering on what is justice and who is answerable to society and the victims when the system fails. The characters are fully developed, and the middle sixties feels genuine. This novel is Ms. McDermid's most ambitious and complex work, but she more than triumphs with this extraordinary book. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: Not your ordinary murder mystery . . .
Review: It's December 1964 in a remote, almost feudal Derbyshire village and thirteen-year-old Alison Carter has gone missing while taking her dog for a walk after school. When she hasn't returned after five hours in freezing weather, her panicked mother calls the cops, and so begins the first major case in the career of newly-promoted Detective Inspector George Bennett, a university graduate on the fast track. Alison can't be found, nor is there a body, but enough evidence gradually accumulates to convince Bennett and his principal helper, Detective Sgt. Tommy Clough, that a murder has indeed been committed -- but whodunnit? Hang on, though -- it's not as simple as all that. Not even close. Because thirty-five years after the crime has apparently been solved, after the case has come to a firm legal conclusion, journalist Catherine Heathcote, who grew up nearby, becomes interested in the case and George agrees to help her in writing a book. And then things begin to unravel. McDermid is very good at developing and delineating character and in leading the reader (especially American readers) through the complexities of British police and judicial procedure, and while she tends to over-write on occasion, she certainly makes you care what happens to the insular inhabitants of Scardale. Properly cast, this book would make an excellent film.
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Summary: Spellbinder Transcends the Genre
Review: I tend to think of myself as somewhat jaded in reading mystery books. It seems I've read so many in the past 20 years that it takes more and more to hold my attention, especially from writers unfamiliar to me. Furthermore, I can seldom remember the plot unless the story is truly unique. That applies to my favorites as well: Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine, James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly, Elizabeth George, Thomas H. Cook So, on those increasingly rare occasions when I really like something, I want to share it with friends. And I do via a "group email." And, I did with McDermid's book. She really had me going because I kept returning to the Foreward, pondering the truth vs. illusion of the overall story. She has created a very vivid series of characters, beginning with the young Mr. Bennett who may set new standards for tenacious detectives. I would guess there are an entire group of young actors champing at the bit to play the film role. The parallel story of Bennett and his pregnant wife, apart from the search for Allison Carter, is quite moving. I hesitate to raise my only (minor) negative because the overall book is such a terrific read. While the denoument is a grand surprise, one is suddenly faced with many questions. For the sake of the new reader, I don't even want to go there in this commentary. Suffice it to say the book is a real treat!
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Summary: you'll feel the chill of the Scottish moors upon you....
Review: A PLACE OF EXECUTION is the first of Val McDermid's books I've read. I saw a feature on CBS Sunday morning and picked up the book immmediately. Everything you've read about her books is true---she is an excellent storyteller. From the first pages, she sets the mood very effectively. Ms. McDermid grew up in a small Scottish mining town, much the same setting as the novel. The imagery of the Scottish countryside will literally bring chills up and down your spine! The characters are well-drawn, the plot hooks you from the start, and the conclusion is quite a surprise. She well deserves all the awards she has received for writing this extraordinarily disturbing murder story. Read it then pass it along to a friend who can appreciate fine writing and a plot to match it. I really would give it 6 stars out of 5!
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Summary: McDermid's most chilling non-series work
Review: Val McDermid can be laugh-out-loud funny in her Kate Brannigan series but she goes for a darker feel in this non-series novel. The portrait of an insular English village is chilling -- the village itself is a compelling character in itself. Deeply felt and thoughtful, not exploitative, despite the tricky subject matter of a kidnapped and murdered child. A wonderful writer no matter what she sets her hand to.
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Summary: A GREAT READ
Review: I read A Place of Execution about three years ago, when it was first published. I had tried reading Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid, and just could not get into it. It was just too gory, too bloody for me. But I had heard such great things about A Place of Execution, I decided to give it a try. Wow! I could not put it down, I was so completely captivated by this mystery. McDermid really knows how to sweep the reader along--she creates memorable characters and creates a real sense of ambiance. Although the ending stretches one's sense of disbelief, it was a satisfying conclusion to a mesmerizing read. I've read McDermid's stand-alone mysteries since, and while I love them all (though I still have no desire to plunge into Mermaids Singing again), this one is my favorite read. I still think about it. I'm glad McDermid is gaining fans on this side of the Atlantic--she deserves acclaim from mystery lovers who crave intelligent reads.
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Summary: Excellent Crime Novel
Review: Val McDermid's A Place of Execution is an excellent crime novel, well-written and well-paced. The novel concerns the disappearance of a young girl in 1963 rural England. Evidence surrounding her disappearance leads everyone to believe she has been murdered, despite the lack of a body. The book flap reveals that many years after the crime is "solved", new evidence is revealed that changes the whole story. Therefore, as you read the novel, you wonder whodunnit, but on two levels. Who will be found guilty, but then, who really did it. The novel succeeds in keeping your interest and with its "surprise" ending that is at once believable and satisfying. A Place of Execution is an excellent read. I highly recommend this novel if you are in the market for crime fiction. Enjoy.
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Summary: movie worthy
Review: I was given this book by a co-worker. I was warned of the seriousness of the topic and thought it may be too much to read. Thank God I didn't heed the warning! I can say this is one of the best books so far for my 2003 reading!As I was reading, I could picture the characters in this small village, the stress and helplessness of George Bennett and Tommy,the pompous Phillip Hawkin.Bravo to Alison and Ruth!The only thing I would have changed was the time span, maybe only 20-25 years so George might be able to be more involved in the story later; the next generation would still have been old enough to be where they were in the story line Someone needs to get this book to John Cusack, Jeremy Pivan and Kevin Spacey!
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Summary: Wow!
Review: Given to me by my sister, I initially had trouble slogging through the foreign verbage, but once I got pulled into the book (and it wasn't long!), I couldn't stop reading it! Possibly one of the finest suspense novels I have ever read! I loved the characters and felt great empathy with them. . . and so will you! Read this, or you're missing out!
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