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Trick of the Dark Audiobook
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(3.00) - 797 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The Washington Post calls CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award winner Val McDermid "one of the bright lights of the mystery field." In Trick of the Dark, forensic psychiatrist Charlotte Flint is in desperate need of a distraction after her testimony in a high-profile case comes under fire, threatening her career. Enter Dr. Corinna Newsam-an old professor of Charlotte's-who's convinced her son-in-law was murdered by her daughter's new lover.
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"I try not to miss a Val McDermid book, and I especially like these dark, psychological stand-alones. I had missed this one, but a review, now lost, of some other book led me here. I don't like books with no characters to care about, so I shouldn't like this one, as they're all flawed, but I find McDermid's storytelling so addictive, that I get caught up in it all. I also like her turn of phrase--Charlie Flint, our heroine, is a clinical psychologist, a "detective of the interior state." Something very satisfying about that idea and where it leads here. So Charlie's career is on hold (see numerous summaries below) and she's investigating on behalf of her mentor: did another former student (Jennifer/Jay), who is now having an affair with mentor's daughter, actually kill daughter's husband, and her former partner, and a business adversary. That would be 3 murders. I hate talking about plot. So it's investigative, step by step, but filled with emotional land mines. Uneasy, unsettling tone; measured pace that builds in intensity; vividly drawn, flawed, interior characters; satisfying plot twist at the end; smart writing, compelling, polished, and persuasive. Interestingly two narrators with very similar voices, both dark, husky, smoky, and sensuous, but the book doesn't lend itself as well as some to 2 narrators. Basically one reads sections that are Charlie's point of view, and the other reads Jay's. Worth a listen."
— Joyce (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Val McDermid is one of the bright lights of the mystery field.”
— Washington Post -
“Wonderfully compelling stuff.”
— Daily Mail -
“She's the best we've got.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“McDermid’s stand-alone is an absorbing character study. Her sleuth grapples with unbidden desire and disgrace while trying to redeem herself by catching a murderer. There’s a twist near the end that will seem slightly forced, but you’ll enjoy the rest of the book so much it will hardly matter.”
— Romantic Times
Trick of the Dark Listener Reviews
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" Might be a good book, but 1/3 of the way through I just didn't give a tinkers. No point wasting time on a book that's a struggle. "
— Anie, 2/15/2014 -
" McDermid is the winner of numerous awards for her crime fiction. In "Trick of the Dark", Charlie Flint receives a package of newspaper clippings about a groom who was murdered on his wedding day. She is intrigued and soons finds herself trying to find the real killer. A real page-turner! "
— Maryellen, 2/3/2014 -
" This was more a book on lesbianism than a good murder mystery. I have nothing against any gay person but this was not my type of book. "
— David, 1/29/2014 -
" Should have seen the ending coming, and might have if I'd been more caught up in the book. Recycles a LOT of the aspects of Killing the Shadows, which I found disappointing - McDermid is usually better about making her plot devices fresh. May have to go back and re-read A Place of Execution and rediscover what I originally loved about her writing. "
— Lisa, 1/19/2014 -
" Great story. Lots of intrigue. "
— Diane, 1/12/2014 -
" I got seriously bogged down in this book. Too much about the main character's angst and relationship dither and not enough about the mystery. I love reading about Oxford, so those details were great, but they got lost in all the inner exploring Charlie did. Not the best read. "
— Becky, 1/6/2014 -
" If you pay attention really closely you can almost guess who dunnit. Delightful. "
— Terry, 1/5/2014 -
" A very good Val McDermid. "
— Drachen, 12/30/2013 -
" Certainly generated a lot of discussion. The twists and turns kept me guessing. "
— Patty, 4/29/2013 -
" It's a terrible book really just terrible. However it's one redeeming feature is the descriptions if academic life - the emailed conversations are contrived and trite and that kept me reading. But the story line is dull and ever so predictable. "
— Anne, 2/28/2013 -
" Another good read by Val McDermid, bit confusing at the start but lots of twists and turns and good build up to the ending. "
— Karen, 2/27/2013 -
" This was the first Val McDermid book I read, and I love it. "
— Hazel, 12/14/2012 -
" I preferred her Tony Hill books. "
— Lynn, 10/6/2012 -
" It is great book ( it is more mystery solving than killing people ) "
— Fatma, 8/23/2012 -
" Lame plot and unconvincing characters. "
— Annette, 5/9/2012 -
" A typically enjoyable and addictive read from Val McDermid. For me, though, the mystery (while compelling) wasn't as interesting as the reflections on the difficulty of coming out and roles within family dynamics. "
— Abigail, 5/8/2012
About Val McDermid
Val McDermid is an author whose bestselling novels have won the Los Angeles Times Book of the Year Award, and the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger and Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for outstanding achievement. She is also a multiple finalist for the Edgar Award, including for the true crime nominee Forensics. Her novels have been translated into forty languages and have sold over 16 million copies. Visit her online at ValMcDermid.com.
About the Narrators
Gerri Halligan is the narrator of a number of audiobooks, including many by Lucinda Riley, Marian Keyes, and others, and was awarded an AudioFile Earphones Award for her reading of The Bird Table by Jonathan Davies.
Juanita McMahon is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and a professionally trained actress with experience in theater, television, and film productions, including the critically acclaimed Control, which won the BIFA Best British Film Award.