The Mermaids Singing

By Val McDermid and Lee Child

In this special 20th anniversary edition, Lee Child introduces the Gold Dagger award-winning serial killer thriller that began the Number One bestselling crime series featuring clinical psychologist Dr Tony Hill, hero of TV’s much-loved Wire in the Blood.

You always remember the first time. Isn’t that what they say about sex? How much more true it is of murder…

Up till now, the only serial killers Tony Hill had encountered were safely behind bars. This one’s different – this one’s on the loose.

Four men have been found mutilated and tortured. As fear grips the city, the police turn to clinical psychologist Tony Hill for a profile of the killer. But soon Tony becomes the unsuspecting target in a battle of wits and wills where he has to use every ounce of his professional nerve to survive.

A tense, beautifully written psychological thriller, The Mermaids Singing explores the tormented mind of a serial killer unlike any the world of fiction has ever seen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: May 22, 2009
• ISBN: 9780007327560

Val McDermid

VAL McDERMID is the internationally bestselling author of more than twenty crime novels. She has won the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel of the Year and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; her novels have been selected as New York Times Notable Books and have been Edgar Award finalists. She was the 2010 recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Crime Writing. More than 10 million copies of her books have been sold around the world. She lives in the north of England. Visit her website at www.valmcdermid.com.

Reviews for The Mermaids Singing

[iira_24 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A holiday read. I've previously read the next book in this series, so no surprises on who is going to survive and who is not. Again, my own fault, this. As well as the next, I liked the book, Somewhat introductory regarding the main characters, but not too much to be a sole introduction. Quite graphic on the torture description, sometimes even too much so, and coming from me thatt's a lot! I find the subject interesting as such, but the way the delight on others' suffering is described is somewhat disturbing. References to computers date the book quite a bit. All in all, a good read.

[debavp · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The first in a series and I honestly don't know how McDermid ever became as wildly successful as she did. I do understand now why it was so difficult to find a copy. This is the first time I have ever had to skip an entire section of a book because I couldn't stomach the subject and the absolute lack of need to go to such ridiculous lengths with it. The only reason I continued past the first few pages was the challenge of determining what Hill's "secret" was and that he might indeed be an intriguing character. What I found as the book wore on, and I do mean "wore", was that the character of DI Golden actually became much more interesting than finding out what Hill's dirty little secret was. By the end, there was no surprise as to whom the villian turned out to be, only that if further installments of these characters are anywhere as disgusting as this initial attempt, it was too bad they weren't all taken out. This one goes to the rubbish bin.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Mermaids Singing
3.5 Stars

Synopsis
After the mutilated bodies of 4 men are discovered in Bradfield, the police are finally forced to admit that a serial killer is on the loose, and enlist the help of criminal psychologist Tony Hill. Haunted by demons of his own, Tony works with DI Carol Jordon to profile a killer who has just made Tony the latest target...

Review

Disclaimer: This book is the first in a series which forms the basis for the BBC show Wire in the Blood. As a fan of the series, I was glad to see that the producers did an excellent job in re-creating 90% of McDermid's characters and plot. However, my overall reading experience may have been influenced by the fact that I knew all the twists and turns ahead of time.

That said, the plot of The Mermaids Singing is clever and well written. The events are told from multiple perspectives - Tony, Carol as well as the killer and others. Each of the characters, both primary and secondary, are intriguing and well-developed, and the revelation of the killer's identity and motivation is original and interesting. It is important to note that the book contains graphic descriptions of torture and mutilation so it is not for those who are turned off by blood and gore.

Personally, the only scene that had me almost jettisoning the book is the near torture of the German Shepherd, as I have absolutely no tolerance for animal abuse. Thankfully, the act itself does not occur so I could move forward (very pleased this was taken out of the show).

Tony is a compelling character, damaged and tortured in his own way, and trying to cope with his inner demons. He comes across as more eccentric in the series than in the book, an interpretation that I prefer. Carol is also a likeable character coping with the inevitable boys club in the police.

While the book is entertaining, I won't be continuing with the series as I've seen the TV show, and I know what is to come. Reading the book does make me want to watch the show again though.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I suspect McDermid has been influenced by Thomas Harris but she reworks the formula and avoids making her serial killer into a 'bogey man' like Hannibal Lecter. Lecter is a force and not a real being. The killer in Mermaids is a real person and the novel is scarier as a result. An enormously enjoyable read as a clinical psychologist Tony Hill - who has his own problems - matches wits with a very sick and intelligent killer.

