The shadows hide a deadly story . . .
1979. It is the winter of discontent, and reporter Allie Burns is chasing her first big scoop. There are few women in the newsroom and she needs something explosive for the boys’ club to take her seriously.
Soon Allie and fellow journalist Danny Sullivan are exposing the criminal underbelly of respectable Scotland. They risk making powerful enemies – and Allie won’t stop there.
When she discovers a home-grown terrorist threat, Allie comes up with a plan to infiltrate the group and make her name. But she’s a woman in a man’s world . . . and putting a foot wrong could be fatal.
Now I’m a massive fan of Val McDermid (should be DAME Val McDermid in my option!) , so I was hugely looking forward to reading 1979…. And boy, I was not to be disappointed!
The first in a brand new series, Allie Burns budding Journalist at the Clarion newspaper in Glasgow, sets a great pace from the first chapter!
A train journey on a cold snowy January day brings the first in a series of exciting events, that start a thrilling journey through births, deaths, gangsters, terrorists and drunken journalists, that gripped me from page one!
Setting a book in 1979, seems not so far in our past, but the attention to detail in explaining why it’s now a world away from today’s technological advances, was written so well, I actually felt I was there and it bought up some great memories for me. I always love that a writer can take us places in our own memory, whilst, at the same time, we travel with the fictional heroine! From Showaddywaddy to terrorist threats to strikes, the historical part of this novel has it all….it felt extremely genuine, and the reader can see how much effort was taken in researching this.
The storyline is brilliant, as always from Val McDermid, I was fully engaged and loved the fact that it was set in the world of journalism, especially because in 1979 (when I was 12, I wanted to be a journalist or a Police Officer…both of which never happened sadly) and it’s so authentic, or it felt that way to me!
In summing up, a fantastic start to a great new series, with some genuine OH NO moments! Immersive, thrilling, gripping, authentic with a hearty dash of Watney’s Party 7!
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Val McDermid Official Website – https://www.valmcdermid.com/
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