The Detective Up Late

Reviews

“Written with style, lyricism, and wry dark humor, nobody writes literary crime fiction like Adrian McKinty.”

“[McKinty] is not your typical mystery writer, there’s a way in which he’s overeducated and esoteric…I love him most for his Detective Sean Duffy series.”

“The writing is first-rate, and the story commands attention from the opening pages…The Detective Up Late is a fine piece of crime fiction and is one of my favorites of the year so far. Once more McKinty sets the standard for clever, reflective novels of detection.”

“There’s an ambivalence about almost every aspect of the book, including Duffy himself. He’s a Catholic in the RUC, a man out of sync. The Troubles weave in and out of the narratives, reminding us of what an extreme time it was. These are crime novels that are unafraid to explore the complications of living at a time when which church you went to could be enough to get you killed.” 

“The welcome return of Sean Duffy.”

“Adrian McKinty is a gifted storyteller I love to read, and Sean Duffy is a character you will never forget.”

“The story is infested with operatives of the IRA and the Ulster Volunteer Force, double agents, triple agents, hit squads, junkies, and murderers, all served up with mordant wit, erudition, and stylistic panache. It’s another superb outing for Duffy.”

“In this final installment of the Sean Duffy series, it’s fitting that a Duffy regular narrates. Gerard Doyle has a fabulous brogue and the ability to deliver a sly joke and dialogue between an Irishman and a Scot with equal facility.”

“You know how the state of the world can sometimes seem irredeemably awful? The fact that we’re getting a new Sean Duffy novel from Adrian McKinty is proof that wonderful things happen. Known for bestsellers The Chain and The Island, McKinty has been writing a multinovel masterpiece about a Belfast detective during the Troubles that you need to read. This is the seventh book (and not the last, I hear) so start reading now so you’ll be ready when it hits stores.”

“Set in Northern Ireland during the period known as the Troubles, these novels are superb…In this new book Duffy is older and wiser. There’s lots of action and a sizzling plot.”

“A highlight of the year in books was undoubtedly the return of Carrickfergus’s finest, DI Duffy…As is always the case with the best crime fiction, it transcends the genre. Not only an exploration of a violent and wild period in history, it tells people’s stories, captures the dialogue, and gives you a sense of the times and how they lived through them.”

“McKinty manages to draw you right into the story with a writing style that is both descriptive and evocative, yet sparse and direct. The plotting is tight and the characters are brought to life with a simple accented phrase that manages to place them perfectly. The tone is bang on and the dialogue perfectly defines the personality of each successive character Duffy meets.”

“Superbly written and tightly plotted, this is suspenseful and atmospheric with moments of very high-tension action. Throughout the series, the character development has also been very strong, especially for Duffy who we’ve seen change from a young, reckless young man to a more mature, more responsible version, but still with his strong sense of justice.” 

Expand reviews