Dead Girl Walking

By: Chris Brookmyre

Narrated by: Angus King, Kate Bracken, Various

Famous, beautiful, and talented, Heike Gunn has the world at her feet. Then one day she simply vanishes. Jack Parlabane has lost everything. A call from an old friend offers a chance for redemption--but only if he can find out what happened to Heike.

From Berlin to Barcelona, from the streets of Milan to remote Scottish islands, Parlabane must find out what happened before it's too late, all while the walls are closing in...

©2015 Chris Brookmyre (P)2015 W F Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"Chilling, compelling…Brookmyre is unique." (Mark Billingham)

"A strident blast of the trumpet to wake up crime fiction readers everywhere." (Val McDermid)

"There's stubborn and there's positively ...

... self destructive. "
Jack Parlabane is without a job, without a wife (seperated, not divorced) and without much expectation for the future when the 'little sister' of an old friend, dead now for fifteen years, calls to ask for his help. She manages an increasingly popular rock group and the lead singer has gone missing on the eve of a new record release and U.S. Tour. She was last seen in Berlin. Part believing that it could just be a publicity stunt, and recalling his attraction to the woman years before, Jack agrees.
The story switches between the perspective of Jack in his pursuit of Heike, the singer, and Monica, the newly inducted fiddle player in the group Savage Earth Heart, and is read by two narrators, Angus King with his excellent understated Scottish accent, and Kate Brecken, who is equally clear and easy on the ear. Both give fine performances, well modulated, paced, and totally in touch with the story. Together they enhance the already fine text and King, in particular, gives good, individual voice differentiation between individuals.

Another successfully intriguing Chris Brookmyer book, with twisting plot and well developed characters.