The Grave Tattoo

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It's a time-honoured tradition for crime writers to seek new challenges beyond their usual genre. Val McDermid embraces this with a bold narrative that showcases her literary range. In this ambitious novel, a corpse adorned with strange tattoos is discovered in the Lake District. Jane Gresham, an expert on Wordsworth, becomes embroiled in a mystery that intertwines with the Pitcairn Massacre and the infamous mutiny on the Bounty. She wonders if Fletcher Christian, the leader of the rebellion against Captain Bligh, faked his death and returned to England. Jane links the tattooed body to sailors from the South Seas, questioning whether it belongs to Christian. Complicating matters, a young girl she has tried to assist is now a murder suspect, leading Jane to the Lakes in search of answers. As she pursues a Wordsworth manuscript that could be a transcription of Christian's confession, she finds herself pursued by an ex-lover with similar intentions. McDermid tackles a complex narrative filled with vibrant incidents and characters, skillfully weaving together multiple threads. The inclusion of sections from the Fletcher Christian document further elevates the story, marking a departure from her previous works. McDermid's ability to unify these elements is commendable.