A Place of Executiom (on PBS)

[needles]

How many of you watched the conclusion to the novel *A Place of Execution*
by Val McDermid, which aired last night on PBS?
Where any of you able to guess the ending?
What was your reaction to the ending?

[Annie C]

"needles" <brit...@bresnan.net> wrote in message
news:RoGdnUAFApLq-2XX...@bresnan.com...

We watched both episodes and I re-read the book a few weeks ago just to be
ready for it.. So, naturally, the ending was no surprise. (My husband had
not read the book and he liked the show much better than I did..)

Hmm. Thought the performances were quite good, but the changes to the
original story and the addition of another character, plus a change in
occupation from author/journalist to filmmaker did not improve on the
original plot either. The coincidence as to how they all ended up back in
the village in the present day, etc., was changed as well. Did not ring true
for me... Guess I'll take the book over the miniseries, but it was a good
effort.

Annie

[Lauradog]

I felt much the same about it. The show didn't have the same ambiance
as the book. Especially missing was the sense of darkness in the
village, the close-mouthed nature of it's inhabitants. The village
inhabitants didn't play nearly as big a role. It's hard to describe what
the book has that the presentation didn't. It's my favorite McDermid and
I was disappointed. But,to give it it's due, the acting was good and it
would be difficult to duplicate the sense of unease that permeates the
novel.
Sue D.

[Annie C]

"Lauradog" <laur...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:7lrmiiF...@mid.individual.net...

Sounds like you and I are in agreement. ;-) I felt too that what was
missing more than anything was the sense of isolation that resulted in the
feelings of menace and forboding that the book conveyed so brilliantly. If
the producers had been able to stretch this adaptation out for another 2
episodes and hours, focus more on the internal village culture and
inter-relationships, plus develop the individual characters more, it might
have worked better. But all that said, it was still certainly worth
watching.

This book and Val's more recent standalone novel "A Darker Domain" are my
all time faves. I admire them equally.

Annie