Insidious Intent
3.9
8
5
1
Paperback
USD
14.4
$14.40
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780802128652 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Grove/Atlantic, Inc. |
| Publication date: | 11/20/2018 |
| Pages: | 432 |
| Sales rank: | 163,596 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.30(d) |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Insidious Intent
3.9 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
8 reviews.
 |
I couldn't put it down - these characters have become so real after so many books that you are invested in all the relationships and feel as if the are actual people that you know and care about. I can' wait for the story to continue .
|
|
DCI Carol Jordan is back as head of newly formed Regional Major Incident Team (ReMIT) stationed in Bradford. Her hand picked crew is composed of familiar returning characters & they’re about to be tested by a clever killer bent on revenge.
Dubbed ‘the Wedding Killer”, his meticulous planning leaves few scraps for the team & as the investigation drags on the fate of ReMIT hangs in the balance. But that’s not all Carol has to worry about. In the last book, she was caught drunk driving & lets just say a few strings were pulled to make it go away. Now a fatal car crash has put the incident back in the spotlight & if a local reporter gets her way, the resulting scandal will mean the end of Carol’s career.
Carol’s already a little testy from going cold turkey & her mood doesn’t improve as the killer continues to prey on single women. In alternate chapters we follow him as he sets his traps while the members of ReMIT stumble down one dead end after another.
With the investigation stalled, the story switches gears & becomes more personal as several of the characters deal with problems in their private lives.
I’ve read these book since the beginning & it’s my favourite series from this author. But I have to confess I found this one lacking the usual crackling tension. It’s difficult to explain without blurting out spoilers. The investigative/criminal aspect is well plotted & stars a suitably twisted bad guy. But it almost takes a back seat to the main characters’ personal struggles & is used as a plot device to further Carol & Tony’s storyline. Also, the team seems to have no problem side stepping rules & legalities as they investigate. I know this is fiction but it’s hard to believe they’d get away with some of their actions.
That being said, this is a pivotal book in the series. It’s no exaggeration to say the lives of the ReMIT crew are permanently altered by the surprise ending & those changes will bring a fresh look to the next instalment. So perhaps that was the author’s intent. Two things i know for sure: I’ll be in line for book #11 to see what happens next & I’ll never look at a bag of chips in the same way.
|
|
Dark, meticulous, and menacing!
Insidious Intent is a riveting tale that immerses you into the evidence collection and investigation into the kidnapping and violent homicide of several lonely, vulnerable women and the hunt for a serial killer with a penchant for fire.
The prose is sophisticated and crisp. The characterization is spot on with all the usual gang back including the resilient, determined Carol Jordan whose greatest struggles involve her own guilt, secrets, demons, and addictions. And the plot is a skillfully crafted mix of twists, turns, murder, police corruption, manipulation, obsession, and deception.
Overall, Insidious Intent is nicely paced and has exceptional depth in both the storyline and character development. And even though this is the tenth book in the Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series, McDermid has written such an intriguing, entertaining tale that new fans will be quickly adding the previous novels in the series to their TBR and long-standing fans will be satisfied, surprised, and eager for book #11.
|
|
Another fabulous tale by my favorite writer
|
|
I love this series. The author captures the reality of being a human.
|
|
Insidious Intent by Val McDermid is a highly recommended tenth installment to the series featuring psychologist Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan.
There are dual plotlines in this fast-paced, intense procedural. Carol Jordan has been asked to return to head the newly formed Regional Major Incident Team (ReMIT) and she has handpicked her colleagues. All of Carol's skills and Tony's insight are needed and tested with the Wedding Killer. They must find a serial killer who finds his victims at wedding receptions. The killer seeks out a woman who seems to be alone, courts her, and eventually kills her. Then he sets fire to their lifeless bodies in their cars, not only destroying the bodies, but destroying any evidence that would connect him to the crime.
While trying to catch the killer, crime reporter Penny Burgess has made it her goal to end Carol's career. At the same time DS Paula McIntyre is being urged by Carol to take her inspector's exam so she can take over for Carol - if she has to step down. To add to the complications, Paula and her partner Dr. Elinor Blessing must figure out why their teenage ward, Torin McAndrew, is suddenly acting moody and secretive. DC Stacey Chen is back and using her mad IT/computer skills to help solve the cases.
This is a great long-running series with well-developed, well-established characters. The writing is excellent and the dialogue is well-done. McDermid keeps the action fast and the tension building in this outing. The team is seriously stumped and there are so many peripheral things happening that could distract them from the case. All the various plot-thread keep moving along as the stress levels of the team rise along with the pressure. There is a reason McDermid is such a successful crime writer. The ending on this one is a shocker.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grove/Atlantic.
|
|
While I appreciate that the author created the characters and can make them do whatever she wants to do...what happens in this book is not really believable, based on the prior novels. It's like she hates both Tony & Carol and just wants to be done with the series.
The events in the novel take place right after the last one. Carol is still kicking booze and is confronted by the fact that the deal that got her off the hook for her drink-drive directly caused the death of innocent people. Tony is trying to help. Paula & her partner are still parenting a teenage boy. Now, there's a murderer on the loose & the local force wants to hand the case off to ReMit as they're still getting organized.
It could have been a great story--but, it wasn't. I really disliked everything about it.
|
|
Tony HIll, Psychologist, and Carol Jordan, DCI of the newly formed Major Incident Team, return in this British crime series.
The duo is hunting the Wedding Killer, a man who crashes a wedding, picks out a single woman, wines her, dines her, and then murders her. He's up to 3 victims and the team still have no clues, no motive, no identity of this killer. Jordan's job is on the line and she's worried.
While an excellent addition to the series, this one is more character driven. Still suspenseful, it doesn't have the OOMPH that her earlier books in this series has. On the plus side, the relationship between Tony and Carol reaches new heights. Learning more about the personal lives of the team members is very rewarding.
There are some twists and turns along the way, and a hugely surprising ending. Here's hoping we see more of them soon.
Many thanks to the author / Atlantic Monthly Press / Edelweiss for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
|