Killing the Shadows (Hardcover)

by Val McDermid (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Though McDermid skillfully alternates point of view and creates memorable scenes and complex characters, her latest falls short of the high standard set by her previous novel, A Place of Execution (2000), which was an Edgar finalist. Psychology professor Fiona Campbell, a consultant with London's Metropolitan Police, specializes in crime linkage and geographical profiling using sophisticated computer technology. The competitive, self-confident Fiona was recently replaced on a case by another expert, who ended up misleading the police; their suspect, whom Fiona had thought innocent, was eventually released. While Fiona is working with the Spanish police to catch a vicious murderer, a new situation comes to light back in the U.K.: the serial killings of successful thriller writers who are threatened, then murdered following details from their most popular novel. Fiona lives with Kit Martin, author of you guessed it popular thrillers about serial killers. Their best friend, Det. Superintendent Steve Preston, needs Fiona's help in yet another investigation. Initially, she refuses to resume working with the police, but the personal dimensions draw her in. After much misdirection, the cases mesh, with a Spanish connection. McDermid builds suspense by inserting passages from the thriller novels, e-mails, crime Web sites and the killer's journal. Unfortunately, the killer's motive is somewhat unconvincing, while the reader can anticipate most of the plot twists. Nonetheless, given the acclaim for A Place of Execution, expect strong sales. (Oct. 12)novel in 1995.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Criminal psychologist Fiona Cameron is trained to look for patterns in murders. Therefore, when two writers of thrillers are murdered, one in Scotland and one in Ireland, she grows worried about her lover, Kit Martin, a British crime novelist. While trying to protect Kit, Fiona must carry on with her work as a psychology professor and a consultant with the Spanish authorities investigating a series of murders in Toledo. McDermid, whose A Place of Execution appeared on the New York Times Book Review's Notable Books list in 2000, has created a complex character in Fiona. She is brilliant, beautiful, practical, passionate, and strong if somewhat overly assertive. Although the repartee between Fiona and Kit is corny, the relationship is believable. McDermid's style is melodramatic in places, and her foreshadowing is heavy-handed, but overall this is a compelling, intricately plotted page-turner. Recommended for public libraries. Jane la Plante, Minot State Univ., ND
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 422 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur; First US Edition edition (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312266154
• ISBN-13: 978-0312266158
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #170,861 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Have Spare Light Bulbs At Hand, October 3, 2001

By	taking a rest - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This is only the second novel I have read by Ms. Val McDermid, the first was, "A Place Of Execution", and it left me as uneasy as I imagine the writer wished. "Killing The Shadows", is again a wonderful book that should be read under highly lit conditions, with standby lights and perhaps a generator. This lady's work does not just get under the skin; her words burrow into the marrow of your bones, and when appropriate the geometric center of the brain. The picture of her on the jacket has her taking the measure of a potential reader, as if deciding whether they can handle her invasive writing.

This particular book contains events that many will find gruesome and seriously deviant to say the least. What is interesting is these passages are from the imagined work of other writers, so the initial impulse is not to credit her with the grisly scenes, rather a third party. The passages she uses are not gratuitous. They are integral to introducing the behavior of a serial killer, and a possible source for his demented inspiration. What drives the killer is more complicated than that, or this book would not have Ms. McDermid's name upon it. These portions of the book are also a small part of the reading, and should not discourage anyone from enjoying this writer's craft.

The characters she creates are little short of brilliant. One of them is a PHD Candidate named Terry. If this character were based on a real female, she would be on many men's list of women to meet, and also a woman who would be more than a match for most. The author presents very bright, attractive, strong women without their needing to mimic the undesirable characteristics of their male counterparts. Terry is one of the best female characters I have read in some time.

A certain genre of writers are the targets of this book's killer, or are they? The best part of that query is that you will not know until the last pages of the book why everything took place as it did. One of the keys to a great thriller/mystery is how well the author sustains uncertainty and suspense. No author does this better that Ms. McDermid. She sets blind alleys, manipulates misdirection, and false conclusions brilliantly. No matter how many books you have read that required an answer to, "Who...", you will find this lady's work on par with anyone's.

Unconditionally recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Catchy but contrived, September 28, 2001

By	AnnaKarenina (St Petersburg, of course) - See all my reviews

Killing the Shadows has an catchy outline: somebody is systematically murdering the top-selling psych-crime authors, each murder copying the method used in that author's best known book. Crime psychologist Fiona Cameron has more than a professional concern in the case - her true love, Kit Martin, is a best-selling crime writer himself. Irresistable idea, but there's a risk that following a plot like this can end up a bit contrived, and unfortunately, that's what happens with this book.

Much of what happens you can guess well in advance, with the exception of the killer's eventual motive, which turns out to be so disconnected you'd never guess it. The main characters and relationships are all too pat and flawless - the edginess of some of Val McDermid's previous characters is absent. Fiona has emotional scars from a personal tragedy that segues neatly into her chosen career, and that tidily resolve themselves at the end. She has perfect romantic bliss with Kit, and a perfect platonic friendship with a cop who is, of course, Kit's best male bonding buddy. Kit is tough enough to write blood-curdling prose, sweet enough to leave her home-made risotto in the fridge for dinner, and irritatingly dumb, in the tradition of people in scary films who always walk alone down dark alleys.

Am I being tough on this book? Probably - there will be readers who really like it. It's still well-written, despite the often predictable plot, and some of the minor characters are the most interesting. It's far from a bad book, though I think after this, psychological profiling's been done to death. But Val McDermid at her best - try 'The Mermaid Singing' - is so very good, and this book doesn't quite reach that standard.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb product from a top contemporary mystery writer., January 13, 2007

By	Enrique F. Bird (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is as satisfying a modern mystery as I have read in years. The basic plot description reads as a serial killer of serial killer thriller writers. I will add to this that Ms. Mc Dermid gices us in 1 book: a) 3 seprarate serial killer investigation in varying degrees of detail and all interesting; b) several intelligent detectives, none of them Lestrade-ish or tokenish; c) interesting victims; d) a very charismatic heroine in all senses; e) red herrings in the classic tradition, as well as a surprising main villain. Just read this one; you will not be dissapointed.