First time l have read anything from this author

I enjoyed this story, with the pedigree of the author l expected something deeper but as this is the first in the line perhaps depth comes in stages. This for me was a light read, but enjoyable, nice pace and not boring. The narration was very good - its a holiday read and yep good enough to buy the next in the series. The main character is a Private investigator and the storyline on what is uncovered (which is more than one thing) comes across as highly credible. Good stuff

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Always a good read

Val McDermid always writes great characters who engage you in a tale of suspense and intrigue.

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Great plot and characters

Really enjoyed this. The characters were relatable and I've just bought second in the series. Still relevant even though it was written thirty years ago.

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good narration and effective characters

Val McDiermid writes great crime novels and this one was entertaining and enjoyment... but it wasn't quite as strong or deep as some of her other titles.
it's a good if you just want a basic who dunnit without too much grit or political thematic, but if you are looking for more quintessential McDermid then other titles and other main characters may serve you better.
in this book, the first to introduce Kate Brannigan Private Detective, it takes quite a while to get to the real gist of the story and while Jet, Moira, Kevin, Tamar, Neil and Gloria are well placed in an interesting world, and they should be compelling chatacters - they simply arent strong enough to maintain interest in them as people amd so they function more as tropes and, it was really hard to care about any of them particularly.
the constant pandering to Jet because of his rock star status was irritating at times as he just didn't seem that interesting or talented. He didn't treat anyone very well and there were key moments in the book where Kate's own deference towards him simply didn't make any sense for a professional investigator, but it served the plot.
I think my main problem with it is all the relationships seemed really insincere and under developed. it didn't feel like anyone actually cared about anyone else and no one's characters were consistent.
I didn't believe Jet cared about Moira enough to bring her back, even if he believed his own career was failing.
I couldn't see why Moira would go back after all the damage caused to her, and when she did, he living in the manor and cutting her girlfriend off before seeing any kind of financially benefit seems stupid and quite cold. the narrative was very clear that she didn't care for Jet. Tamar supposedly did, but I couldn't really see why as Jet treated her quite poorly, and Gloria's adoration was vague and undefined.
this is because characters themselves weren't defined that well.
Moira was characterised first as someone so weak willed that she got bullied out of the music partnership very easily, turning to drugs and losing herself. yet later she is quite able to stand up to all of these people who had drummed her out, and they characterise her as manipulative and bullying herself. by the end I didn't know which of these characterisations was the real Moira.
I think this was McDiermids attempt at a kind of Agatha Christie cosy mystery ( there are references to this style all the way through) as she replays the group of people in a mansion, all with motives and all capable of the murder of someone who was creating a problem.
even the final events of gathering all the suspects I to a room in the manor and laying out the different suspects and sharing their secrets while a seemingly incapable copper watched on was taken straight out of the Christie playbook.
nit that I mind a cosy mystery or a Miss Marple type reveal - but it just doesn't quite work in the style McDiermid writes in and unmolested her usual realism and depth of characterisation.
it's an old book, and the 1990s influences are very clear - one of the key pieces of evidence being found in a floppy disk is a telling hint of the cutting edge technology at play here.
but I like the 1990s and the nostalgic aspect actually added a bit to the Christir type story in ways it would not have when the book was first released.
Bit it's still well structured and the writing and narration keeps the pace up to a standard where you don't notice the superficially too much as you are listening along.
so if you don't like dark, gritty realism but want to experience McDiermids really well honed storytelling chops Dead Beat may be a good introduction to her writing.
for doe hard McDiermid fans, it may not really be satisfying enough.

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Not up to her normal exceptional standard.

An easy read. Very light but lacking some character depth and story depth. If this was the first Val McDermid is picked up is probably not read any more of hers which is a shame as she’s a brilliant author. I’m hoping that this series develops. I’ll give one more a try and if it doesn’t then just leave it. I didn’t like her series with the journalist either but from memory that was a better written book than this.

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A Mancunian blend of Poirot, Holmes, Marple

Thank you Val and Chloe for opening up a new world for me. I am already hooked on Karen's PI universe and into book 2.

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Early Val Mcdermid does not exactly sparkle.

Truly boring story read in a dull deap-pan voice. I only lasted 12 chapters before skipping to the end just so I could write this review and warn people off. Save your money.

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