Killing the Shadows
Killing the Shadows book cover

Killing the Shadows

Hardcover – January 1, 2001

by
Price
$19.67
Format
Hardcover
Pages
422
Publisher
Minotaur Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0312266158
Dimensions
6.5 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
Weight
1.7 pounds

Description

From Publishers Weekly Though McDermid skillfully alternates point of view and creates memorable scenes and complex characters, her latest falls short of the high standard set by her previous novel, A Place of Execution (2000), which was an Edgar finalist. Psychology professor Fiona Campbell, a consultant with London's Metropolitan Police, specializes in crime linkage and geographical profiling using sophisticated computer technology. The competitive, self-confident Fiona was recently replaced on a case by another expert, who ended up misleading the police; their suspect, whom Fiona had thought innocent, was eventually released. While Fiona is working with the Spanish police to catch a vicious murderer, a new situation comes to light back in the U.K.: the serial killings of successful thriller writers who are threatened, then murdered following details from their most popular novel. Fiona lives with Kit Martin, author of you guessed it popular thrillers about serial killers. Their best friend, Det. Superintendent Steve Preston, needs Fiona's help in yet another investigation. Initially, she refuses to resume working with the police, but the personal dimensions draw her in. After much misdirection, the cases mesh, with a Spanish connection. McDermid builds suspense by inserting passages from the thriller novels, e-mails, crime Web sites and the killer's journal. Unfortunately, the killer's motive is somewhat unconvincing, while the reader can anticipate most of the plot twists. Nonetheless, given the acclaim for A Place of Execution, expect strong sales. (Oct. 12)novel in 1995. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal Criminal psychologist Fiona Cameron is trained to look for patterns in murders. Therefore, when two writers of thrillers are murdered, one in Scotland and one in Ireland, she grows worried about her lover, Kit Martin, a British crime novelist. While trying to protect Kit, Fiona must carry on with her work as a psychology professor and a consultant with the Spanish authorities investigating a series of murders in Toledo. McDermid, whose A Place of Execution appeared on the New York Times Book Review's Notable Books list in 2000, has created a complex character in Fiona. She is brilliant, beautiful, practical, passionate, and strong if somewhat overly assertive. Although the repartee between Fiona and Kit is corny, the relationship is believable. McDermid's style is melodramatic in places, and her foreshadowing is heavy-handed, but overall this is a compelling, intricately plotted page-turner. Recommended for public libraries. Jane la Plante, Minot State Univ., ND Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist The prolific and ever-popular McDermid is known for her nerve-jangling suspense thrillers with gripping plots and characters who are smart and attractive but slightly flawed. Her sixteenth book will doubtless win kudos from fans and critics alike. A demonic serial killer is murdering well-known crime writers by reenacting the most gruesome parts of their best-selling books. Noted psychological profiler Dr. Fiona Cameron has a personal interest in the case, not only because it offers a challenge even to her considerable skills, but also because her lover, Kit Martin, writes crime thrillers, and if Fiona's profiling doesn't identify the killer soon, Kit could become his next victim. To Fiona's horror, the killer gets past the careful security she's set up for Kit and spirits him away to a remote cottage in Scotland, where a slow and agonizing death is on the agenda. A gripping read with layers of plot complexity, heart-stopping suspense, and guts and gore aplenty. Emily Melton Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "Smart...skillfully executed...nasty and delicious. McDermid tells this wicked tale with style, intelligence and the blackest of humor." -- Washington Post Book World "There is no one in contemporary crime fiction who has managed to combine the visceral and the humane as well..." -- The New York Times Book Review Read more

Features & Highlights

  • When a killer who stalks crime writers murders her boyfriend, a prominent author, Professor Fiona Cameron is on the case, using her computer knowledge to hunt him down. By the author of A Place of Execution. 50,000 first printing.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(1.7K)
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★★★
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(855)
★★
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Most Helpful Reviews

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Have Spare Light Bulbs At Hand

This is only the second novel I have read by Ms. Val McDermid, the first was, "A Place Of Execution", and it left me as uneasy as I imagine the writer wished. "Killing The Shadows", is again a wonderful book that should be read under highly lit conditions, with standby lights and perhaps a generator. This lady's work does not just get under the skin; her words burrow into the marrow of your bones, and when appropriate the geometric center of the brain. The picture of her on the jacket has her taking the measure of a potential reader, as if deciding whether they can handle her invasive writing.
This particular book contains events that many will find gruesome and seriously deviant to say the least. What is interesting is these passages are from the imagined work of other writers, so the initial impulse is not to credit her with the grisly scenes, rather a third party. The passages she uses are not gratuitous. They are integral to introducing the behavior of a serial killer, and a possible source for his demented inspiration. What drives the killer is more complicated than that, or this book would not have Ms. McDermid's name upon it. These portions of the book are also a small part of the reading, and should not discourage anyone from enjoying this writer's craft.
The characters she creates are little short of brilliant. One of them is a PHD Candidate named Terry. If this character were based on a real female, she would be on many men's list of women to meet, and also a woman who would be more than a match for most. The author presents very bright, attractive, strong women without their needing to mimic the undesirable characteristics of their male counterparts. Terry is one of the best female characters I have read in some time.
A certain genre of writers are the targets of this book's killer, or are they? The best part of that query is that you will not know until the last pages of the book why everything took place as it did. One of the keys to a great thriller/mystery is how well the author sustains uncertainty and suspense. No author does this better that Ms. McDermid. She sets blind alleys, manipulates misdirection, and false conclusions brilliantly. No matter how many books you have read that required an answer to, "Who...", you will find this lady's work on par with anyone's.
Unconditionally recommended.
22 people found this helpful
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A superb product from a top contemporary mystery writer.

