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questsandcrimes's review
5.0
Maggie D’Arcy is involved with another case that bridges Long Island and Ireland. An Irish National is murdered in the beach, and Maggie needs to find out why. Her questions lead her to the Irish countryside and it’s small town rumors and secrets, before sending her back to the USA to stop a killer who will do anything to keep those secrets.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, just start this series. Sarah Stewart Taylor writes a wonderful, atmospheric detective mystery. I found myself lost in the book exploring the case with Maggie. I couldn’t figure out the twists, and I loved the build up. A Distant Grave is full of a tension that will make you feel you’re being watched.
My favorite thing about these books is the characters. I love that Maggie is a female detective who is confident in herself. She knows she’s good at her job, but she also knows her failures. Maggie does what she needs to, she’s brilliant, and she knows it.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, just start this series. Sarah Stewart Taylor writes a wonderful, atmospheric detective mystery. I found myself lost in the book exploring the case with Maggie. I couldn’t figure out the twists, and I loved the build up. A Distant Grave is full of a tension that will make you feel you’re being watched.
My favorite thing about these books is the characters. I love that Maggie is a female detective who is confident in herself. She knows she’s good at her job, but she also knows her failures. Maggie does what she needs to, she’s brilliant, and she knows it.
bookishwithwine's review
3.0
I really enjoyed The Mountains Wild book #1 in this series so I was excited to see the next book come out. While I did enjoy this one it was not as fast paced as the first.
I really like Maggie D'arcy's character who is trying to be the best officer and mother she can. Her daughter is still reeling from her father's sudden death, but Maggie is hoping that their Ireland vacation will help take her mind off things. I was glad to see that her and Conor are still going strong even with the distance between them, and that Roly is back! I loved him in the first book, and I still love him.
With that said I thought the case dragged. The mystery surrounding her missing cousin in the first book was suspenseful, but I didn't think this one was. There were also a few "whoa" moments in the first that I was waiting for in the second. Unfortunately those never came for me. With that said I would still recommend this one if you have read the first, and I will keep reading this series.
Book Rating: 3/5
Wine Pairing: Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon
I really like Maggie D'arcy's character who is trying to be the best officer and mother she can. Her daughter is still reeling from her father's sudden death, but Maggie is hoping that their Ireland vacation will help take her mind off things. I was glad to see that her and Conor are still going strong even with the distance between them, and that Roly is back! I loved him in the first book, and I still love him.
With that said I thought the case dragged. The mystery surrounding her missing cousin in the first book was suspenseful, but I didn't think this one was. There were also a few "whoa" moments in the first that I was waiting for in the second. Unfortunately those never came for me. With that said I would still recommend this one if you have read the first, and I will keep reading this series.
Book Rating: 3/5
Wine Pairing: Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon
ashray94's review
4.0
Chilling! I absolutely loved the first book and Sarah did not disappoint with the second. I loved that the main story was still the mystery, yet with a side of romance, family matters, and personal discovery. Maggie has had it rough and the storyline with her daughter was both incredibly sad, and incredibly sweet. Even if the majority of the relationship was over the phone, I loved reading about Lilly becoming friends with Adrien. Overall a great read, cannot wait for the third!!
debra_co's review
3.0
2.5
I enjoyed the first in this series, but found this one much harder to get into. It would have helped if the author had provided more reminders and recapped what happened in the first book to give some context.
I enjoyed the first in this series, but found this one much harder to get into. It would have helped if the author had provided more reminders and recapped what happened in the first book to give some context.
katekate_reads_'s review
4.0
A Distant Grave is the follow up to The Mountains Wild - both featuring Detective Maggie D’Arcy investigating cases that occur in NY and Ireland. While you could jump in here, I recommend reading them in order and think it adds to the experience to have all the backstory.
Maggie and her daughter are home in Long Island and getting ready to return to Ireland on vacation when an unidentified body is found on the beach. From there, Maggie is pulled into a new case that will pull her in many directions.
One of my favorite things in both books in the series is how completely I found myself pulled into the world of the book. There are a lot of twists and turns and I kept needing to see what would happen next. There are a few moments where I found myself holding my breath.
I listened to the audiobook which was great - with one exception being the narrator’s Long Island accent was sometimes a little too much and pulled me out of the story. This may just be a case of my own knowledge - the Irish accents could be off too but I would never know so that wouldn’t bother me. I still loved the audio experience as a way to get really lost in the story.
Thank you to Minotaur, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advance reading/listening copies.
Maggie and her daughter are home in Long Island and getting ready to return to Ireland on vacation when an unidentified body is found on the beach. From there, Maggie is pulled into a new case that will pull her in many directions.
One of my favorite things in both books in the series is how completely I found myself pulled into the world of the book. There are a lot of twists and turns and I kept needing to see what would happen next. There are a few moments where I found myself holding my breath.
I listened to the audiobook which was great - with one exception being the narrator’s Long Island accent was sometimes a little too much and pulled me out of the story. This may just be a case of my own knowledge - the Irish accents could be off too but I would never know so that wouldn’t bother me. I still loved the audio experience as a way to get really lost in the story.
