Val McDermid – författare

THE POWERFUL NEW THRILLER IN THE KAREN PIRIE SERIES, NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES'Beautifully structured, witty and twisty' ANN CLEEVES'A perfect crime novel' KATE MOSSE'Powerful, moving and wise' HARLAN COBEN'Full of humour, heart and trademark twists' CHRIS WHITAKER'A corkscrew twist at every turn' DAILY MAILThe truth is buried just beneath the surface . . .When torrential rain causes a landslide on a motorway in Scotland, it reveals a crime scene: someone hid a body in the tarmac eleven years before. Journalist Sam Nimmo had been the prime suspect in the murder of his fiancée when he disappeared, and now DCI Karen Pirie and her Historic Cases Unit must find out who buried him, and why.Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, new evidence reopens a closed case and the accidental death of a hotel manager starts to look like murder. But what did Tom Jamieson's book club have to do with his demise - and what will they do to keep their secrets?Karen and her team begin to untangle a web of lies, one that connects their murder cases with Scotland's rich and powerful. They will be tested to their limits - and possibly beyond . . .'Blends procedural tension with eerie rural isolation' I PAPER'Showcases the agile plotting that makes this among the best crime fiction series today' IRISH TIMES'Fiendishly elaborate plotting [and] it's fun to read too' SCOTSMAN

The debut novel from no.1 bestseller Val McDermid, now with a new cover design and introduction from the author: Introducing lesbian journalist Lindsay Gordon who finds herself solving a murder after a musician is killed at a concertMoments before she was due to appear on stage at school fundraising gala, star cellist Lorna Smith is found dead, garrotted with her own cello string.Freelance journalist Lindsay Gordon was only covering the gala to make some quick cash, but when a friend is arrested for Lorna’s murder, Lindsay is determined to prove her innocence.With her friend’s freedom at stake, Lindsay dives into Lorna’s life, uncovering a world of secrets, lies and betrayal. Praise for Val McDermid ‘McDermid remains unrivalled … Brilliant’ Observer‘Val McDermid is a born storyteller… absorbing reading’ Sunday Telegraph‘A classic … McDermid pulls out all the stops. Impeccable’ Guardian

The ferociously readable, #1 bestselling crime thriller that led to the much-loved ITV show… ‘Wholly satisfying’ Ian Rankin Young girls are disappearing nationwide Dr Tony Hill sets his team a task: find a link between the cases.Only one officer comes up with a theory, but it’s too wild… that is, until one of their number is murdered and mutilated.Tony has started a game – one where hunter and hunted can all too easily be reversed. He has baited an aggressor whose charming manner hides a warped and sick mind… When a killer is hiding in plain sight Who can stop them? ‘Truly frightening’ The Times‘Sly and sophisticated, weaving the mundane with the stomach-churningly depraved’ Express

Don't miss Silent Bones, the twisty new Karen Pirie thriller'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'Incredibly suspenseful' Sunday Mirror__________'There are lots of things that ran in families, but murder wasn't one of them . . .'When a teenage joyrider crashes a stolen car and ends up in a coma, a routine DNA test could be the key to unlocking the mystery of a twenty-year-old murder inquiry. Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is an expert at solving the unsolvable. With each cold case closed, justice is served. So, finding the answer should be straightforward, but it's as twisted as the DNA helix itself.Meanwhile Karen finds herself irresistibly drawn to another case, one that she has no business investigating. And as she pieces together decades-old evidence, Karen discovers the most dangerous kinds of secrets. Secrets that someone is willing to kill for . . .An atmospheric, gripping mystery from the number one bestseller.__________Praise for Val McDermid:'Brilliant . . . Sensational . . . Unforgettable' Guardian'Compulsively readable' Irish Times'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday ExpressThis is the fourth book in the bestselling Karen Pirie series.

