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bgg616's review
4.0
This is my third Jo Spain book, and I am not reading them in order. Unfortunately, despite being enormously popular in Ireland, and a great Irish crime writer, her books have not yet been released in the U.S. Inspector Tom Reynolds is an ethical, and competent member of the Garda Siochana, a police force that in not as efficient, and free of corruption as the public believes. Tom has turned down the position of Chief Superintendent of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, when his close friend Sean McGuinness retired to care for his wife with early onset Alzheimer's. Tom's new boss, Chief Superintendent Joe Kennedy, is an idiot.
The novel opens with the discovery of a woman's body at the monastic site of Glendalough. Soon multiple bodies are discovered and the Garda realize they have a probably serial killer. However. the Chief Superintendent is reluctant, initially, to accept the possibility. At the same time, the 18-year old daughter of a well off couple in County Meath has gone missing.
Reynolds is a conflicted figure as is almost always to case in police procedurals. He has a devoted wife, Louise, but with Sean McGuinness gone, few confidents. This is a novel in which dogged pursuit of all possible leads is necessary, even when the Chief Superintendent doesn't support the direction of their inquiries.
Spain writes interesting and compelling crime novels without irrelevant details, and misleading tangents. They provide the level of accurate cultural context that provide an excellent sense of place. I will continue reading this series.
The novel opens with the discovery of a woman's body at the monastic site of Glendalough. Soon multiple bodies are discovered and the Garda realize they have a probably serial killer. However. the Chief Superintendent is reluctant, initially, to accept the possibility. At the same time, the 18-year old daughter of a well off couple in County Meath has gone missing.
Reynolds is a conflicted figure as is almost always to case in police procedurals. He has a devoted wife, Louise, but with Sean McGuinness gone, few confidents. This is a novel in which dogged pursuit of all possible leads is necessary, even when the Chief Superintendent doesn't support the direction of their inquiries.
Spain writes interesting and compelling crime novels without irrelevant details, and misleading tangents. They provide the level of accurate cultural context that provide an excellent sense of place. I will continue reading this series.
thestarman's review against another edition
3.0
Adequate murder mystery set in Ireland. Multiple victims, multiple suspects. If you like your police procedurals with a wee bit o' developing romance, check this book out.
A detective does something so idiotic I nearly tossed the book--but otherwise it was a decent escape from reality.
VERDICT: ~3 stars. In spite of some danger, it leaned towards the "cozy" mystery genre.
A detective does something so idiotic I nearly tossed the book--but otherwise it was a decent escape from reality.
VERDICT: ~3 stars. In spite of some danger, it leaned towards the "cozy" mystery genre.
alice_horoshev's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jojodz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
opal360's review
3.0
I thought this was weaker than Books 1 and 2 of the series. There were too many characters to keep track of and their back stories were all so similar.
jonathanrobert's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rebecca_aruralreader's review
4.0
Another brilliant tale from Jo Spain, Inspector Tom Reynolds is tasked with trying to find a serial killer when another young woman goes missing.
Spain's series is dark, full of mystery and keeps you interested - and guessing - right until the end.
Her characters are relatably Irish, you can imagine the local ones as someone you already know, and her main characters are likable but not perfect, which makes them the perfect character to be reading.
Spain's series is dark, full of mystery and keeps you interested - and guessing - right until the end.
Her characters are relatably Irish, you can imagine the local ones as someone you already know, and her main characters are likable but not perfect, which makes them the perfect character to be reading.
kicma's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sheamussweeney's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pgchuis's review against another edition
4.0
A serial killer has kidnapped, kept for a period, and then killed and buried five women. This was a good read and the chapters from the perspectives of the kidnapped women were not too traumatic. I found the identity of the murderer a little unsatisfactory as he had been such a minor character.
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