New Val McDermid readers, be forewarned: BENEATH THE BLEEDING is the fifth book in his series, which means you, like me, might feel a bit lost. And after everything is said and done, it’s a bit ho-hum for a writer I’ve only heard praised. The story will keep your interest, but it takes its sweet time to make major progress. In addition, there are two storylines running throughout, with the surprise of one of them given away on the book jacket.
This was my first time to read about psychologist/profiler Dr. Tony Hill and Detective Chief Inspector Carol Jordan. I was more familiar with the adaptations that have been made for British television, under the title WIRE IN THE BLOOD. The thrust of the book deals with the mysterious death of a star soccer player (“footballer” for our British readers) named Robbie Bishop, who, when admitted to a hospital, is thought to be fighting some strange virus.
It’s not until his death that it’s discovered he was poisoned by ricin. In the same hospital, we find Hill recovering from an attack and with a busted-up knee. He is bedridden for a good portion of the novel, so it’s up to Jordan and her team to investigate the case, which might be connected to another death from some time earlier.
While this story goes on, the second plot interweaves itself. Again, this plot is totally ruined by the cover copy, but even if it weren’t, most readers could see where it’s going right away. BENEATH THE BLEEDING is not as graphic in its violence like McDermid’s previous books, from what I understand. It also meanders a bit too much for my tastes. I stuck with it, but at points, you just want the pace to pick up.
A lot of the character interactions were lost on me, but we do find out a good deal about Hill’s upbringing, which most likely will explain how he came to be the way he is. Once McDermid reaches her conclusion, it’s forced and rushed, and she leaves a few dangling plot threads, most likely to be continued in the next book. Fans of the series might be a tad disappointed by this entry, while newbies are better off picking up the first one, THE MERMAIDS SINGING. —Bruce Grossman
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As a rule McDermid is terrific, but this isn’t a particularly good novel and is certainly not the place to start the Hill/Jordan series. The series should be read in order and the first one, “The Mermaids Singing”, is also the best. I think McDermid’s best novels are her non-series efforts, especially “A Place of Execution”, “Killing the Shadows”, and “A Darker Domain”. I strongly urge you to give those a try.
McDermid is a very good writer but that doesn’t mean you’ll like every one of her books. Guess that’s true of all of us. Anyway, I keep The Mermaids Singing on my all time list of favorites.
RJR
I am sorry the plot was too slow for Mr. Bruce Grossman. As not having read it yet I can’t comment. I can comment however, on the other books as I have read the previous four and have loved every written word. I fail though to understand why Mr. Grossman was reviewing the 5th book of a series before properly doing his homework and reading the previous published books. That is usually the point in a series, to better understand the characters and the subtle slow moving plot developments. Which are to me, truer to life. I have yet to see a human relationship or police investigation that was faced paced. The only place that holds water is in the world of the fast paced Hollywood melodramas . These melodramas, seem to not only desensitized the average movie goer but the average book journalist as well. Do the public and your bosses a favor Mr. Grossman do your job rather then writing about what you failed to accomplish by your deadline.
I was gonna watch the Cosby Show later. It’s the one where theo says “jammin on the one” to Stevie Wonder. But I guess I can’t because I haven’t seen the one before it.
When we’re sent books for review, publishers don’t send all the previous entries in a series. With few exceptions, I don’t believe a reader has to start a series from the first. You may find yourself enjoying it more having done so, but one should be able to jump in at any time. Obviously, if something is structured from the outset as a trilogy, that can be problematic. But when it’s not, as is the case with most series, it’s just another episode.