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    The Mermaids Singing
    The Mermaids Singing
    The Mermaids Singing
    Audiobook (abridged)2 hours

    The Mermaids Singing

    Written by Lisa Carey

    Narrated by Jan Maxwell

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    There is an island off the west coast of Ireland called Inis Muruchthe Island of the Mermaidsa world where myth is more powerful than truth, where the sea sings with the healing and haunting voices of women, and where death is never as strong as the redemptive power of family and love. It is here that Lisa Carey sets her lyrical and sensual first novel, weaving together the voices and lives of three generations of Irish-American women.
    Years ago, Clionastrong, proud, and practicalsailed for Boston, determined to one day come home. But when the time came to return to Inis Muruch, her daughter Gracefierce, beautiful, and brazenly sexualresented her mother's isolated, unfamiliar world. Though entranced by the sea and its healing powers, Grace became desperate to escape the confines of the island, one day stealing away with her small daughter Grainne.
    Now Grainne, motherless at fifteen after Grace's death from breast canceris about to be taken back across the ocean by Cliona, repeating the journey her mother was forced to make years before. She goes to meet a father she has never known, her heart pulled between a life where she no longer belongs to a family she cannot remember. On the rocky shores of Inis Muruch, she waits for her father, and begins to discover her own sexual indentity even as she struggles to understand the forces that have torn her family apart.
    In her first novel, Lisa Carey has crafted voices so real and passionate that they resonate within the listener long after the last words are heard.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateJun 1, 1998
    ISBN9780743541350
    Author

    Lisa Carey

    Lisa Carey is the author of The Mermaids Singing, a Simon & Schuster book.

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    Reviews for The Mermaids Singing

    4/5

    175 ratings43 reviews

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    • 4/5
      If you have any problem with triggers relating to torture, violence, suicide or rape, I don't suggest you read this book. The violence is graphic, lovingly detailed, and given to you from the point of view of the person carrying out the torture. If you're squeamish, there's also graphic descriptions of the mutilated bodies, etc. The only reason I continued reading this book was because I think I'm going to have to make reference to it in my essay -- if I wasn't planning on that, I would have given up after less than fifty pages, book for class or not.

      If you have no problem with reading about torture, however, the mystery itself is pretty compelling. It's a police procedural, really, and more so than Ian Rankin's books -- no real maverick policeman (or policewoman) here: Carol Jordan seems to play within the rules, and Tony Hill just puts forward theories or guides interrogations, and doesn't actually spend the time chasing down the criminal himself. It all seems within the realm of plausibility, on the police side of things -- the killer is, of course, not just your average serial killer, but complete with all the bells and whistles of torture, rape, gender issues, mother issues, etc, etc, etc. It feels a bit over the top, in some ways, but it isn't implausible because there have been serial killers in like fashion. And, well, serial killers aren't exactly the most restrained and sane people.

      I found it pretty easy to figure out what was going on if you remember that this isn't a true story, and therefore every detail included is relevant. Seemingly unconnected events must somehow tie in, and nobody is above suspicion, however irrelevant they may seem.

      It deals with some LGBT issues, too -- the treatment of gay people by the police, and gender issues. This is pretty well done, I think. Realistic, without being too much of a hobby horse, so it didn't get in the way of the story, but contributed to its tension. The story of the serial killer's upbringing is sad without the story making it an excuse for how the killer behaves.

      If it wasn't so personally triggering, I think I'd have enjoyed it.

