A place for eternity
A place for eternity is a crime novel by the Scottish author Val McDermid , the original edition of which was first published in 1999 under the title A Place of Execution and has been available in German translation since 2000.
content
The novel takes place in the English county of Derbyshire . The first part of the book is about 1963, the second part about 1998.
In 1963
Detective Inspector George Bennett, whose wife Anne is recently pregnant, is called to the abandoned hamlet of Scardale. 13-year-old Alison Carter has disappeared and a crime is suspected. The ambitious inspector organized a large-scale search to find the girl alive if possible. The villagers are closed and not very cooperative. Despite intensive efforts, the girl remains missing. For it will gradually evidence found, including combat and bloodstains, and later in an abandoned mine parts of Alison's clothing. Little by little, the investigation is focused on the landlord Philip Hawkin, who was seen in the field near the tracks found. He married Alison's widowed mother a few years ago and is therefore her stepfather. Hawkin pursues photography as a hobby. When his darkroom is searched, police come across photos showing him sexually abusing Alison. He was then arrested and charged with sexual abuse and murder, although no body could be found. During the course of the trial, he was found guilty on both counts and was eventually hanged . On the day of the execution, George's wife Anne gives birth to their son Paul.
In 1998
Journalist Catherine Heathcote met Paul Bennett, George's son, who told her about the case of the missing Alison. Catherine wants to write a book about it and begins to research on the spot, especially since Paul tells her that his bride Helen's sister, Janis, lives in Scardale. When Catherine drives to Scardale and wants to talk to Janis, she notices a surprising resemblance to photos of Alison. Ultimately, she finds out that Alison was pregnant by Philip Hawkin at the time. Alison's mother discovered that her husband Philip had abused and photographed numerous children and young people. With the help of the sworn village community, Alison was housed with distant relatives, where she gave birth to her child, which Helen turns out to be, whom she later treated like her sister. The evidence that should indicate a murder was then arranged for the police.
George Bennett has found this out in the meantime and suffers a heart attack as a result of this discovery, from which he will recover. He succeeds in persuading Catherine Heathcote to refrain from writing this book.
criticism
In the opinion of the editors of Brigitte magazine , the book is "an atmospherically dense novel about the power of silence and the impotence of a commissioner - with literary qualities". The editors of the Süddeutsche Zeitung said: "This book takes our breath away".
filming
The novel was filmed in 2008 as a three-part film for British television, directed by Daniel Percival . In the United States, the film first aired on November 1st and 8th, 2009 on PBS and as a two-parter. The three-part TV miniseries won the " Edgar Award " at the 2010 Edgar Allan Poe Awards for the screenplay by Patrick Harbinson , and a " Dagger Award " for best female lead ( Juliet Stevenson ) at the 2009 Crime Thriller Awards UK she was nominated in the category "Best Drama Serial" for the RTS Television Award 2009 of the Royal Television Society UK.
output
The book is available as a paperback from Knaur Verlag under ISBN 3-426-61911-3 .