Prime Suspect
Ratings3
Average rating4.5
15
Ratings3
Average rating4.5
The moment Jane Tennison takes over Scotland Yard's investigation into the death of sex worker Della Mornay, two grim facts become immediately clear to her. First, that the constabulary's old boy club is determined to hinder, harass, and undermine the new female Detective Chief Inspector at every turn. And second, that their murder victim isn't Della Mornay. Now the police are a step behind, and a madman is loose on the streets of London. To apprehend the criminal stalking women through the city's shadows, Tennison will have to steel herself against the hostility of her fellow officers and conceal her own mounting obsession with breaking through the glass ceiling of the station house—even as department politics, a crumbling relationship, and a wickedly elusive prime suspect threaten her very existence. A dark and riveting race against the clock, Prime Suspect is an unforgettable introduction to this bestselling series from Edgar Award-winning author Lynda La Plante.
Featured Series
2 primary booksPrime Suspect is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 1991 with contributions by Lynda La Plante.
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Contains spoilers
The first time I met Jane Tennison, it was in Murder Mile (Tennison #4). I liked that book more than I did this one. Prime Suspect being—as I found out after I read it—an adaptation of the TV show with the same name, I guess it would have been expected for the book to feel a little off. Screenplay and novel writing are surely different. It was still very enjoyable. I like Jane Tennison very much, and I liked reading (well, listening to the audiobook narrated by Davina Porter) about her struggle to affirm herself. The sexism was present in Murder Mile too, but here? Oh boy! In any other book I don't think I would have managed to go through all the misogyny.
The plot wasn't that gripping. It was curious, I liked it, but it didn't keep me on edge. As far as the mystery goes, there's not much of that, but there is a good amount of thriller so I got that going for me.
Most of the characters were just a name. Except for Jane I didn't care much for any of the others. They were side characters with no actual characterisation or development. Jane didn't seem upset that her relationship was under a lot of stress, so I didn't feel anything about it. I certainly didn't think Jane actually loved her boyfriend. I did like how dedicated Jane was to her job and how she fought to be seen as an equal (also sad that she had to do that and that only a 'no other choice' situation allowed her to lead the case) and to some degree I agree that the people around her underestimate her and don't understand the importance of her job. It didn't even occur to some of them that she might be more than a secretary, and a shocking amount of people didn't think the victims deserved justice.
It is safe to say that more than the mystery-crime, this book is about Jane's struggle into a man's world, about her determination, her fearlessness, and her perseverance. She is willing to sacrifice anything in order to do her job, and doesn't hesitate to call out her less just colleagues.
Overall I just liked Jane Tennison a lot.
