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  • Dead Beat

  • PI Kate Brannigan, Book 1
  • By: Val McDermid
  • Narrated by: Chloe Massey
  • Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (68 ratings)

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Dead Beat cover art

Dead Beat

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Chloe Massey
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Publisher's Summary

The stunning first novel in the Kate Brannigan series, from number one Sunday Times best seller Val McDermid.

As a favour, Kate agrees to track down a missing songwriter, Moria Pollock. It was supposed to be a nice simple case, but the search soon leads Kate into the dark underworld of Leeds, Manchester and Bradford – and finally to a shocking confrontation with a killer....

©1992 Val McDermid (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd

Critic Reviews

"This is crime writing of the very highest order." (The Times)

"No one can plot or tell a story like McDermid." (Daily Express)

What listeners say about Dead Beat

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

First time l have read anything from this author

I enjoyed this story, with the pedigree of the author l expected something deeper but as this is the first in the line perhaps depth comes in stages. This for me was a light read, but enjoyable, nice pace and not boring. The narration was very good - its a holiday read and yep good enough to buy the next in the series. The main character is a Private investigator and the storyline on what is uncovered (which is more than one thing) comes across as highly credible. Good stuff

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Early Val Mcdermid does not exactly sparkle.

Truly boring story read in a dull deap-pan voice. I only lasted 12 chapters before skipping to the end just so I could write this review and warn people off. Save your money.

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

A Mancunian blend of Poirot, Holmes, Marple

Thank you Val and Chloe for opening up a new world for me. I am already hooked on Karen's PI universe and into book 2.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not up to her normal exceptional standard.

An easy read. Very light but lacking some character depth and story depth. If this was the first Val McDermid is picked up is probably not read any more of hers which is a shame as she’s a brilliant author. I’m hoping that this series develops. I’ll give one more a try and if it doesn’t then just leave it. I didn’t like her series with the journalist either but from memory that was a better written book than this.

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