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melissagurner's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
fiona_claffey_kelly's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bgg616's review
4.0
I read this a few months ago and forgot to add it. It's a short story/novella. If you like this series, it's worth reading.
hoggers90's review
4.0
Short but sweet. I read this after reading the whole series and it helps you to fully understand the relationships into the main book and helps to understand what started all the different storylines! Very well written! I LOVED the whole Paula Maguire series!
fictionophile's review
5.0
A prequel novella, "Controlled explosions" introduces readers to Claire McGowan's Paula Maguire series. When I read that Ken Bruen proclaimed her to be ‘Ireland’s answer to Ruth Rendell, I knew I had to check this series out.
Paula Maguire, the series protagonist is a forensic psychologist who was born in a border town in Northern Ireland. She is the daughter of a Catholic policeman in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and a mother who was suspected to have been 'taken' by the IRA.
In "Controlled explosions" we visit Paula when she is in her last year of school. Five years ago, her mother disappeared when Paula was just thirteen. She was rumoured to be a 'tout' (a word used to describe informers in Northern Ireland). Her father, busy with his high stress job, is of little aid to her when she is relentlessly bullied at school. She feels so alone - somehow apart from the other teenagers with their teenage pursuits. We learn of her first crush, and her aspirations for her future. She wants to attend university and get as far away as she can, thus escaping her little Irish border town.
Set in 1998, the novella gives readers a glimpse of Paula's family life at the same time providing a snapshot of the senseless 'troubles' and how the Irish people were impacted by the years of strife. The "Good Friday Agreement" was just signed, and the Irish were wary of how this will further impact their country and their lives...
I enjoyed the writing and plan to pursue the series. I must ascertain if Ken Bruen's comparison to Ruth Rendell stands true after all. I imagine that folks who have already read the series would like to go back and read of Paula Maguire as a teenage girl. If, like me, you haven't yet read the series, you will also enjoy this early glimpse into the life of the series' protagonist.
I purchased this novella in Kindle format because I was curious about the Paula Maguire series - and because I wanted it to be one of my "Reading Ireland Month" entries.
Paula Maguire, the series protagonist is a forensic psychologist who was born in a border town in Northern Ireland. She is the daughter of a Catholic policeman in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and a mother who was suspected to have been 'taken' by the IRA.
In "Controlled explosions" we visit Paula when she is in her last year of school. Five years ago, her mother disappeared when Paula was just thirteen. She was rumoured to be a 'tout' (a word used to describe informers in Northern Ireland). Her father, busy with his high stress job, is of little aid to her when she is relentlessly bullied at school. She feels so alone - somehow apart from the other teenagers with their teenage pursuits. We learn of her first crush, and her aspirations for her future. She wants to attend university and get as far away as she can, thus escaping her little Irish border town.
Set in 1998, the novella gives readers a glimpse of Paula's family life at the same time providing a snapshot of the senseless 'troubles' and how the Irish people were impacted by the years of strife. The "Good Friday Agreement" was just signed, and the Irish were wary of how this will further impact their country and their lives...
I enjoyed the writing and plan to pursue the series. I must ascertain if Ken Bruen's comparison to Ruth Rendell stands true after all. I imagine that folks who have already read the series would like to go back and read of Paula Maguire as a teenage girl. If, like me, you haven't yet read the series, you will also enjoy this early glimpse into the life of the series' protagonist.
I purchased this novella in Kindle format because I was curious about the Paula Maguire series - and because I wanted it to be one of my "Reading Ireland Month" entries.
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