THE POWERFUL NEW THRILLER IN THE KAREN PIRIE SERIES, NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES'Beautifully structured, witty and twisty' ANN CLEEVES'A perfect crime novel' KATE MOSSE'Powerful, moving and wise' HARLAN COBEN'Full of humour, heart and trademark twists' CHRIS WHITAKERThe truth is buried just beneath the surface . . .When torrential rain causes a landslide on a motorway in Scotland, it reveals a crime scene: someone hid a body in the tarmac eleven years before. Journalist Sam Nimmo had been the prime suspect in the murder of his fiancée when he disappeared, and now DCI Karen Pirie and her Historic Cases Unit must find out who buried him, and why.Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, new evidence reopens a closed case and the accidental death of a hotel manager starts to look like murder. But what did Tom Jamieson's book club have to do with his demise - and what will they do to keep their secrets?Karen and her team begin to untangle a web of lies, one that connects their murder cases with Scotland's rich and powerful. They will be tested to their limits - and possibly beyond . . .'Blends procedural tension with eerie rural isolation' I PAPER'Showcases the agile plotting that makes this among the best crime fiction series today' IRISH TIMES

'No one can tell a story like she can' Daily Express'The queen of psychological thrillers' Irish Independent'The bodies never stay buried forever . . .'On a freezing winter morning, fishermen pull a body from the sea. It is quickly discovered that the dead man was the prime suspect in a decade-old investigation, when a prominent civil servant disappeared without trace. DCI Karen Pirie was the last detective to review the file and is drawn into a sinister world of betrayal and dark secrets.But Karen is already grappling with another case, one with even more questions and fewer answers. A skeleton has been discovered in an abandoned campervan and all clues point to a killer who never faced justice - a killer who is still out there.In her search for the truth, Karen uncovers a network of lies that has gone unchallenged for years. But lies and secrets can turn deadly when someone is determined to keep them hidden for good . . .Don't miss Silent Bones, the twisty new Karen Pirie thriller____________Praise for Val McDermid:'Brilliant . . . Sensational . . . Unforgettable' Guardian'Compulsively readable' Irish Times'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review

THE HEART-POUNDING TOP 10 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERTHE KAREN PIRIE THRILLERS HAVE BEEN ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR ITV SERIES STARRING LAUREN LYLE'Another jewel in Val McDermid's crown' MICK HERRON'A must-read for anyone who enjoys top-notch crime fiction' YOURS'A chilling, twisting triumph. Past Lying is a classic mystery' CHRIS WHITAKER____Edinburgh, haunted by the ghosts of its many writers, is also the cold case beat of DCI Karen Pirie. So she shouldn't be surprised when an author's manuscript appears to be a blueprint for an actual crime.Karen can't ignore the plot's chilling similarities to the unsolved case of an Edinburgh University student who vanished from her own doorstep. The manuscript seems to be the key to unlocking what happened to Lara Hardie, but there's a problem: the author died before he finished it.As Karen digs deeper, she uncovers a spiralling game of betrayal and revenge, where lies are indistinguishable from the truth and with more than one unexpected twist . . .The Queen of Crime Val McDermid is at the top of her game in her most gripping and fiendishly clever case yet. And don't miss Silent Bones, the next Karen Pirie thriller - available to order now.PRAISE FOR VAL MCDERMID'McDermid is at her considerable best' GUARDIAN'Irresistible' PATRICIA CORNWELL'A brilliant novel by a supremo of the genre' PETER JAMES'Outstanding' SPECTATOR'Another masterpiece' DAVID BALDACCI'Sensational. One of Britain's most accomplished writers' SUNDAY EXPRESS'Wickedly entertaining' DAILY MAILPast Lying was a No.2 Sunday Times bestseller in paperback on 10/02/2024

The Number One bestselling crime series featuring Dr Tony Hill, hero of TV’s Wire in the Blood, written by the award-winning Val McDermid. The hunt for a serial killer leads from Britain through Europe in this terrifying psychological thriller. A twisted killer targeting psychologists has left a grisly trail across Europe. Dr Tony Hill, expert at mapping the minds of murderers, is reluctant to get involved. But then the next victim is much closer to home…Meanwhile, his former partner DCI Carol Jordan is working undercover in Berlin, on a dangerous operation to trap a millionaire trafficker. When the game turns nasty, Tony is the only person she can call on for help.Confronting a cruelty that has its roots in Nazi atrocities, Tony and Carol are thrown together in a world of violence and corruption, where they have no one to trust but each other.

