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Books

Grove Press
Atlantic Monthly Press
Atlantic Monthly Press

Splinter the Silence

A Tony Hill and Carol Jordan Novel

by Val McDermid

The next novel in internationally bestselling crime writer Val McDermid’s hugely successful Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, centered on a series of high-profile suicides of outspoken women who were the targets of vicious cyberbullying up until their deaths.

  • Imprint Grove Paperback
  • Page Count 416
  • Publication Date January 10, 2017
  • ISBN-13 978-0-8021-2556-9
  • Dimensions 5" x 5"
  • US List Price $16.00
  • Imprint Atlantic Monthly Press
  • Page Count 400
  • Publication Date December 01, 2015
  • ISBN-13 978-0-8021-2408-1
  • Dimensions 6" x 9"
  • US List Price $26.00

About The Book

Widely recognized as one of our finest crime writers, with numerous accolades and legions of devoted readers worldwide, Val McDermid is back with the latest installment in her much beloved series featuring psychologist Tony Hill and former police detective Carol Jordan. Splinter the Silence is an adrenaline-fueled roller coaster guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat: a masterful novel centered on the mysterious deaths of several women who were the victims of vicious cyberbullying.

Is it violence if it’s virtual? The outspoken women targeted by the increasingly cruel Internet trolls and bullies would probably say so. For some of them, the torrents of bile and vicious threats prove too much. They begin to silence themselves in a series of high-profile suicides. Or do they? Tony Hill isn’t convinced. But he’s the only one. Former cop Carol Jordan is too busy messing up her life to care. Until she gets an unexpected second chance. Now it’s game on, and the stakes have never been higher.

Unpredictable and unputdownable, Splinter the Silence is a must-read that cements Val McDermid’s place as one of the best crime writers in the business.

Praise

“Dynamic . . . Check out this tartan noir treat.” —Kim Hubbard, People (“The Best New Books’)

“Former detective Carol Jordan and profiler Tony Hill make a welcome return in this whiz-bang brain twister of an investigation into the suspicious deaths of several women that encompasses the ugly side of Internet trolls as well as the inner (read: dubious) machinations of policing at its highest levels.” —Boston Globe

“The novel is as rich in character development as it is in plot . . . We hold our breath as [the killer] plots his next murder and the team scrambles to find out who he is and what he plans to do. McDermid has delivered another stylishly written, complex thriller.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

“[An] intensely interesting protagonist . . . McDermid introduces thoughtful theories about the whole phenomenon of cyberbullying.” —Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

“Powerful . . . The pace is at once driving and methodical. McDermid’s prose is pure pleasure to read, crisp yet stylish and splashed with cheek. The plot is tight, the story is thrilling, the ending is as satisfying as they come, and because Splinter the Silence marks a fresh start for Tony, Carol, and their team, the tale not only gives longstanding fans of the series plenty to love, but also makes a great on-ramp for the uninitiated . . . To read Splinter the Silence is to experience a master operating at the height of her considerable powers. Prepare to be swept away.” —Katrina Niidas Holm, Mystery Scene

“The Queen of Crime reigns again . . . McDermid . . . has not lost an iota of her expertise.” —Barry Forshaw, The Independent (UK)

“McDermid serves up a timely and relevant story of feminism and online bullying . . . In true McDermid fashion, the plot is bitingly contemporary and believable, and the emotional struggle of the heroes, as they grapple with demons both on and off the job, ring true.” —Strand Magazine

“Can [Carol] put aside her issues–with alcohol and Tony—in time to help other women survive? Their lives are in her hands in this powerful page-turner.” —Laura DeMarco, Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Psychological profiler Tony Hall and ex-DCI Carol Jordan return in a timely investigation into online abuse . . . McDermid still writes with the telltale verve that’s won her the accolade queen of psychological thrillers . . . Fans will revel in both the return of her protagonists and the promise of future cases together.” —Lucy Scholes, The Observer (UK)

“Carol and Tony’s personal and professional reunion plays well against the backdrop of a classic McDermid psychological thriller, balancing police-procedural details and profiling acumen as Carol’s new ‘dream team” hunts an atypical serial killer whose emotional narrative interludes reveal a complex motive.” —Christine Tran, Booklist

“With the deaths of PD James and Ruth Rendell, Val McDermid is the obvious successor as Britain’s Queen of Crime. For me, she has already held that title for many years. Her latest novel, starring the socially awkward but clever criminal profiler Tony Hill and ace detective Carol Jordan, demonstrates her supremacy.” —Marcel Berlins, The Times (UK)

“The myriad evils of the Internet are fertile ground for an author who has done her homework on serial killers. Tony Hill, a criminal psychologist, and Carol Jordan, a former police detective, have been prominent in the chronicles of Val McDermid’s many works, but this time around she has put a twist on their relationship that makes them both more human as they track down the maniacs of the world.” —Muriel Dobbin, Washington Times

“Brilliant . . . [A] masterful mixture of modern crime, contemporary issues, and classic storytelling.” —The Advocate (“The 30 Best Books You Missed in 2015”)

“The plotting is tight and clever, and the interplay between Carol and Tony, and the rest of their team, is fresh and enjoyable. The secondary characters are also well developed and McDermid seamlessly weaves in interesting reflections on the current social and political fabric in Britain. She also reflects on the nature of violence against women and how it pervades all levels of society . . . A professional and enjoyable psychological police thriller that will satisfy McDermid’s many fans.” —Jeff Popple, Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

“Swiftly plotted and strongly characterized.” —Scotsman (UK)

Awards

A Boston Globe Best Book of the Year in the Mystery category
A Guardian Best Crime and Thriller Book of the Year