Insidious Intent (Tony Hill and Carol Jordan)

I rejoined Tony Hill and Carol Jordan two years ago, when a no-longer-working Carol became embroiled in a drink driving conviction and was manipulated into returning to work as a result. Strings were pulled to get the charges dismissed and that action (not Carol’s doing) comes back to bite her and her colleagues on the butt this time around.

We quickly learn the cases in question in this outing are the result of a man intent on punishing someone though he seemingly decides to take a few practice runs before getting to his actual target. Sadly, though his kills aren’t as fulfilling as he’d hoped, they’re enough to whet his appetite and become the first case of the new Regional Major Incident Team (ReMIT) headed up by Carol.

Obviously she’s joined by Tony who continues to provide his quirky though insightful psychological expertise, as well as stalwart Paula (whose private life is given a bit of added texture though her new foster / adopted teenager Torin), a mix of old and new faces and IT guru Stacey, who I enjoyed meeting in the last outing when she joined the police.

This is one of those books in which we know who the killer is from the get-go. We understand his motivation, so in cases like this there’s usually a cat and mouse scenario on the agenda, culminating in the team swanning in and saving the final victim or one of the team being threatened and saving themselves.

But not here.

And I loved that McDermid doesn’t pfaff around with the predictable plot structure. The team is seriously stumped and they’re facing the threat of losing the case and perhaps losing face in their first case, when they get their unexpected break. I was taken-aback…. there was something different about the way this case was playing out.

Then things get even more surprising…. and regular readers will be shocked at the direction McDermid takes the team. And us.

I mentioned in my review of Splinter the Silence that this series felt as if it had been given a new lease on life. It certainly remains the case here and the ending…. well the ending sets us up for something completely different.

Was annoyed at this outing of Carol Jordan/Tony Hill and gang before I was half through. Not particularly suspenseful in plot - you know who's doing the murders and why at the get-go just like an old Columbo. Repetitious in delivery - like a long visit with dementia-saddled relative. While forensics play a large part as in any procedural, characterization is the backbone and driving force of this series. And that is the largest failure in this apparently last entry in the series. Having followed them since 1995, by the last third of Insidious Intent I was mocking the story as I read and fighting the urge to hurl the book across the room. Even so, I was dumbfounded at the downright stupidity of the ending. Kill one or both off, destroy their lives in a million readily available ways - any of those at least would be honest. But, to top off the insult to our intelligence - who are we not to follow Tony's logic that becoming a murderer and going to prison to save his dearest alcoholic PTSD self-flagellating friend on the verge of a total nervous breakdown could overcome it all with out-patient therapy - I read Ms. McDermid's entreaty for NO SPOILERS. Sorry. My wish is that we faithful burn the book, place the ashes in a model car, and mail it off to the publisher.

This book was disappointing and depressing. The author asks the reader not to give away the ending, so if you don’t want to know, please stop here. SPOILER ALERT - In the last few years some of the long running series I have been reading are near the end. Most of the series can hold up for three books, and some for five or six, but near the end of the series, many writers start to torture the characters. They start taking away the characters homes, family, friends, career, or health, and throw in any other type of suffering they can think of. Sometimes the bad ending is no fault of the main characters, but this series had the main characters make the most stupid decisions possible. The main characters are supposed to be stars and brilliant, but they end up being fools and losers. This has happened so many times, that now I stop some series before the last book because I don’t want to take that final step into the almost guaranteed bad ending. This writer thinks she came up with something surprising. Yeah, it is surprising how much it was like the bad endings of too many other series. I think the writers come to hate the characters at the end, and try to do as much damage to them as possible before it is all over. It was not a satisfying ending in any way, and I wish I had never started the book.

Such a great story ruined by some incredible instances. Stacey’s trip to the bank was ridiculous, the drink driver’s mother saying what she was supposed to...and the ending was absolutely disappointing...it was so unbelievable. Carol has become soooo annoying. Didn’t see any of what made her such a good cop. Not as much of Tony and his brilliance in in this episode either. Had such great potential...a brilliant villain but that’s here it ended for me unfortunately. The earlier books in this series are amazing. This just didn’t compare I’m afraid.

