Stranded

by Val McDermid, V.L. McDermid, Sara Paretsky (Foreword)

White nights of passion and revenge in St. Petersburg. A bingo hall tyrant trapped by masked intruders. The sleazy flipside of the international publishing scene. An author succumbing to the deadly lure of cybersex.

Stranded demonstrates yet again the scope of Val McDermid’s imagination, her versatility as a stylist, and her immense powers as a storyteller. As well as McDermid’s popular series character, PI Kate Brannigan, this diverse collection contains narrative voices, both female and male, from different continents and an eclectic range of backgrounds. McDermid has chosen the short story form to probe not only the motivations of the criminal underworld but also the nature of crime itself, all the time playing with crime-writing and pushing it to its limits. There are even occasions where McDermid defies the genre altogether. The collection is framed by two stories that show a writer exploring fresh territory.

Grit, sex, glamour, intrigue, and unexpected turns: Stranded is a showcase of trademark McDermid that will strike a few surprising chords amongst even her most devoted readers. Foreword by Sara Paretsky.

[Val McDermid grew up in a Scottish mining community and read English at Oxford University. After 16 years in journalism, she became a full-time writer in 1991.]

Genres: Short Stories, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Anthologies, British Literature

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Val McDermid is a No. 1 bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have sold over eleven million copies.

She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.

She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.

Reviews

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading these short stories , as with any book of short stories there is always some that stick in your mind more . It is a perfect welcome into the writing style of Val McDermid , and its so great to be able to dip in and out of the book if you only have a spare ten minutes you can pick it up and read one of them , can’t praise this book more! Loved it!

[Deanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really good short stories that deal generally with crime, though of different types and levels. My favourite was probably the four calling birds.
McDermid is one of my favourite writers, though it's the Tony Hill books that I like.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of interesting stories. I had read some of them in another anthology. 'Christmas is murder'. Val Mcdermid 's writing is excellent. Lesbianism was a common theme in most of the stories featured here.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains nineteen crime stories. All are well-written. Using lucid narrative, deft characterisations, and smart dialogue, the author succeeded in creating miniscule worlds to draw us in. There were riveting tales of betrayal and smart stories of comeuppance. But somehow they fell short of the level that Peter Lovesey attains effortlessly.
Nevertheless, it’s definitely a good book that deserves to be read, at least for the dark gem "The Consolation Blonde".

[David]

Lots of twists and ironies in this collection of short fiction. McDermid pulls a few "Christies" (1st-person narrator as murderer) and revisits a few old friends--like Kate Brannigan--and generally seems to enjoy the short form as a chance to exercise a few plot ideas that would not sustain a novel yet might not fit as red herrings within the longer form either. Definitely fun.

[_inbetween_]

Two of the short stories feature Kate Brannigan, nearly all others feature lesbian protagonists*, many have writers as protagonists. The one about the miner's son becoming an actor and helping out his bingo-calling mother might refer to Robson Green, but then they come from similar backgrounds. The name "Sarah" appears most frequently. The Mrs. Dalloway reference and others are smart (especially cool Kate's) and brief. As Ian Rankin said, they do pull one in quickly and efficiently into each world, but I found most endings less satisfying. The first and last stories were singled out as being non-crime, new-ground, except to me they aren't, just slightly more obviously auto-biographic, but then I see all of these stories as both tailored to specific occasions and more auto-biographic than her novels, where the scope is different.

* I worry that I simply cannot be pulled into f/f relationships though. While Patrick Gale features all types of couples, McDermid only ever shows a penis as a weapon to punish and degrade, and the few gay men I remember weren't nice guys (I'm sure she has had her experiences, still wanted to point that out).

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not realise before reading this that most of the protagonists were gay. This made this book very different from other short story collections. Some of the stories were two predictable and they were disappointing. After reading them I thought that this might not be the best introduction to Val Mcdermid. For me though a few stood out including White Nights, Black Magic that takes a twist in the middle and then ends rather predictably. The twist in the middle makes this story a good emotive read. Another story I loved, more for its format than anything else was The Writing On The Wall - this takes a new stance on storytelling and it was brilliant to read. For me this was the high point of the collection showing Mcdermid at her true power to weave a story and give chills. The Girl Who Killed Santa Claus was different from all the others. It shows the variety of Mcdermid and how she can switch from one genre to another and one voice to another as swiftly as a greyhound on a sharp bend. I adored this story - it made me giggle which I had not expected to do in a collection of Val Mcdermid stories.