      Rating it was difficult. I did really like it, and like analysing it, so four stars, but god, don't ever make me read it again.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      If your only exposure to Tony Hill and Carol Jordan is through "Wire in the Blood," you should take the time to read the books from which the series was created. The characters, including the various murderers, are far more complex and nuanced than is possible to show on TV. The violence and sex is more explicit but the depth of character development makes the journey worth it.
    • 4/5
      So different from the TV show (which is awesome)- the "hero" is an amazingly messed up individual - nothing compared to the villain tho.
    • 5/5
      Protagonist: forensic psychologist Tony Hill and DI Carol JordanSetting: present-day "Bradfield" in northern EnglandSeries: #1First Line: "Tony Hill tucked his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling."By the time the police admit that Bradfield, a fictional city in northernEngland, has a serial killer, four men are already dead, each tortured in a different way and then abandoned outdoors in town. Baffled by a lack of physical evidence left by the meticulous sociopath, police bring in Tony Hill, a Home Office forensic psychologist who profiles criminals. Tony devours crime data with a fascination approaching admiration for the killer. DI Carol Jordan is Hill's liaison with the police force, and is a solid "normal" foil that keeps quirky Tony grounded. The books in this series are the basis for UK series "The Wire in the Blood". I enjoyed the printed page much more than watching Robson Green on the small screen. Although I twigged to the killer early on, this book was still a page-turner. From Kate Brannigan to Tony Hill to her meticulously crafted standalones, I relish McDermid's writing and love experiencing her continuing evolution.
    • 5/5
      This is a dark, graphic psychological thriller that is very well written. As always it is probably the best book in the series.
    • 3/5
      This book was somewhat of a disappointment. I'm not keen on torture which was a major theme of the book and although the characters were well developed, they were predictable to the point that I'd figured out who the murderer was in the first 100 pages (and I'm usually totally clueless!). I'm surprised this book got an award - it must have been a slow year.
    • 4/5
      I'm a huge fan of the TV show and decided to give the first Tony Hill novel a go. It was very good, but hard to read -- even though I'd seen the episode that was taken from this novel. What I really liked was that my versions of Tony and Carl were based on the TV show and I think that made the novel that much more enjoyable (if reading about serial killers can be considered a joy).
    • 3/5
      I don't like books whose titles have no discernible connection to the book. Why? Because I cannot believe it! And that leaves me to think I missed some key piece.I bought this book because of McDermid's book, _Forensics_. I read reviews about _Mermais_ on Amazon, so I was not shocked at the graphic descriptions. It reminded me of reading _The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich_...the juvenile feeling of titillation reading of the Nazi experiments that happened in the camps. Or, more to the point, reading graphic descriptions of the bizarre Christian (Christian?) Inquisition. Only we don't call it that. We distance ourselves from it by calling it the "Spanish Inquisition."Oh well, I thought I had found a new series to read. This is the first in the Tony Hill, Carol Jordon series.
    • 4/5
      This is another book I read AFTER seeing the TV series (Wire In The Blood) and so I already had a picture in my mind about the main characters (Notably Dr. Tony Hill). The book in itself was very interesting and different to most others in this genre as it bared all of the information from showing the two perspectives of both the murderer (through diary entries at the end of each chapter) and the investigative team through the main chapters.As well as gaining an insight into the killers mind, you also witness the progression of the investigation and learned to understand and anticipate the next moves - with the final chapter still managing to come as a somewhat surprise. Although at times I found the violence outlined within the murderers diary entries unnecessarily gruesome and descriptive, I still felt it was done in relation to the extreme murders.Throughout the book there are also intertwining story lines and personal accounts from the personal troubles of Dr. Tony Hill to the journalists problems of constantly needing a story. As well as this, the book highlighted an important outside issue - the need for criminal profilers within the police force.
    • 3/5
      Good but not great. Although there were many factors against the book as I read it. Well, one large one. I had already read a later book in this series and it gave away just enough details for it to make it much simpler for me to guess the criminal players in the book. I found the murderer very early - although I still very much enjoyed the ride of the writing until the end - so that is definately a plus in the author's favor. A serial killer is seeming to kill gay men in a ritualistic and tortured way. The police decide to bring in a profiler to help them track the killer down - thus launching the continuing partnership of Carol Jordan and Dr. Tony Hill.
    • 1/5
      The first in a series and I honestly don't know how McDermid ever became as wildly successful as she did. I do understand now why it was so difficult to find a copy. This is the first time I have ever had to skip an entire section of a book because I couldn't stomach the subject and the absolute lack of need to go to such ridiculous lengths with it. The only reason I continued past the first few pages was the challenge of determining what Hill's "secret" was and that he might indeed be an intriguing character. What I found as the book wore on, and I do mean "wore", was that the character of DI Golden actually became much more interesting than finding out what Hill's dirty little secret was. By the end, there was no surprise as to whom the villian turned out to be, only that if further installments of these characters are anywhere as disgusting as this initial attempt, it was too bad they weren't all taken out. This one goes to the rubbish bin.
    • 5/5
      Absolutely brilliant. Not for the squeamish but brilliantly inventive, feels authentic and has characters with depth and complexity. I will read the entire series now.
    • 5/5
      This is my first Val McDermid book.Profiler Tony Hill and police detective Carol Jordan work together on a series of murders where the victims seem to be gay and the murders involve torture with sexual overtones. The book?s point of view alternates between Tony Hill, Carol Jordan and the killer. The latter point of view is in the form of a diary and I liked the way the description of each murder always lagged behind the description of the discovery of its victim.The book is very well written and the serial killer is really a very scary character. The torture scenes are detailed and extremely gruesome; I did find these rather uncomfortable reading. In the background the book is much about how Tony Hill needs to sell psychological profiling to a sceptical police force and the internal politics of that force. There is a nice twist towards the end although it?s clear from early on who the serial killer?s next target is.This really is an excellent book and I found it all the more gripping as I haven?t seen the TV series.
    • 3/5
      Very gruesome to the point of being hard to listen to.
    • 4/5
      Wonderful. A 3 generation story (Irish family). Her debut novel.
    • 3/5
      I came to this one after reading the most recent book in the series, and I was disappointed. It was a slog, and frankly, overly creepy, which I suppose was to make it more popular. The author really seemed to be finding her way with this one. I found it repetitive, and was disappointed the book seemed to go out of its way to make the two main characters odd and unsympathetic, and their relationship the same. I didn't buy the setup where Jordan was supposed to be so instantly attracted to Hill, nor his impotence, nor really any of that early relationship.It's interesting to me that the series gets so much better later when she grows more comfortable with her characters, and can speak about them almost in shorthand. For a book that's supposed to revolve around a police-profiler relationship, the author seems unsure how to write about human relationships. I would advise skipping this one, and instead reading her later work, which is so much better.
    • 4/5
      The fact that I watched the TV show first obviously affected my experience of this book. As I expected, the book has far more details, but it is hard to avoid a comparison. And, of course, I already knew the solution. That said, I still enjoyed it, and I especially liked the much clearer picture I got of Tony Hill in this book.
    • 5/5
      This book is one of a series of books by Val McDermid about the neurotic, socially inept but brilliant criminal profiler, Tony Hill, and assertive, maverick detective Carol Jordan, and the odd, dependent relationship that develops between them as they solve crimes together. This story (the first in the series), revolves around a series of killings in the town of Bradfield. Tony is brought in to help catch the killer via profiling, and Carol is eventually won over. As always, there is a good cast of supporting characters, all of whom are realistically multi-faceted and interesting.
    • 4/5
      Can't go wrong with Prof Tony Hill & this is a great entry to the series. Donating as clearing bookshelves for move.
    • 3/5
      The Mermaids Singing
      3.5 Stars