Readers who have spent years getting to know Carol Jordan and Tony Hill will appreciate the angst and drama that permeate Val McDermid's "Insidious Intent" more than newcomers ever could. This is a shocking tale of cold-blooded murder that will present Carol and Tony with formidable personal and professional challenges. DCI Jordan, who is in charge of the recently formed Regional Major Incident Team, is trying to stay sober, after years of relying on alcohol to get through the day. It will not be easy, since one of her superiors is hoping that she will make a misstep that will lead to her ouster. Carol's close friend, Tony Hill, is by her side, offering advice and support when needed. Dr. Hill is a psychologist and criminal profiler who works with the mentally ill and helps the police with their inquiries.

DCI Jordan, along with her loyal and dedicated staff, DS Paula McIntyre, DS Alvin Ambrose, DI Kevin Matthews, DC Karim Hussain, and computer whiz DC Stacy Chen, put in long hours to track down a man who courts lonely women before taking their lives. Unfortunately, the villain carefully covers his tracks and is proud of his ability to elude his would-be captors. McDermid moves back and forth between the killer and his pursuers; we wonder when their paths will cross and who will ultimately prevail.

"Insidious Intent" is a compelling, intense, and suspenseful work of fiction that provides insight into the twisted motives of a sociopath and those unlucky enough to cross his path. We ache for Carol, who is under enormous pressure because so much is expected of her. Adding to her misery, she bears a heavy load of guilt for past actions that led to the untimely deaths of innocent people. McDermid does a splendid job of demonstrating how challenging it is for even the most competent detectives to apprehend a cunning felon. Carol and her subordinates spend a huge amount of time following up every lead, no matter how trivial it may seem, but weeks go by without a breakthrough. The climax is a punch in the gut, but when one considers how bleak and edgy the Jordan/Hill books have always been, the finale should not come as a total surprise. This is a splendidly written and well-crafted novel that is laced with dark humor and irony. It is a must-read for fans of Carol Jordan and Tony Hill, whose affection for one another is as profound as it is unconventional.

So disappointing. The plot didn't make sense. The fancy new REMIT team gets called in on a 1 off murder? Not a serial killer at that point so why was the case given to them? Oh wait, I know - to make the story line work. Tony, who is always the best part of this series, has little to do except guess at stuff & help out one of the other characters with a family problem that also turned stupid. And repercussions from the last book cause Carol to be maudlin to the point of annoyance, hardly a heroine worth admiring. And the story line regarding the press going after Carol fell off the earth after telling us the set up. Does the publisher make the writer abide by a page limit or what? I read this book through to the end hoping it would get better, but it'll be my last one unless McDermid decides to make the stupid ending a dream sequence a la Dallas.

A number of years ago Elizabeth George (Lynley and Havers) did something with a character that her readers did not like. It didn't bother me so I kept reading the series and am glad I did so. Likewise, Val McDermid does something in this latest novel which I believe will similarly anger a number of readers who have been with the series since the start. Once again, I am sticking with it. But you might want to get this one from the library if you are a reader who swears off authors who take a radical turn in a beloved series. McDermid writes us a note at the end asking us not to tell anyone the ending so she evidently realizes she may have embarked on a "deal breaker" with many of her fans.

There is a serial murderer on the loose in this latest Carol Jordan-Tony Hill outing. What he does is pick up single women at weddings, woo them romantically from the wedding forward, and then, when they think they are right on the brink of a proposal, that's when he turns into his serial killer self. He is all charm up to that moment. It is pretty ingenious, this whole wiggling into their lives before lowering the boom. The car fire on the cover of the book is his final act with each victim. He is getting rid of all forensic evidence.

Many thanks to the author / Atlantic Monthly Press / Edelweiss for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Tony HIll, Psychologist, and Carol Jordan, DCI of the newly formed Major Incident Team, return in this British crime series.

