The Grave Tattoo
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Amazon.co.uk Review
It's a time-honoured tradition that the best crime writers begin to chafe at the constraints of their area of the genre and feel a need to stretch their literary muscles. With The Grave Tattoo, the estimable Val McDermid demonstrates that she, too, has felt the need of a change from her contemporary novels of crime and detection, and here takes on a truly ambitious panoply. Not that McDermid has been afraid to tackle unconventional subjects before--it's just that the scale of this novel is even more impressive. A corpse is discovered on a hill in the Lake District, adorned with bizarre tattoos. Wordsworth expert Jane Gresham finds herself distracted from her studies of the great Lakeland poet when another mystery surfaces, involving the Pitcairn Massacre and the events of the mutiny on the Bounty. Is it possible that Fletcher Christian, who led the rebellion against Captain Bligh, faked his own death and clandestinely returned to England? Jane makes a connection between the tattooed body and the tattoos on sailors who served in the South Seas--is this the body of Fletcher Christian? And Jane has another problem on her hands--a young girl who she has tried to help finds herself a murder suspect, and tracks her down to the Lakes. And as Jane closes in on a Wordsworth manuscript that may be a direct transcription of Fletcher Christian’s confession, she finds herself with someone else on her trail--an ex-lover with similar designs on the precious document.
As all this might suggest, McDermid has set herself a truly daunting task here, with a canvas so crammed with incident, colour and character. And when the reader learns that the central narrative is counterpointed with sections from the Fletcher Christian document, it's clear that we are a long way away from the medical and criminological puzzles of Wire in the Blood. It is to McDermid's credit that she draws so many strands together with such assurance.
--Barry Forshaw
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
‘An irresistible combination of contemporary psychological thriller and historical mystery' Tess Gerritsen
‘Cunning and gripping… A substantially entertaining novel which grips the reader’s interest from the first page until the final deeply satisfying sentence’ Express
‘Trying to solve a 200-year-old mystery becomes increasingly lethal and readable' Mirror
‘One of the world’s leading mystery writers…Thomas Harris crossed with Agatha Christie, if you will… A great read. England’s heritage history has never been so chilling’ Observer
‘Safe for the squeamish… one of her best’ Literary Review
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I do like being proven wrong.
I actually went along to the talk and signing of this book by the author at my local library. My two friends had stacks of previous titles they wanted Val to sign, I just went along for something to do.
I have only read one book by Val McDermaid, and because we arrived late into the lecture theatre and missed the beginning, I was quite sure that total would stay at one. Val was talking about the Lake District, Fletcher Christian, Mutiny on the Bounty, Captain Bligh, Wordsworth, etc, etc.........I think I had a little snooze at this point, I'd had a long day. Anyway, I revitalised myself slightly when Val was answering questions, (in between great swigs of Stella Artois, [Val, not me, I stuck to the free coffee and gypsy creams.]) and it wasn't a bad evening.
Back to the book - I managed to get hold of a copy to see what all the fuss was about, and knowing that there was some criminal element weaved into the plot, I thought it couldn't be all that bad.
I nearly read it one go. It had everything you would want from a great crime novel, especially if you are a geek, and you get to learn something new. If, like me, you know nothing of the mutiny and Fletcher Christian and Pitcairn, (I bet you're thinking now, 'eh?'), don't worry, its a top read, nice and easy, with beautiful language.
I actually went along to the talk and signing of this book by the author at my local library. My two friends had stacks of previous titles they wanted Val to sign, I just went along for something to do.
I have only read one book by Val McDermaid, and because we arrived late into the lecture theatre and missed the beginning, I was quite sure that total would stay at one. Val was talking about the Lake District, Fletcher Christian, Mutiny on the Bounty, Captain Bligh, Wordsworth, etc, etc.........I think I had a little snooze at this point, I'd had a long day. Anyway, I revitalised myself slightly when Val was answering questions, (in between great swigs of Stella Artois, [Val, not me, I stuck to the free coffee and gypsy creams.]) and it wasn't a bad evening.
Back to the book - I managed to get hold of a copy to see what all the fuss was about, and knowing that there was some criminal element weaved into the plot, I thought it couldn't be all that bad.