[lambtonworm_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is another book I read AFTER seeing the TV series (Wire In The Blood) and so I already had a picture in my mind about the main characters (Notably Dr. Tony Hill). The book in itself was very interesting and different to most others in this genre as it bared all of the information from showing the two perspectives of both the murderer (through diary entries at the end of each chapter) and the investigative team through the main chapters.As well as gaining an insight into the killers mind, you also witness the progression of the investigation and learned to understand and anticipate the next moves - with the final chapter still managing to come as a somewhat surprise. Although at times I found the violence outlined within the murderers diary entries unnecessarily gruesome and descriptive, I still felt it was done in relation to the extreme murders.Throughout the book there are also intertwining story lines and personal accounts from the personal troubles of Dr. Tony Hill to the journalists problems of constantly needing a story. As well as this, the book highlighted an important outside issue - the need for criminal profilers within the police force.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting serial killer story. Tony Hill is a psychologist working for the home office and being brought into a serial killer mystery. Along with Detective Inspector Carol Jordan they race to find the killer.It's gruesome but I did enjoy it. It kept me wondering throughout what was happening and what would happen next. There were parts that did drag on and also parts that could have done with tighter editing along with mixed up timeline situations that did confuse me a little but still not a bad read.

[mazda502001 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first in the Tony Hill series and a good psychological thriller. Gripping stuff - a good read.Back Cover Blurb:Up till now, the only serial killers Tony Hill had encountered were safely behind bars. This one's different - this one's on the loose.In the northern town of Bradfield four men have been found mutilated and tortured. Fear grips the city: no man feels safe.Clinical psychologist Tony Hill is brought in to profile the killer. A man with more than enough sexual problems of his own, Tony himself becomes the unsuspecting target in a battle of wits and wills where he has to use every ounce of his professional skill and personal nerve to survive.

[stuart10er_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good but not great. Although there were many factors against the book as I read it. Well, one large one. I had already read a later book in this series and it gave away just enough details for it to make it much simpler for me to guess the criminal players in the book. I found the murderer very early - although I still very much enjoyed the ride of the writing until the end - so that is definately a plus in the author's favor. A serial killer is seeming to kill gay men in a ritualistic and tortured way. The police decide to bring in a profiler to help them track the killer down - thus launching the continuing partnership of Carol Jordan and Dr. Tony Hill.

[eadieb-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a well written mystery with a great cast of characters that was gripping from the opening line. The chapters alternate between the point of view of the killer and the official investigation which keeps the pages turning until the very end. Even though the murders scenes were very graphic, I do look forward to reading the 2nd book in this series.

[knittingmomof3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Mermaids Singing is the first in Val McDermid’s Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series. It is a taught, well-written psychological thriller, which was actually turned into an excellent British crime drama in 2002. I highly recommend McDermid’s series to fans of exceptional crime fiction.

[laura400 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I came to this one after reading the most recent book in the series, and I was disappointed. It was a slog, and frankly, overly creepy, which I suppose was to make it more popular. The author really seemed to be finding her way with this one. I found it repetitive, and was disappointed the book seemed to go out of its way to make the two main characters odd and unsympathetic, and their relationship the same. I didn't buy the setup where Jordan was supposed to be so instantly attracted to Hill, nor his impotence, nor really any of that early relationship.It's interesting to me that the series gets so much better later when she grows more comfortable with her characters, and can speak about them almost in shorthand. For a book that's supposed to revolve around a police-profiler relationship, the author seems unsure how to write about human relationships. I would advise skipping this one, and instead reading her later work, which is so much better.

[michael_drysdale_4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is my first Val McDermid book.Profiler Tony Hill and police detective Carol Jordan work together on a series of murders where the victims seem to be gay and the murders involve torture with sexual overtones. The book’s point of view alternates between Tony Hill, Carol Jordan and the killer. The latter point of view is in the form of a diary and I liked the way the description of each murder always lagged behind the description of the discovery of its victim.The book is very well written and the serial killer is really a very scary character. The torture scenes are detailed and extremely gruesome; I did find these rather uncomfortable reading. In the background the book is much about how Tony Hill needs to sell psychological profiling to a sceptical police force and the internal politics of that force. There is a nice twist towards the end although it’s clear from early on who the serial killer’s next target is.This really is an excellent book and I found it all the more gripping as I haven’t seen the TV series.

