Splinter the Silence (Tony Hill / Carol Jordan Book 9)
Splinter the Silence (Tony Hill / Carol Jordan Book 9) book cover

Splinter the Silence (Tony Hill / Carol Jordan Book 9)

Kindle Edition

by
Price
$10.92
Publisher
Atlantic Monthly Press
Publication Date

Description

Praise for the internationally bestselling Splinter the Silence “The Queen of Crime reigns againxa0.xa0.xa0. a tough crime thriller with an unusual depth of incident and characterization.” — Independent (UK) xa0 “Diamond Dagger Award–winner McDermid handles the delicate dance that is the slow reunion of her two heroes with as much grace as she affords the novel’s victims.” — Publishers Weekly Val McDermid is a world-class crime writer, whose best-selling novels have won the Los Angeles Times Book of the Year Award, and the Crime Writers’ Association’s Gold Dagger and Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for outstanding achievement. She is also a multiple finalist for the Edgar Award. She lives in Scotland. --This text refers to the hardcover edition. Is it violence if it’s virtual? The outspoken women targeted by increasingly cruel Internet trolls and bullies would say so. For some of them, the torrents of bile and vicious threats prove too much. They begin to silence themselves in a series of high-profile suicides. Or do they? Tony Hill isn’t convinced. But he’s the only one. After departing from the force in a storm of grief, Carol Jordan is too busy messing up her life to care. Until she gets an unexpected second chance. Now it’s game on, and the stakes have never been higher. Unpredictable and riveting, Splinter the Silence is a timely and disturbing look at the way the anonymity of the Internet enables abuse—and a story of two of crime’s most formidable enemies confronting not just a killer but demons of their own. This compulsive tale is sure to satisfy longtime fans as well as new readers, and cements Val McDermid’s place as one of the best crime writers in the business. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • The bestselling “Queen of Crime reigns again” when a profiler and an ex-cop investigate the suspicious deaths of women targeted by Internet trolls (
  • Independent
  • , UK).
  • From the international bestselling author of
  • The Mermaids Singing
  • and
  • The Wire in the Blood
  • comes the ninth installment of her beloved series featuring psychologist Tony Hill and former DCI Carol Jordan . . .   Vicious online attacks seem to be driving outspoken women to silence themselves through suicide. Yet for profiler Tony Hill, who knows a thing or two about patterns in human behavior, something doesn’t add up.   Carol Jordan, meanwhile, is too busy tackling her own demons to think about a potential serial killer. But when she gets an opportunity for a second chance, it’s game on. This time around, though, the stakes have never been higher.   One of the
  • Boston Globe
  • ’s Best Books of 2015

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(3K)
★★★★
25%
(2.5K)
★★★
15%
(1.5K)
★★
7%
(692)
★
23%
(2.3K)

Most Helpful Reviews

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you are rewarded with fantastic play between our heroes finally growing closer

I've read most of Val McDermid's books. This book seemed to delve into the Carol/Tony characters at length. Usually there is a balance between antagonist and protagonist while being able to get into the mind of the villain. This book might appeal to those who long for more development between Carol/Tony. I found the last quarter of the book pertaining to the culprit and crime, wrapped up too quickly. So, if you've read Val's other books for the psychological twists, turns and wrong-ways, this book hasn't done what her other works have. On the other hand, is you have read Val's other books...you are rewarded with fantastic play between our heroes finally growing closer.
9 people found this helpful
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Excellent !!! GO REMIT !

I suppose to understand my title to this review you will just have to read this Tony Hill and Carol Jordan novel for your own excitement and satisfaction. MIT's squad was totally destroyed after Jacko Vance . Now there is a new serial killer that Tony finds on his own because he is bored. This one is a misogynistic bullying cyber stalker who adds a literary flare to his patterns when making the women with causes outside of their familial responsibilities by referring to older rebellious women writers who committed suicide. The book of the author left at the seen is the only clue and it was not obvious to Tony for quite some time . This time Stacy does a great trip into cyberspace to really help solve this case too. I loved this quick read and I believe I felt this way mostly because of the building of the character relationships over the years in this series written by Val McDermid ! These are my most favorite of her creations and I know one day I may meet them because they seem so real . I do not know what will come next but I am ready !
7 people found this helpful
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The character development and the "getting the old gang back together" aspect of this book was great, like reuniting with old an

