A Darker Domain facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Val McDermid |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject | UK miners strike of 1984–1985 |
| Genre | Crime novel, psychological thriller |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
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Publication date
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2008 |
A Darker Domain is an exciting psychological thriller novel written in 2008 by the Scottish crime writer Val McDermid. This book is known for its fast-paced story, which jumps between two different time periods: a crime happening in 2007 and a cold case (an unsolved crime from the past) from 1984. The story is set in Fife, Scotland, during the UK miners' strike of 1984–1985. Val McDermid grew up in Fife, and many reviewers say this helps her describe the strike and its effects on people and their communities very well. The book received good reviews, and The New York Times even called it one of the "Notable Crime Books of 2009."
Contents
What is A Darker Domain About?
The story of A Darker Domain follows two main mysteries. Both cases happened around the time of the big miners' strike in the UK.
The Missing Heiress
During the miners' strike, a rich young woman and her baby son are kidnapped in Fife. Something goes wrong during the exchange, and the woman dies. Her child goes missing.
Twenty-two years later, in 2007, DI Karen Pirie starts looking into this cold case. She is an expert at solving old, unsolved crimes. A journalist might have found a clue about the missing child while on holiday in Tuscany.
The Vanished Miner
Soon, DI Pirie also starts investigating another missing person case from the same time. Mick Prentice, a miner, disappeared. His fellow miners and even his wife thought he had left to join a group of workers who continued to work during the strike. These workers were sometimes called 'scabs'.
However, new clues suggest that Mick's disappearance might not be so simple. Also, Mick's grown daughter, Misha, really needs to find her father for important personal reasons. DI Pirie soon finds herself uncovering a world of hidden dangers, secrets, and betrayals.
How the Story is Told
The novel moves back and forth between the time of the miners' strike (1984-1985) and the present-day investigation by DI Pirie. These jumps in time give readers clues and background information as Pirie discovers them. This way of telling the story helps keep the suspense high. It makes the plot exciting and full of twists.
Main Ideas in the Book
The UK miners' strike is a very important part of the story. The book shows how communities changed and sometimes broke apart because of the strike. Miners and their families faced a lot of hardship.
The story describes how neighbors turned against each other. It also shows families waiting in long lines for food because of the poverty caused by the year-long strike. Val McDermid doesn't just show the effects on communities. She also explores the deep feelings of the characters during both time periods in the book. Reviewers believe that McDermid's own childhood in Fife helped her describe the strike's impact so well.
Writing Style
Like Val McDermid's other mystery novels, A Darker Domain is very fast-paced. The story moves quickly between the past (1984-1985) and DI Pirie's current investigation. This helps keep the novel exciting.
Some reviewers felt that the quick jumps between time periods could sometimes make the plot a bit complex. However, McDermid's choice of words helps build excitement throughout the story. She makes sure that even surprising events feel believable. McDermid also uses "dark humor" in the book. This helps keep readers entertained, even when she describes serious or difficult scenes. The New York Times described her writing style as "a gruff eloquence," meaning it's direct but also powerful.
TV Adaptation
In February 2023, the TV channel ITV announced that a second TV series based on Karen Pirie's adventures would be made. This new series will be based on the book A Darker Domain.
