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Learn moreNew York Times bestselling author Adrian McKinty won an Edgar Award for this “standout in a superior series” (Booklist).
“Shot through with a smart, crackling humor that manages to be both dark and witty.”—Boston Globe
It’s just the same things over and again for Sean Duffy: riot duty, heartbreak, cases he can solve but never get to court. But what detective gets two locked-room mysteries in one career?
When journalist Lily Bigelow is found dead in the courtyard of Carrickfergus Castle, it looks like a suicide. Yet there are a few things that bother Duffy just enough to keep the case file open, which is how he finds out that Bigelow was working on a devastating investigation of corruption and abuse at the highest levels of power in the UK and beyond.
And so Duffy has two impossible problems on his desk: Who killed Lily Bigelow? And what were they trying to hide?
Adrian McKinty was born and grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He studied philosophy at Oxford University before moving to Australia and to New York. He is the author of more than a dozen crime novels, including the award-winning standalone thriller The Chain, which was a New York Times and #1 international bestseller. McKinty’s books have been translated into over forty languages, and he has won the Edgar Award, the International Thriller Writers Award, the Ned Kelly Award (three times), the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Macavity Award, and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. His novel The Island was an instant New York Times bestseller and made their “Best Thrillers of 2022” list.
Gerard Doyle reads everything from adult, young adult, and children's books to literary fiction, mysteries, humor, adventure, and fantasy. He has won countless AudioFile Earphones Awards and was named a Best Voice in Young Adult Fiction in 2008. His audiobook credits include the bestselling Inheritance series (Eragon, Eldest, and Brisinger), How to Train Your Dragon, The Looking Glass Wars, Clubland, And Thereby Hangs a Tale, and Risk Worth Taking. His career in British repertory theatre includes many productions, most notably The Crucible, The Tempest, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Fiddler on the Roof. In America, he has appeared in Broadway in The Weir and on television in New York Undercover and Law & Order. Born of Irish parents and raised and educated in England, Gerard has taught drama at Ross School for the past several years.
Reviews
“McKinty’s story opens with a visit to Belfast by ‘sporting royalty’ Muhammad Ali—a challenge narrator Gerard Doyle meets with a gravelly, rhythmic delivery. Even better are Doyle’s varied Irish accents, which help differentiate the various Northern Irish policemen who work with Detective Sean Duffy…Duffy’s journey to Finland to investigate poses an interesting vocal challenge that Doyle handles admirably. His delivery further ratchets up the tension when the threat of IRA bombings and the death of a high-ranking police official add to the mayhem.”
“The tension between McKinty’s competing love of tight, formal puzzles and loose, riffing dialogue is what makes the Duffy novels such a joy.”
“Set during the Troubles, the Duffy series could be construed as historical fiction…but the books don’t feel like historical novels. They’re too urgent and too topical…His prose style is vital, vigorous, and…if you’re not reading him already, do yourself a favor: start now.”
“A first-rate crime thriller that commands attention from the opening pages and keeps the reader interested until the end.”
“McKinty expertly balances Duffy’s tense and suspenseful investigation with the political tensions of the region.”
“Every detail rings true…McKinty manages…another standout in a superior series, combining terrific plotting with evocative historical detail.”
“The pairing of McKinty’s artful prose with Doyle’s Irish brogue is near perfection. He gives distinctive voices to Duffy and each of his colleagues…making it easy for the listener to follow and appreciate McKinty’s smart dialogue, dark humor, and clever plotting.”
“McKinty uses some historical events as a basis for a strong moral point of view while still delivering a fine tale.”
“Duffy is taking no better care of himself than he ever did. But his copper’s instincts are as sharp as ever in this fifth installment.”
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