“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)