[kmajort · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So different from the TV show (which is awesome)- the "hero" is an amazingly messed up individual - nothing compared to the villain tho.

[cecilturtle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was somewhat of a disappointment. I'm not keen on torture which was a major theme of the book and although the characters were well developed, they were predictable to the point that I'd figured out who the murderer was in the first 100 pages (and I'm usually totally clueless!). I'm surprised this book got an award - it must have been a slow year.

[jerhogan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nice twist! Solid thriller with McDermid's trademark humanity.

[kaulsu · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I don't like books whose titles have no discernible connection to the book. Why? Because I cannot believe it! And that leaves me to think I missed some key piece.I bought this book because of McDermid's book, _Forensics_. I read reviews about _Mermais_ on Amazon, so I was not shocked at the graphic descriptions. It reminded me of reading _The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich_...the juvenile feeling of titillation reading of the Nazi experiments that happened in the camps. Or, more to the point, reading graphic descriptions of the bizarre Christian (Christian?) Inquisition. Only we don't call it that. We distance ourselves from it by calling it the "Spanish Inquisition."Oh well, I thought I had found a new series to read. This is the first in the Tony Hill, Carol Jordon series.

[eyejaybee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I remember reading and enjoying this book when it was first published twenty years ago, but I had forgotten quite how good it was. I would, however, probably not have thought to re-read it if I had not had a recent exchange on Twitter with Val Mcdermid herself.This is the first instalment of the series featuring Inspector Carol Jordan and Dr Tony Hill that now extends to several volumes and spawned the television series 'Wire in the Blood'. As is so often the case, the television version sells the books rather short, with a prurient emphasis on the sordid and sensational aspects to the detriment of the well-crafted plots and finely-drawn characters.This book opens with the police in Bradfield struggling to find new leads in their investigation of some particularly vicious murders in which the victims had not merely been killed but appeared to have been tortured at length beforehand. Opinion within the police is divided as to whether the murders are the work of one serial killer or separate, unrelated perpetrators. Detective Inspector Carol Jordan is convinced that there is a serial killer at work, but has hitherto been unable to convince her boss, Superintendent Cross who is a traditional old school copper. It is also clear that Cross feels that, as the victims have been known participants in Bradfield's vibrant gay scene, they have been more or less asking for it, and he barely avoids using the term 'contributory negligence'. Fortunately, Assistant Chief Constable Brandon is more modern in his approach, and he invites Dr Tony Hill, a practising psychiatrist who has been working with the Home Office to develop a national profiling task force, to help the investigation.Tony Hill is not without his own demons, but he quickly establishes his bone fides with Carol Jordan and the rest of her team with some astute observations about the murders. In the meantime, the police stage an undercover operation with various officers staking out some of the clubs around Bradfield in the hope of flushing out the killer. One of the police officers is attacked, and then another body is found …Val Mcdermid manages the plot brilliantly, allowing the tension to mount quickly without compromising the plausibility of the story. The relationships between Hill and Jordan and the different strands of opinion within the police are all eminently credible.

[velopunk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very gruesome to the point of being hard to listen to.

[romonko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have been wanting to read this series since I saw The Wire in the Blood series on television, so I was excited to finally get to it. I am not sure how to review this book and even more unsure how to rate it. Ms. McDermid's writing skills are excellent. That is why she's won so many mystery writers awards, but perhaps, in this case, her skills are just too good. I found the contents of this book disturbing and upsetting. Her villain in this book is probably one of the worst fictional villains I've ever encountered. Ms. McDermid describes in graphic detail the horrendous crimes that this particular serial killer commits.I enjoy criminal profiler Tony Hill and his DI partner, Carol Jordan. They make a very effective crime fighting team. Ms. McDermid spares no punches either as she describes their weaknesses and insecurities just as clearly as she does their positive character traits. This makes them both very human. But I found that I had a great deal of difficulty getting through some of the graphic crime depictions, and I must admit, I even skipped over some of the descriptions in the book which come from the point of view of the perpetrator. And again I have to admit, that the book caused me one or two sleepless nights. It's that scary! Will I read more in this series? At this point I don't know. Tony Hill is brilliant! Carol Jordan is wonderful character, but it frightens me to think of the other sick villains that I saw in the television depicted in print. I will say that the television series was not nearly as graphic as the book. Of course they couldn't put that kind of depravity in full technicolour in a television series. And Robson Green as Tony Hill! Well, let me tell you, that was great casting on the part of the producers of this series.