Don't miss Silent Bones, Val McDermid's twisty new mystery__________________'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' Independent'No one can plot or tell a story like she can' Daily ExpressSomeone is brutally killing women. Women who bear a striking resemblance to former DCI Carol Jordan. The connection is too strong to ignore and soon psychological profiler Tony Hill finds himself dangerously close to the investigation, just as the killer is closing in on his next target.This is a killer like no other, hell-bent on inflicting the most severe and grotesque punishment on his prey. As the case becomes ever-more complex and boundaries begin to blur, Tony and Carol must work together once more to try and save the victims, and themselves.A breathless, thrilling mystery from the number one bestseller.__________________Praise for Val McDermid:'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'So gripping it puts your life on hold' The Times'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review'McDermid remains unrivalled' ObserverThis is the eighth book in the bestselling Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series.

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.

A special edition collection of short stories featuring the Queen of Crime’s legendary detective Jane Marple, penned by twelve remarkable bestselling and acclaimed authors.This collection of twelve original short stories, all featuring Jane Marple, will introduce the character to a whole new generation. Each author reimagines Agatha Christie’s Marple through their own unique perspective while staying true to the hallmarks of a traditional mystery.·Naomi Alderman·Leigh Bardugo·Alyssa Cole·Lucy Foley·Elly Griffiths·Natalie Haynes·Jean Kwok·Val McDermid·Karen M. McManus·Dreda Say Mitchell·Kate Mosse·Ruth WareMiss Marple was first introduced to readers in a story Christie wrote for The Royal Magazine in 1927 and made her first appearance in a full-length novel in 1930’s The Murder at the Vicarage. It has been 45 years since Agatha Christie’s last Marple novel, Sleeping Murder, was published posthumously in 1976, and this collection of ingenious new stories by twelve Christie devotees will be a timely reminder why Jane Marple remains the most famous fictional female detective of all time.

The first novel in the bestselling Karen Pirie series The award-winning Number One bestseller and Queen of crime fiction Val McDermid carves out a stunning psychological thriller. The past is behind them, but what’s still to come will tear them apart…From the creators of Line of Duty and Bodyguard, KAREN PIRIE is now on ITV, starring Lauren Lyle (Outlander) Some things just won’t let go. The past, for instance. That night in the cemetery. The girl’s body in the snow. On a freezing Fife morning four drunken students stumble upon the body of a woman in the snow. Rosie has been raped, stabbed and left for dead in an ancient Pictish cemetery. And the only suspects are the four young men now stained with her blood.Twenty-five years later the police mount a ‘cold case’ review of Rosie’s unsolved murder and the four are still suspects. But when two of them die in suspicious circumstances, it seems that someone is pursuing their own brand of justice. For the remaining two there is only one way to avoid becoming the next victim – find out who really killed Rosie all those years ago…

Don't miss Silent Bones, the twisty new Karen Pirie thriller___________________'A compulsively readable tale' Irish Times'Another stellar read from McDermid, and further evidence that her "Queen of Crime" status will not be challenged' Scotsman'Somebody has been here before us. And he's still here . . .'When a body is discovered in the remote depths of the Highlands, DCI Karen Pirie finds herself in the right place at the right time. Unearthed with someone's long-buried inheritance, the victim seems to belong to the distant past - until new evidence suggests otherwise, and Karen is called in to unravel a case where nothing is as it seems.It's not long before an overheard conversation draws Karen into the heart of a different case, however - a shocking crime she thought she'd already prevented. As she inches closer to the twisted truths at the centre of these murders, it becomes clear that she's dealing with a version of justice terrifyingly different to her own . . .Number one bestseller Val McDermid returns with a breathtakingly atmospheric and exhilarating novel.___________________Praise for Val McDermid:'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review'McDermid remains unrivalled' Observer'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' IndependentThis is the fifth book in the bestselling Karen Pirie series.

