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challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Mermaids Singing made for uncomfortable reading and not just due to the gory nature of the subject matter, which I could have coped with - although, be warned, this is on par with some of Karin Slaughter's nastier works and if you struggle with detailed and descriptive depictions of violence, torture and sexual depravity, you may want to keep on moving.
Most of my discomfort was solely in the rampant homophobia and derision for the gay and trans community. Yes, I get that this is depicting 1990's policing and was written in 1995, but there's only so many times I can read about the 'queers', the 'poofters' and other slurs and references to sexual proclivities that are... less than sensitive, shall we say. If it wasn't such a central tenant of the novel, maybe it wouldn't have been so jarring. But as the central crime involves men being found in gay hook-up spots brutally tortured and with incredibly nasty things done to their nether-regions, you would be right in assuming it's on almost every page.
Unfortunately, that made it difficult for me to really get into the novel and it made much of it feel shallow and judgemental rather than a twisty and interesting narrative. There's a kernel of an interesting tale hidden behind the incredible gore and 'gay men are bad' message, but it absolutely gets lost. I also didn't find there to be any nuance to the eventual reveal and found the 'twist on the profile' disappointing, particularly as it only serves to vilify another marginalised community for no apparently good reason.
So between what is essentially torture porn and the depiction of homosexuality on display here, I suspect many people will be turned off instantly. I got through it and will move on to the next book in the series, but that's mostly because I would swear I've read a book of hers before and really enjoyed it. So hopefully book two leaves the gay community well alone. All in all, this comes across as incredibly dated and I am absolutely raising an eyebrow at how the LGBTQ+ communities are depicted as it is really not great.
Most of my discomfort was solely in the rampant homophobia and derision for the gay and trans community. Yes, I get that this is depicting 1990's policing and was written in 1995, but there's only so many times I can read about the 'queers', the 'poofters' and other slurs and references to sexual proclivities that are... less than sensitive, shall we say. If it wasn't such a central tenant of the novel, maybe it wouldn't have been so jarring. But as the central crime involves men being found in gay hook-up spots brutally tortured and with incredibly nasty things done to their nether-regions, you would be right in assuming it's on almost every page.
Unfortunately, that made it difficult for me to really get into the novel and it made much of it feel shallow and judgemental rather than a twisty and interesting narrative. There's a kernel of an interesting tale hidden behind the incredible gore and 'gay men are bad' message, but it absolutely gets lost. I also didn't find there to be any nuance to the eventual reveal and found the 'twist on the profile' disappointing, particularly as it only serves to vilify another marginalised community for no apparently good reason.
So between what is essentially torture porn and the depiction of homosexuality on display here, I suspect many people will be turned off instantly. I got through it and will move on to the next book in the series, but that's mostly because I would swear I've read a book of hers before and really enjoyed it. So hopefully book two leaves the gay community well alone. All in all, this comes across as incredibly dated and I am absolutely raising an eyebrow at how the LGBTQ+ communities are depicted as it is really not great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Torture, Stalking
Moderate: Transphobia
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Police brutality, Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hoo boy, okay, let's get it out of the way. Concerning a trans character, there is some major Values Dissonance (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ValuesDissonance) between the audience reading this in 1995 and the audience reading this almost 26 years later. This gets pretty uncomfortable, so please support some of the trans writers - Juno Dawson and Juliet Jacques - McDermid has recently championed.
Anyway, other than that it's a pretty dark, pretty good, serial killer mystery with medieval torture instruments and a sub plot about erectile dysfunction.
Anyway, other than that it's a pretty dark, pretty good, serial killer mystery with medieval torture instruments and a sub plot about erectile dysfunction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Vomit, Police brutality
Minor: Alcoholism