Rating: 
Summary: Not What You Think
Review: What begins as a compelling but standard police novel begins to turn on its axis into an exploration of the psychology of violence and the meaning of justice. Ms McDermid has written a beautiful novel about loss of innocence on the individual and national planes. Allison Carter's murder haunts everyone whose life it touches in 1963. What the players do not realize is that this crime will continue to have victims 35 years later. As layer upon layer of secrets come to light, the motives of police, family and journalist come into question.I read the novel quickly and then lent it out immediately so that I could have someone else with whom to talk about it. The novel gives a complete picture of village life in the early '60s as modern England begins to leave behind its feudal past as a relic of history. Please do yourself the grand favor of reading this superb mystery.
Rating:
Summary: 6 stars out of 5
Review: I'll admit to being a tad biased as I have been fortunate enough to read all of Val McDermid's novels but the latest "A Place of Execution" is special, really special. Several things make this book stand out for me. There is no graphic violence whatsoever in this splendidly written novel yet the author manages to convey a sense of wrong , outrage and the need for closure in a case that began a few decades ago. The subject matter will indeed pull at both the heartstrings and the conscience and , at the same time , the book draws its readers to the final conclusion with a skill that is all too missing in many books today. Val McDermid has a great talent and this is demonstrated by her ability to have a seamless transition between the past and present in " A Place of Execution ". Whether you are a seasoned traveller in this genre or if this is to be your first excursion, welcome aboard. I guarantee you'll want a return ticket to the world of Val McDermid's writing.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprised after the great reviews
Review: I was inspired to read this book after a review on Sunday Morning, and after reading the reviews here. My actual reading of the book was somewhat disappointing. The setting was interesting and the characters had integrity, but the story line was somewhat slow. The general subject of the book I found harsh and disturbing, and I would rather read more interesting ideas on better subjects. The prose was not particularly enjoyable. Not the wonderful book I had been led to believe.
Rating:
Summary: oh yes
Review: Read on the week end if you wnat to make it to work
Rating:
Summary: Best book I've read this year--a real psychological thriller
Review: I read over 200 books a year, the majority of them mysteries and thrillers. This book by Val McDermid is the best I have read in a long time--certainly in a year or more. It is a complex book that comes at you from many directions--how do you feel about capital punishment,for example. I knew that I was in for a real ride as I saw the story unfold, but had no idea what lay in store. The passage of 35 years until the denouement was rewarding , to say the least. Breathtaking!!
Rating:
Summary: ...the best novel of the year...
Review: A Place of Execution should rightfully be considered the best mystery/suspense novel of the year. Val McDermid has succeeded in writing one of the most engrossing and thrilling novels ever to be printed. The writing is sharp, concise and keeps the reader thoroughly involved. The characters are beautifully portrayed and the novel itself is steeped in an atmosphere that is simultaneously dreary and oppressive. McDermid's portrayal of English village life in the early 1960's, where there are no secrets and everyone from the outside world is not to be trusted, comes across as truth incarnate. There is nothing that is exaggerated for the sake of shocking the reader. Everything falls seamlessly into place in a plot so intricate even the best writer could not duplicate it. The writing gradually spirals upward to a conclusion so shocking, it will leave you breathless. A Place of Execution is not just the best novel of the year, it is one of the best novels ever written.
Rating:
Summary: FASCINATING READ!
Review: I don't give five stars lightly - I save them for my all time best reads; and this is one of them. It is a shame that Val is not better known in the States. Ms McDermid does have a couple of on-going series, but this is a stand-alone psycological thriller. The book is adequately reviewed above so won't bore you with details. Just wanted to give my vote for a book that I think is destined to become a classic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and a MUST READ!
Rating:
Summary: Want to get off the world for a day or so?
Review: This is the way to do it.First, you must have no plans,distractions or visitors.Second,a nice quiet room with no telephone and third,this book.I guarantee you can not put the thing down once you start it.No boring bits or lulls ,just plain good writing from one of Scotland`s finest . Set in the Northern English moorlands at a time when two British serial child killers were on the loose in the 1960`s (Myra Hyndley and Ian Brady, both still in English prisons for life) it follows the disappearance of a little girl from her home and sets off all types of trains of suspicion aimed at the locals and family who reside in the small hamlet of Scardale.Amazing twists and turns mean you cannot turn the light off and might even have to take a sickie from work if you did not finish it in one sitting.Worth a look? You will NOT be disappointed .It is an absolutely great read and should be a major candidate for an EDGAR .Don`t miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Out of genre for me, but loved it!
Review: I normally read American hard-boiled mysteries, so when a friend told me to read A Place of Execution, I was really skeptical. Anything that is set in the UK, especially in a small village, usually screams "cozy" at me. Boy, was I won over! This book is more like a true-crime book than anything else. The story about the missing Carter girl is written in a satisfying way to those who like gritty details, psychological reasoning, police officers with humanity, and people in bad situations who don't curl up and die. I was really impressed with how much I was won over by this book, since it is so far out of the genre I normally read. I generally don't pick up books set in the UK since the language difference can be jarring to me. That didn't happen with this book at all, much to my enjoyment. I suspect this book will win over a lot of American readers, as well as satisfy those who read a lot about Scotland. A very satisfying read. A successful jaunt out of genre for me. I will be reading more McDermid books.
Rating:
Summary: Good enough for Ruth Rendell
Review: I bought this after I read an newspaper article where Ruth Rendell said this was the best detective novel she'd read in years. I thought she probably knew what she was talking about, and I wasn't disappointed. A Place of Execution is a haunting experience that sticks in the mind long after the book itself is closed. It deals with important themes such as loss and redemption, the nature of justice versus the law, and does so against a backdrop of dramatic landscape and a close-knit community that doesn't seem to be equipped to deal with outsiders. The writing is taut and suspenseful, and the twist at the end left me open-mouthed in admiration. This is a must-read.
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