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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780316003537
ISBN number: 0316003530
Label: Back Bay Books
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 368
Printing Date: February 12, 2008
Publishing house: Back Bay Books
Sale Popularity Level: 58835
Studio: Back Bay Books
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Product Description:
Paddy Meehan returns in Denise Mina's most powerful mystery yet, nominated for a 2007 Edgar Award
When journalist Paddy Meehan investigates a domestic dispute, the well-dressed man who answers the door assures her the blonde in the shadows behind him is fine, and slips her money before he closes the door. In fact, the woman was tortured and left to die later that night, and Paddy has only days to uncover the truth before the newspaper learns of her bribe and the police close the case for reasons of their own. Only Paddy cares enough to pursue a dark and brutal story that could make her career-or kill her, in a novel that proves why Denise Mina is 'some kind of magnificent' (Wall Street Journal).
'Brutally funny.' -People
'Mina again demonstrates why she is one of the best mystery writers on either side of the Atlantic.' -Miami Herald
'In all her insecurity, Paddy is achingly real . . . and Mina's note-perfect writing captures Paddy's voice dead-on.' -Boston Globe
'A gloriously visceral style. . . . Mina excels at narrative and social commentary.' -Newsday
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Rated by buyers -
After the very first incredibly well-situated, well-drawn Paddy Meehan mystery, this one seems a bit contrived. What happened to Paddy's lover, the star reporter? Why is she drawn to the loser detective? No matter -- all is resolved in the third installment. It's worth reading this well-done, engaging mystery to get to the last, but the book does seem a little contrived. Fortunately, Mina's writing is so incredible that even contrived is good.
Paddy grows as a journalist, and she develops a support system beyond her family. That's great. As a whole, though, I got the feeling that the story was more a requirement from the publisher than the author's intent.
Whatever - read it; it's excellent in itself, not necessarily as part of the series.
Rated by buyers -
This is an unusual detective novel filled with strengths that may very first appear as weaknesses, or challenges to the reader. Let's start with the title. THE DEAD HOUR is the graveyard shift at the Glasgow newspaper where the heroine, Paddy Meehan, works as a very junior reporter following police calls. An apparent domestic dispute in the suburb of Bearsden (pronounced as though two words, "bear's den") becomes a murder by the subsequent morning, and there will be plenty of death to follow. Denise Mina spares the reader little of the gritty grayness of a city at night, and few of the characters in this novel lead happy or prosperous lives. But Glasgow has always been a working-class city, and it was badly hit by the economic policies of the early Thatcher years; Paddy, for example, is the only wage-earner in her lower-class family. By setting the action in 1984, Mina writes a book that is as much a social realist novel as a whodunnit, and the stronger for it.
Readers should also be warned that the author uses a device of interlacing short sections featuring different characters who quickly take on a life of their own, but whose connection to one another emerges only slowly. A large part of Mina's mystery technique consists of simply holding back basic signpost information, for example that so-and-so is someone's brother, someone's lover, someone's boss. But in this way, the reader's dawning comprehension parallels Paddy's own, as she doggedly pursues the truth in hope of expiating her mistake of walking away from the very first crime.
One of the great strengths of the book is the Glasgow setting, not in the least romantic, but totally real. This was a special attraction to me as a former resident of the city (who has also done his share in night-time news rooms), and I can recognize it almost down to the city block. But Mina does nothing to translate the slang or the references for non-Glasgow readers; this is as far removed from a tourist book as you could imagine. The detail is in no sense local color, but the grit and stone of which the city is made. Readers may find this a strange and alien place, but they will also know instinctively that it is totally authentic.
But ultimately what takes this book out of the dead hour and brings it to radiant life is the central character herself, Paddy Meehan. Insecure, overweight, barely holding onto her job, she seems an unlikely heroine -- but she is real, she is warm, and she grows on you by the minute. She is actually much better at her job than she thinks. She has a real ability to connect with people, cutting through patronage and evasion with a feisty tongue that throws prudence to the winds but makes people take notice of her. She has a healthy interest in sex when she can get it, though her judgment in this area is not the best. She is much better at making friends and being loyal to them. Denise Mina's readers will surely make friends with Paddy in turn, and will respond with loyalty of their own.
