FIVE THINGS - Val McDermid's A dark domain

So herewith my second "five things" book review. This time it is a crime book - a genre I have vociferously for my entire reading life! To this day I recall that the first book I read which was more text than pictures was The clue of the crossword cipher by Carolyn Keene - a Nancy Drew mystery. I read that about 39 years ago! I was no wiser as to what a cipher was by the end of the book as at the start, but I have been a firm and fast fan of crime ever since. I can even tell you which of Agatha Christie's books I read first: Murder is Easy. I watched a movie on TV starring Bill Bixby. Do not ask me how I remember these things, with somethings my brain is like velcro. Not with others, but anyway, to the book at hand.

This is my second Val McDermid, and also the second I am reading which featured Karen Pirie. Yes, I am trying to read crime books featuring the same sleuths in order.

Here are my "five things":
1. I don't suppose it is particularly surprising that what seems to be two separate cases that Detective Inspector Pirie investigates during the first part of the book at some point must converge. My favourite books are those which surprise me in one or other way. How these two stories intersect was unfortunately not that, even for the ever so slight twist in the tale in the end. This does not mean I didn't enjoy the book, I did. Part of the joy is precisely to try to predict these things.

2. There are parts of the story which were a tad melodramatic. Such is life however and again, the book was still very enjoyable and I would recommend it.

3. There was a bit of inconsistency in the story. I suspect that I am on the outlook for such much more than I was before and this was the first time I really noticed one such case. It was a necessary device for the story, but it was nevertheless an inconsistency. (Ask me in the comments if you are curious what I identify as this. I am trying not to write any spoilers for some reason).

4. I enjoy Karen Pirie as a character. She is intelligent and yet I am not sure whether it is her self-image or whether she really is particularly dumpy physically, it is nevertheless she is a character I would enjoying meeting in the real world. That is not something I experience all that often. I am reminded of Elly Griffith's character Ruth Galloway, who is also physically not model material. I am not sure I enjoy her personality enough, but it is useful that there are non-Barbie doll (Nancy Drew?) slim and slender heroines in such books. And (warning: spoiler ahead): Karen gets her man.

5. All in all, as I have said above: a sufficiently satisfying book. And ultimately that is what counts.