The Mermaids Singing Audiobook By Val McDermid cover art

The Mermaids Singing

Tony Hill and Carol Jordan Series, Book 1

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The Mermaids Singing

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Saul Reichlin
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Up until now, the only serial killers Tony Hill had encountered were safely behind bars. This one's different - this one's on the loose. Four men have been found mutilated and tortured. As fear grips the city, the police turn to clinical psychologist Tony Hill for a profile of the killer. But soon Tony becomes the unsuspecting target in a battle of wits and wills, where he has to use every ounce of his professional nerve to survive.

©1995 Val McDermid (P)2015 W F Howes Ltd Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Thriller Crime Murder

Critic reviews

"Gripping, intelligent stuff." (The Times)

"A superb psychological thriller." (Cosmopolitan)
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A good story - very dark - not for the faint of heart - a bit predictable but a great listen

Dark

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I'm sure it's a great story and sounded promising but I had to return it the moment it became clear that the author uses detailed descriptions of animal cruelty to emphasize the depravity of characters. This is unfortunately not something I can bear to listen to.

TW: Animal cruelty

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Wow. The Mermaids Singing is the second book by Val McDermid that I have listened to, and I found the book as good as the first, if not better. It's not for the faint-heated. A number of supposedly gay men are tortured and murdered by a serial killer, their bodies left washed and naked in the streets of Bradfield. The whole community is on edge, and the police too, who is using the services of a profiler, Tony Hill. Carol Jordan is an inspector who is taking part in the investigation, and her character adds to the interest of the story. What did I like about this book? First, the characters are real. Second, the plot is very good (You'll get a surprise at the end). Third, the writing flows. Fourth, the murder "weapons" and killings are unusual. Fifth, ditto for the murderer. Get it, you won't be disappointed.

Saul Reichlin was outstanding with the delivery of the story

Wow! Great Series

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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

it was ok - i got engrossed although I took a few breaks listening. I was quite annoyed with the unnecessary graphic description of sexual and physical torture. I am not squeamish but I found it did not add to the storyline at all. In fact, come to think of it, except for the graphic descriptions there wasn't much of a storyline to hold the interest.I much prefer other Val McDermid books I listened to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mermaids Singing?

can't say

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Saul Reichlin?

I like male narrators, but in this case I much prefer Cathleen McCarron. At the start I wasn't sure if I could stand the narrator but got somewhat used to him. He reads as if he is wading through syrup - so slow and so boring and sounding so old.

Could you see Mermaids Singing being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I certainly wouldn't want to watch it!

Any additional comments?

Not a great start to the series - too graphic, too sexually explicit, boring narrator

Unnecessarily graphic, poor narration, not a fave

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A very different tale; modern, unconventional, intriguing, well written and performed. So satisfying to have traditional stereotypes dispensed with.

Great story

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