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This was the summer he discovered what he wanted--at a gruesome museum of criminology far off the beaten track of more timid tourists. Visions of torture inspired his fantasies like a muse. It would prove so terribly fulfilling. The bodies of four men have been discovered in the town of... read more

Summary edit see section history

Up till now, the only serial killers Tony Hill had encountered were safely behind bars. This one’s different — this one’s on the loose. In the northern town of Bradfield four men have been found mutilated and tortured. Fear grips the city; no man feels safe. Clinical psychologist Tony Hill is... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Up till now, the only serial killers Tony Hill had encountered were safely behind bars. This one’s different — this one’s on the loose. In the northern town of Bradfield four men have been found mutilated and tortured. Fear grips the city; no man feels safe. Clinical psychologist Tony Hill is brought in to profile the killer. A man with more than enough sexual problems of his own, Tony himself becomes the unsuspecting target in a battle of wits and wills where he has to use every ounce of his professional skill and personal nerve to survive.

Characters edit see section history

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

Organizations edit see section history

  • Home Office: The lead government department for immigration and passports, drugs policy, counter-terrorism, police, and science and research.

First Sentence edit see section history

You always remember the first time.

Table of Contents edit see section history

(Transcripts of the killer's journal precede each chapter)
Chapters 1 - 18
Epilogue

Glossary edit see section history

  • DCI: Detective Chief Inspector
  • ACC: Assistant Chief Constable
  • Rent boys: Male prostitutes
  • SOCO: Scene of Crime Officer
  • Council: Similar to an American county
  • DPhil: Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 8 in Tony Hill / Carol Jordan. (standard series)

Followed by The Wire in the Blood.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Val McDermid (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: HarperCollins
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1995
ISBN: 0007796390
Page Count: 402

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PR6063.C37 M47 1995
  • Dewey: 813

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

Gruesome details about the murders.

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

Books Cited by This Book edit see section history

   
  • On Murder (Oxford World's Classics)

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