Why read The Mermaids Singing?

Book cover of The Mermaids Singing

Book description

In this special 20th anniversary edition, Lee Child introduces the Gold Dagger award-winning serial killer thriller that began the Number One bestselling crime series featuring clinical psychologist Dr Tony Hill, hero of TV's much-loved Wire in the Blood.

You always remember the first time. Isn't that what they say…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked The Mermaids Singing as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Chelsea Cain

Author

I have said this before, but if there had been a fourth book in this series in 2004, I would not have written Heartsick and would not have had a career. I love Val’s Tony Hill/Carol Jordan books. They are the blueprint for all thrillers.

She doesn’t hold back on the violence but finds these incredibly intimate character moments that tremble my heart.

From Chelsea's list on read alone in the dark.

Stephen B. King

Author

Tony Hill is one of the finest literary characters in print. He is an emotionally troubled psychologist brought in by police to profile a serial killer who is using medieval torture methods to murder his victims. His skill is to understand why the killer is killing, and to empathize with him. This book spawned the British TV series The Wire in the Blood, book 2 in the series.

From Stephen's list on catching a serial killer and how they became monsters.

Simon Cluett

Author

The Mermaids Singing was my introduction to the character of criminal profiler Tony Hill. As good as Robson Greene was in the TV series, nothing comes close to matching how vividly this story was brought to life in my own mind. It features some truly gruesome and suspenseful moments but is utterly compelling throughout.

From Simon's list on thrillers with serial killers that get under your skin.