A Place of Execution
by Val McDermid
Buy on AmazonEssentially a police procedural, this book poses serious questions about habeas corpus in a murder trial where the death penalty is exacted. Brilliantly conceived and written, the plot itself is not as impressive as the characters who people the narrative. Set in two time periods, the '60s and the '90's, the terrifying twist at the end is worthy of anything the Greeks dreamt up in their nightmares.
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"When it comes to atmospheric, A Place of Execution by Val McDermid takes the prize. The setting is very bleak, with a lot of action taking place in a tiny, closed community in Derbyshire with grey stone houses and a bleak, hilly backdrop. The book was first published in 1999, but was reissued this year, which is why I bought it for my pile of books to be considered for best of 2020 crime fiction (by the time I realized it wasn’t officially 2020 it was too late). It takes you into the past, the 1960s, which I really enjoyed, especially since this is a period when McDermid was around (though very young). In an interview I heard her say that the inspiration for A Place of Execution came when she moved to Derbyshire in 1979—a place of limestone peaks and narrow, twisting vales. It felt to her like a place with secrets, where anything could happen. Again, I don’t want to say much about the plot but yes, the worst does happen."
Best Crime Fiction of 2020 · fivebooks.com