The Number One bestselling crime series featuring Tony Hill, hero of TV’s Wire in the Blood, written by the award-winning bestselling author, Val McDermid. This is a psychological thriller – and serial killer – that will keep you up all night. For some, there is nothing so sweet, so thrilling, as the torment of others … A dead girl lies on a blood-soaked mattress, her limbs spread in a parody of ecstasy. The scene matches a series of murders which ended when irrefutable forensic evidence secured the conviction of one Derek Tyler. But Tyler's been locked up in a mental institution for two years, barely speaking a word – except to say that 'the Voice' told him to do it.Top criminal psychologist Dr Tony Hill is prepared to think the unthinkable – this is not a copycat murder but something much stranger. While DCI Carol Jordan and her team mount a desperate and dangerous undercover police operation to trap the murderer, Hill heads towards a terrifying face-off with one of the most perverse killers he has ever encountered…

THE ENTHRALLING KAREN PIRIE MYSTERY FROM THE NO.1 BESTSELLER. THE KAREN PIRIE SERIES IS NOW A MAJOR ITV SERIES STARRING LAUREN LYLE'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' Independent'Gripping, thought-provoking and original - a tour-de-force' Literary ReviewWhen a skeleton is discovered hidden at the top of a crumbling, gothic building in Edinburgh, Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is faced with the unenviable task of identifying the bones. As Karen's investigation gathers momentum, she is drawn deeper into a dark world of intrigue and betrayal. Meanwhile, someone is taking the law into their own hands in the name of justice and revenge -- but when present resentment collides with secrets of the past, the truth is more shocking than anyone could have imagined . . .If you love The Skeleton Road, don't miss Silent Bones - the brand-new Karen Pirie thriller, available to order now.Praise for Val McDermid:'Grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review'McDermid remains unrivalled' ObserverThis is the third book in the bestselling Karen Pirie series.

A visceral historical novel retelling the story of Scotland’s only colony, from high hopes that united the country to a failure that bankrupted a nation.The Darien Venture was the singular event at the end of the seventeenth century that fundamentally altered Scotland’s future. It took place on the other side of the world, amid the jungle-coastline at the junction between the continents of North and South America. And most of us know next to nothing about it.Now it’s time to remedy that. Award-winning novelist Val McDermid and Geographer Royal for Scotland Jo Sharp unite in this revelatory novella to trace the story of Scotland’s only trading colony, which turned from a dream of prosperity to a nightmare that bankrupted an already impoverished nation and propelled it towards political union with England.Written as a series of letters home from expedition scientist Dr James Wallace to his wife Eliza and Sir Robert Sibbald, the first Geographer Royal, this epistolary tale offers a devastating account of the forces that doomed the endeavour and completely changed the history of the British Isles in the process.'A powerfully clear account . . . Highly recommended for anyone interested in the colonial history of Scotland' – Paterson Joseph, actor and author of the award-winning The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho

'Brilliant . . . sensational . . . unforgettable' Guardian'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' IndependentThere is one serial killer who has shaped and defined police profiler Tony Hill's life. One serial killer whose evil surpasses all others. One serial killer who has the power to chill him to the bone: Jacko Vance.And now Jacko is back in Tony's life. Even more twisted and cunning than ever before, he is focused on wreaking revenge on Tony - and DCI Carol Jordan - for the years he has spent in prison.Tony doesn't know when Jacko will strike, or where. All he knows is that Jacko will cause him to feel fear like he has never known before - and devastate his life in ways he cannot imagine...A gripping new thriller in the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, from the number one bestseller.Don't miss Val McDermid's new thriller Silent Bones, available to order now.___________________Praise for Val McDermid:'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'So gripping it puts your life on hold' The Times'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review'McDermid remains unrivalled' ObserverThis is the seventh book in the bestselling Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series.

THE ENTHRALLING KAREN PIRIE MYSTERY FROM THE NO.1 BESTSELLER. THE KAREN PIRIE SERIES IS NOW A MAJOR ITV SERIES STARRING LAUREN LYLE

''The queen of crime is still at the top of her game'' Independent''Gripping, thought-provoking and original - a tour-de-force'' Literary ReviewWhen a skeleton is discovered hidden at the top of a crumbling, gothic building in Edinburgh, Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is faced with the unenviable task of identifying the bones. As Karen''s investigation gathers momentum, she is drawn deeper into a dark world of intrigue and betrayal. Meanwhile, someone is taking the law into their own hands in the name of justice and revenge -- but when present resentment collides with secrets of the past, the truth is more shocking than anyone could have imagined . . .If you love The Skeleton Road, don''t miss Silent Bones - the brand-new Karen Pirie thriller, available to order now.