[brokenangelkisses · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

From the beginning it’s clear that this is a gritty, fast paced novel which will involve fully drawn and vulnerable characters, graphic descriptions of torture and a focus on the psychological elements of police procedure involved in solving the crime.The initial chapter is narrated by a murderer who explains their fascination with torture devices and describes murder as a ‘strange and exotic drama’. The detachment of the narrator is chilling as they claim that they were compelled to commit murder the first time, but soon afterwards began thinking about how they could do it better next time. The quotations at the beginning of each chapter reinforce this idea of murder as a type of art that can be worked on. The intelligence of the murderer is clear through their language and grammar; their cruelty is even clearer as they admire the minds of those who perfected torture devices.Throughout the novel, the narrative shifts between this first person narrative and the third person narrative following the pursuit of this murderer. Intriguingly, the first person texts are clearly some kind of record of events, and although in this first narrative passage the murderer only really refers to this first murder, in the first real chapter we learn that three men are already dead. As the novel develops this time difference allows the reader to anticipate learning more about the terrible murders – each man was tortured and mutilated before being dumped, naked, in well-known gay cruising areas. This is not a novel for those with a sensitive stomach, but details are not gratuitous.Tony Hill is the next character that we meet and he seems incredibly uncomfortable in his own skin, choosing which persona to try on in the morning. Gradually more characters are introduced from the police force, all of whom are involved in trying to solve the individual murders without admitting that there is a serial killer on the loose. Not everyone is happy with this situation and McDermid establishes a lot of tension between the law enforcement officials which is only escalated when Tony is taken as an official Psychological Profiler to help them catch this killer.Characters’ motives and lives are skillfully drawn out, with just the right amount of information given to allow the reader to follow the twists and turns of the plot. A possible love interest is established early on, but Tony has some serious sexual hang-ups which create difficulties here, and the investigation quickly takes a very serious tone when the next victim turns out to be a little too familiar…This is an effective psychological thriller which will keep you wondering until the end as the police have very few leads, just an increasingly detailed psychological profile, and the killer seems capable of extreme manipulation. The interest of this novel lies in the relationships between characters and developments in the plot, but is primarily in Tony’s interpretation of the evidence. It is genuinely gripping: I read the whole novel in two days.There is also an implied criticism of police procedure in the story of the treatment of one suspect. The development of this situation gives the novel a greater level of depth and led to a truly disturbing event which reverberated in the novel and in my mind long after I’d finished reading.This novel won the 1995 CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel of the Year and is the start of a series of novels following Tony Hill’s work as a clinical psychologist. The front cover of my edition includes a quotation from Minette Walters, another excellent psychological crime writer, which effectively sums up the novel: ‘compelling and shocking’.

[cmwilson101 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is one of a series of books by Val McDermid about the neurotic, socially inept but brilliant criminal profiler, Tony Hill, and assertive, maverick detective Carol Jordan, and the odd, dependent relationship that develops between them as they solve crimes together. This story (the first in the series), revolves around a series of killings in the town of Bradfield. Tony is brought in to help catch the killer via profiling, and Carol is eventually won over. As always, there is a good cast of supporting characters, all of whom are realistically multi-faceted and interesting.

[stewartry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After finishing Mapp and Lucia a while back, I felt in need of murder and mayhem. I can't say I've ever felt that before; I don't remember ever hating one book's characters enough to want to go read graphic descriptions of a serial killer's work. Although the demographic being murdered in The Mermaids Singing was completely different from that I had a wished death on in M&L, it still hit the spot.That sounds a bit twisted, doesn't it… It hit the spot surprisingly well, in fact. Maybe I've watched too much "Criminal Minds" and "Walking Dead" and so on over the years (and Wire in the Blood); maybe I've become jaded. Because this was beyond all doubt graphic. I usually do avoid this subsection of the genre, but back when Netflix still included streaming video with all subscriptions I stumbled on and became a huge fan of "The Wire in the Blood", and being as this is what that was based on, I wanted more of Tony Hill and Carol Jordan. And that's exactly what I got. As it turns out, the first episode of the TV series was a remarkably faithful adaptation of this first book. Happily, I saw it long enough ago that details had faded, and my memory is bad enough that the end wasn't spoiled. This isn't one of the sporting class of murder mysteries, where the clues are planted throughout the story for the clever and attentive reader to pick up and put together. This is pure procedural, with the coppers both dreading and hoping for the next victim of the serial killer on the loose: dreading, for obvious reasons, and anticipating in hopes that with a new body will come more data toward finding the killer. Intercut with the personal and professional lives of Tony Hill and Carol Jordan and their colleagues are journal entries from the killer, shadowing the timeline without giving away any real detail about the killer except how contact was made with the victims.But it all really comes down to those two, Tony Hill and Carol Jordan. They're terrific characters. I don't know that I'm quite jaded enough to pursue the book series - but it's good to know it's out there.

