Arts & Literature
A Place of Execution - Book Review
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A Place of Execution by Val McDermid
This is an unusual book for McDermid for two reasons. Firstly, it's totally stand-alone and doesn't fit with any of her series. Even more unusual is the structure. It's not one book, it's two.
Or possibly three.
A Place of Execution
Val McDermid on Amazon
Synopsis
Let me explain. The first 80% or so of A Place of Execution is presented as a dramatised historical reconstruction. Modern day author Catherine Heathcote is writing up the disappearance in the '60s of Alison Carter and the investigation of the case by DI George Bennett. Then, just as the book is due for publication Bennett withdraws his co-operation and insists the project be scrapped. Determined to find out the truth, Catherine spends the rest of the time hunting down Bennett and the truth. The remainder of the book concerns Heathcote's own present-day investigations.
The back-story itself is compelling and its theme all too relevant today. A young girl has gone missing from the village and is assumed dead. As the police investigate they unearth unpleasant facts about the village and its close-knit community. Slowly, the clues are come to light that point to her unpleasant fate. Justice is done in spite of the mistrustful villagers who band together in solidarity.
And then... Cut to the present day. Out of the blue Bennett refuses to co-operate further with Heathcote and you know that somewhere along the way the story you've just read is wrong. What is the real truth behind the story? The remainder of the book is Heathcote herself investigating, determined to discover what really happened - whether Bennett likes it or not.
The back-story itself is compelling and its theme all too relevant today. A young girl has gone missing from the village and is assumed dead. As the police investigate they unearth unpleasant facts about the village and its close-knit community. Slowly, the clues are come to light that point to her unpleasant fate. Justice is done in spite of the mistrustful villagers who band together in solidarity.
And then... Cut to the present day. Out of the blue Bennett refuses to co-operate further with Heathcote and you know that somewhere along the way the story you've just read is wrong. What is the real truth behind the story? The remainder of the book is Heathcote herself investigating, determined to discover what really happened - whether Bennett likes it or not.
Analysis
Once you get used to the unusual structure it works very well. It is confusing at first, especially since the fictional introduction by Heathcote comes only a few pages after the genuine acknowledgements page from McDermid!
McDermid does an excellent job of getting the styles right for the two acts of the book. The first part is a police procedural combined with the politics of a small, isolated village. McDermid captures the era excellently. In fact she draws you in to it so well that the second part, the modern denouement, comes as something of a stylistic shock. You're so used to the dated, cosy, rather laid back pace that the modern prose leaves you somewhat breathless. The contrast underlines McDermid's skill at handling the different styles.
So, we have an powerful crime, a well-drawn setting full of interesting characters and an unusual structure well-handled. Unfortunately it's also transparently predictable. There are so many hints as to the outcome of the first part that I was expecting a twist that never came. As for the second part, the mere fact of its existence tells you that the police were wrong. Given that starting point there are only so many alternatives. I can't claim to have seen all the details, but that was largely because I'd lost track of the multitude of characters and families. The principles were irritatingly obvious.
McDermid does an excellent job of getting the styles right for the two acts of the book. The first part is a police procedural combined with the politics of a small, isolated village. McDermid captures the era excellently. In fact she draws you in to it so well that the second part, the modern denouement, comes as something of a stylistic shock. You're so used to the dated, cosy, rather laid back pace that the modern prose leaves you somewhat breathless. The contrast underlines McDermid's skill at handling the different styles.
So, we have an powerful crime, a well-drawn setting full of interesting characters and an unusual structure well-handled. Unfortunately it's also transparently predictable. There are so many hints as to the outcome of the first part that I was expecting a twist that never came. As for the second part, the mere fact of its existence tells you that the police were wrong. Given that starting point there are only so many alternatives. I can't claim to have seen all the details, but that was largely because I'd lost track of the multitude of characters and families. The principles were irritatingly obvious.
Conclusion
A Place of Execution is a well constructed and well executed book with few surprises. Good holiday reading but not a classic crime novel.
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