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1989

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1989

By: Val McDermid
Narrated by: Katie Leung
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About this listen

The second thrilling novel in Val McDermid's new Sunday Times best-selling series

It's 1989, and Allie Burns is back.

Older and maybe wiser, she's running the northern news operation of the Sunday Globe, chafing at losing her role in investigative journalism and at the descent into the gutter of the UK tabloid media.

But there's plenty to keep her occupied. The year begins with the memorial service to the victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, but Allie has barely filed her copy when she stumbles over a story about HIV/AIDS that will shock her into a major change of direction.

The world of newspapers is undergoing a revolution, there's skulduggery in the medical research labs and there are seismic rumblings behind the Iron Curtain. When kidnap and murder are added to this potent mix, Allie is forced to question all her old certainties.

Praise for 1979

'McDermid is at her considerable best' GUARDIAN

'Irresistible' PATRICIA CORNWELL

'A brilliant novel by a supremo of the genre' PETER JAMES

'Outstanding' SPECTATOR

'Another masterpiece' DAVID BALDACCI

'Sensational. One of Britain's most accomplished writers' SUNDAY EXPRESS

©2022 Val McDermid (P)2022 W F Howes Historical Literature & Fiction Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Exciting Fiction Suspense

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Critic reviews

"McDermid is at her considerable best." (Guardian)

"Irresistible." (Patricia Cornwell)

"A brilliant novel by a supremo of the genre." (Peter James)
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I favourite Val McDermid so far. Great story, and although I was I my early teens in 1989 I felt close to the descriptions of the scene and recognised the excitement of a sat night out dancing.

Loved the characters

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Great narrator! Gripping story and really connected with the characters.
Really enjoyable, at times emotional, mix of fiction and fact, made the book difficult to pause. Every time I had to stop, I felt I was waiting for my next quiet moment to be able to pick it up again.

Couldn't put it down!

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Great story. Characters are interesting and complicated. Recommend listening. I’m new to Val McDermid and enjoyed this book.

Recommend listening

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I really enjoyed it, well paced and captures the spirit of '89. narrator was good

recommended

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I really enjoyed this book. It totally gripped me so much so I listened to it over 2 days. I found the twists and turns refreshing.
I enjoyed the platonic relationship between the 2 main characters. I liked the way emotional responses were written.
Really good story without having to resort to describing grisly torture and the inner dialogue of psychopaths.
Well written as you expect from Val Mcdermid but the narrator drove me to despair as she droned on and on in a dull monotone but towards the end she livened up a bit and portrayed the voices well. I would have given up but got totally engrossed with the story.

Fresh approach to murder story with no gory bits.

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Great story and narration. Looking forward to next book in the series. Coming from Glasgow, I could picture the scenes well.

Kept me close throughout

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A very interesting start that is full of promise and potential. Unfortunately this becomes “jumpy” and loses natural flow, it does, however, finish brilliantly bringing the threads together to an exciting ending.

1989 Loses Its Way

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I couldn’t put it down.
Wonderful story brilliantly read. Best book I’ve listened to for a long time

Loved it

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I really enjoyed this crime novel. The references to the monumental events which took place in 1989...I found myself thinking of goodness ...'that's right that awful event also happened in that year' etc etc. Very good storyline. A continuation of the Allie Burns character. Excellent narrator ..All in all, very enjoyable listen. ...(and the music references at the end made me smile as I recalled all the songs in my head). Very good listen.

1989...especially if you recall that year...

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I found this storyline less gripping than 1979. It might have been partly due to the narrator - very monotonous and so quiet that I had to turn the volume up full at times.
I also got the characters muddled up.
Much prefer the narrator in the Karen Pirie series.

Not her best

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