This is as satisfying a modern mystery as I have read in years. The basic plot description reads as a serial killer of serial killer thriller writers. I will add to this that Ms. Mc Dermid gices us in 1 book: a) 3 seprarate serial killer investigation in varying degrees of detail and all interesting; b) several intelligent detectives, none of them Lestrade-ish or tokenish; c) interesting victims; d) a very charismatic heroine in all senses; e) red herrings in the classic tradition, as well as a surprising main villain. Just read this one; you will not be dissapointed.
8 people found this helpful
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Catchy but contrived

Killing the Shadows has an catchy outline: somebody is systematically murdering the top-selling psych-crime authors, each murder copying the method used in that author's best known book. Crime psychologist Fiona Cameron has more than a professional concern in the case - her true love, Kit Martin, is a best-selling crime writer himself. Irresistable idea, but there's a risk that following a plot like this can end up a bit contrived, and unfortunately, that's what happens with this book.
Much of what happens you can guess well in advance, with the exception of the killer's eventual motive, which turns out to be so disconnected you'd never guess it. The main characters and relationships are all too pat and flawless - the edginess of some of Val McDermid's previous characters is absent. Fiona has emotional scars from a personal tragedy that segues neatly into her chosen career, and that tidily resolve themselves at the end. She has perfect romantic bliss with Kit, and a perfect platonic friendship with a cop who is, of course, Kit's best male bonding buddy. Kit is tough enough to write blood-curdling prose, sweet enough to leave her home-made risotto in the fridge for dinner, and irritatingly dumb, in the tradition of people in scary films who always walk alone down dark alleys.
Am I being tough on this book? Probably - there will be readers who really like it. It's still well-written, despite the often predictable plot, and some of the minor characters are the most interesting. It's far from a bad book, though I think after this, psychological profiling's been done to death. But Val McDermid at her best - try 'The Mermaid Singing' - is so very good, and this book doesn't quite reach that standard.
8 people found this helpful
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What Has Happened to Val McDermid?

This book was going along pretty well (although I wasn't particularly taken with any of the characters) but it sort of fell apart in the middle. I know why her character went to Spain (but I can't say because it would be a spoiler) but this section quickly grew very uninteresting and the book never recovered its momentum.

Also, this is another one of those books where there is not much suspense about whodunnit. This can be well done, but it wasn't well done here. The book is a journeymanlike work without the spark that keeps one reading late into the night.

The story of Fiona Cameron's emotional problems surrounding her sister's death is also unsatisfactory and rather wimpy and the climax of the main story is-- well, anti-climax. I don't know if she has just lost interest or what, but I wish she would go back to doing what she used to do so well, throat gripping suspense. I wonder if this series has been optioned to a television production company yet?
5 people found this helpful
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A Serial Killer-Fest

Val McDermid has produced a compelling thriller that is simply packed with shocking murders and mounting tension.
Someone is murdering thriller writers around the British Isles. But the disturbing thing is that the way in which the murders are being carried out closely resembles the murders described in each author's book. Fiona Campbell, a geographical profiler who occasionally works with the police, happens to be involved with a thriller-writer. Together they alternately believe and then discount the possibility that he may be on the list of future victims.
To add interest for the reader, and realism to the story, Fiona is inundated with work. We, the readers benefit from this by being kept bust keeping up with developments in, not one but three cases. This was a great device for maintaining the pace while allowing the story to unfold on a natural timeframe.
While a little predictable towards the end, Killing the Shadows still provides many heart stopping moments, a few nose-wrinkling descriptions and plenty of entertainment that kept me engrossed from the opening scene. If you like chillers about serial killers and the profiling undertaken to track them down, then you're going to love this book.
5 people found this helpful
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Brilliance sustained and enhanced

