July/August 2011 Group Read Category 1: A Place of Execution

[Gerrie]

I read A Place of Execution years ago and am going to dig it out for a refresher. It's a fascinating story told by a sensory writer so that the characters and places are vivid. I wasn't familiar with the Moors Murders so I had no preconceived notions about how the plot should unfold.

[Dee]

"place of execution" was my first Val McDermid books. I loved it and went on to read several other books of hers...not dissapointed. We used "Place of Execution" for our mystery book club at the library and we had a terrific discussion. I highly recommned the book and the author.

[Gerrie]

Hi, I've started re-reading A Place of Execution. Thirty-five pages into it, I'm still fascinated at the way she develops the mystery. Of course I recall the convoluted ending. Reading it with that in mind makes an entirely different perspective.

[Kim]

Gerrie wrote: "Hi, I've started re-reading A Place of Execution. Thirty-five pages into it, I'm still fascinated at the way she develops the mystery. Of course I recall the convoluted ending. Reading it with that in mind makes an entirely different perspective..."

Gerrie, it was a re-read for me too. While I remembered some aspects of the ending, I didn't remember all of the details, so aspects of the ending still took me by surprise. I agree that reading the novel even with some part of the resolution in mind provides a different perspective. It also made me realise that the clues to the ending are there throughout the novel. (I won't say more at this stage for fear of spoilers!).

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Finished this over the weekend. Terrific book and it is no wonder that McDermid has gone on to have a very successful career. In an amazing stroke of luck A Place of Executionis also this month's book for my in person group. I will be very interested to see what everyone thinks tomorrow night.

I am also going to take a quick look at the TV version that the BBC produced. It's on Netflix if anyone is interested.

[Mary]

I really like her writing style. The first couple of pages pull you in and it's hard to put the book down.
Thanks for the links to the Peak district.

[Carol]

Donna wrote: "Finished this over the weekend. Terrific book and it is no wonder that McDermid has gone on to have a very successful career. In an amazing stroke of luck A Place of Executionis also..."

Thanks, Donna! I just put this in my instant queue!

[Gerrie]

The best part about the book is the setting of the sixties. I can see a village cut off by modern English culture and totally medieval at the time. However, as I've stated before, I read and then am re-reading the book and I've got serious questions about the end. Without giving it away, I recall the first time I read it, I was so enamoured with McDermid's writing I overlooked the fact it was not probably, and you, who have read, it know what I mean. Still a wonderfully written book.
Gerrie

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Hi Gerrie, I know what you mean (view spoiler)[ having George's son meet and want to marry Alison's daughter (hide spoiler)] is a bit of a stretch but I can accept (view spoiler)[ the village getting together to protect the children especially since they were a close knit group and outsiders in the community, very Agatha Christie Murder on the Orient Express (hide spoiler)].

[Anna]

Gerrie wrote: "The best part about the book is the setting of the sixties. I can see a village cut off by modern English culture and totally medieval at the time. However, as I've stated before, I read and then a..."

Without giving anything away, I agree with Gertie that the part she is talking about did seem very unlikely. However, this was my first Val McDermid book and I thought it was great and will definitely be reading more of her books. There are very few books that keep me up reading past my bedtime but this one did.

[Carol]

Donna wrote: "Finished this over the weekend. Terrific book and it is no wonder that McDermid has gone on to have a very successful career. In an amazing stroke of luck A Place of Executionis also..."

I just watched the Masterpiece BBC version. It is so different. There were certain strands of the story that were completely left out. I would be interested to know what you thought of it. I can see that it would be good as a stand alone but after reading the book it just isn't as complete.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Hi Carol, My in person book group discussed A Place of Execution tonight and the BBC version was talked about as well. Personally I thought the adaptation was very good, except for the storyline with Catherine's daughter. The 1960s part of the story seemed to follow the book fairly closely and I thought the atmosphere (costumes, setting, etc) was as good as the book.