The duo is hunting the Wedding Killer, a man who crashes a wedding, picks out a single woman, wines her, dines her, and then murders her. He's up to 3 victims and the team still have no clues, no motive, no identity of this killer. Jordan's job is on the line and she's worried.

While an excellent addition to the series, this one is more character driven. Still suspenseful, it doesn't have the OOMPH that her earlier books in this series has. On the plus side, the relationship between Tony and Carol reaches new heights. Learning more about the personal lives of the team members is very rewarding.

There are some twists and turns along the way, and a hugely surprising ending. Here's hoping we see more of them soon.

Psychologist Dr. Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan are back on the job, but not without more than their share of emotional baggage. Carol is burdened by recent events in her past. She’s spent the past six months rebuilding her late brother’s barn conversion, trying to erase the horrific violence that had taken place there, events that had culminated in the deaths of her brother and his lover. Carol’s personal life has deteriorated to the point where, after a night of drinking, she’d been involved in a road traffic accident. Members of her team had derailed the resulting inquiry by claiming that the breathalyser used to establish her alcohol level had been faulty. The resulting acquittal, bad enough in it’s own right, had led to similar verdicts for several other drink-driver defendants, and one of them had gone free only to kill himself and others in yet another incident. Now an energetic reporter, aided by a disgruntled officer who is nursing his own grudge, is on the trail of the cover-up, and it seems to be only a matter of time before Carol’s professional life—as well as those of several officers involved in the cover-up—are in tatters. Tony can only watch as the woman he loves descends further and further into dark places where even he is powerless to help.

As if all this were not enough, other members of the team are carrying their own burdens. DS Paula Mcintyre and her partner, Dr. Elinor Blessing, have taken a fourteen-year-old youth into their home following the murder of his mother. Already withdrawn, Torin McAndrew is becoming increasingly moody, and Paula worries that he might be on drugs, or something worse. Her instincts are correct: Torin is hiding something. But it’s not what Paula suspects, and she and Elinor will need help from others within the CID team to deal with it.

But all of that must be put aside as the CID team grapples with a series of deaths in the region. The bodies of young women are being found in burned-out cars, all apparently unconnected with one another, and Carol is certain that there is a serial killer on the loose. The culprit is cunning, though, and even with his formidable skills profiler Tony Hill has nothing to work with. And when the team does move toward identifying a suspect, it seems the person, aided by a formidable lawyer, will walk free to kill again.

Does anyone do it better? Reading one of Val McDermid’s novels is like taking a Master Class in creative writing, her nuanced characters and layered backstories encompassing profound moral themes. Her latest work is yet another fine novel to add to her already-unmatched canon of original and compelling tales. With the passing of P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, McDermid reigns unchallenged as quite simply the finest crime writer of our age.
________
Previously posted on Reviewing the Evidence, January 2018.
§Since 2005 Jim Napier's reviews and interviews have appeared in several Canadian newspapers and on various crime fiction and literary websites, including his own award-winning site, Deadly Diversions. His own crime novel, Legacy, was published in the Spring of 2017.

A killer is crashing weddings in the north of England to find single women. Over the space of a couple of weeks, he charms them into believing he is Mr Right, then kills them. This is the first case for ReMIT, the elite police investigative team set up to solve the most difficult cases and headed by Carol Jordan and, if they don’t solve it fast, it could be their last.

Insidious Intent by author Val McDermid is the 10th in the Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series and I found it to be less of a page-turner than others in the series. It seemed a bit slower, less action-driven and with a greater stress on the emotional and moral dilemmas faced by the team. Having said that, there is a reason that McDermid is considered Britain’s reigning Queen of Crime. If it was slower, it was more thought-provoking and it brought deeper dimensions not only to Tony and Carol but to other characters.

It is often hard, at least for me, to know how much to reveal when reviewing a book. In this case, McDermid makes it easy. She requests that reviewers be careful not to reveal the finale and for very good reason. I will just say that I for one did not see it coming at all. It was definitely a bold and risky move by McDermid leaving me wanting to know in what direction it will take the series because wherever its going I really want to be along for the ride.