I nearly read it one go. It had everything you would want from a great crime novel, especially if you are a geek, and you get to learn something new. If, like me, you know nothing of the mutiny and Fletcher Christian and Pitcairn, (I bet you're thinking now, 'eh?'), don't worry, its a top read, nice and easy, with beautiful language.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Val McDermid steps out of her usual comfort zone with this somewhat complex offering. It tries hard but has too many side plots and an overabundance of superfluous characters. Jane Gresham is researching her rather wild theory that Fletcher Christian of Mutiny on the Bounty fame, came back to Britain rather than dying in the Pitcairn Islands, and told his story to William Wordsworth, who wrote it up as part notes and part poetry. It's not as far-fetched as it sounds as Wordsworth and Fletcher Christian were both students at a local school, taught by Fletcher's older brother Edward. That they were contemporaneous is fact, but anything further than that is fantasy. McDermid links a (fictional) bog man turning up in the locality, and speculation is rife that his black tattoos replicate the Tahitian style.
The unnecessary complication of a teenager in peril, a randy copper and his affair with a TV presenter, and an ex-boyfriend who has turned predatory, plus various other relationships that crop up along the way make this a rather crowded read. Things get a bit gummed up and the plot refuses to zip along as it should. Most of the loose ends get tidied away in the end, but it's not an altogether satisfying journey.
The unnecessary complication of a teenager in peril, a randy copper and his affair with a TV presenter, and an ex-boyfriend who has turned predatory, plus various other relationships that crop up along the way make this a rather crowded read. Things get a bit gummed up and the plot refuses to zip along as it should. Most of the loose ends get tidied away in the end, but it's not an altogether satisfying journey.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This two word description on the front cover really sums up the book for me.
Everything is just one tiny step from the everyday, which, for me, makes it all the more exciting. It's all utterly believeable. You could easily know any of the characters.
I don't understand why other reviews have criticised the characters. I find them really vivid, real, visible.
On Sunday 12th March 2006 the BBC programme Countryfile was presented from the Lake District and it was alarming to see how close this book is to reality in terms of Wordsworth and the missing manuscripts. A poem by Wordsworth turned up around just 30 years ago.
Val McDermid's writing is wonderful. I looked forward to picking it up and enjoyed every page.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
PART ENGLISH HISTORY AND PART ENGLISH MYSTERY...
This is a beautifully crafted story, part English mystery and part English history. Those who enjoy reading historical fiction, as well as those who like unraveling mysteries, will... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lawyeraau
More Tatt than Tattoo
Fortunately I got this from a charity shop, rather than paying full price. Having enjoyed other VMcD books I was expecting a much better crafted story and was quite disappointed. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Lucky Luke
Not one of her best
Val McDermid is one of those authors I buy without reading reviews....but I didn't like this and struggled to read it to the end. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Galning
Readable.
A big fan of the 'Wire in the Blood' tv series I thought I'd read the author's words for myself, albeit nothing to do with Tony Hill! Read more
Published 20 months ago by Xander
Good stand alone wander in the Lake District
A good stand alone thriller from McDermid as she gets in the recent craze of historical fiction, here combining a conspiracy of Fletcher Christian and Wordsworth amidst the Lake... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Clive
Excellent
I borrowed this book from a friend. Having nothing else to read at the time I hoped I could get through a couple of chapters before sleep beckoned. Read more
Published on 21 April 2010
A really enjoyable read
As well as her three series featuring Lindsay Gordon, Kate Brannigan and Tony Hill, Val McDermid also writes stand-alone crime novels and this, her fourth, ranks with her best. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2010 by Mr Creepy
Not McDermid's best, but still worth reading
I started reading Val McDermid's books, as did most people I suspect, on the strength of the TV show "Wire in the Blood". Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2010 by J. Robson
The Lake District Gives Up Its Dead
"The Grave Tattoo," by Val McDermid , is a standalone British mystery set in England's renowned, pastorally beautiful, genteel Lake District. Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2009 by Stephanie DePue
A great read
This is my first Val Mcdermid read, i picked it up by accident, but when i opened it i didnt want to put it down. Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2009 by Barry F. Cheverst
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