I'm not sure I liked how (view spoiler)[ Alison was discovered by Catherine and that Catherine was one of the abused children but then in the book it is a bit of a stretch that George's son would find and want to marry Alison's daughter (hide spoiler)].

[Kim]

Hi everyone. We're now at the half-way point of this group read. I know that a number of you have finished the book, others will still be reading. I wonder if any of you have any comments (spoiler-free, of course) not just on the ending ((view spoiler)[ which I agree requires what one of my GR friends has referred to as "willingly crossing the suspension bridge of disbelief" (hide spoiler)]), but on the themes of the novel.

In the BBC World Bookclub podcast (to which there is a link in my introductory post), a participant asked McDermid whether she considered that "the keeping of secrets" was a theme of the novel. McDermid responded that she wasn't aware of themes when she was writing a novel and that they emerged afterwards (or words to that effect - I'm not quoting her!).

What do you think about "keeping secrets" as a theme? Are there any others that spring out at you? ((view spoiler)[ In relation to secrets, I contemplated the possible effect on George - and his relationship with his son - of George knowing what he knows and not being able to reveal it: the need to keep a secret expanding into a larger circle beyone Scarsdale, as it were. (hide spoiler)]

[Cathleen]

Kim wrote: "Hi everyone. We're now at the half-way point of this group read. I know that a number of you have finished the book, others will still be reading. I wonder if any of you have any comments (spoiler-..."

I don't think I can say much at all specific without giving away the plot, but I think the theme of justice emerges as well, too. (I think secrets definitely works as a theme in the book.) What is justice? How is it meted out? Is it possible to have unjust justice? (an oxymoron, I know!). What makes an act just or fair? Do sometimes the ends justify the means?

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

I also see a theme of the outsider and the problem of developing trust. The people of Scardale were outsiders in the general community and didn't trust police, George was relatively new to the police force and a university graduate to boot so his fellow officers didn't completely trust him, Philip Hawkin was new to Scardale and no one trusted him, and Catherine was from London and was a writer trying to open up what many considered old wounds. The value of trust and the difficulty in developing it certainly played a role in the course of the investigation and the outcome.

[Gerrie]

I think McDermid evokes the period. Likely if I lived inthe U. K. I would be reading with a more critical eye.

[Sandy]

Donna wrote: "I also see a theme of the outsider and the problem of developing trust. The people of Scardale were outsiders in the general community and didn't trust police, George was relatively new to the poli..."
I think that's very perceptive. There was a scene where the villagers got together and decided to be more forthcoming, I thought, but then they weren't, and that confused me. I didn't understand it at the time, but thinking back I realize that they were really discussing (view spoiler)[how to feed information to George piece by piece rather than how to keep info from him. (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Cathleen wrote: "I don't think I can say much at all specific without giving away the plot, but I think the theme of justice emerges as well, too. (I think secrets definitely works as a theme in the book.) What is justice? How is it meted out? Is it possible to have unjust justice? (an oxymoron, I know!). What makes an act just or fair? Do sometimes the ends justify the means? ..."

Donna wrote: "I also see a theme of the outsider and the problem of developing trust...."

Those are both really good points. In particular, I find the question of whether the end can ever justify the means is a really interesting one in the context of this novel. That question in itself incorporates issues of justice and of trust. How does the legal system deal with a community which does not trust the police? Was justice actually done at all? (view spoiler)[ If Philip Hawkin had been imprisoned rather than executed, would the ultimate outcome have been acceptable? (hide spoiler)]

[Sandy]

(view spoiler)[And to muddy the moral point even more, there was collateral damage when the police questioned the relative (Peter?) living in exile. The same sort of rough vigilante justice was handed out, or at least threatened, in his case, and ended inexorably with his death when they acted again. Although it's questionable whether our justice system would have worked in that case either, as the boy would have probably just been incarcerated.

I sort of think if Hawkin had a life sentence the ending would have had to change. (hide spoiler)]

Apologies to those who haven't finished the book...