Thanks to Edelweiss+ and Atlantic Monthly Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Insidious Intent by Val McDermid is a highly recommended tenth installment to the series featuring psychologist Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan.

There are dual plotlines in this fast-paced, intense procedural. Carol Jordan has been asked to return to head the newly formed Regional Major Incident Team (ReMIT) and she has handpicked her colleagues. All of Carol's skills and Tony's insight are needed and tested with the Wedding Killer. They must find a serial killer who finds his victims at wedding receptions. The killer seeks out a woman who seems to be alone, courts her, and eventually kills her. Then he sets fire to their lifeless bodies in their cars, not only destroying the bodies, but destroying any evidence that would connect him to the crime.

While trying to catch the killer, crime reporter Penny Burgess has made it her goal to end Carol's career. At the same time DS Paula McIntyre is being urged by Carol to take her inspector's exam so she can take over for Carol - if she has to step down. To add to the complications, Paula and her partner Dr. Elinor Blessing must figure out why their teenage ward, Torin McAndrew, is suddenly acting moody and secretive. DC Stacey Chen is back and using her mad IT/computer skills to help solve the cases.

This is a great long-running series with well-developed, well-established characters. The writing is excellent and the dialogue is well-done. McDermid keeps the action fast and the tension building in this outing. The team is seriously stumped and there are so many peripheral things happening that could distract them from the case. All the various plot-thread keep moving along as the stress levels of the team rise along with the pressure. There is a reason McDermid is such a successful crime writer. The ending on this one is a shocker.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grove/Atlantic.

Insidious Intent is a riveting tale that immerses you into the evidence collection and investigation into the kidnapping and violent homicide of several lonely, vulnerable women and the hunt for a serial killer with a penchant for fire.

The prose is sophisticated and crisp. The characterization is spot on with all the usual gang back including the resilient, determined Carol Jordan whose greatest struggles involve her own guilt, secrets, demons, and addictions. And the plot is a skillfully crafted mix of twists, turns, murder, police corruption, manipulation, obsession, and deception.

Overall, Insidious Intent is nicely paced and has exceptional depth in both the storyline and character development. And even though this is the tenth book in the Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series, McDermid has written such an intriguing, entertaining tale that new fans will be quickly adding the previous novels in the series to their TBR and long-standing fans will be satisfied, surprised, and eager for book #11.

Review for Kindle e>Book, bought and verified on the store.it
***
... beacon behind - his victim in her car, in a lay-by, burning to ashes...
This thriller starts right when the murderous "widower" picks up his first victim. He came - uninvited - to a posh wedding and looked for a wallflower. He chats her into drinks at the bar and soon they are best buddies. Only that on the next Sunday night she has no future anymore - and he is brooding over the next time when he kills his ex-partner Tricia once again. Who was so intelligent to go into permanent hiding. So he is simply killing her substitutes - until he gets his hands on the real thing...
Then the book goes on where the last one Splinter the Silence: (Tony Hill and Carol Jordan, Book 9) (Tony Hill 9) ended. A drunken driver who was also released the night of Carol's "incident" with the rotten breathalyzer, made a massacre with his car - stone drunken. 4 DOA, 1 in Intensive Care fighting for her life. All the people who wish Carol bad, are on the warpath. Police, Press - You name it. To intensify the existent sense of guilt. To drive her more into her grief. Everything is her fault. Tony Hill - now practically living with her - tries to convince her to see a "shrink" for her Post-Traumatic Stress that started not only with the murder of her brother and his wife. But she - sober since the "incident" happened, but in absolute withdrawal - is denying her problems, as usual. The "Wedding Killer" - as the press has baptized the newest serial killer - has to be stopped and by the ReMIT. Everyone is working hard, but the murderer is a very good planner and forensically savvy. Today You can find everything on the Internet. So with the permanent pressure of the Higher Echelons and the shortcoming of leads, Carol is more and more drifting into a solid depression. A walking disaster to happen. In the meantime Paula and Stacey help Torin, Paula's and Elinor's ward, out of a highly embarrassing Cyber-trap, that drove the adolescent nearly into suicide. But Tony helped and the situation could be resolved. Then a fortunate find gives the Team a name, an address, a suspect who fits. But it is too early to bring him in. He lawyers up and walks away, free to murder again. And he mocks the ReMIT - and that drives Carol over the thin red line...
Here my review stops - the author Val McDermid has asked all reviewers NOT to spoil the - absolutely unforseeable - last chapter. I agree on that.
In the epilogue that follows, she tops the showdown with news that could have ended this drama in a totally different way. But it happened as it happened - and that is a real BANG. I was totally unsure until this very moment to declare her solution of the "Wedding-Killer-Problem" the most stupid or the most brilliant I have read in a long time. I think now that it is brilliant indeed. Read and You will see!
Absolutely recommendable for friend of Val McDermid, Carol Jordan & Tony Hill, and a very well written police procedural with very thrilling highlights for the lovers of that genre. And the BIG question: What will, can, should follow a scoop like this?