      Synopsis
      After the mutilated bodies of 4 men are discovered in Bradfield, the police are finally forced to admit that a serial killer is on the loose, and enlist the help of criminal psychologist Tony Hill. Haunted by demons of his own, Tony works with DI Carol Jordon to profile a killer who has just made Tony the latest target...

      Review

      Disclaimer: This book is the first in a series which forms the basis for the BBC show Wire in the Blood. As a fan of the series, I was glad to see that the producers did an excellent job in re-creating 90% of McDermid's characters and plot. However, my overall reading experience may have been influenced by the fact that I knew all the twists and turns ahead of time.

      That said, the plot of The Mermaids Singing is clever and well written. The events are told from multiple perspectives - Tony, Carol as well as the killer and others. Each of the characters, both primary and secondary, are intriguing and well-developed, and the revelation of the killer's identity and motivation is original and interesting. It is important to note that the book contains graphic descriptions of torture and mutilation so it is not for those who are turned off by blood and gore.

      Personally, the only scene that had me almost jettisoning the book is the near torture of the German Shepherd, as I have absolutely no tolerance for animal abuse. Thankfully, the act itself does not occur so I could move forward (very pleased this was taken out of the show).

      Tony is a compelling character, damaged and tortured in his own way, and trying to cope with his inner demons. He comes across as more eccentric in the series than in the book, an interpretation that I prefer. Carol is also a likeable character coping with the inevitable boys club in the police.