[✿ ♥ Heather ♥ ✿]

I'm still waiting to get this from the library, but thats ok :-) Only just finished my first Val M book today (Fever of the Bone) - she is a brilliant writer !

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Hi Heather. We never close the group read threads so even if it takes a bit longer for your book to arrive you can always come back here and keep the conversation going.

[Jan C]

That's good - I think I am still on page 49 or something.

But what I have read I like.

[Ashley]

Just joined - a little late I know - but this book from the description summary sounds like a great read. Looking forward to it.

[Mary]

I saw the PBS series first and didn't think that I would enjoy the book as much. I thought the author was so right on with her descriptions that I felt as if were there. I really enjoyed this book. The ending was not so much as a surprise as an "aha"moment as an I thought so moment.

[Cathleen]

Mary wrote: "I saw the PBS series first and didn't think that I would enjoy the book as much. I thought the author was so right on with her descriptions that I felt as if were there. I really enjoyed this bo..."

I did like how the novel was structured--especially that last part. I agree, I didn't feel so much as an "aha" but I marvelled at how McDermid pulled together all the little loose ends.

[Jacky]

Helo,new to this group (but have been on the "introduce yourself" thread. I have been reading crime / detection / mystery since about the age of 8 (I had the run of the family bookshelves 50+ years ago)
I have read this book, but not recently.
I did think that the "outsider" was very well done - I get the impression that VM herself is a bit of an "outsider" (I post on Laurie R. King's board where she has a lot of fans, including LRK herself)
I have lived & worked in many diverse areas of the UK, and would always say: although we often think of urban living as being "disconnected", for sheer weirdness, it's the countryside every time (see also Stephen Booth, how great that he posts here)

[Kim]

Jacky wrote: "Helo,new to this group (but have been on the "introduce yourself" thread. I have been reading crime / detection / mystery since about the age of 8 (I had the run of the family bookshelves 50+ years..."

Hi Jacky. Welcome to the group and to this thread!

[Cathleen]

Jacky wrote: "Helo,new to this group (but have been on the "introduce yourself" thread. I have been reading crime / detection / mystery since about the age of 8 (I had the run of the family bookshelves 50+ years..."

Hi Jacky--That country setting certainly was weird. It seemed so anachronistic, even for the 1960s. I just bought a Stephen Booth book, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

[Jacky]

Oh, I lived in a rural area, not too far from the Peaks in the '60s and can tell you it was not anachronistic at all.
The '60s didn't reach a lot of areas until the '70s 9so to speak)

[Kim]

Jacky wrote: "Oh, I lived in a rural area, not too far from the Peaks in the '60s and can tell you it was not anachronistic at all.
The '60s didn't reach a lot of areas until the '70s 9so to speak)"

Jacky, it's good to know that McDermid got the time and place right from someone who was actually there at the relevant time. Good fiction sometimes really does reflect reality, even when it might seem to be far-fetched!

[Diane]

McDermid is superb, she pulls you in like a fish on a hook and keeps the tension splashing. I found her while reading an Ian Rankin book in which he mentioned her "Mermaid's Singing". The title intrigued me and led me to read several of her books. A fan I am.
"A Place of Execution" certainly held me,grim though it was. I was transported to back to the sixties and "being there" made it all the more scary. Great read.

[Denise]

Hi, I'm new to the group but have read this book previously. Val McDermid is one of my favourite authors yet this was probably one of my least favourite of her books. After reading some of the comments above I wonder if I missed something or if I read it too quickly etc.

[Kim]

Night-reader wrote: "Hi, I'm new to the group but have read this book previously. Val McDermid is one of my favourite authors yet this was probably one of my least favourite of her books...."

Hi Night-reader and welcome to the group. You may not have missed anything nor read it too quickly. I certainly don't like everything McDermid has written. My least favourites of her stand-alones are The Grave Tattoo and Trick of the Dark. I looked forward to reading both of them and was very disappointed when I wasn't enthralled.