[foxylibrarian71 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a dark, graphic psychological thriller that is very well written. As always it is probably the best book in the series.

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you have any problem with triggers relating to torture, violence, suicide or rape, I don't suggest you read this book. The violence is graphic, lovingly detailed, and given to you from the point of view of the person carrying out the torture. If you're squeamish, there's also graphic descriptions of the mutilated bodies, etc. The only reason I continued reading this book was because I think I'm going to have to make reference to it in my essay -- if I wasn't planning on that, I would have given up after less than fifty pages, book for class or not.

If you have no problem with reading about torture, however, the mystery itself is pretty compelling. It's a police procedural, really, and more so than Ian Rankin's books -- no real maverick policeman (or policewoman) here: Carol Jordan seems to play within the rules, and Tony Hill just puts forward theories or guides interrogations, and doesn't actually spend the time chasing down the criminal himself. It all seems within the realm of plausibility, on the police side of things -- the killer is, of course, not just your average serial killer, but complete with all the bells and whistles of torture, rape, gender issues, mother issues, etc, etc, etc. It feels a bit over the top, in some ways, but it isn't implausible because there have been serial killers in like fashion. And, well, serial killers aren't exactly the most restrained and sane people.

I found it pretty easy to figure out what was going on if you remember that this isn't a true story, and therefore every detail included is relevant. Seemingly unconnected events must somehow tie in, and nobody is above suspicion, however irrelevant they may seem.

It deals with some LGBT issues, too -- the treatment of gay people by the police, and gender issues. This is pretty well done, I think. Realistic, without being too much of a hobby horse, so it didn't get in the way of the story, but contributed to its tension. The story of the serial killer's upbringing is sad without the story making it an excuse for how the killer behaves.

If it wasn't so personally triggering, I think I'd have enjoyed it.

Rating it was difficult. I did really like it, and like analysing it, so four stars, but god, don't ever make me read it again.

[brokentune · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Meh. Written in 1995, this actually reads dated. Also, there is a lot of explaining things - mostly Hill explaining to Jordan - which read a bit like a lecture. Not a fan of the gory / torture parts, and it did not help that the book starts with some pretty gruesome descriptions.

[piratejenny_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was wrong. Mostly wrong anyway. About who the killer was. I got part of it right. And I'm unsure if I remembered it from the tv series Wire in the Blood (which I miss horribly since I no longer have BBC America--damn Cablevision!). Excellent book. Except for that issue at the beginning with the fourth body--I still maintain Tony should have seen what had been done to him at the crime scene. But I was able to overlook it. I'm now addicted to Val McDermid (I've started the next Hill/Jordan book already). I do keep picturing the actors from the tv show as the characters, but I'm okay with that. The changes they made for the tv show are interesting though, and the characters are obviously a lot more complex in the book. John Connolly said recently in his blog that the problem with buying new books is that the room he has to keep books doesn't expand and that it's like his books breed. I see this happening with Val McDermid's books (and Connolly's for that matter). There are so many!

[avalon_today · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you are looking for a gritty, dark, disturbing murder mystery, then look no further. From beginning to end, the action is non-stop. I was amazed how the BBC series Wire in the Blood brings to life the book. And Robson Green is Tony Hill.

[anissaannalise-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Can't go wrong with Prof Tony Hill & this is a great entry to the series. Donating as clearing bookshelves for move.

[callmecayce · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm a huge fan of the TV show and decided to give the first Tony Hill novel a go. It was very good, but hard to read -- even though I'd seen the episode that was taken from this novel. What I really liked was that my versions of Tony and Carl were based on the TV show and I think that made the novel that much more enjoyable (if reading about serial killers can be considered a joy).

[moontyger_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The fact that I watched the TV show first obviously affected my experience of this book. As I expected, the book has far more details, but it is hard to avoid a comparison. And, of course, I already knew the solution. That said, I still enjoyed it, and I especially liked the much clearer picture I got of Tony Hill in this book.