The Last Temptation

by Val McDermid

Book Overview

Mapping the minds of murderers is what Dr. Tony Hill does better than anyone. So when a twisted killer starts targeting psychologists across Northern Europe, Hill is the obvious choice to track the executioner's mental and physical journey. Except that Tony, still bearing the scars of past cases, doesn't want to do this anymore. But the killer is about to strike uncomfortably close to home. The next victim is a friend and colleague. And Tony's former...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312986319
• ISBN13: 9780312986315
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Her best one so far!

This is by far the best out of the four Dr. Hill books I've read. It is riveting, believable, and suspenseful. A definite must-read for McDermid fans!

one of our best writers working today

McDermid is the author of several series including one with serial killer profiler, Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan first introduced in the superb THE MERMAIDS SINGING. This current book is the third one in the series. Two storyline threads interweave themselves into this compelling plot. Carol is offered the bone of a possible promotion if she would agree to an undercover assignment. The assignment concerns getting to know and possibly date a criminal in Germany who imports illegal immigrants from Asia, as well as, drugs. She is to gain his confidence and set him up for arrest. Of course, if her cover is blown, her life will be in imminent danger. At the same time, a serial killer is murdering psychology professors in Germany. The killings are done in a particularly gruesome manner. Tony Hill is on the trail. Val McDermid is a superb storyteller. She succeeds in creating full rich characters that illicit a great deal of empathy with the reader. The parallel plots work quite well together and greatly heighten suspense to the degree that the book simply cannot be put down. This is another strong recommendation for one of our best writers working today.

McDermid is amazing!

What can I say that has not been said before? McDermid's psychological mysteries are absolutely brilliant. She creates memorable characters and her plots are so brilliantly woven. I could not put this book down. But then, I can't put any of McDermid's books down. She gets better and better, though I have no interest in reading her Kate Brannigan series--they sound so fluffy after reading these *intense* psychological mysteries.

Smashing success

Smashing success. Carol Jordan entices Tony Hill to join with Dutch and German Detectives to try and capture a serial killer that drowns his victims then scalps their pubic hair for his collection. Not one to avoid the grisly, McDermid provides plenty in this fast paced thriller-mystery that follows two stories, Jordan's attempt to con a notorious drug and human smuggling crime boss in Germany and the serial killer who moves between Holland And Germany with ease to dispatch his victims.Jordan and Hill seem to have overcome their personal problems that kept them apart in previous mysteries but a vicious twist at the end portends a troubled future for them.Excellent plotting and character development. A joy to read.

Entertaining

Val McDermid is a top-class crime writer - she rarely fails to deliver and I am pleased to say, this book is great.Dr Tony Hill and DCI Jordan are back - hurrah! Tony Hill is the profiler who has retired to a backwater university to lick his wounds after the traumatising experiences he has suffered in the past. He is drawn back to the fray when his old love interest, DCI Jordan, becomes involved in a dangerous undercover mission in Eastern Europe. Running parallel to this is a creepy serial killer who Tony Hill tries to find and unmask. It is a very entertaining novel and all fans of McDermid will relish it.