      While the book is entertaining, I won't be continuing with the series as I've seen the TV show, and I know what is to come. Reading the book does make me want to watch the show again though.
    • 4/5
      I thought this book was very interesting in how it explored the issues of police homophobia and how this could alter the manner in which the police approached a crime. Some reviews have criticised the violence in the torture scenes, but I did not find it over the top.
    • 4/5
      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 Bradfield. Enlisted to investigate is criminal psychologist Tony Hill. Even for a seasoned professional, the series of mutilation sex murders is unlike anything he's encountered before. But profiling the psychopath is not beyond him. Hill's own past has made him the perfect man to comprehend the killer's motives. It's also made him the perfect victim.A game has begun for the hunter and the hunted. But as Hill confronts his own hidden demons, he must also come face-to-face with an evil so profound he may not have the courage--or the power--to stop it...
    • 2/5
      Meh. Written in 1995, this actually reads dated. Also, there is a lot of explaining things - mostly Hill explaining to Jordan - which read a bit like a lecture. Not a fan of the gory / torture parts, and it did not help that the book starts with some pretty gruesome descriptions.
    • 5/5
      If you are looking for a gritty, dark, disturbing murder mystery, then look no further. From beginning to end, the action is non-stop. I was amazed how the BBC series Wire in the Blood brings to life the book. And Robson Green is Tony Hill.
    • 4/5
      The Mermaids Singing is the first in Val McDermid?s Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series. It is a taught, well-written psychological thriller, which was actually turned into an excellent British crime drama in 2002. I highly recommend McDermid?s series to fans of exceptional crime fiction.
    • 4/5
      This was a well written mystery with a great cast of characters that was gripping from the opening line. The chapters alternate between the point of view of the killer and the official investigation which keeps the pages turning until the very end. Even though the murders scenes were very graphic, I do look forward to reading the 2nd book in this series.
    • 4/5
      Nice twist! Solid thriller with McDermid's trademark humanity.
    • 4/5
      After finishing Mapp and Lucia a while back, I felt in need of murder and mayhem. I can't say I've ever felt that before; I don't remember ever hating one book's characters enough to want to go read graphic descriptions of a serial killer's work. Although the demographic being murdered in The Mermaids Singing was completely different from that I had a wished death on in M&L, it still hit the spot.That sounds a bit twisted, doesn't it? It hit the spot surprisingly well, in fact. Maybe I've watched too much "Criminal Minds" and "Walking Dead" and so on over the years (and Wire in the Blood); maybe I've become jaded. Because this was beyond all doubt graphic. I usually do avoid this subsection of the genre, but back when Netflix still included streaming video with all subscriptions I stumbled on and became a huge fan of "The Wire in the Blood", and being as this is what that was based on, I wanted more of Tony Hill and Carol Jordan. And that's exactly what I got. As it turns out, the first episode of the TV series was a remarkably faithful adaptation of this first book. Happily, I saw it long enough ago that details had faded, and my memory is bad enough that the end wasn't spoiled. This isn't one of the sporting class of murder mysteries, where the clues are planted throughout the story for the clever and attentive reader to pick up and put together. This is pure procedural, with the coppers both dreading and hoping for the next victim of the serial killer on the loose: dreading, for obvious reasons, and anticipating in hopes that with a new body will come more data toward finding the killer. Intercut with the personal and professional lives of Tony Hill and Carol Jordan and their colleagues are journal entries from the killer, shadowing the timeline without giving away any real detail about the killer except how contact was made with the victims.But it all really comes down to those two, Tony Hill and Carol Jordan. They're terrific characters. I don't know that I'm quite jaded enough to pursue the book series - but it's good to know it's out there.
    • 5/5
      I started this series out of order with Fever Of The Bone, and liked it so much I decided to start at the beginning. The Mermaids Singing is a great police procedural that introduces the two main characters Tony Hill and Carol Jordan, who team up in 9 books so far.This book is very detailed and extremely graphic from the point of view of the serial killer. Is graphic descriptions of torture is problematic you might want to skip this book. Otherwise the gathering of clues and the eventual reveal of who the killer is was done very well.
    • 3/5
      Clinical Psychologist Dr. Tony Hall is brought in by police to profile a nasty serial killer with a penchant for medieval torture devices. I'm not particularly squeamish, but this got a bit too gruesome at times, even for me. I can only assume that McDermid thought long and hard to come up with the most nauseating modus operandi imaginable, and really successfully too. My big problem is that I don't quite believe in Tony Hall. Not that he's impossible, but he has rather a few too many quirks to be completely plausible. And, of course, Carol Jordan's reactions to him get unrealistic as well. I'm guessing they get better as the series goes on. Although I wasn't entirely convinced by the characters, the mystery is solid, the stakes high, and the writing high quality, so I'll definitely be reading other McDermid books.Since reading this, I've seen Robson Green's take on Tony Hill in Wire in the Blood and he's quite convincing. Strange as that sounds (especially on a site like LT...), I think I would have accepted Hill better had I seen the TV series first.