Reviews
Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly: A Detective Sean Duffy Novel by Adrian McKinty
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
4.0
The one thing every says about Sean Duffy is that he doesn't give up and that is the case with this novel. But where it leads him he could not have imagined at the beginning of the case involving a dead drug dealer killed with a crossbow. It's also a life threatening case, not only for Duffy but all those around him. Life for Duffy has changed and he is now a father and has a live in girlfriend although life on the domestic front is not all that smooth.
The beginning of this book, the prologue, annoyed me and still does. It's more a case of reading a sample chapter of a book to see if you want to read the whole thing. It wasn't needed where it was place and was distracting.
That said, the book eventually turned into a page turner of a read. There was lots of action and gunfire all set against the turbulent times of 1988. I hope there are more books in the series. Well worth reading.
The beginning of this book, the prologue, annoyed me and still does. It's more a case of reading a sample chapter of a book to see if you want to read the whole thing. It wasn't needed where it was place and was distracting.
That said, the book eventually turned into a page turner of a read. There was lots of action and gunfire all set against the turbulent times of 1988. I hope there are more books in the series. Well worth reading.
kmpuzzled's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jcl9094's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I enjoy this series. Sean Duffy and his Carrickfergus RUC station colleagues DC Lawson and DSC McCrabban work very well together. Also, appreciate how Duffy has matured with life changes, Beth and Emma. The early Troubles in Belfast underlying the current story. Excellent!
meganpbennett's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The book opens with Duffy having been "lifted" from a pub in Derry, and he knows that the IRA hit squad that lifted him is going to kill him. Then, we go back to why Duffy is in Derry in the first place, and the crime that starts the entire plot - a drug dealer shot and killed with a crossbow. And that's on a minor plot point in the story.
I was worried how the basic set up of the story was going to change, what with how book 5 ended, but I think that the changes were good, that Duffy is growing as a character, and that this would be a good ending for the series.
I was worried how the basic set up of the story was going to change, what with how book 5 ended, but I think that the changes were good, that Duffy is growing as a character, and that this would be a good ending for the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Racial slurs, Drug use, War, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
delaneyswann's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.0
softandcrunchy's review against another edition
3.0
This is probably my least favourite of the Duffy series. There's plenty of great action, but the plot is thinner than previous installments and I feel like McKinty rushed this one. It just wasn't as satisfying as some of his others.
Having said that, what I've loved about this series is the fantastic sense of place he's created. The bleakness and despair that blanketed Northern Ireland during The Troubles, like the endless grey sky and rain, are almost like characters in these books. I remember seeing the regular news reports about the violence in Northern Ireland in the 80s, and I feel like these books have taken me right into the human thick of it.
Having said that, what I've loved about this series is the fantastic sense of place he's created. The bleakness and despair that blanketed Northern Ireland during The Troubles, like the endless grey sky and rain, are almost like characters in these books. I remember seeing the regular news reports about the violence in Northern Ireland in the 80s, and I feel like these books have taken me right into the human thick of it.
jiayuanc's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Murder, and Rape
ambiiumm23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-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
4.5