Rating: 
Summary: More in Yorkshire than "All Things Bright & Beautiful"
Review: James Herriot notwithstanding, Ms. McDermid uncovers some slimy rocks residing in Yorkshire. A series of gruesome murders with the victims being left in the gay section of medium sized city have the police at odds with one another. The higher-ups don't want the word "serial killer" even mentioned in spite of the brutal similarity of the crimes. The victims are upwardly mobile, handsome young men who, if homosexual, are deep in the closet.Dr. Tony Hill, a forensic profiler, and Det. Sgt. Carol Jordan are matched up to investigate these crimes. Profiling was in its infancy at the time and so were women who were more than file clerks in the police department. The old-time boys in blue had more faith in psychics and their mums than they did in this outsider pair. The author does a nice job of characterizing this unlikely duo. Tony, though a rivetingly handsome man, is quietly desperate about what he perceives as his sexual dysfunction. He has even resorted to phone sex which induces horrible self-disgust. Carol is a striking woman, used to vigilant male attention, finds herself in the unusual "chaser" role when she is attracted to Dr. Hill. The "chaser" role is unusually strange to her, and so both are uncomfortable most of the time. The killings and torture are graphically described via the unknown killer's diary that is also sprinkled with red herrings and a few viable clues. As usual, Ms. McDermid has a cast of thousands, so we are not short on suspects. The drama of infighting among police officials interwoven with the urgency of the killings and the protagonist's attraction to one another brew up a pulse pounding pace. The reader may have to take an occasional time out to come to grips with the latest horror, but other than that, it is a non-stop read. The finale is brilliant if a little far fetched. I just wanted to see justice served with perhaps a few people still standing at the end. Recommended for those times when you feel strong of body and stout of mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Un-put-downable
Review: Rarely does one stumble across a book that grabs you and holds you in its grip until the very end. This one truly does. Psycholgical profiler Dr.Tony Hill is brought in to work with a Yorkshire PD on a string of murders that are believed to be performed by the same killer, who mercilessly tortures his victims with medieval gusto and methods. Working with him against the killer and also the traditional and unflexible police force is detective Carol Jordan, whose life is not made easier by this unconventional crime-solving approach. This is an unusual detective novel that focuses as much on bringing the characters to life as telling a gripping and clever story. It is, quite frankly, one of the best books I have read in years. P.S. The sequel, "The Wire in the Blood" is even better.
Rating: 
Summary: Clumsy plot, near-offensive gay caricatures
Review: Setting aside a gaping hole or two in the plot, the scenes of gay nightlife and the way the mystery progresses triggered all my "latent homophobia" radar. I understand McDermid has written excellent books featuring a lesbian detective, but based on this book, I figured her to be an over-simplifying dolt, not quite a "gay basher" but having more of a "Look at these ever so *intersting* people in the zoo!" kind of vibe, which in some ways is worse. I also read "Place of Execution" which i liked much better, but in both cases you wish the author were sitting beside you so you could ask a few basic questions and point out glaring inconsistances or ask about ridiculous assumptions on which the plot rests.
Rating:
Summary: The Tony Hill/Carol Jordon Series Should Be Required Reading
Review: The fun begins here. Since the other reviews have summarized the plot of the book, I'm not going to repeat, but I will say it's quite ingenious, as are most of Ms. McDermid's novels. Actually, I'm already dying to re-read it, and I only read it a few months ago. Quite unusual for me, considering I virtually never re-read anything...
Anyway, the only reason I gave it four stars instead of five were that I found it to be a bit slow in some places and it didn't contain the heart-wrenching flirtation between Carol and Tony of the later novels. Still, it's an excellent read...please, do read it!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read, but not for the weak stomached
Review: The Mermaids Singing by Val McDeremid Harper Paperbacks 1995 This is my first book by Val McDermid and I was very impressed. The serial killer, named Queer Killer by the local police, and Handy Andy by profiler Tony Hill is very bright and covers his tracks well while torturing his victims in some ingenious and time honored methods. The two principal characters, Dr. Tony Hill and Carol Jordan are very interesting and complex personalities. As their relationship develops, their fragility and weaknesses hinder a commitment. Tony in particular is struggling with his own sexuality and as he delves into the twisted mind of Handy Andy. This is a well written mystery with a well developed cast of characters whose interactions provide interesting subplots. The main plot is complex, has several unusual turns and a very surprising ending. There is plenty of excitement as Handy Andy skillfully dispatches his victims and then reaches into the task force for the next victim to demonstrate his superior abilities and to put the police in their place. An excellent read!
