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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
Really didn't get the hype with all this. Predictable flat female protag, a lot of casual racism for no reason?? I dunno
This was OK. It read like Talty wants to do for Buffalo what Dennis Lehane did for Boston. I found myself frustrated towards the end that the heroine didn't shake answers out of people she knew her whole darn life (her father for one - the guy lives with her and she doesn't corner him on any of this stuff?). A bit on the gory side, which didn't bother me, but may others.
Audiobook notes: Solid narrator. The sort of book I think I may have gotten bored with and set aside had I read it - but that I kept listening to on audio. Final verdict = didn't love it, didn't hate it, will probably listen to the next book in series.
Audiobook notes: Solid narrator. The sort of book I think I may have gotten bored with and set aside had I read it - but that I kept listening to on audio. Final verdict = didn't love it, didn't hate it, will probably listen to the next book in series.
Abbie was always an outsider in her small hometown. Now that she has a Harvard degree and police work in a big city - no one trusts her, which is too bad b/c she is a homicide detective. A serial killer has come to town and it's up to her to solve the case. Great writing and suspense. Was unhappy with the ending b/c of two many people separately at fault.
A solid read. 3.5 stars. I didn't know Buffalo had such a large Irish community!
Too predictable for my tastes. The story was interesting but the mystery didn't intrigue me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Interesting read, I'm not a huge crime fan but I was interested in the IRA aspect. And I enjoyed the strong female cop, with the outsider twist.
I did not know about the Clan na Gael, so it was informative as well.
Unsure if I will follow up with Abbie, but if I find myself in a crime mood, I would definitely read another book with her.
I did not know about the Clan na Gael, so it was informative as well.
Unsure if I will follow up with Abbie, but if I find myself in a crime mood, I would definitely read another book with her.
4 Stars
Absalom Kearney, a Harvard graduate and detective, has come home to South Buffalo. She is the adopted daughter of a revered and highly respected cop. But she's still an outsider. She was raised in an area that is known as The County, an insulated area where not only the color of your hair or skin matters, but also where your ancestors were from. Even though she is from the County, she's still finding doors closed in her face and people either afraid or too stubborn to talk to her, even to solve a series of gruesome murders that are taking the lives of men of the County.
The book opens with the murder of Jimmy Ryan. The point of view is from the victim and you get to feel his terror as he's faced with his killer. It was a hell of an opening to a book. He was ultimately found murdered in the basement of a church. The real mystery begins when Abbie and her partner go to question the family. They are faced with a wall of silence and excuses. No one wants to talk and the police can't understand it. Why wouldn't you want to find the person who just took away your husband? What does this community have to hide?
Abbie begins her investigation and learns that this community has more than a few skeletons in their closets. The violence intensifies and the body count rises. Abbie and her father are also targeted by the killer when he leaves his bizarre calling card at her door. The more she digs, the more she finds that the roots in these murders go far deeper than she could have ever imagined. A world where a secret society can silence an entire community and let a killer get away with murder. As she learns more about this society, she learns that it has touched her own life and will have an impact that she never could have imagined.
I was incredibly impressed with this book. The twists and turns kept you guessing right up until the end. I thought I had the secret figured out several times, but then I was proven wrong time and again. I will have to say that I was completely shocked with the conclusion. I didn't expect it at all. I was fooled by one of several blind alleys that the author put into the novel. It was perfect.
The characters were enjoyable too. I'm always excited to meet a female protagonist, and Abbie was definitely a very strong lead. I was a little sad to see her portrayed as crazy or troubled, but I also think that it's probably impossible based on her upbringing and her chosen profession to not be at least a little bit troubled. But this didn't detract from the fact that she is a brilliant investigator and definitely someone I enjoyed getting to know.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good mystery with lots of thrills and healthy dose of gruesome.
Absalom Kearney, a Harvard graduate and detective, has come home to South Buffalo. She is the adopted daughter of a revered and highly respected cop. But she's still an outsider. She was raised in an area that is known as The County, an insulated area where not only the color of your hair or skin matters, but also where your ancestors were from. Even though she is from the County, she's still finding doors closed in her face and people either afraid or too stubborn to talk to her, even to solve a series of gruesome murders that are taking the lives of men of the County.
The book opens with the murder of Jimmy Ryan. The point of view is from the victim and you get to feel his terror as he's faced with his killer. It was a hell of an opening to a book. He was ultimately found murdered in the basement of a church. The real mystery begins when Abbie and her partner go to question the family. They are faced with a wall of silence and excuses. No one wants to talk and the police can't understand it. Why wouldn't you want to find the person who just took away your husband? What does this community have to hide?
Abbie begins her investigation and learns that this community has more than a few skeletons in their closets. The violence intensifies and the body count rises. Abbie and her father are also targeted by the killer when he leaves his bizarre calling card at her door. The more she digs, the more she finds that the roots in these murders go far deeper than she could have ever imagined. A world where a secret society can silence an entire community and let a killer get away with murder. As she learns more about this society, she learns that it has touched her own life and will have an impact that she never could have imagined.
I was incredibly impressed with this book. The twists and turns kept you guessing right up until the end. I thought I had the secret figured out several times, but then I was proven wrong time and again. I will have to say that I was completely shocked with the conclusion. I didn't expect it at all. I was fooled by one of several blind alleys that the author put into the novel. It was perfect.
The characters were enjoyable too. I'm always excited to meet a female protagonist, and Abbie was definitely a very strong lead. I was a little sad to see her portrayed as crazy or troubled, but I also think that it's probably impossible based on her upbringing and her chosen profession to not be at least a little bit troubled. But this didn't detract from the fact that she is a brilliant investigator and definitely someone I enjoyed getting to know.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good mystery with lots of thrills and healthy dose of gruesome.
This book is a bit out of my normal wheel house, but I really enjoyed it. This was my hometown read for my book challenge in which I am way behind on.
Good book. I was unwell while reading this so perhaps I have judged harshly. I may rewrite this review.
The opening seemed to drift it took a quarter of the book before I had buy-in. There were also quite a few phrases that got an eye roll from me. Where rhythms were incorrectly broken or turns of phrase didn't seem correct.
Last page or two should be ripped out.
Ending as a whole was the best part of the book and you should finish the book for that reason. My review has been a grumpy one which reflects my mood more than the prose. Lead character written very well.
The opening seemed to drift it took a quarter of the book before I had buy-in. There were also quite a few phrases that got an eye roll from me. Where rhythms were incorrectly broken or turns of phrase didn't seem correct.
Last page or two should be ripped out.
Ending as a whole was the best part of the book and you should finish the book for that reason. My review has been a grumpy one which reflects my mood more than the prose. Lead character written very well.