Sunday, July 18, 2021

On My Radar: Val McDermid's 1979

 

 

I've been a fan of Val McDermid since I read A Place of Execution and her Kate Brannigan mysteries. Now I'm wanting to get caught up with her police procedural series featuring Karen Pirie, so the last thing I need is to act on the information I've learned recently. What's that? That McDermid is starting a new series, that's what! Ah well. It can't be helped.

I'm really looking forward to this new series, so let me give you some information.
 
 
Available October 5, 2021!
 
 
Synopsis:

"It's only January, and the year 1979 has already brought blizzards, strikes, power cuts, and political unrest. For journalist Allie Burns, however, someone else's bad news is the unmistakable sound of opportunity knocking, an opportunity to get away from the "women's stories" her editors at the Scottish daily The Clarion keep assigning her. Striking up an alliance with budding investigative journalist Danny Sullivan, Allie begins covering international tax fraud, then a group of Scottish ultra-nationalists aiming to cause mayhem ahead of a referendum on breaking away from the United Kingdom. Their stories quickly get attention and create enemies for the two young up-and-comers. As they get closer to the bleeding edge of breaking news, Allie and Danny may find their lives on the line.

The first novel in a brand-new series for McDermid, 1979 is redolent of the thundering presses, hammering typewriters, and wreaths of smoke of the Clarion newsroom. An atmospheric journey into the past with much to say about the present, it is the latest suspenseful, pitch-perfect addition to Val McDermid's crime pantheon."

 

Sounds like another winner from Val McDermid, doesn't it? Since her latest Karen Pirie mystery ended as the pandemic began, I think this new series is giving her a chance to escape disease and go into a setting and a topic that both she and Denise Mina have done so well. I'm looking forward to reading it!

What about you? Are you already fans of Val McDermid's writing? If you're not, does this book tempt you at all? Inquiring minds would love to know!

22 comments:

  1. I so admire how prolific McDermid is, Cathy. And not just prolific, but really talented, too. This series does sound great, and I wish her a lot of success with it.

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    1. So do I. She's not called the Queen of Crime in the UK for nothing.

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  2. It always amazes me that many writers, especially writers of mysteries, can keep several series going at a time. It's even more amazing when the quality is consistent for all the series. I would likely get confused and start sticking characters from one series into another!

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    1. I well remember one author event in which the writer admitted that she'd once put a character from one series into a different series. Luckily, her editor caught the mistake. Other authors who write multiple series have said that they have systems in place to keep them from doing that.

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  3. I'm excited! I've enjoyed all of her series and standalones!

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    1. I have to admit that I'm not all that crazy about her Tony Hill series, but it's still well-written.

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  4. I need to read more of Val McDermid's books. I've read a few of her standalones, but never tried any of her series. Which series is your favorite?

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    1. I'd have to say that her Karen Pirie series set in Scotland is my favorite.

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  5. So, do you think this would be considered 'historical' crime? Ha! I was looking at the title and thinking - that's the year I graduated from college! I think I'm 'vintage'. And, yes, it does tempt me. I've been meaning to start her Karen Pirie books for a long time.

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    1. I've really enjoyed her Karen Pirie series, and I'm looking forward to this one, even if it does bring out the vintage in me! ;-)

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  6. I have not read this author, but this new series does look tempting. I do like reading about history that happened while I was alive, but knew virtually nothing about. And the journalist aspect sounds interesting as well.

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    1. McDermid was a journalist at one time, so that background is very familiar to her.

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  7. A Place of Execution was my intro to McDermid, and is on my list of Great mysteries. I'm not usually that enthused about settings in the 1970s, but McDermid is good enough that I'm more than willing to give it a try.

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    1. I had the same intro to McDermid, and that book just blew me away.

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  8. Also, having just looked this up on Goodreads, it's a strong candidate for another cover comparison (at least in my not-so-humble opinion!).

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  9. I liked the Kate Brannigan series and really enjoy the Karen Pirie series. I have avoided the Tony Hill books because I noticed that they are full of violence on the page. Not my thing.

    I look forward to the new serie.s And I have seen interviews with Val McDermid and she is very knowledgeable about crime fiction and is also hilarious. She has also publicly taken on male book reviewers who do not read books written by women!

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    1. I was so happy to be able to meet her the last time she was able to visit The Poisoned Pen. She is extremely knowledgeable and can be absolutely hilarious.

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  10. And she's tough. She really argued with a male book reviewer in Britain who didn't read books by women.
    Also, if you see her Twitter, you might find some hilarious videos.

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    1. No. She does not. As they say, she doesn't suffer fools gladly.

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