Val McD has surpassed the excellent Place of Execution with this superbly written work.Psychologist Dr Fiona Cameron goes to investigate a serial killer in Toledo, Spain and feels she has left behind the bitter taste from her last case for London`s Metropolitan Police in which they went against her advice and the murder of a young London woman remains unsolved.On return to England ,another serial killer starts his rampage of gruesome murder,targeting crime novelists and re-enacting their deaths in the same way of a victim from each of their books .
Dr Cameron has more than a vested interest as her lover ,Kit Martin is a crime writer and may be on the hitman`s list.With the case in London still open,the Toledo case unsolved and a serial killer targeting mystery writers ,on the rampage,Dr Cameron has a personal and professional crisis which could crossroads at any time.
Intricate,fast paced,intelligent and with more twists than a mountain stream,this is a great bet for another Edgar nomination and a must read for all true fans of modern crime thrillers.
4 people found this helpful
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The Worst of Times for Mystery/Suspense Readers

The marketplace of good mystery/thriller/suspense books must be going to pieces. We have suffered through recent very bad books by James Patterson and Patrica Cornwell. Now we have Val McDermid, who gave us the wonderful "Place of Execution" offering a novel that is so dull and predictable, when it makes sense, that the reader can barely make it through to the end.
First, we are taken to Toledo, Spain to investigate a killer. Then that tack is dropped, never to be properly renewed. You are not glad MdDermid has taken you to Spain. She gives you nothing interesting and new.
We already know from the back cover and all the ads that a serial killer in England is killing off mystery writers using the story line from recent books. So when we leave Spain, we figger outr within a few pages just who is going to be killed next. But we are now stuck in Great Britain where nothing of interest is presented. We wish we were somewhere else dealing with anything else.
The detectives are incompetent of course. They have no personality. We don't want anybody to solve these cases. There are too many suspects that don't fit. The book becomes more and more cumberson as it takes McDermid to long to get to what we already know.
The real problem with this novel is the stilted, boring, plodding writing which makes the predictable story line even more of a struggle to page through.
You will finish this book quickly because you will be so tempted to read ahead, looking at just the last few words of each chapter.
2 people found this helpful
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Another winner for McDermid

I fell in love with Val McDermid’s work after reading A PLACE OF EXECUTION. Since then I have read at least one novel from two of her series characters, Kate Brannigan, a private investigator and Lindsay Gordon, a former journalist. KILLING THE SHADOWS is a stand-alone mystery and fairly entertaining.
The main character in her novel is Fiona Cameron, a college professor who used to work in conjunction with the police by doing geographic profiling of crimes. She quit working with the police after they ignored her advice and used another expert. The other professional hired entrapped a sexual homicide suspect and caused that all the evidence against the accused be thrown out of court.
A self-righteous serial murderer is killing several crime novelists. He takes heinous scenes from their works and tries to imitate as close to the novel as he can. Fiona gets involved in the case because her boyfriend is a world-famous thriller author and she fears he might be targeted. Cameron also feels a sense of personal responsibility due to several aspects in her past that are revealed earlier in the book. There are two subplots involved in this novels that help enhance the character personalities in this book. One involves a sexual homicide that occurs early in the book and a serial killer who is terrorizing tourist in Toledo, Spain
One factor in McDermid’s book that I enjoyed was the inclusion of excerpts of the victim’s work before they were executed. I also learned something I did not know about Agatha Christie.
The killer’s motivation for the authors’ murders was unconvincing, but I did not particularly care. Val McDermid is one of the best authors I have experienced in a long time. I intend to continue to read her novels as her books become more readily available.
2 people found this helpful
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Characters are intriguing but plot falls short

I very much enjoyed the two main characters of the novel, Fiona Campbell, an academic psychologist, who consults as a psychological/geographical profiler with police, and Kit Martin, a popular crime novelist. Most interesting to me was the premise that a psychologist could develop a program, which, when loaded with relevant information from a grouping of like crimes, can point out clues to the identity of a serial killer, or rapist. This is still a futuristic concept but is intriguing when it becomes doable. Martin and Cameron are an appealing couple and the secondary plots of a serial murderer in Spain and a bicylist/murderer in England are very intresting. What doesn't work well at all is the main plot which involves a grudge and a "hit list" of best selling crime novelists who are systemically killed according to the plots in their best selling books. The concept has been overdone in many novels. There is a red herring thrown in that is not believable and the serial killer is unmasked in a way that is also not believable and very unsatisfying.
While I still enjoyed aspects of this book, it does not approach her fantastic "Place of Execution" which I read before this novel. I was disappointed here but plan to try more of Ms. McDermid's works.
1 people found this helpful
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Absolutely Teriffic!

Val McDermid's Killing the Shadows is a rare treat -- a serial killer targeting crime writers and killing them using methods that the writers have used to kill the characters in their books. McDermid's characters are believable and likeable, the plot moves swiftly, and the puzzle is wonderfully difficult. I've read many, many a mystery and thriller, and this is definitely one of the best that I've read in a long time. She's definitely in Thomas Harris territory (and some of the crimes in "Shadows" give him a real run for the money). Buy It!
1 people found this helpful

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