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Intimate Kill
Book by Yorke, Margaret
215 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
5 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Yorke
94 books50 followersMargaret Yorke was an English crime fiction writer, real name Margaret Beda Nicholson (née Larminie).
Margaret Yorke was awarded the 1999 CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger.
Born in Surrey, England, to John and Alison Larminie in 1924, Margaret Yorke (Margaret Beda Nicholson) grew up in Dublin before moving back to England in 1937, where the family settled in Hampshire, although she later lived in a small village in Buckinghamshire.
During World War II she saw service in the Women’s Royal Naval Service as a driver. In 1945, she married, but it was only to last some ten years, although there were two children; a son and daughter. Her childhood interest in literature was re-enforced by five years living close to Stratford-upon-Avon and she also worked variously as a bookseller and as a librarian in two Oxford Colleges, being the first woman ever to work in that of Christ Church.
She was widely travelled and has a particular interest in both Greece and Russia.
Her first novel was published in 1957, but it was not until 1970 that she turned her hand to crime writing. There followed a series of five novels featuring Dr. Patrick Grant, an Oxford Don and amateur sleuth, who shares her own love of Shakespeare. More crime and mystery was to follow, and she wrote some forty three books in all, but the Grant novels were limited to five as, in her own words, ‘authors using a series detective are trapped by their series. It stops some of them from expanding as writers’.
She was proud of the fact that many of her novels were essentially about ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations which may threatening, or simply horrific. It is this facet of her writing that ensures a loyal following amongst readers, who inevitably identify with some of the characters and recognise conflicts that may occur in everyday life. Indeed, Yorke stated that characters were far more important to her than intricate plots and that when writing ‘I don’t manipulate the characters, they manipulate me’.
Critics have noted that she has a ‘marvellous use of language’ and she has frequently been cited as an equal to P.D. James and Ruth Rendell. She was a past chairman of the Crime Writers' Association and in 1999 was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger, having already been honoured with the Martin Beck Award from the Swedish Academy of Detection.
Margaret Yorke died in 2012.
Margaret Yorke was awarded the 1999 CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger.
Born in Surrey, England, to John and Alison Larminie in 1924, Margaret Yorke (Margaret Beda Nicholson) grew up in Dublin before moving back to England in 1937, where the family settled in Hampshire, although she later lived in a small village in Buckinghamshire.
During World War II she saw service in the Women’s Royal Naval Service as a driver. In 1945, she married, but it was only to last some ten years, although there were two children; a son and daughter. Her childhood interest in literature was re-enforced by five years living close to Stratford-upon-Avon and she also worked variously as a bookseller and as a librarian in two Oxford Colleges, being the first woman ever to work in that of Christ Church.
She was widely travelled and has a particular interest in both Greece and Russia.
Her first novel was published in 1957, but it was not until 1970 that she turned her hand to crime writing. There followed a series of five novels featuring Dr. Patrick Grant, an Oxford Don and amateur sleuth, who shares her own love of Shakespeare. More crime and mystery was to follow, and she wrote some forty three books in all, but the Grant novels were limited to five as, in her own words, ‘authors using a series detective are trapped by their series. It stops some of them from expanding as writers’.
She was proud of the fact that many of her novels were essentially about ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations which may threatening, or simply horrific. It is this facet of her writing that ensures a loyal following amongst readers, who inevitably identify with some of the characters and recognise conflicts that may occur in everyday life. Indeed, Yorke stated that characters were far more important to her than intricate plots and that when writing ‘I don’t manipulate the characters, they manipulate me’.
Critics have noted that she has a ‘marvellous use of language’ and she has frequently been cited as an equal to P.D. James and Ruth Rendell. She was a past chairman of the Crime Writers' Association and in 1999 was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger, having already been honoured with the Martin Beck Award from the Swedish Academy of Detection.
Margaret Yorke died in 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 25, 2015
To call this psychological suspense, as the book's blurb does (St Martin's 1985 edn), is stretching definitions quite a lot, since Yorke's purpose here seems not to be the generation of suspense. Instead she tells a Rendellesque psychological tale, and does so very well -- she's actually a smoother stylist than Rendell, so the book is (if this isn't too much of a contradiction in terms) more readable at the same time as arguably less gripping than something from an on-form Rendell.
Stephen Dawes was convicted on circumstantial evidence of the murder of his wife Marcia. Now, eleven years later, he's out on parole, and he's seeking not revenge -- because he believes Marcia killed herself and cleverly framed him -- but explanation. And, although he's realistic enough to know that the woman for whom he wanted to divorce Marcia, Ruth, will have moved on with her life, he would at least like to see the daughter she bore him, Susannah. What he in fact uncovers is an evil scheme that fooled not only him but also almost everyone else concerned.
This is quite an old-fashioned novel, not just in terms of its incidentals but, more materially, in the quiet restraint of its prose. There's one whopping coincidence that, however much I tried to convince myself it was allowable, I failed. Leaving that aside, although none of the other plot points really surprised me, I found myself genuinely engrossed by the telling of the tale. A book to be, I think, relished rather than just gulped down.