Rated by buyers 
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To be fair, I don't usually read crime novels but i was looking for a suspenseful fun read and this book actually had a quote saying "If you don't read crime novels, Denise Mina is your reason to change...A Rembrandt in a genre filled with snapshots". A Rembrandt? Really? This from an author who actually uses the term "mouth-watering figure"? Gag. When I read that line I had a bad feeling, and that was without knowledge that I would be forced to read phrases about "mouth watering men" several more times. Does Paddy want to sleep with the men or eat them? Despite the cosmopolitan magazine level of writing I still had hope, after all another quotation on the cover claimed it is "arguably the most gripping, surprising, and satisfying thriller in many a season". With a strong plot and fun thrills I could overlook the poor writing. Unfortunately this book had neither. There was no suspense because since the story is told from multiple perspectives the reader pretty much knows from the get-go who is doing what and why. It is a series so I also didn't have to worry about the main character dying. Was I supposed to worry about Kate the drug addict who got her sister killed and is so high on cocaine all the time she bumbles around and acts like an idiot? I can cheer for an addict but the author needs to make them at least interesting, if not likeable. With no suspense or surprises this story dragged on consisting of multiple descriptions of dreary rain, poverty, Paddy worrying about being fat, and nasty yet boring people. I finished the book because once i begin books i like to complete them but when Paddy finally tracked down the killer (though we know all along who it is) it was a relief. I was irritated that there was no resolution for anything else in the story. As another reviewer mentioned, nothing is said about if a certain character lives or not and I thought the Burns romance was going to at least have a purpose of going somewhere or being included in the book but it appears its only purpose was to allow the author to write a couple more cosmo mag scenes into the story. The final surprise was simply irritating to me as even that was no surprise and I am certainly not going to read another book by Mina to see what comes of it. The one small salvageable aspect of this book was that Paddy's character is not the typical beautiful slim and long legged sleuth of many crime novels and that there is a decidedly feminist flair to the story with Paddy being braver, more competent and ornery than most of the men around her. However, somehow she still was not engaging enough to make me really interested in her, let alone this dull story.
Rated by buyers -
Paddy and Billy were working the night shift. They were driving around, listening to the police radio. In Bearsden, an affluent neighborhood, they observed Officer Dan McGregour as he spoke with the home owner. He and his partner, Tam Gourlay, were called on a complaint of loud noise. Obviously, it was a matter of domestic dispute. The battered woman, attorney Vhari Burnett refused to press charges.
Paddy approached the house while the two men are talking. As Dan walks off Paddy begins to question the man in the doorway, stating she was a journalist with the "Scottish Daily News." She saw Vhari inside with blood streaming from her mouth. There was blood on the man's hand and neck. He quickly thrust money in Paddy's hand and slammed the door. The subsequent day Paddy found out Vhari was tortured and left to die. Mark Thillingly committed suicide. Could the two deaths be connected? Paddy has only a short time to learn the truth.
Denise Mina continues her Paddy Meehan series with The Dead Hour. This novel is dark and violent but sheds much needed light on domestic abuse. Paddy Meehan is a strong character with human flaws. Kate is a fascinating supporting character, Denise Mina's books are rarely light reads; the plot is intricate, filled with twists and turns that hold the reader's interest. Mina is an extremely talented writer capable of adding a touch of humour at just the right moment. Fans of mystery will not want to miss The Dead Hour.
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com
Rated by buyers -
What a richly textured novel this proved to be. By setting this thriller in 1984, Mina has shown through the working ethic of a young Glasgow woman what it meant to live in Britain during the Thatcher era. Facing possible layoffs after her entire family is dependent on her paycheck, Paddy Mechan does what she can to keep her job, solve a crime, and effect payback for a wrong she perceives herself responsible for. The scenes with her Catholic, lower class Glassgow household are so naturalistic, they call to mind the early BBC work of Mike Leigh or Ken Loach. A gripping, thoughtful mature tour-de-force.
Included is the harrowing story of a person hopelessly addicted to cocaine and the fallout therefrom.
I cannot wait to read her other books.
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