The Distant Echo by
Val McDermid
pbk out May 02
(HarperCollins)
at £10.99
Val McDermid has taken time out from her series featuring profiler Tony Hill to
produce a one-off novel of psychological suspense which showcases her gift for tense
narrative. The killing of a young woman in St Andrews 25 years back was never
solved, but when the police start looking into 'cold cases', the past returns to haunt
several of those who played parts in the long-ago drama. The body was found by four
youthful friends who soon came under suspicion. However, one of the investigating
police officers died tragically before the inquiry ground to a halt. Vital DNA evidence
has now gone missing, and matters are complicated when the son of the dead girl
turns up and starts looking for vengeance. One of the four friends is murdered, then
another, and the two survivors need to learn who is taking the law into his own hands
before becoming victims themselves. Although I guessed the solution at an early
stage, that did not diminish my enjoyment of a pacy and entertaining blockbuster.
(
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries)
