December 2020 Group Read - The Distant Echo by Val McDermid

[Bill]

This is the group read for The Distant Echo by Val McDermid. Icewineanne will moderate the thread. Anne let me know that she is still waiting for her copy to arrive but will keep checking in. A separate thread will be set up for spoiler comments. Enjoy

[Gisela]

I've read this book twice, once around the time when it first came out and a few months ago. vintage McDermid with lots of great characters and an excellent plot establishing one of her best crime detectors, at this stage PC karen Pirie. I have read others of the series and whilst they are not all as strong as this one, they are a good read.
The Distant Echo really throws you back in time, where female PC were there to make tea and do what they are told. Class also plays a big role in this story.

[P.J.]

I'm a quarter way through. It's the first McDermid I've read and I'm finding she's taking ages to establish characters. Rather wish she'd cut to the chase.

I also worry about the 'fact' of establishing the alibis of the lads who found the body. It's a pointless endeavour, since all of them were with Rosie when she died. The murderous act could only have been a few minutes before that. It's freezing; snow on the ground. She couldn't have been there long so pretty impossible for the lads/cops to establish they were elsewhere when the act took place - except for being on the way to finding the body. TWOCKING incident notwithstanding.

Early days though ...

[Gisela]

P.J. wrote: "I'm a quarter way through. It's the first McDermid I've read and I'm finding she's taking ages to establish characters. Rather wish she'd cut to the chase.

I also worry about the 'fact' of establ..."Definitely early days. Lots to find out about those lads. it's true she takes her times to establish the characters, but bit by bit you will learn more about them and I changed my mind about each of them several times.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I read this one some years ago and I still think about those ‘lads’.

[Mike]

I read last month and not one of the better ones I'm afraid.

[Gisela]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "I read this one some years ago and I still think about those ‘lads’."

I know what you mean. I work at a university and when you look at the students, they mostly look like really nice, fresh kids trying to be adults and you do wonder sometimes which ones are not as they seem. I guess that's with every person you meet, just at this age, you don't expect anything really bad from them.

[Icewineanne]

Still waiting for my copy to arrive 😢
Yesterday I confirmed that it was actually shipped as I haven’t received the book or any shipping notices. But as our virus #s are up, our post office might be quarantining package prior to delivery. They did that here, back in Mar/April during the first wave. Fingers crossed that this is not the case.
Happy reading everyone, hope to catch up soon!!

[P.J.]

I'm well into this now and enjoying commenting as I go along.

I can see why she spent so much time on the four lads (unlike my previous post) and how their characters are beginning to unfold and unravel. What's striking me most is the quality of the writing - which is particularly important to me. The visceral scenes of the Duff attacks on Alex and Ziggi are teaching me a lot. She makes us really feel for them - Ziggi in particular.

Have just got to the part where McLelland jumps into the water (don't want to post a spoiler) and looking forward to the next part. Really enjoying this now.

[Chris]

Just finished. This was my introduction to this author and I will definitely be reading more of hers.
The attitude of certain persons towards others definitely rang very true - logic has nothing to do with it when a loved one is involved...

[Icewineanne]

My copy arrived today!! Yay ☃️

Thrilled to be able to finally start the book tonight. I’m glad everyone’s enjoyed (ing) it so far. Hopefully other members who voted for the book will chime in with their thoughts as well.

🎄 Merry Christmas everyone! ✨

[P.J.]

Finally finished the book this morning. Listened to it while preparing the Christmas feast!

I had misgivings at first, since I'd stirrings about possible suspects from the early chapters - about who were actually near the scene of the crime. This coalesced into a real lightbulb moment round about Chapter 30. I don't mind this, as I'm interested in how writers allow their work to unfold so enjoyed listening to McDermid do it.

I was waylaid at first, thinking there was too much emphasis on the four guys but this didn't turn out to be an ordinary murder mystery; an average whodunnit. It was about youth, guilt, shame and responsibility and it's the exploration of these wider themes that made the book such a feast.

I think it really important that authors take the time to explore characters in some depth. She did it in spades with all four of the lads. That we see it all unfold from Alec's perspective was a good choice. A consistent voice, he certainly wasn't as centred as the rest of the group of friends, but his vulnerability in respect of his pregnant wife Lynn, then, of course, the birth of Davida, allowed for a brilliantly executed denouement when things really careered out of control for the perpetrator.

Some exploration of the period's attitude to homosexuality was interesting. Since the book operates in two time zones, we see it from the point of view of Ziggy, and see that, apart from the law, negative attitudes are still rife in the aggressively defensive Jackie. I thought her a great character with lots of potential for further development in another appearance if McDermid decided. She is a journalist after all.

So, it's five stars for me. Well wrought, beautifully crafted - great language. An author on top of her game.

[Icewineanne]

After just 4 pages, I realized that I’ve already read this one about 12 yrs ago. I remember most of the plot very well but forget the ending. Perhaps as I get closer to the end it will twig.
Not really a fan of re-reads but this was an excellent book.