Thank you to Minotaur, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advance reading/listening copies.
rum2j's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
A Distant Grave by Sarah Stewart Taylor is an intriguing mystery which takes place in Long Island, NY and Ireland. This second release in the Maggie D'arcy Mysteries series can be read as a standalone.
Detective Maggie D’arcy is looking forward to a trip to Ireland with her daughter Lilly. She is eager to reunite with her Irish boyfriend Conor Kearney and introduce Lilly to his son Adrien. However, not long before she leaves, Maggie and her partner Detective Dave Milch are assigned to the murder of an unidentified man at the South Bay Harbor. Maggie and Dave track him to a hotel in the vicinity and learn his name is Gabriel Treacy. With his phone and laptop missing, they have no idea why he is in NY or why he was murdered. Although they are making incremental progress, her boss, Marty Cascic gives her the go ahead for her trip. Much to Conor’s dismay, his reunion with Maggie turns into a working vacation as she tracks down information about Gabriel. Maggie is soon embroiled in another murder when Treacy’s solicitor Noel Thomason is killed during a break-in. Is there a connection between the two deaths?
Maggie and Lilly are extremely close but her daughter has been withdrawn ever since her ex-husband’s suicide. Hoping the Ireland trip will help Lilly, Maggie is relieved when Marty allows her to take her vacation as planned. She is hoping Conor will understand when she spends some of her time investigating Gabriel and Noel’s murders. Maggie uncovers some valuable information along with some puzzling details that she is certain might be instrumental in solving both killings. In the meantime, Lilly, Conor and Adrien are connecting with one another and Maggie is thrilled to see her daughter laughing and smiling again. But her vacation comes to an abrupt end when D.A. Jay Cooney demands she return to Long Island to resume working on the case.
Maggie and Dave’s search the killer is a bit slow moving as they continue tracking down leads and trying to locate people that are linked to Gabriel. They also do some under the radar sleuthing based on information that Maggie uncovered in Ireland. She is a little unnerved by the feeling that someone is watching her. With the killer always one step ahead of them, will Maggie and Dave find the murderer before it is too late?
A Distant Grave is an exciting police procedural with a marvelous cast of characters. Maggie is extremely intelligent with excellent people skills and keen instincts that prove to be invaluable throughout the investigation. The storyline is engaging and quite clever. The various settings spring vividly to life which makes them very easy to visualize. With incredible plot twists, Sarah Stewart Taylor brings this brilliant mystery to an edge-of-the-seat conclusion. Old and new fans are to enjoy this newest addition to the Maggie D'arcy Mysteries series.
Detective Maggie D’arcy is looking forward to a trip to Ireland with her daughter Lilly. She is eager to reunite with her Irish boyfriend Conor Kearney and introduce Lilly to his son Adrien. However, not long before she leaves, Maggie and her partner Detective Dave Milch are assigned to the murder of an unidentified man at the South Bay Harbor. Maggie and Dave track him to a hotel in the vicinity and learn his name is Gabriel Treacy. With his phone and laptop missing, they have no idea why he is in NY or why he was murdered. Although they are making incremental progress, her boss, Marty Cascic gives her the go ahead for her trip. Much to Conor’s dismay, his reunion with Maggie turns into a working vacation as she tracks down information about Gabriel. Maggie is soon embroiled in another murder when Treacy’s solicitor Noel Thomason is killed during a break-in. Is there a connection between the two deaths?
Maggie and Lilly are extremely close but her daughter has been withdrawn ever since her ex-husband’s suicide. Hoping the Ireland trip will help Lilly, Maggie is relieved when Marty allows her to take her vacation as planned. She is hoping Conor will understand when she spends some of her time investigating Gabriel and Noel’s murders. Maggie uncovers some valuable information along with some puzzling details that she is certain might be instrumental in solving both killings. In the meantime, Lilly, Conor and Adrien are connecting with one another and Maggie is thrilled to see her daughter laughing and smiling again. But her vacation comes to an abrupt end when D.A. Jay Cooney demands she return to Long Island to resume working on the case.
Maggie and Dave’s search the killer is a bit slow moving as they continue tracking down leads and trying to locate people that are linked to Gabriel. They also do some under the radar sleuthing based on information that Maggie uncovered in Ireland. She is a little unnerved by the feeling that someone is watching her. With the killer always one step ahead of them, will Maggie and Dave find the murderer before it is too late?
A Distant Grave is an exciting police procedural with a marvelous cast of characters. Maggie is extremely intelligent with excellent people skills and keen instincts that prove to be invaluable throughout the investigation. The storyline is engaging and quite clever. The various settings spring vividly to life which makes them very easy to visualize. With incredible plot twists, Sarah Stewart Taylor brings this brilliant mystery to an edge-of-the-seat conclusion. Old and new fans are to enjoy this newest addition to the Maggie D'arcy Mysteries series.
lindsays_books's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0