Reviews

Common Murder by Val McDermid

ingo_lembcke's review against another edition

4.0

Started December 19th, 2012.
Good read, murder, mystery, and ... no, I won't spoil anything, but the real nature of the story surfaced (for me) around half through the book.
Nice change of pace. And computers! Mid-80s just going to be used commonly.
Better than the first one, nearly 4.5 stars, but not real 5.

sparkatito's review against another edition

4.5

Another solid murder mystery solved by a lesbian reporter story. You know they are a dime a dozen, said with sarcasm. Love the look into protest actions run by peace loving feminists and a realistic lesbian relationship. Reader is amazing as always.

twincam59's review against another edition

The lesbian, misandrist theme running through the storyline was far too overpowering.  

balthazarlawson's review against another edition

3.0

Set in the 80's this is about a newspaper reporter and is a nice observational story of how it was done before the connected age of the internet and mobile devices. There is even talk of getting a mobile, whatever the cost, to save the time spent looking for a working public phonebox. I enjoyed the story of murder, spies and conspiracies and the frustration of trying to reveal the truth. This is the first of the Lindsay Gordon series I've read, but the second book in the series. I'm sure to read more.

enchantedbibliophile's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

 “You heard, kid. We’ve had more aggravation over you this weekend than over every other dodgy story we’ve ever done.”


McDermid sure knows how to keep one reading! This was a quick moving, suspenseful read that had me hooked from the first murder. To think this was one of her first books, this lady truly is talented.

I enjoy Lindsay as a character, her hard-headedness and loyalty makes an interesting combination for a very authentic character. One thing though, Lindsay should really consider changing her friend circle. All of them ending up as suspects to a murder, or at least so far. 

adinadragos's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

msmouse's review against another edition

3.0

It's a good book, though dated now given that it was written during the Cold War and has a lot of the politics of the time in the plot.

redbecca's review against another edition

3.0

This book was written early in MacDermid's career and is set in a thinly veiled Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp. Based on the acknowledgments, it appears MacDermid was there herself. It's too bad she wasn't as polished a writer then as she is now, because the setting and characters in the camp are not as vivid or captivating as those in her more recent fiction. Still, if you're looking for detective fiction and /or lesbian romance - and if you like to get that 80s vibe from the actual 1980s rather than 80s nostalgia stuff, this is a good choice.

lauraellis's review against another edition

3.0

This is the first series the author wrote, which she is doing concurrently now [in the 1990s] with the Kate B series.  Lindsay Gordon is a lesbian journalist working with a tabloid in London, who gets assigned to a story (murder) on the peace camp outside Brownlow (an obvious renaming of Greenham) adn who finds herself torn between old and current lovers, and caught up in MI5 and MI6 and Official Secrets Act type stuff.  I like the Kate B series better, but I really admire and appreciate how each series has a very different tone and style.

leighryks's review against another edition

4.0

Common murder : the second Lindsay Gordon mystery / by Val McDermid (1995)