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The
reviewer:
Wendy lives in Pudsey. "Happily married for nearly 16
years with a son of 11 and a daughter of 7, I am enjoying
an extended childhood in my 38th year. Born and bred in Lichfield,
Staffs, I lived in Cambridge for 8 years and then relocated
to Pudsey in 1991 with my husband's job."
Reading
habits:
"I've been addicted to all kinds of books ever since
my Mum taught me to read and can still remember the thrill
of getting my very own library ticket age 7!"
The
author:
VL McDermid
Previous
books:
Val McDermid grew up in a Scottish mining community. She was
a journalist for 16 yearsand is now a full-time writer living
in Manchester. She has written numerous crime novels including
A Place of Execution for which she won the Macavity award
for Best Crime Novel of 2000.
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Having
built a successful and happy life in California, investigative journalist
Lindsay Gordon regretfully returns to Glasgow for the sake of her
lover's career only to find that Sophie is determined on another unwelcome
and life changing prospect.
Gordon's
struggle with the personal dynamics of her relationship with Sophie
meshes satisfyingly with her search to re-establish herself in the
Glasgow journalism scene. Literally bumping into an old acquaintance
involves her in local news stories, and she is asked to find a boy
kidnapped from his school in a tug-of-love.
Tough
determination
With her anathema for politically correct behaviour on either personal
or professional fronts, Gordon's tough determination to pursue what
she sees to be the right course ensures that the plot remains satisfyingly
unpredictable.
McDermid
plots the development of the story with real pace and dynamism,
moving with ease between IRA contacts in Belfast, the Finnish high
seas and St Petersburg.
Characters
Gordon's character is already well established for those of us who
have read the previous five books, but McDermid successfully satisfies
the needs of a new reader as her other characters are a judicious
mix of old and new acquaintances, in both personal and professional
spheres.
As
a Val McDermid fan I was unable to put this one down, finishing
it in two sittings. However, the interesting St Petersburg section
was frustratingly short, and I was unconvinced by the neat conclusion
of Gordon's personal dilemma. Plotted well, this book is real page-turner
for those who enjoy mysteries balanced with emotional dilemmas.
Wendy
Bloom
Hostage
to Murder was published in paperback in November 2003.
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