Star Struck [Paperback]

V. L. McDermid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003 | Series: Kate Brannigan

Bodyguarding had never made it to Manchester PI Kate Brannigan's wish list. But somebody's got to pay the bills at Brannigan & Co., and if the only earner on offer is playing nursemaid to a paranoid soap star, the fast-talking, computer-loving white-collar-crime expert has to swallow her pride and slip into something more glam than her Thai-boxing kit.

Soon, however, offstage dramas overshadow the fictional storylines, culminating in the unscripted murder of the self-styled ‘Seer to the Stars,' and Kate finds herself with more questions than answers. What's more, her tame hacker has found virtual love, her process server keeps getting arrested, and the ever-reliable Dennis has had the temerity to get himself charged with murder.

Nobody told her there'd be days like these

Editorial Reviews

Review

McDermid combines her wit and exuberant writing with a careful and clever plot and oodles of perceptive social observation. -- Marcel Berlins, The Times-London

Star Struck is Val McDermid at the top of the ratings. -- Ian Rankin

Written with fluent ease, making use of Kate Brannigan's own distinctive voice, Star Struck is a clever novel as well as an entertaining one. -- Natasha Cooper, Times Literary Supplement-London

From the Publisher

'Star Struck is Val McDermid at the top of the ratings' - Ian Rankin

'McDermid combines her wit and exuberant writing with a careful and clever plot and oodles of perceptive social observatory' - Marcel Berlins, The Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Spinsters Ink Books (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883523575
• ISBN-13: 978-1883523572
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,356,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars On of the better Brannigans, August 10, 2000

By 

B. Jonsson "Literate Warlock" (falun, dalarna sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Star Struck (Mass Market Paperback)

Having read Mermaid Singing, I was disappointed when I read my first Brannigan, Kickback.

In Star Struck however, the characters come out more clearly, to form everyday persons with everyday feelings. One can almost feel what Brannigan feels, see what she sees. The plot is a simple one, which all the more makes it worth reading, not endless lists of characters and events. Just what I want for a rainy day, something to get me interested and intrigued. In this book, the end could be guessed, which is one of the essentials of crime stories, that you can actually be ahead of the sleuth, which Mc Dermid's shown in this novel.

When I need a good, short crime story I go for a Mc Dermid!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Star Quality, June 13, 2000

By 

Helen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Struck (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a great book and puts the author up there with Sue Grafton et al.

An interesting plot with great and believable characterisations. The author weaves social commentary throughout the story, including a dig at paparazzi journalism (post Princess Diana), racial profiling by British coppers, and mental illness, and this is done without the heavy hand of other novels, including by this author.

This book never gets too serious for its own good and there is plenty of lightheartedness thrown in. The plot wobbles a bit towards the end but by then it has been such a thoroughly good read it doesn't matter.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as usual, January 1, 2011

By 

Desiree Skiold - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Star Struck (Kindle Edition)

I think Val M is one of the best crime writers, but this was a disappointment. Plot not much better than the soapopera where it takes place. Then again a bad Val is still an average normal crime story.