Death is a hollow drum whose beat has measured out my adult life.' So writes Jay Macallan Stewart in her latest volume of memoirs. But nobody has ever asked whether that has been by accident or design. Nobody, that is, until Jay turns her sights on newly-wed and freshly-widowed Magda Newsam. For Magda's mother Corinna is an Oxford don who knows enough of Jay's history to be very afraid indeed. Determined to protect her daughter, Corinna turns to clinical psychologist Charlie Flint. But it's not the best time for Charlie. Her career is in ruins. Pilloried by the press, under investigation by her peers, she's barred from the profiling work she loves. What Corinna's asking may be her last chance at redemption. But as Charlie digs into the past and its trail of bodies she starts to realise the price of truth may be more than she wants to pay.
Trick of the Dark
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Review
Wonderfully compelling stuff (Daily Mail )
A workout for the grey cells, perfectly executed (Daily Telegraph )
This standalone from the Scottish force of nature, and creator of Robson Green's Wire In The Blood TV series, is a brutally clever story (Daily Mirror )
thoughtful, tender and always entertaining', Guardian ('Flawless, chilling and truly un-put-downable’ )
A workout for the grey cells, perfectly executed (Daily Telegraph )
This standalone from the Scottish force of nature, and creator of Robson Green's Wire In The Blood TV series, is a brutally clever story (Daily Mirror )
thoughtful, tender and always entertaining', Guardian ('Flawless, chilling and truly un-put-downable’ )
Book Description
The new chilling standalone from the author of the Tony Hill series
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've read most of Val McDermid's earlier books but I must admit, Tony Hill just didn't grip me and I moved on to crime writers new. However, after reading reviews in the newspapers for Trick of the Dark, I thought I'd give this book a go and managed to finish it in a couple of days whilst on holiday. The book is a classic slow burner and does indeed take a while to get going but it's a book that draws you in and leaves you unable to put it back down until the end. Yes, the plot is a little predictable in places and yes, some of the dialogue may be a little dry but this doesn't detract from the overall appeal of the book. It is nice to see lesbian main characters in mainstream Top 10 fiction but that is not what this book is about. Complex relationships and life changing decisions abound, Trick of the Dark is an excellent read and Val McDermid remains on top form.
37 of 40 people found the following review helpful
By Eileen
Format:Hardcover
Charlie Flint is a psychiatrist, police profiler and accredited Home Office expert witness...but when the novel opens she is currently suspended and under investigation by the General Medical Council. She lives with her civil partner in Manchester.
Charlie visits her old tutor at the wonderfully named St Scholastika's College, Oxford. Dr Corinna Newsam is convinced that her daughter's new partner is a serial killer, and wants Charlie to go to London to find out if it's true.
Charlie isn't convinced and thinks that maybe the Newsams don't want their daughter in a lesbian relationship, but she decides to investigate out of loyalty to her old tutor, but more probably because there's a woman living in Oxford that Charlie is attracted to, and the investigation will give her an excuse to visit her.
Charlie sets off for London to investigate the suspect and meets up with her old friend Nick, a DS with the Met, and he agrees to help her.
Charlie's investigations take her from London back to Oxford and then to the Isle of Skye and on to Sunderland...lovely to see the North East mentioned in a mainstream novel...
Nice to see fictional characters who just happen to be gay...although from the comments from previous reviewers it seems that the one lesbian actually living in Oxford is one lesbian too many....
Fantastic thriller! Buy this novel now!!!
Charlie visits her old tutor at the wonderfully named St Scholastika's College, Oxford. Dr Corinna Newsam is convinced that her daughter's new partner is a serial killer, and wants Charlie to go to London to find out if it's true.
Charlie isn't convinced and thinks that maybe the Newsams don't want their daughter in a lesbian relationship, but she decides to investigate out of loyalty to her old tutor, but more probably because there's a woman living in Oxford that Charlie is attracted to, and the investigation will give her an excuse to visit her.
Charlie sets off for London to investigate the suspect and meets up with her old friend Nick, a DS with the Met, and he agrees to help her.
Charlie's investigations take her from London back to Oxford and then to the Isle of Skye and on to Sunderland...lovely to see the North East mentioned in a mainstream novel...
Nice to see fictional characters who just happen to be gay...although from the comments from previous reviewers it seems that the one lesbian actually living in Oxford is one lesbian too many....
Fantastic thriller! Buy this novel now!!!
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By J.Flood
Format:Hardcover
Physchiatrist, Charlie Flint is sent a mysterious package of press clippings about a recent murder. The murder took place on the grounds of Oxford college, which Charlie attended, years before. When Charlie figures out who sent her the package, she decides to investigate the murder, and who was responsible.
This book was an exciting read, pretty much up to the Val McDermid standard. There was always something going on in the story that made me want to read on futher. I thought the characterisation was good, and the whole lesbian aspect did not bother me. A better than average thriller.
This book was an exciting read, pretty much up to the Val McDermid standard. There was always something going on in the story that made me want to read on futher. I thought the characterisation was good, and the whole lesbian aspect did not bother me. A better than average thriller.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
(AudioCD) Lesbian erotic tension with psycho serial killers
Not bad. Nicely spoken voice and easy to listen to - this review refers to the 5 cd edition. Lots of wandering back into the past and considering old murders and who could be the... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Duncan Howorth
5.0 out of 5 stars
book
excellent service as always, arrived well packaged and on time no problems at all, thank you very much in deed
Published 1 month ago by maria fitzpatrick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brain Drain.
For me, a Val Mcdermid novel is a treat to be savoured which is why I often read them long after publication (the exception being the "Tony Hill" books which I can't stop myself... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Liz Wilkins
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not bad
It's taken me about 6wks to read because it didn't grab me enough so I've read other books then gone back to it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by donna mc
1.0 out of 5 stars
rubbish
Was eagerly awaiting this book for my birthday but was massively disappointed when I finally got it and started reading it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by con seed
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling murder mystery
This book is a murder mystery rather than a thriller like many of Val McDermid's, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by joyfrankie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Val McDermid gives us variety
The author isn't afraid to try different angles with her novels and this one I found very enjoyable. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Blimey O'Crikey
1.0 out of 5 stars
Self indulgent twaddle
Utter nonsense from an author I usually enjoy. Characters I could not give a stuff about, engaged in activities I found scarcely credible with a plot that bordered on the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by mckenm1m
5.0 out of 5 stars
McDermid at her best
On top form, the plot twists and turns in this stand alone tale.
Generally I can work out "who done it" but this kept me guessing till the end.
Well done!
Generally I can work out "who done it" but this kept me guessing till the end.
Well done!
Published 6 months ago by cazza552
3.0 out of 5 stars
Trickytitle
I have quite a collection of Val McDermid books but this one just did nothing for me. I dont give a hoot about anyone's sexual preferences but reading for about 3-4 chapters the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Lizadoug
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