I am very disappointed in this book. First, please, whatever you do do NOT buy the audiobook. The narrator is terrible. I had to start it over numerous times just to be able to try and get through it...and when I did I wondered why I bothered. It seemed like total character assassination and was light on the "police" work story and heavy on a very depressing personal narrative. Everything the characters did made no sense, including the secondary characters who risked jail and/or disciplinary action over high school drama. I have no idea where the series could go from here. If Ms. McDermid no longer wanted to write for this team, there had to be better ways to end it and still honor the fans who have stuck with the series

Alas, the reason for the critical hosannas eludes me. The book feels as if it was assembled as a sort of novel-kit. (Variant on police term "identikit.") A chapter for Carol, a chapter for Tony, a chapter for Paula, and on and on and on. The book lacks narrative drive --- that sense of urgency that powers the best mysteries (I'd call this a thriller, but what do I know?) Scrupulously avoiding anything resembling a spoiler, I'll just say that for years I've wanted Tony and Carol either to get together or get gone. As always Paula provides a touch of human warmth, but hers only reminds us of all that's lacking.The writing is slack, and good and established writer as she is, McDermid could use more rigorous editing. Please cut the would-be hard-boiled comparisons like, "Scott's smile was sharp enough to cut a well-done steak." Wait? Can smiles be "sharp"? More to the point, can they be "sharp enough to cut...steak"? And this is just one example among a score. Finally, virtually no profiling! Profiling is the series raison d'être; without it, the novel is just a humdrum mystery. A disappointing entry in the Tony-and-Carol series I very much wanted to like.

I love Val McDermid's books and eagerly awaited this one. What a disappointment! Over-the-top incidents, out of control dramatics, and a completely unrealistic and ridiculous ending. If I'd somehow started reading this series with this book, I'd have never picked up another one. The characters are caricatures of themselves and their actions bear no relation to what we've come to expect from them. Even the police procedures are shoddy. Probably her worst book.

I really enjoyed this book. Great writing by McDermid as always. I didn't see the twist at the end but desperate people go to desperate measures. People are willing to do unspeakable things for love. As much as it goes against our intellect and logical sense, we hear about it almost every day in the news, misguided as it is.

I need to begin following my own advice and start series at the beginning. I have been doing such for several years and broke that streak with this one. Insidious Intent May surprise some that I even read it but it was fascinating. Val McDermid is loved for all the right reasons. The characters were filled with life and so many plot lines crossed their way across the page. This book is very dark, but I am not sure how a serial killer targeting women at weddings cannot be dark. It was such a brilliant premise and it kept Tony, Carol, Paula and the entire ReMit team guessing until the end. After having read and watched several interviews with Val I appreciate the gay characters in her books. We need more representation on the page and it was refreshing to see them. Really fantastic and I look forward to starting this series from the beginning.