The Retribution (Carol Jordan & Tony Hill No7) by Val McDermid #AVirtualCrimeBookClub #BookClub #20booksofsummer22

An unforgettably thrilling novel that will have you hooked

Book blurb

There 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…

My thoughts

In this the seventh book of the series we see the return of Jacko Vance as the protagonist.

He breaks out of prison to seek revenge and reek havoc. Oh and what havoc he reeks! Are Carol and Tony’s lives going to be decimated? Will the cunning and resourceful Vance reap the reward he seeks that is to ruin, to destroy Tony – and Carol – and remain at large to begin another evil reign of terror? Or will his twisted and deranged mind hell bent on retribution be his own downfall?

In this fast paced and very readable book Val McDermid brings an array of wonderful characters (nice and not so nice) some we know from previous books in the series others not or not so well known and yet it is not too difficult to follow who is who and what is happening. Although, as ever, you do generally get a better handle on the characters that form the essence of the books if you have read the previous ones this is a book that can be read on it’s own merit.

I have enjoyed this series so far and have now continued on beyond this book – which I really enjoyed – and am up to book 11 How the Dead Speak.

I highly recommend the series and The Retribution.

Book: Purchased (paperback)

I own all of Val McDermid’s Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series (paperback), Karen Pirie series (paperback) and a number of her other books (various media).

July’s book club met and discussed The Retribution by Val McDermid. The group decided it was a successful month.

⚠️Warning ⚠️

The book club discuss the book thoroughly and so you are likely to hear spoilers, including the ending.

You can watch last night’s video on the blog HERE.

⚠️Warning ⚠️

August book club

July saw the loss of a wonderful crime writer, Susie Steiner. Susie died after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

To honour Susie the virtual crime book club is reading the first of her detective Manon Bradshaw books, Missing, Presumed.

There is no vote this month. Instead we are honouring a lost crime author who died this month, Susie Steiner. We are reading the first of Susie’s DI Manon Bradshaw books, Missing, Presumed.

Rebecca Bradley, author and host of A Virtual Crime Book Club (July 2022)

The next meeting is Monday 15th August at 8 pm BST. You will need to Join the book club to receive the access link.

Another of my #20Booksofsummer is finished. You can check out my list here. Cathy from 746Books is the mastermind and host behind this annual event do take a look at her excellent blog.

I have read two further books by Val McDermid to share my thoughts on for #20booksofsummer22 How the Dead Speak and Still Life. I will add links to my list page when they are done.

Information

Published: Little, Brown (01 September 2011 | paperback 2012)

Literary agent: David Higham Associates

Buy:

Author: Val was born in Kirkcaldy, a coastal town in the heart of the Scottish mining community. She graduated in English from St Hilda’s College, Oxford – the first from a Scottish state school to do so – before going on to be an award-winning journalist for sixteen years.

Val McDermid’s Website | @valmcdermid | Full biography

Books

Tony Hill/Carol Jordan – Books in series

• Book 1 –The Mermaids Singing(HarperCollins, 1995)
• Book 2 –The Wire in the Blood(HarperCollins, 1997)
• Book 3 –The Last Temptation (HarperCollins, 2002)
• Book 4 –The Torment of Others(HarperCollins, 2004)
• Book 5 –Beneath the Bleeding(HarperCollins, 2007)
• Book 6 –Fever of the Bone (HarperCollins, 2009)
• Book 7 –The Retribution (HarperCollins, 2011)
• Book 8 –Cross and Burn (HarperCollins, 2013)
• Book 9 –Splinter The Silence (Little, Brown Book Group, 2015)
• Book 10–Insidious Intent (Little, Brown Book Group, 2017)
• Book 11–How The Dead Speak (Little, Brown Book Group, 2019)

There is no better place than Val McDermid’s website to see all her books and, of course, lot’s of other information

All the books