Stephen Dawes was convicted on circumstantial evidence of the murder of his wife Marcia. Now, eleven years later, he's out on parole, and he's seeking not revenge -- because he believes Marcia killed herself and cleverly framed him -- but explanation. And, although he's realistic enough to know that the woman for whom he wanted to divorce Marcia, Ruth, will have moved on with her life, he would at least like to see the daughter she bore him, Susannah. What he in fact uncovers is an evil scheme that fooled not only him but also almost everyone else concerned.
This is quite an old-fashioned novel, not just in terms of its incidentals but, more materially, in the quiet restraint of its prose. There's one whopping coincidence that, however much I tried to convince myself it was allowable, I failed. Leaving that aside, although none of the other plot points really surprised me, I found myself genuinely engrossed by the telling of the tale. A book to be, I think, relished rather than just gulped down.
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July 5, 2008Intimate Kill, by Margaret Yorke, B. Narrated by Trevor Nichols, produced by BBC-WW, downloaded from audible.com.
This book was dry compared to other books of Yorke’s. We had almost no conversations between people, except between the police and the main character or between the main character, Stephen Dawes, and his lawyer, Frank. Stephen Dawes was sentenced to death for killing his wife. Her body was never found. He served ten years of the sentence and was then released. Since he knew he hadn’t killed his wife, Marcia, and he believed that she had killed herself, making it look like murder to avenge herself because Stephen had a mistress and a child, he set out to determine what had happened, and also to track down his daughter. As he unravels what happened, nothing is as it appears. Marcia’s friend, Lois, figures prominently in the disappearance of Marcia. He tracks down Lois to find out what happened. Danger increases, and he finds himself in danger as well. Not Yorke’s best, but I will certainly continue to read her books.
This book was dry compared to other books of Yorke’s. We had almost no conversations between people, except between the police and the main character or between the main character, Stephen Dawes, and his lawyer, Frank. Stephen Dawes was sentenced to death for killing his wife. Her body was never found. He served ten years of the sentence and was then released. Since he knew he hadn’t killed his wife, Marcia, and he believed that she had killed herself, making it look like murder to avenge herself because Stephen had a mistress and a child, he set out to determine what had happened, and also to track down his daughter. As he unravels what happened, nothing is as it appears. Marcia’s friend, Lois, figures prominently in the disappearance of Marcia. He tracks down Lois to find out what happened. Danger increases, and he finds himself in danger as well. Not Yorke’s best, but I will certainly continue to read her books.
June 26, 2008
This author, Margaret Yorke, is new to me, but as a former resident of England and a huge fan of mysteries, I was glad to discover her. While I guessed the ending well ahead of its actual conclusion, I still enjoyed the writing style.
November 25, 2015
Part one was not that good, I struggled to get through it. Part two was a little bit more interesting, especially towards the end. Part three was surprisingly good, it's thanks to that part that I'll give this book 3/5 (2.5) stars.
May 16, 2017
Although I have been reading crime fiction for over 40 years, this was the first time that I have read this author. It is an engrossing read even though you know what has happened at a relatively early stage. You want to know the details. Some of the characters are not nice and could have been created by Stephen King. It was written 30 years ago and there is a certain quaintness in finding someone running round to find a telephone box. I found the Americanisms annoying - who refers to a "parking lot" in Middle England? I will read more of this author.
June 17, 2022
Very good mid-1980s thriller from the always understated Margaret Yorke. Much more of a howdunit that a murder mystery that needs solving, but Yorke keeps up the tension and drama to such an extent that you're not really sure how it will all be resolved. Good characters and a claustrophobic atmosphere. If you like top notch crime fiction and haven't read any Margaret Yorke, then you're in for a treat.
© Koplowitz 2022
© Koplowitz 2022
December 26, 2023
Margaret Yorke certainly has a way with diabolical characters.
August 11, 2011
First of all....this book was annoying for the fact that the narrator of the audio book was just plain ole AWFUL!!!....plus the editing and production of the book was so choppy and messy that it was hard to follow the story at times.....the narrator's voice would be low than high than muffled....etc.....just a really bad audiobook!
As for the story itself......the 2 main female characters in this book, Lois and Marcia, are a couple of the most dispicable....spoiled....awful human beings I have read about in a long time. I figured out the murder mystery within the first hour of listening to the book which was frustrating because I just wanted it to get over.......the ending was really bad for the fact that it just ended in the middle of a conversation.....really blunt and strange.....
The book was okay but I don't think I will be reading another Margaret Yorke book anytime soon.
As for the story itself......the 2 main female characters in this book, Lois and Marcia, are a couple of the most dispicable....spoiled....awful human beings I have read about in a long time. I figured out the murder mystery within the first hour of listening to the book which was frustrating because I just wanted it to get over.......the ending was really bad for the fact that it just ended in the middle of a conversation.....really blunt and strange.....
The book was okay but I don't think I will be reading another Margaret Yorke book anytime soon.
August 31, 2012
An easy read, interesting and different plot. very dated now but still enjoyable for an untaxing, read on the train type of book.
October 11, 2012
I cant remember too much about it apart from I liked it. Must read it agaain.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews