Preview
  • Mermaids Singing

  • By: Val McDermid
  • Narrated by: Saul Reichlin
  • Length: 13 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (42 ratings)

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Mermaids Singing

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Saul Reichlin
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Publisher's summary

Up until 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.

©1995 Val McDermid (P)2015 W F Howes Ltd
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Critic reviews

"Gripping, intelligent stuff." (The Times)

"A superb psychological thriller." (Cosmopolitan)

What listeners say about Mermaids Singing

Average customer ratings
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Dark

A good story - very dark - not for the faint of heart - a bit predictable but a great listen

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Wow! Great Series

Wow. The Mermaids Singing is the second book by Val McDermid that I have listened to, and I found the book as good as the first, if not better. It's not for the faint-heated. A number of supposedly gay men are tortured and murdered by a serial killer, their bodies left washed and naked in the streets of Bradfield. The whole community is on edge, and the police too, who is using the services of a profiler, Tony Hill. Carol Jordan is an inspector who is taking part in the investigation, and her character adds to the interest of the story. What did I like about this book? First, the characters are real. Second, the plot is very good (You'll get a surprise at the end). Third, the writing flows. Fourth, the murder "weapons" and killings are unusual. Fifth, ditto for the murderer. Get it, you won't be disappointed.

Saul Reichlin was outstanding with the delivery of the story

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Unnecessarily graphic, poor narration, not a fave

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

it was ok - i got engrossed although I took a few breaks listening. I was quite annoyed with the unnecessary graphic description of sexual and physical torture. I am not squeamish but I found it did not add to the storyline at all. In fact, come to think of it, except for the graphic descriptions there wasn't much of a storyline to hold the interest.I much prefer other Val McDermid books I listened to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mermaids Singing?

can't say

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Saul Reichlin?

I like male narrators, but in this case I much prefer Cathleen McCarron. At the start I wasn't sure if I could stand the narrator but got somewhat used to him. He reads as if he is wading through syrup - so slow and so boring and sounding so old.

Could you see Mermaids Singing being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I certainly wouldn't want to watch it!

Any additional comments?

Not a great start to the series - too graphic, too sexually explicit, boring narrator

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story

A very different tale; modern, unconventional, intriguing, well written and performed. So satisfying to have traditional stereotypes dispensed with.

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