Praise for Val McDermid:

''Grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go'' Daily Mail''As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get'' Sunday Express''One of today''s most accomplished crime writers'' Literary Review''McDermid remains unrivalled'' ObserverThis is the third book in the bestselling Karen Pirie series.

Buy Val McDermid's masterful new thriller, 1989, now!_______________'The queen of crime is still at the top of her game' Independent'No one can tell a story like she can' Daily Express'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary Review'We are all creatures of habit. Even murderers . . .'When human remains are discovered in the grounds of an old convent, it quickly becomes clear that someone has been using the site as their personal burial ground. But with the convent abandoned long ago and bodies dating back many years, could this be the work of more than one obsessive killer?The investigation throws up more questions as the evidence mounts but, after their last disastrous case, Tony Hill and Carol Jordan can only watch from afar. As they deal with the consequences, someone with a terrifying routine is biding their time - and both Tony and Carol find themselves closer to the edge than they have ever been before . . .Masterful and filled with suspense, this an electrifying, heart-racing thriller from the number one bestseller. _______________Praise for Val McDermid:'Brilliant . . . Sensational . . . Unforgettable' Guardian'Compulsively readable' Irish Times'As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get' Sunday Express'It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go' Daily Mail'One of today's most accomplished crime writers' Literary ReviewThis is the eleventh book in the bestselling Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series.

The Number One bestselling crime series featuring Dr Tony Hill, hero of TV’s Wire in the Blood. The award-winning Val McDermid is at the height of her powers in this tense masterclass in psychological suspense. The race is on to uncover the identity of a murderer with nothing to lose – and everything to kill for. When Robbie Bishop, star midfielder for the Bradfield Vics, is poisoned by a rare and deadly toxin, profiler Dr Tony Hill and trusted colleague DCI Carol Jordan have their work cut out for them. Robbie was adored, so the public want answers – but the answers aren't coming, and trails are running cold.Then a bomb explodes in the football stadium, causing massive casualties – and another man dies from poisoning. Is there a link between the cases? And what are the motives for these crimes? The clock is ticking for Tony and Carol – and the death toll keeps rising…

A riveting psychological thriller from the Number One bestselling Queen of crime fiction – Val McDermid.In the Peak District village of Scardale, thirteen-year-old girls didn’t just run away. So when Alison Carter vanished in the winter of ’63, everyone knew it was a murder.Catherine Heathcote remembers the case well. A child herself when Alison vanished, decades on she still recalls the sense of fear as parents kept their children close, terrified of strangers.Now a journalist, she persuades DI George Bennett to speak of the hunt for Alison, the tantalizing leads and harrowing dead ends. But when a fresh lead emerges, Bennett tries to stop the story – plunging Catherine into a world of buried secrets and revelations.‘One of the all-time greats – special in every way’ Lee Child‘This book changed everything I thought I knew about crime fiction’ Belinda Bauer, bestselling author of Snap‘Every now and then, a writer transforms the landscape of the literary canon: Val McDermid is one such writer’ Fiona Cummins, bestselling author of Rattle‘Just mesmerizing’ Joseph Knox, bestselling author of Sirens‘A brilliant book’ Holly Watt, award winning author of To the Lions'From the first pages, we know we're in the hands of a master ' Jeffrey Deaver ‘Beautifully written’Daily Telegraph 'One of the best detective stories I've read' Ruth Rendell ‘Possibly the best McDermid has written’Sunday Telegraph Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths and Lynda La Plante.

From the no.1 bestseller Val McDermid comes a gripping mystery starring journalist Lindsay GordonA women’s protest peace camp comes under fire when Rupert Crabtree is found murdered on the grounds.Rupert was a solicitor leading a campaign against the camp, and the police suspect the protesters, but journalist Lindsay Gordon isn’t so sure.When a woman at the camp is attacked, Lindsay races to find Rupert’s true killer, before they strike again. Praise for Val McDermid ‘McDermid remains unrivalled … Brilliant’ Observer‘Val McDermid is a born storyteller… absorbing reading’ Sunday Telegraph‘A classic … McDermid pulls out all the stops. Impeccable’ Guardian

Shakespeare fed us the myth of the Macbeths as murderous conspirators. But now Val McDermid drags the truth out of the shadows . . . A thousand years ago in an ancient Scottish landscape, a woman is on the run with her three companions – a healer, a weaver and a seer. The men hunting her will kill her – because she is the only one who stands between them and their violent ambition. She is no lady: she is the first queen of Scotland, married to a king called Macbeth.As the net closes in, we discover a tale of passion, forced marriage, bloody massacre and the harsh realities of medieval Scotland. At the heart of it is one strong, charismatic woman, who survived loss and jeopardy to outwit the endless plotting of a string of ruthless and power-hungry men. Her struggle won her a country. But now it could cost her life.Part of Polygon's DARKLAND TALES series.

