Preview
  • The Distant Echo

  • By: Val McDermid
  • Narrated by: Tom Cotcher
  • Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (52 ratings)

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The Distant Echo

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Tom Cotcher
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Publisher's summary

This "cunningly plotted" (New York Times) thriller is now on Britbox as Karen Pirie!

Bestselling, award-winning author Val McDermid delivers her most stunning story yet in
The Distant Echo--an intricate, thought-provoking tale of murder and revenge.

Four in the morning, mid-December, and snow blankets St. Andrews School. Student Alex Gilbery and his three best friends are staggering home from a party when they stumble upon the body of a young woman. Rosie Duff has been raped, stabbed and left for dead in the ancient Pictish cemetery. The only suspects are the four young students stained with her blood.

Twenty-five years later, police mount a cold case review. Among the unsolved murders they're examining is that of Rosie Duff. But someone else has his own idea of justice. One of the original quartet dies in a suspicious house fire and soon after, a second is killed. Alex fears the worst. Someone is taking revenge for Rosie Duff. And it might just save his life if he can uncover who really killed Rosie all those years ago.

©2003 Val McDermid (P)2022 Macmillan Audio
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Critic reviews

“Cunningly plotted...McDermid administers the venom drop by drop...Individually the characters are sensitively drawn. Collectively, they present the inscrutable face of closed-off communities so terrified of change they would kill for peace.”—New York Times Book Review

“This absorbing psychological novel of revenge shows British author McDermid at the top of her form...outstanding pacing, character and plot development, plus evocative place descriptions, make this another winner.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“If you still haven't absorbed the fact that Val McDermid is writing at the top of anyone's game, here's another chance to join the celebration...her clean, crisp writing, especially about crime science, might just remind you of the early books of P.D. James.”—Chicago Tribune

What listeners say about The Distant Echo

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The Distant Echo

I really like Val Mcdermid books & this was one of her best. Brilliant writing!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Karen Pirie is a minor character in this twisty tale

Fascinating story of how friends change, friendships evolve, and trauma impacts everyone. But not too psychologically convoluted: a gripping good tale!

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Everything!

I've stopped writing reviews mostly, as I'm a bit irritated with Audible, but I thought that the writing of this book was so good, that I had to let others know. Also, what an absolutely amazing narrator. WOW!

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Really enjoyed

I thought this was a gripping who done it and the narration was excellent. A great new series for me!

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Finally unabridged

Up until recently this has not been available in the US unabridged. Although this is the book Karen gets introduced and is classed as book 1, Karen is barely in it.

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Great story!

VMcD is so good—really spins a tale! Sorry not to learn more about Karen, but it makes me want the next one!

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Narration

The Scottish accent ruins the narration. Half the book is unintelligible and gave me a headache.

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Beware, scam!!

This is not a “new” release as Audible claimed when they sent me a notice. This is a re-release of the first in McDermid’s Karen Pirie series to coincide with the release of the new Karen Pirie tv series. Would it really have been so hard to let readers know this?? I’ll be returning it.

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13 people found this helpful