Scan barcode
kbilan71's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jbeen21's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
knightkittyreads's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book in a new to me series featuring Inspector Tom Reynolds by Irish writer, Jo Spain. An elderly woman is found crucified in a Dublin park, the words “Satan’s Whore” carved into her chest. Inspector Reynolds and his team are called in to investigate. The investigation takes them to the small village of Kilcross, and the convent of the Sisters of Pity. The convent was the former site of a Magdalene Laundry, an orphanage, and a mother/baby home. Could their suspect be someone seeking revenge from that tumultuous time in the church’s history, a local, or was it a random act of violence?
I enjoyed this book immensely. The crime was visceral, and the mystery gripping. I love a mystery (or any book, really) that also teaches me something; in this case I learned about Magdalene Laundries. I had never even heard the term before and am abashed at this gap in my knowledge. The convent, the small village, and the rare winter snowstorm combine to create a wonderfully atmospheric background for this horrifying and gut-punching mystery. The group of Sisters living at the convent were a varied lot of likeable and unlikeable characters who enriched the reading experience. Likewise, Inspector Tom Reynolds and his team were charismatic, and I am eager to meet these characters again in future mysteries.
This is the first in what is currently a six book series, and I will definitely be picking up book two. Nordic Noir has been my go-to for gritty atmospheric mysteries. I still love that genre, but Irish crime fiction may be giving it a run for its money.
I enjoyed this book immensely. The crime was visceral, and the mystery gripping. I love a mystery (or any book, really) that also teaches me something; in this case I learned about Magdalene Laundries. I had never even heard the term before and am abashed at this gap in my knowledge. The convent, the small village, and the rare winter snowstorm combine to create a wonderfully atmospheric background for this horrifying and gut-punching mystery. The group of Sisters living at the convent were a varied lot of likeable and unlikeable characters who enriched the reading experience. Likewise, Inspector Tom Reynolds and his team were charismatic, and I am eager to meet these characters again in future mysteries.
This is the first in what is currently a six book series, and I will definitely be picking up book two. Nordic Noir has been my go-to for gritty atmospheric mysteries. I still love that genre, but Irish crime fiction may be giving it a run for its money.
cathy5981's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
litwithleigh's review against another edition
4.0
One sentence review: a lil bit of everything: live, laff, luv
3.5 rounded up
SYNOPSIS
A nun is found brutally murdered and posed, sending Tom and his team to a former Magdalene Laundry to get to the bottom of things.
MY OPINION
Jo Spain is a new go-to author for me. Maaaan these UK authors just write DIFFERENTLY. I love the thoughtful prose, the banter, and the well-research topics. There were several laugh-out-loud moments in this book. I was legit chortling like a maniac while walking my dog outside in the dark.
Unlike American crime authors, the UK approach is light on egotistical dick-swinging and heavy on real-life sh!t. Spain carves out an identity for each character with their own relationship (familial, romantic, platonic) issues outside of work. I personally vibulate more with character-driven police procedurals than Jason Bourne-esque ones, so if you're more of a 007 type, this might not be for you.
I hadn't heard of a Magdalene Laundry before this book (yeah yeah I'm uncultured). Damn. It was extremely sobering to read about fictionalized events. Although the church isn't painted in the most flattering light, I don't think religious people would be too offended by this. One quote stuck out to me in particular: "People are very moralistic about history but very few of us analyze what we contribute to the horrors of the present." FACTS ONLY!!!
My rich holmie qualms with this book was the length, moments of "well ain't that convenience", and the ending. The last 40% could've been dramatically cut down. It was a lot of running in circles and not investigating the most obvious avenues to deliberately push the plot forward.
Also, a world-class hacker happens to relocate to a village of 23 people and 46 possums and essentially saves the day by cracking the case wide open. Illegally obvi, but YOLO. I'm really not a fan of the citizen hacker character when they're critical to solving the case. GDPR anyone?????
And lastly, the ending. LAWDDDD. Talk about the long game... I'm not a fan. There's too many questions. It felt contrived for maximum shock value, but it fell short on that logic scale pour moi.
Anyways. Don't get it twisted, I will continue to gobble up this series like the hungry hippo I am. Looking forward to completing this series... will it be in order? Only time will tell....
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-written, legit funny, juicy ass case, learned something new (albeit bleak af), great characters and well-established arcs for the rest of the series
Cons: too long (dragged a bit in the second half), lots of happenstance and convenience, ending was too contrived
3.5 rounded up
SYNOPSIS
A nun is found brutally murdered and posed, sending Tom and his team to a former Magdalene Laundry to get to the bottom of things.
MY OPINION
Jo Spain is a new go-to author for me. Maaaan these UK authors just write DIFFERENTLY. I love the thoughtful prose, the banter, and the well-research topics. There were several laugh-out-loud moments in this book. I was legit chortling like a maniac while walking my dog outside in the dark.
Unlike American crime authors, the UK approach is light on egotistical dick-swinging and heavy on real-life sh!t. Spain carves out an identity for each character with their own relationship (familial, romantic, platonic) issues outside of work. I personally vibulate more with character-driven police procedurals than Jason Bourne-esque ones, so if you're more of a 007 type, this might not be for you.
I hadn't heard of a Magdalene Laundry before this book (yeah yeah I'm uncultured). Damn. It was extremely sobering to read about fictionalized events. Although the church isn't painted in the most flattering light, I don't think religious people would be too offended by this. One quote stuck out to me in particular: "People are very moralistic about history but very few of us analyze what we contribute to the horrors of the present." FACTS ONLY!!!
My rich holmie qualms with this book was the length, moments of "well ain't that convenience", and the ending. The last 40% could've been dramatically cut down. It was a lot of running in circles and not investigating the most obvious avenues to deliberately push the plot forward.
Also, a world-class hacker happens to relocate to a village of 23 people and 46 possums and essentially saves the day by cracking the case wide open. Illegally obvi, but YOLO. I'm really not a fan of the citizen hacker character when they're critical to solving the case. GDPR anyone?????
And lastly, the ending. LAWDDDD. Talk about the long game... I'm not a fan. There's too many questions. It felt contrived for maximum shock value, but it fell short on that logic scale pour moi.
Anyways. Don't get it twisted, I will continue to gobble up this series like the hungry hippo I am. Looking forward to completing this series... will it be in order? Only time will tell....
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-written, legit funny, juicy ass case, learned something new (albeit bleak af), great characters and well-established arcs for the rest of the series
Cons: too long (dragged a bit in the second half), lots of happenstance and convenience, ending was too contrived
laurenmce's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
svangleboyer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
12grace4's review against another edition
Disturbing content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Self harm
lorrietruck's review against another edition
3.0
Shaky start but it got better. Super interesting premise re the Magdalene Laundries.