A Place of ExecutionA Place of Execution
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1963, in a tiny, closed village in the English Peak District, thirteen-year-old Alison Carter disappears. Detective Inspector George Bennett takes on the case, and against huge odds a man is convicted of her murder, though her body is never found. Thirty-five years later, a journalist writing a book about the case interviews Bennett, who suddenly tries to stop it.
Why it's worth reading
It was an Edgar finalist and is often called Val McDermid's best book. It's a gripping, intricate crime novel with a famous twist.
You'll love it if you liked
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
All the Colors of the Dark
We Are All Guilty HereGood to know
It involves child abuse. The first half is a classic police procedural, the second a very different story.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller7 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #242 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #838 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1556 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
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Quick answers
Is A Place of Execution worth reading?
Yes. It was an Edgar finalist and is often called Val McDermid's best book. It ranks #1,556 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Place of Execution about?
In 1963, in a tiny, closed village in the English Peak District, thirteen-year-old Alison Carter disappears. Detective Inspector George Bennett takes on the case, and against huge odds a man is convicted of her murder, though her body is never found. Thirty-five years later, a journalist writing a book about the case interviews Bennett, who suddenly tries to stop it.
How long does it take to read A Place of Execution?
About 12 hours (486 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Place of Execution?
If you liked it, try The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie, All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker or We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter.