A Darker Domain. Val McDermid (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
It's interesting that some authors, like Michael Connelly, can write an amazing series of thrillers (the Harry Bosch's), while his other books in the same genre are pretty mundane, leaning toward bad. I've read a lot of Val McDermid, and she fits the same mold. This is definitely not one of her top works. I'm pretty bad about figuring out "who did it," but had this one figured out half-way through. Some of the writing seems amateurish, and the characters rather stereotypical and contrived. Her "Wire in the Blood"series with Tony Hill and Carol Jordan can border on graphically gross, but those characters are complex, their relationship always developing, and the plots and writing generally strong. I'm going to have to stick to that series, and hope she churns out some more of that quality. Despite my displeasure with Beneath the Bleeding I thought I'd go ahead and give McDermid another try. Quite pleased I did. She lays off alot of the stupid sexual tension between her star-crossed polis/lovers and, while they do eventually hook up, she keeps the details quiet. Not a romance novel here and I'm happy about that. Good mystery where the past comes calling, just like in A Place of Execution. Back in the 80's the daughter and grandson of a wealthy Scots industrialist is kidnapped and the daughter winds up dead in a bad handover of money. At the same time a miner disappears from his village. The cops are on the case of both and it's a bit of a shock how it all turns out. Good mystery, good cops, good story. Maybe I should just stay away from Tony Hill?
What do You think about A Darker Domain. Val McDermid (2008)?
Not bad. Interesting but predictable mystery set in the UK. Definitely not my favorite Val McD book.
—Jackaroo19
It kind of felt like I was reading an episode of "Cold Case", but somehow that worked for me.
—AJWish
Good, but a bit boring in some parts, by the end I wasn't really thaaaaat interested...
—Gis
I thought this story was well-told and included interesting bits of history.
—emokidontheblock
