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Jennifer's Books

 

 

 

The Mermaids Singing

The Mermaids Singing  - Val McDermid

Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Enjoyed it well enough, I suppose.

This series of books is the basis for the British television series Wire in the Blood. This book in particular is the basis for the first two episodes of the show. If you've seen the show, you know a bit about what to expect in the book. If you haven't seen the show, I will tell you upfront, the book is gory and graphic and has detailed descriptions of torture. It doesn't shy away from it's subject matter. At all. Being a horror movie fan, I have a pretty strong gut when it comes to things like that, but even I was like this D: several times. So be mindful of that if you're considering reading. Also, having been published in 1995, it's a product of its time, and is a bit dated in some of its terminology and some of the attitudes regarding gay and transgendered people. I expected it from the homophobic cop characters, but to hear it at times from "the good guys" was pretty disappointing. I knocked a star off for that and for the animal death, which thankfully was not as horrendous as I was expecting it to be when I first started that scene. Still, though...

It was definitely gripping, however, and I enjoyed seeing the differences between tv Tony and Carol and book Tony and Carol. I have to say that I definitely prefer the tv show. I have the second book in the series and will read it, but am unsure at this point if I will continue reading past that.