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER1989. The world is on the brink of revolution and journalist Allie Burns is a woman on a mission. When she discovers a lead about the exploitation of society's most vulnerable, Allie is determined to investigate and give voice to the silenced.Elsewhere, a ticking clock begins the countdown to a murder. As Allie begins to connect the dots and edges closer to exposing the truth, it is more shocking than she ever imagined. There's nothing like a killer story, and to tell it, Allie must risk her freedom and her life . . .The brand-new unmissable, heart-stopping thriller from number one bestseller Val McDermid___________Praise for the Allie Burns series:'McDermid is at her considerable best' GUARDIAN'Irresistible' PATRICIA CORNWELL'A brilliant novel by a supremo of the genre' PETER JAMES'Outstanding' SPECTATOR'Another masterpiece' DAVID BALDACCI'Sensational. One of Britain's most accomplished writers' SUNDAY EXPRESS'A masterly setter of scene' SCOTSMANVal McDermid's masterful new thriller, Silent Bones, is out now!

En frenetisk och brutal seriemördare sprider skräck i den brittiska staden Bradfield. Han torterar sina offer innan de dödas. När döden inträffat tvättar han kropparna och dumpar dem vid välkända gaystråk, som om de vore skräp. Tony Hill och Carol Jordan jobbar hårt för att stoppa mördarens framfart, men kommer de att lyckas förhindra att fyra offer blir fem? En person i Carols närhet försvinner, en i teamet. Spänningen och skräcken stiger och är påtaglig. Kampen mot klockan är ett faktum. "Man minns alltid första gången. Är det inte vad man brukar säga om sex? Det gäller i ännu högre grad mord." Så börjar denna briljanta, gastkramande thriller och sen blir det bara värre. Boken utsågs till årets bästa deckare i England 1995.

The dead talk. To the right listener, they tell us all about themselves: where they came from, how they lived, how they died - and who killed them. Forensic scientists can unlock the mysteries of the past and help justice to be done using the messages left by a corpse, a crime scene or the faintest of human traces. Forensics draws on interviews with top-level professionals, ground-breaking research and Val McDermid's own experience to lay bare the secrets of this fascinating science. And, along the way, she wonders at how maggots collected from a corpse can help determine time of death, how a DNA trace a millionth the size of a grain of salt can be used to convict a killer and how a team of young Argentine scientists led by a maverick American anthropologist uncovered the victims of a genocide.In her novels, McDermid has been solving complex crimes and confronting unimaginable evil for years. Now, she's looking at the people who do it for real. It's a journey that will take her to war zones, fire scenes and autopsy suites, and bring her into contact with extraordinary bravery and wickedness, as she traces the history of forensics from its earliest beginnings to the cutting-edge science of the modern day.

En effektiv och kallblodig mördare dödar psykologer. Offren finns i flera länder, vilket försvårar polisutredningen, men man är i alla fall överens om det behövs en gärningsmannaprofil. Tony Hill vill inte längre gräva i seriemördares tankar - såren efter sammandrabbningen med Jacko Vance (Under ingrodda ärr) är fortfarande alltför färska. Men när en gammal kollega blir mördarens offer kan Tony inte längre hålla sig utanför. Carol Jordan befinner sig samtidigt i Berlin på ett topphemligt uppdrag i en farlig miljö där människoliv inte väger mer än en knarksändning. Även hon behöver Tonys hjälp.Tillsammans tvingas de utforska nazisternas ohyggliga brott i det förgångna samtidigt som de riskerar sina liv för att lösa några av samtidens grymmaste brott. Och de kan inte lita på några andra än varandra. "Oerhört spännande" Hallandsposten "En fullkomligt andlöst spänning" Helsingborgs Dagblad