Reviews

A Place of Execution by Val McDermid

readingoverbreathing's review against another edition

4.0

"In a way, you know, I feel lucky that you're writing this book. So many of us lose people and there's never anything to prove they were ever there except what's in our heads."

I was not expecting the last book on this module to be such a journey, but I am also so glad it was. To be honest, I didn't have high expectations for this book, again, because, I think, of its packaging, which has been a frequent stumbling block for me this semester. And while this wasn't by any means my favorite or the best book on this module, it was so well-crafted and so engrossing and such a wonderful combination of all the different aspects and topics we've looked at in crime fiction this semester.

I was not expecting its split into three such distinctive parts; several times I got to a point where it seemed everything had to be wrapped, but then we'd jump forward in time, and a whole new angle of the case would be exposed, an aspect which really made for an enjoyable reading experience.

And again, this was just so well-crafted. Val weaves so much evidence, so many distinct and memorable characters, and so much thought into this one book. I was fortunate enough to be able to ask her about how she stays organized while she's writing during a Q&A my class got to have with her, and she laughed and told us all about this color-coded flashcard system she used to use.

The last part was probably my least favorite, as it rang the least genuine to me, but, oh, my God that ending was just spectacular. I had a lot of theories, but none of them even came close to the shock of the truth.

I didn't think the writing itself was anything of note, but everything else here really gives you all you could ever ask for in a mystery novel, and for that, this really was a great read. I mean, really, what a way to end the semester!

evapalhay's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

old_crockern's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

3.75

isla_campbell06's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

tosca_d's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

sjyudelson's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

lisabee's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

lisam0183_bookworm's review against another edition

5.0

What I can I say other than - wow! This was a typical Val book for me - slow to start, then it picks up pace and gets you hooked and then the bombshell is dropped that blows your mind at the end. I would never have guessed that ending in a million years.

Thirteen year old Alison Carter goes missing in 1963 and everyone in the village knows it was murder. Catherine Heathcote remembers it well and now a journalist persuades DI George Bennett to tell his side of the story. Then a fresh lead emerges and Bennett tries to stop the story.

I loved George Bennett's character - he's just how I always imagine a 1960's detective to be. He stuck to his guns and went with what evidence they unravelled.

libronika's review against another edition

3.0

2.5 ⭐️

kemper112263's review against another edition

4.0

A 5 star book no doubt. The first book as it is chaptered is nothing short of perfection. However I felt that book 2 was rather rushed and whilst the outcome wasn't expected and very clever, the detail from book 1 was lacking. A great read however.