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Report for Murder

Lindsay Gordon Crime Series, Book 1

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Report for Murder

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Caroline Guthrie
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About this listen

The first novel in the Lindsay Gordon series.

Freelance journalist Lindsay Gordon is strapped for cash. Why else would she agree to cover a fund-raising gala at a girls' public school? But when the star attraction is found garrotted with her own cello string minutes before she is due on stage, Lindsay finds herself investigating a vicious murder.

Who would have wanted Lorna Smith Cooper dead? Who had the key to the locked room in which her body was found? And who could have slipped out of the hall at just the right time to commit this calculated and cold-blooded crime?

©1987 Val McDermid (P)2018 W.F. Howes Ltd Crime Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Police Procedural Psychological Thriller Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Suspense Murder

Critic Reviews

"The real mistress of psychological gripping thrillers; no one can plot or tell a story like she can." (Daily Express)

"The Queen of Crime reigns." (Independent)
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I loved the various accents, the story and the characters.

I went to a public school and felt the house mistress was based on ours.

The story was a little exaggerated but I still enjoyed it.

Very Enjoyable Listen

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A real pleasure to go back to Val McDermid's literary genesis. Before smart phones, internet and the level of inclusivity we take for granted.
Thank you Val, thank you Caroline.

Back to the start :)

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McDermid always keeps the guessing game alive in her books. This one was maybe a little slow for my liking but a good twist at the end.

Another good thriller

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This is an interesting plot and offers plenty of opportunity for the reader to get to the bottom of the mystery themselves. I found the characters unlikeable and also did not think the author treated grooming or misuse of power terribly respectfully or sensitively. The narrator does a decent job with plenty of appropriate emotion and some challenging accents.

Good mystery

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I wasn't sure how a journalist could centre in a murder mystery series but the first book has at least convinced me to give the second a go. The book certainly builds from a fairly unsure footing to end convincingly. I'm a big fan of Val McDermid and so any other author I would possibly have a different opinion. This isn't her best work in my opinion but it onky for a genius like Val McDermid that this otherwise good work could be classed as OK.

Interesting first book

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Characters lacked any warmth hard to get involved with the story.
While I love the Scottish accent after 7 hours I found the narration dull and flat.

Couldn’t really warm to Lindsay

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