Can you remember why A Place of Execution is one of your least favourites? There's been a lot of positive feedback for the book in this thread and some less enthusiastic comments would be interesting to read.

[Dena]

Kim wrote: "Night-reader wrote: "Hi, I'm new to the group but have read this book previously. Val McDermid is one of my favourite authors yet this was probably one of my least favourite of her books...."

H..."

Yes, another point of view always adds to the discussion. This is my first Val McDermid and I'd be interested in others if they're even better.

[Susan]

Hi, I'm new to the group, too. Have just started A Place of Execution and so far I like it. I must admit I don't have fond memories of the 60s, except for the Beatles. But I think she really evokes the time, even in this place of extremes. And I think Night-reader described it as grim. Really apt.

[Susan]

Hi, Susan here, and I'm new to the group. So far I'm really sucked into the book. The sense of place is incredible. Val McDermid evokes the 60s, even in this extremely isolated place. Not many fond memories of the 60s, except, of course, for the Beatles. I've just finished the the old lady's first appearance. Really a horrible crone! Like a figure from hell.

[Kim]

Hello Dena and Susan. Welcome to the group and to the discussion. I will be very interested in reading your impressions as you get further into the book.

[Kim]

Hi everyone. We officially come to the end of the July/August 2011 group read today. As you probably know, the thread does not close, so feel free to continuing posting your comments.

For those of you who have now finished reading the book, I just want to remind you about the podcast of an interview with Val McDermid on BBC World Book Club, the link to which is in the first post of this thread.

Thank you all for your enthusiastic participation! See you around the group.

[Susan]

Kim wrote: "Hi everyone. We officially come to the end of the July/August 2011 group read today. As you probably know, the thread does not close, so feel free to continuing posting your comments.

For those o..." Well, I finished a fast read of A Place of Execution and I enjoyed the first half of the novel much more than the last half. Just me. The last 25% of the book seemed to drag, but that's me, again.

[Sandra]

I appreciate all the background info!
I haven't gotten too far into the book yet; work is interfering with my reading time! I'm way down at the bottom of the US in north Texas, and the language (like phrasing & word choice) is a bit different. I didn't expect that.

[Steve]

I finished this today and it has left me with mixed feelings. I gave it 3 stars. I thought the courtroom drama was very well done, but the story didn't particularly grip me and was a little slow at first and in parts towards the end. I guess I like some excitement in a story and this didn't deliver any for me, which is largely down to my personal taste as I'm not a big 'procedural' fan, which is something McDermid excels at. I found it very factual - perhaps too much so because of the kind of book it is. I would have wanted to write a more immediate threat into the story - an element of suspense perhaps. But that's just me.

[Gerrie]

Thanks for this discussion and I just marked The Wire in the Blood to read as soon as my edits get done. Until our next discussion.

[Sandra]

The first half of the book was slow for me. Halfway through I got into the story and started to enjoy it. I am really glad I did not give up.
I thought the ending was good. I had read that the ending was good in many reviews, but I still did not expect the depth of it.

[Sandra]

After I finished the book, I had a great time going back and reading all the spoilers in the discussions!

[Kim]

Sandra wrote: "After I finished the book, I had a great time going back and reading all the spoilers in the discussions!"

I'm glad you had fun with it, Sandra!

[Noeleen]

I read this book last month, it was my first book to read by this author and I loved it, I will definitely be reading more of this author's books in the future

[Deanne]

Noeleen
I'd recommend reading the books with Carol Jordan and Tony Hill, The Mermaids Singing is first. The seventh was advertised as published in September.
Plus there's the TV series named after the second book, Wire In The Blood.

[Noeleen]

Deanne wrote: "Noeleen
I'd recommend reading the books with Carol Jordan and Tony Hill, The Mermaids Singing is first. The seventh was advertised as published in September.
Plus there's the TV series named afte..."

thank you for the recommendations Deanne, I'll certainly check them out, cheers