[John Toffee · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better short story collections that I have read but like all others there are hits and misses within the book. It stats that these are crime / thriller stories and whilst most are some certainly are not. My favourite was probably 'When Larry Met Allie', although there wasn't a lot of suspense it was still quite intriguing. My biggest criticism by far was the constant references to lesbianism. I have nothing against lesbianism in itself but it felt like it was being thrust done my throat and all bar a couple of the 19 stories contain a lesbian couple as the central relationship.
I really like Val McDermid's style of writing, love the Tony Hill books, and know that one of her main characters, reporter Lindsay Gordon, is a lesbian, as is Val herself, and this took nothing away at all from these books because I didn't feel that constant preaching was there.
Shame could have been better.

[Bill McFadyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mix of short stories from this master story teller. The subjects in this collection jump from St Petersburg , to Manchester to Fife. The collection of thrillers bring together sleaze , publishing and bingo. Short stories are not for everyone but this volume contains some well plotted tales from the queen of thriller writers and one of the best teller of tales around today.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

McDermid departs from the particular sub-genres of crime fiction she usually inhabits in several of the short stories in this collection. Some are undeniably more successful than others, but overall it’s an interesting opportunity to see a master of the craft take a few risks and try her hand at something a bit different.

[Neil Fulwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nineteen short stories that display McDermid’s range to good effect. The dark and nasty rubs shoulders with the funny as fuck, there are a couple of outings for series character Kate Brannigan, and the two absolute standouts - ‘Mittel’ and ‘The Road and the Miles to Dundee’ - have nothing to do with the crime genre.

[Heidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book, some stories were better than others, but basically, not having read short stories for ages, I found that the format suited me - and it suits ValMcDermid, the Queen not only of Crime, but also of Twists...!

[Dominic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of these stories were exciting to read. The endings were unusual and quite unexpected although in hindsight you could work it out. Hindsight is a marvelous thing! Loved all the lesbian overtones and thinking behind them.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually like short stories but these are very good and to the point though a couple I found difficult to understand

[Elaine Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and diverse book

This book covers every aspect of human psychological thought process. Fascinating. Compelling and makes you explore your own psychology Thanks.

[Lesley Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked these short stories, shall have to read a full length story to see if I really like this well known author ☺

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stranded is a collection of short stories, nineteen in total by Val McDermid. Ian Rankin forewarns the read of the passion, obsession and revenge in these stories which McDermid tackles in these stories.

McDermid manages to take her readers to places in her short stories that some authors cannot achieve in a full novel. This collection is a wonderful journey through McDermid’s fictional world. Two of the stories, The Road and The Miles to Dundee are infused with dark humour as she explores her roots.

While Kate Brannigan appears in two of the stories there is plenty to make you smile through out the collection. Each of the nineteen stories are enjoyable for different reasons. Not everyone ends up in the ground, though you will think some should have!

An excellent collection and proof Val McDermid does not want to kill everyone off, yet anyway.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book consists of nineteen short stories written between 1989 and 2004. There is also a short introduction by Ian Rankin.

I am not particuarly fond of short stories as often I do not understand the point but there were only a couple in this collection which went over my head.

The stories are written in several different styles and two feature Kate Brannigan.

Well worth a read if you have enjoyed the author's novels.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve only ever read novels by Val so was interested to read some short stories. The thing for me with short stories is I feel like they end and I just don’t get it or they could have been great as a full length novel. The same with this. A few I thought oooh that’s awesome and the rest I didn’t.

[Nigel Dickinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories from one of my favourite authors some of which I had read elsewhere. I have to say that I think that I prefer her full length novels. There is nothing here that is not of good quality - just nothing that stands out - this may be partly as I did not realise that I had already read certain stories. Maybe I am being a little harsh. it should be a 3.5.

[Lianne Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Val McDermid I have read apart from her recent Miss Marple story. A collection of short stories, very varied and entertaining to read. Not as gritty as I imagine her full- length detective fiction to be, but plenty of twists.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of McDermid short stories. I imagine they were buried on a hard drive as I can't imagine too many publishers being interested in Lesbian themed dark fiction in the 1980s.

Interesting. If you like short fiction and have read any of McDermid's work they will interest you.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Val McDermid mystery

[Keith Blackman]

Collection of short stories from a crime fiction writer

[Sandra Vdplaats · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short stories collection. Some good, some bad. Overall not my cup of tea.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a short story fan but loved it. Read in a day.

[Ntahondereye Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant tales by 1 one of the best women in the league!!

[Gareth Johnstone · Rating 2 out of 5]

The short form doesn’t allow for Val McDermid’s usual detailed and complex plotting or characterisation. She does get the reader’s interest from the start, but in the end, there’s not enough here for a satisfying read

[Punit Sahani · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a single story could give me a chill. The book was an absolute time waste.

[amina chaudhry · Rating 4 out of 5]

#onlyreadconsolationblonde