Dead Beat cover art

Dead Beat

PI Kate Brannigan, Book 1

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Dead Beat

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Chloe Massey
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About this listen

The stunning first novel in the Kate Brannigan series, from number one Sunday Times best seller Val McDermid.

As a favour, Kate agrees to track down a missing songwriter, Moria Pollock. It was supposed to be a nice simple case, but the search soon leads Kate into the dark underworld of Leeds, Manchester and Bradford – and finally to a shocking confrontation with a killer....

©1992 Val McDermid (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Mystery Private Investigators Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Thriller Crime

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Critic reviews

"This is crime writing of the very highest order." (The Times)

"No one can plot or tell a story like McDermid." (Daily Express)

All stars
Most relevant
I love the Karen Pirie books by Val and thought I'd try some of her older work.
I listened to the whole book in less than 24 hours.
Good story, plus lots of reminiscing from my 20s and my Manchester days.

Found Myself A New Heroine

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enjoyed this new charachter and the regional narration was a good fit with the setting. pace was good but the story had less twists and turns than I expected. it was a bit predictable. i

good but not as Vals best

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Bit dated now - sleuthing when the Internet was in its infancy. I like the character of Kate Brannigan and the back story. This was my first Val McDiarmid, I'll probably read another one. Read beautifully.

Gets better as you go on

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I've read better books by Val McDiarmid but this the first time I've listened to one if her books . it was a good story but I got fed up hearing ...'he said defensively ''I said angrily '. 'she said suspiciously ' etc etc... deary me. It was so unnecessary.... I said irritably!!!!!

an average listen

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This is and reads as a first attempt Detective Novel. Has all the cliches that novel would have and then some! It is pre mobile phone. The coolest game mentioned is Lounge Lizard Larry (if you're old enough to remember that!). But after a fashion it is quite good. The narrator is a bit wooden at times, but that somehow adds to its charm. Just don't expect the slicness of her later work!

It is Dated!

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