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A review by theliterateleprechaun
In Too Deep by Simon McCleave
5.0
It’s not often that a book mirrors the headlines in the daily newspaper! Furthermore, it’s not often that book 2 in a series is better than book 1, but McCleave knocked this one out of the park! I may be a bit biased since I was born not far from where this book takes place and grew up listening to adults discussing the events mentioned here unfold in real time.
The heart of the story is a recently discovered shallow grave and readers follow along as the detectives attempt to solve the mystery and the identity. In exploring possibilities, the plot circles around an Irish man who is serving in the Irish Guards “The Micks’ regiment of the British Army and he’s asked to infiltrate the IRA and feed the British Army intelligence. Sound familiar? It just so happens that today’s news is filled with headlines about an MI5 operative who did the very same thing. You’ll read about Michael McKevitt, the same man in today’s newspaper.
The writing continues to be sublime. I’ve never read such an intelligent crime thriller before! What a treat. McCleave writes to include readers in the action and his prose comes across as a movie script. The story was playing in my head as I read, adding to the ease of connection.
“If you was a Prod or a snout, we’d know by now.”
“You take us for feckin’ eejits.”
It’s phrases like this that unleashed my inner thick Irish brogue as I read!
The characters each have their own voice and the expressions and temperaments echo those I’ve grown up with; meaning that this story seems authentic. Growing up, I was on one side of the terror group and learned to fear them and their reach. Reading this book gave me insight into the other side; what it could have been like to live on the inside. I wish the dialogue had included more reasons why this faction broke away from the original IRA and why people would be enticed into joining this group. Regardless, I was on the edge of my seat, frantically turning page after page expecting the worst. It’s marketed as a compelling read, and it definitely is as claimed!
I was happy to see the language toned down a bit, but I still giggled at the Cagney and Lacey references and the ‘obviously male’ fantasy world the main character lives in where men think women want to jump their bones at any given moment, especially under the most inappropriate of circumstances. Warning: there is an open-door scene.
I loved the references to several books that characters were reading, the beautiful Bernese mountain dog, Elvis, how DI Hart speaks to her husband, the Bluetits, and Penguin bars. I’ve already recommended this book to almost everyone I met today! If you love a well-written crime thriller that keeps you glued to the storyline, this one’s for you!
I am already eagerly anticipating book 3!
I was gifted this copy by Avon Books UK and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The heart of the story is a recently discovered shallow grave and readers follow along as the detectives attempt to solve the mystery and the identity. In exploring possibilities, the plot circles around an Irish man who is serving in the Irish Guards “The Micks’ regiment of the British Army and he’s asked to infiltrate the IRA and feed the British Army intelligence. Sound familiar? It just so happens that today’s news is filled with headlines about an MI5 operative who did the very same thing. You’ll read about Michael McKevitt, the same man in today’s newspaper.
The writing continues to be sublime. I’ve never read such an intelligent crime thriller before! What a treat. McCleave writes to include readers in the action and his prose comes across as a movie script. The story was playing in my head as I read, adding to the ease of connection.
“If you was a Prod or a snout, we’d know by now.”
“You take us for feckin’ eejits.”
It’s phrases like this that unleashed my inner thick Irish brogue as I read!
The characters each have their own voice and the expressions and temperaments echo those I’ve grown up with; meaning that this story seems authentic. Growing up, I was on one side of the terror group and learned to fear them and their reach. Reading this book gave me insight into the other side; what it could have been like to live on the inside. I wish the dialogue had included more reasons why this faction broke away from the original IRA and why people would be enticed into joining this group. Regardless, I was on the edge of my seat, frantically turning page after page expecting the worst. It’s marketed as a compelling read, and it definitely is as claimed!
I was happy to see the language toned down a bit, but I still giggled at the Cagney and Lacey references and the ‘obviously male’ fantasy world the main character lives in where men think women want to jump their bones at any given moment, especially under the most inappropriate of circumstances. Warning: there is an open-door scene.
I loved the references to several books that characters were reading, the beautiful Bernese mountain dog, Elvis, how DI Hart speaks to her husband, the Bluetits, and Penguin bars. I’ve already recommended this book to almost everyone I met today! If you love a well-written crime thriller that keeps you glued to the storyline, this one’s for you!
I am already eagerly anticipating book 3!
I was gifted this copy by Avon Books UK and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.