A new Tony Hill/Carol Jordan adventure is always anticipated, and after the ups and serious downs of their relationship of late, the devotion to the arc of their connection was appreciated. The character development and the "getting the old gang back together" aspect of this book was great, like reuniting with old and missed friends. I especially appreciated getting more insight into the mysterious mind and emotions of the previously impenetrable Stacey Chen. But the central "mystery" is dull and plodding and the killer is pathetic and frankly, contemptible in both his attitudes and motivation. One commenter here said he felt no sympathy for the victims; well I feel not an ounce of sympathy for the villain. And something, whether it is sympathy, empathy, a grudging admiration, a frisson of trepidation, even a sense of revulsion should animate the reader response to the villain and his or her acts in a police procedural. Far from the undeniable menace and smarts of a Jacko Vance, my reaction to this one? Eye roll. I'm thrilled to see what adventures await the new flying squad in books to come, but I certainly hope the adventures are more exciting, with higher stakes and more complexity, than what happens here.
5 people found this helpful
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One Star

Terrible book from a usually good author. Don't waste your money!
5 people found this helpful
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Back in the Hunt

Val McDermid, one of the most reliable of British mystery novelists, is in good form with Splinter the Silence, the latest in the series featuring police investigator Carol Jordan and psychologist/profiler Tony Hill. These protagonists are one of the most interesting -- if not always the most appealing -- crime fighting duos in fiction. MdDermid's only misstep is the ending. It relies too much on conventions of the genre, not to mention a hard to believe rescue, but by the time everything plays out, our enjoyment level remains high because she is one of the best at generating and maintaining a breakneck pace, even though, in Splinter the Silence, there are few real surprises along the way.

This time out, the bad guy seeks out high profile female victims of cyber bullying. These women are known for feminist sensibilities and are tough and capable, but not enough to remain unscathed. To Jordan and Hill, their apparent suicides don't make much sense, but as the investigation deepens, so does their understanding of what is actually going on. Amid all of this, Carol Jordan is fighting an exceedingly tough patch with her escalating alcoholism, just as she rejoins the police force as the head of a new department with everything to lose. But her loyal friend Tony Hill is on hand to offer much needed support. Their relationship never disappoints.

The best news for fans of this series is that Val McDermid has set up a perfect scenario for future installments.
4 people found this helpful
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Internet trolls...

Women who are outspoken online seem to be committing suicide, in ways similar to suicidal female authors...

The plot was twisty and complex... but the relationships between the detectives is what I found really interesting.

I tend to enjoy McDermid's novels, and this one worked well.

Also- I have not been reading this series in order, and she is very skillful at giving us just enough backstory to make sense, with out spoilers for the previous books in the series.
3 people found this helpful
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Internet trolls...

Women who are outspoken online seem to be committing suicide, in ways similar to suicidal female authors...

The plot was twisty and complex... but the relationships between the detectives is what I found really interesting.

I tend to enjoy McDermid's novels, and this one worked well.

Also- I have not been reading this series in order, and she is very skillful at giving us just enough backstory to make sense, with out spoilers for the previous books in the series.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Internet trolls...

Women who are outspoken online seem to be committing suicide, in ways similar to suicidal female authors...

The plot was twisty and complex... but the relationships between the detectives is what I found really interesting.

I tend to enjoy McDermid's novels, and this one worked well.

Also- I have not been reading this series in order, and she is very skillful at giving us just enough backstory to make sense, with out spoilers for the previous books in the series.
3 people found this helpful
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Low point in Hill / Jordan series

If you're looking for a suspenseful murder mystery, you'll not find it here. Much weaker story than any other in the series.
3 people found this helpful
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A Home Run!

Val McDermid is an emotional writer and true to her characters in everything she writes, but the Tony Hill/Carol Jordan series has the best criminology, the best cases, and the worst scenarios (which is great!) for her star-crossed non-lovers, Tony Hill and Carol Jordan. Back in the 90s when the series began with "The Mermaids Singing" I was in a bad marriage and very ill. Going to a movie in the middle of the day to distract my mental, emotional, and physical pain was how I made it through my world falling apart. I don't remember the movie I saw that day, but I will never forget the paperback that had been left in the empty seat next to me which I had never heard of; nor the writer; of course, it was "The Mermaids Singing". Loving books and writing my first book at the time,I couldn't leave it behind ... fate.
2 people found this helpful

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