Slip of the Knife

By: Denise Mina

Narrated by: Jane Macfarlane

Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

Paddy Meehan is no stranger to murder - as a reporter she lives at crime scenes - but nothing has prepared her for this visit from the police. Her former boyfriend and fellow journalist Terry Patterson has been found hooded and shot through the head. Paddy knows she will be of little help - she had not seen Terry in more than six months. So she is bewildered to learn that in his will he has left her his house and several suitcases full of notes. Drawn into a maze of secrets and lies, Paddy begins making connections to Terry's murder that no one else has seen, and soon finds herself trapped in the most important - and dangerous - story of her career.

©2008 Denise Mina (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

Critic Reviews

"Denise Mina has become a rising star in the world of crime fiction." ( Salon)

Another winner

Although Ms. Mina is evolving to be slightly less bleak, this is still harsh stuff. I continue to follow her because she's unfailingly original, with non-stock characters, and a sly, sharp-edged humor. Her characters are not simple, and their decisions are not simple. Much of the action is unexpected, yet rings true.

AUDIO: Although the reader has little range, you can distinguish easily between characters. She's a good actress, and has a beautiful voice.

An ordinary story

Although I enjoyed this book,it didn't make me want more. The characters were very believable in that they seem so normal. It also made me realize the impact of instant TV, Internet news on newspapers' existence. The IRA exists as an everyday entity in the story and the protagonist deals with it as she sorts out the questions about her former boyfriend's death. The narrator did a nice job of differentiating between characters so you knew what was happening. I am glad I read it but I haven't gone immediately hunting for the next book by this author.

slip of the knife

Overall I enjoyed this thriller. There were parts that were long and overly drawn out and the ending was somewhat predictable. However, I enjoyed learning about Glaswegians and the conflict between the British and the Republicans.
She is a fine writer of mystery.

Grrreat Storrry!

Note that my title is an attempt at sounding Scottish. This story not only takes place in Scotland but it is read by an actual Scot. Perhaps she has a Glasgow accent with a bit of "Cockney" English but a great and intriguing accent that grows on you as the book proceeds. Don't put this one down too soon, give it time to grow and you will love it. Interestingly, this is one of the only books written and read by a woman that I've ever really loved. It is NOT a "Chick Book" even if she is a single mother with the usual weepy moments about her son!

Great Read

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

This book held me page by page by page. I had genuine concern for the characters, and just had to find out how this would all unravel

What does Jane Macfarlane bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator is fabulous, she has a wonderful gentle lilt, and brings the characters to life, one by one.

Any additional comments?

This is one of those books I'll probably pick up again in a year or so--definitely worth a re-read.

What a great storyteller Denise Mina is!

What does Jane Macfarlane bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Very spot on emotionally, but very understated and "transparent" reader. She allows the listener to forget about the reader and hear the emotional life of the book. That's very very tricky IMHO. Very well done.

Any additional comments?

Denise Mina always grabs my attention through her characters and their quirky emotional lives that are easy to relate to. I've never ever been disappointed by one of her books. One of the best storytellers out there.

she is always good

You can count on Mina to be interesting, sassy and smart... while she writes a good story with fascinating characters and venues. This book is one of her best!

Couldn't Finish this One

Would you try another book from Denise Mina and/or Jane Macfarlane?

No. But I might read the book rather than listen to it on tape. The story was draggy but maybe reading it would be different.

Would you recommend Slip of the Knife to your friends? Why or why not?

No. But I also wouldn't keep them from listening to it for themselves. As they might have liked the accent of the narrator and enjoyed the story. It just wasn't for me.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jane Macfarlane?

Not sure. I've listened to many English narrators as well as American, but this one just didn't work for me.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Sorry, but no. I could not stand to listen to the narrator. The swear words turned me off in the beginning and I put it down. The story did not grab me and the voice of the narrator almost put me to sleep.

Any additional comments?

I usually finish a book, even if it is not particularly good. But this one was not one I could bear to listen to for another second. I like to drive and listen to books. But this one I couldn't finish listening to.

Another suspense winner from Mina

Although the level of coincidence strains belief, the suspense and the careful drawing of characters, along with the painstaking procedure of crime solving keep the interest high. The reader is one of the best and I'll listen to anything she reads!

a slip in my judgement

This was an extremely boring book. Slow moving, dreary, unlikeable characters. A big waste of my credits.