Rating: 
Summary: Too Analytical
Review: THE MERMAIDS SINGING is the first of three novels that introduces the team of Detective Sergeant Carol Jordan and profiler Tony Hill. Dr. Hill leads the National Criminal Task Force and together working with DS Jordan they are going to investigate a series of torture murders occurring in the northern town of Bradfield. The author lets us go inside the serial killer's psyche by starting each chapter of the book with a sample of the murderer's diary. It might have been insightful for the book's readers were it not for Hill's analytical reports. McDermid provides all the excruciating details of the Doctor's writing as it is being presented to the cops investigating the case. Were it not for Val McDermid's other superb novels, one might be turned off by this book. As a whole, the book is slightly above average. The author does a good job with her characterization of Carol Jordan and Tony Hill making us wish for more. They both have some issues that the author develops well. The mystery was good while it started but the ending seemed to be abrupt and anticlimactic. Hopefully, THE WIRE IN THE BLOOD will be better. After all, Val McDermid is still one of my favorite authors.
Rating:
Summary: The Best....
Review: This is far and away, one of the best serial killer novels I've ever read!
In the northern English city of Bradfield a killer is on the loose. The police, in a politically-incorrect sort of way have dubbed the murderer the Queer Killer because of the gruesome way his victims are tortured and killed(not going into details) and the locations where their bodies are dumped: well-known gay neighborhoods. Detective Inspector Carol Jordan, a jaded, tough city copper and member of the task force set up to catch the criminal, meets up with profiler Dr. Tony Hill, an enigmatic man who seems to crawl into the dark minds of the killers he profiles. Dr. Hill has an altogether different name for the killer: Handy Andy.
Working together night after night leads Carol Jordan and Tony Hill into the dangerous territory of a relationship. Amidst the pressures of Carol's job and the hidden demons from Tony's past, they fight to make it work and catch a killer.
This is an enthralling, grappling novel of terror and suspense. The two main characters are deeply explored and fully fleshed-out. Their relationship is unique, so resists becoming cliched or contrite. The writing is excellent and Val McDermid shows obvious intelligence and knowledge of the police system, as well as criminal profiling.
In one review, the author was likened to Thomas Harris. I believe this is unfair. To say that McDermid merely rivals Harris would be an understatement. Val McDermid's gritty, realistic, and suspenseful tales prove she is absolutely one of the best writers working in this field today.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent addition to the serial-killer genre.
Review: This novel is one of the better and more memorable serial-killer works of fiction I have read. The author holds a steady pace, then races to the conclusion skillfully. With believable characters and plot (which was sufficiently gruesome to hold my interest), I highly recommend this to fans of serial-killer novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Criminal Profiler hunts a Serial Killer
Review: Tony Hill is a criminal psychologist who helps the police with a serial killer suspected to be (...) because his victims are men. Soon Hill is targeted by the killer and must face his own demons. Well-written, but slow pace and annoying back and forth from Tony's perspective to the killer's point of view. McDermid's "A Place of Execution" is a far superior book.
Rating:
Summary: A thrilling ride into the dark side of human psyche
Review: Very rarely does one stumble across a book this thrilling and disturbing at the same time. Thrilling thanks to the structure of the novel, where the killer's account of his crimes, going back in history and moving on to the present, is intertwinged with the description of the investigation's progress, closing in on the killer. Disturbing because of the feel of danger and tension mounting as the killer's objectives become clear to the reader. Disturbing also because of the insight presented in a serial killer's deeply disturbed and twisted logic. This crime novel is truly one of the best of its kind! Gripping right up to the surprisisng end, it will undoubtedly keep you on the edge of your seat.
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