The Distant Echo

By: Val McDermid

Narrated by: Tom Cotcher

This "cunningly plotted" (New York Times) thriller is now on Britbox as Karen Pirie!

Bestselling, award-winning author Val McDermid delivers her most stunning story yet in The Distant Echo--an intricate, thought-provoking tale of murder and revenge.

Four in the morning, mid-December, and snow blankets St. Andrews School. Student Alex Gilbery and his three best friends are staggering home from a party when they stumble upon the body of a young woman. Rosie Duff has been raped, stabbed and left for dead in the ancient Pictish cemetery. The only suspects are the four young students stained with her blood.

Twenty-five years later, police mount a cold case review. Among the unsolved murders they're examining is that of Rosie Duff. But someone else has his own idea of justice. One of the original quartet dies in a suspicious house fire and soon after, a second is killed. Alex fears the worst. Someone is taking revenge for Rosie Duff. And it might just save his life if he can uncover who really killed Rosie all those years ago.

©2003 Val McDermid (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Cunningly plotted...McDermid administers the venom drop by drop...Individually the characters are sensitively drawn. Collectively, they present the inscrutable face of closed-off communities so terrified of change they would kill for peace.”—New York Times Book Review

“This absorbing psychological novel of revenge shows British author McDermid at the top of her form...outstanding pacing, character and plot development, plus evocative place descriptions, make this another winner.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“If you still haven't absorbed the fact that Val McDermid is writing at the top of anyone's game, here's another chance to join the celebration...her clean, crisp writing, especially about crime science, might just remind you of the early books of P.D. James.”—Chicago Tribune

The Distant Echo

I really like Val Mcdermid books & this was one of her best. Brilliant writing!

Karen Pirie is a minor character in this twisty tale

Fascinating story of how friends change, friendships evolve, and trauma impacts everyone. But not too psychologically convoluted: a gripping good tale!

Everything!

I've stopped writing reviews mostly, as I'm a bit irritated with Audible, but I thought that the writing of this book was so good, that I had to let others know. Also, what an absolutely amazing narrator. WOW!

Excellent!

Edge my seat the whole time. Val McDermind is an incredible writer. Character development, the plot, the story, the unfolding, and the conclusion are stuff of talent.

An epic tale!

A crime that warps the lives of a town and four innocent men, and then comes back to haunt them 25 years later. I could barely put it down!

Really enjoyed

I thought this was a gripping who done it and the narration was excellent. A great new series for me!

Finally unabridged

Up until recently this has not been available in the US unabridged. Although this is the book Karen gets introduced and is classed as book 1, Karen is barely in it.

Great story!

VMcD is so good—really spins a tale! Sorry not to learn more about Karen, but it makes me want the next one!

The murderer

I liked the story, especially the surprise at the almost-tail-end. I did not like that I knew (or suspected and was correct) who the real murderer was 1/4 way into the book.

Good story, but too long

The narrator did a great job with the Scottish characters. However, his attempts at American accidents were embarrassing. They should have gotten someone else to do the American voices or the narrator should have just done them with a Scottish accent. The first part of the story was engaging, but the second half just dragged; it should have been edited by the author. Good plot, but too convoluted at the end.