Star struck

by Val McDermid

Book Overview

"There is no one in contemporary crime fiction who has managed to combine the visceral and the humane as well as Val McDermid. . . . She's the best."-- The New York Times Book Review "McDermid has a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0002325853
• ISBN13: 9780002325851
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.4" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

On of the better Brannigans

Having read Mermaid Singing, I was disappointed when I read my first Brannigan, Kickback.In Star Struck however, the characters come out more clearly, to form everyday persons with everyday feelings. One can almost feel what Brannigan feels, see what she sees. The plot is a simple one, which all the more makes it worth reading, not endless lists of characters and events. Just what I want for a rainy day, something to get me interested and intrigued. In this book, the end could be guessed, which is one of the essentials of crime stories, that you can actually be ahead of the sleuth, which Mc Dermid's shown in this novel.When I need a good, short crime story I go for a Mc Dermid!

Star Quality

This is a great book and puts the author up there with Sue Grafton et al.An interesting plot with great and believable characterisations. The author weaves social commentary throughout the story, including a dig at paparazzi journalism (post Princess Diana), racial profiling by British coppers, and mental illness, and this is done without the heavy hand of other novels, including by this author.This book never gets too serious for its own good and there is plenty of lightheartedness thrown in. The plot wobbles a bit towards the end but by then it has been such a thoroughly good read it doesn't matter.