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testaroscia's review against another edition
4.0
After Hidden River . I had the distinct impression MCKinty could write but that Hidden River, somehow, although enjoyable and readable, not not quite tick all the boxes. Cold Cold Ground, instead was much more satisfying. I lived the Troubles through the news growing up, and this is the first book i read that took me into that historical period and I found it fascinating. Good writer, well plotted and a good historical background made for a very ejoyable novel
jrmarr's review against another edition
3.0
Set in the outskirts of Belfast at the height of the Troubles, this is a little more interesting than you're average murder mystery. Juggling the sectarian and political issues with the procedures of detective work, this book was a surprisingly enjoyable read. A little convenient and contrived towards the end, but a good holiday read nonetheless.
cclaytonr's review against another edition
Couldn’t get into the characters. Read 59% and just not interested in finding out who did it.
celtic67's review
This is the first in the Sean Duffy series, set in Northern Ireland in 1981. A time of troubles, sectarian strife and hunger strikes.
Sean finds himself a stranger in a strange land. A Catholic in a predominately Protestant R.U.C. He finds himself battling demons on all sides. Paramilitary gangs on both sides of the divide, A serial killer who breaks the norm in which killing and associated crime which is the domain of the IRA and UDA etc. And also certain elements within the R.U.C.
As Sean sets off on his investigation inti these killings, he comes up against lots of things that don't make sense. Doors that open and then shut behind him; or simply refuse to open. Cover ups and deceptions and things that just don't up.
Sean is a well drawn character, naive but determined. Looking for answers but not always getting them.
A well told tale, brilliantly drawn cast and an unlikely hero. A book that grips and pulls the reader by the bootlaces and drags them to an exciting and satisfying conclusion.
I urge you to read this book and I'm looking forward to book2
Sean finds himself a stranger in a strange land. A Catholic in a predominately Protestant R.U.C. He finds himself battling demons on all sides. Paramilitary gangs on both sides of the divide, A serial killer who breaks the norm in which killing and associated crime which is the domain of the IRA and UDA etc. And also certain elements within the R.U.C.
As Sean sets off on his investigation inti these killings, he comes up against lots of things that don't make sense. Doors that open and then shut behind him; or simply refuse to open. Cover ups and deceptions and things that just don't up.
Sean is a well drawn character, naive but determined. Looking for answers but not always getting them.
A well told tale, brilliantly drawn cast and an unlikely hero. A book that grips and pulls the reader by the bootlaces and drags them to an exciting and satisfying conclusion.
I urge you to read this book and I'm looking forward to book2
eyre_ph02's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to the book and it was great though I had to get used to the Northern Irish accent of the narrator.
catgiven94's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lindseypeapod's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
embattler's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
anniemd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
qu33nofbookz's review
2.0
This was not my cup of tea. I can see how there are others who may enjoy this book but it was not for me. It's very time period dated as well as location-specific and if you don't know a lot about that location at that exact time period you are a bit left out of the story. Religion plays a big part as well and since I am not of that religion parts of the story really didn't matter to me.
Sean Duffy is a catholic detective in Ireland during the time of the troubles in the 80's. He lives amongst a protestant neighborhood (who at that time was just like asking for a bullet to the brain as explained in the book and in history). He is in a station that has very limited power, technology and experience. There are violent riots going on day and night and he gets assigned to a double murder of two gay men (which at the time being gay was an offense punishable by law). He jumps from wild conclusion to wild conclusion as he finds out new clues and makes mountains out of molehills as everyone around him berates his thinking. (By the way, he is college-educated which also sets him apart from those he works and lives with so he has to pretend it didn't happen). Because manpower is stretched thin he gets another case of a woman found hanging in the woods. He links this to the two gay men and becomes obsessed with a few odd clues found at the first scene to the point he starts to go a bit nuts and the conspiracy theories come out. But in the end, he managed to iron it out after his life is threatened, he gets some very high up the ladder help and he gets his ass handed to him by his boss. The conclusion was a bit far-reaching even for me and I don't think I'll be reading the next book.
Oh and I didn't like the way women are just kind stuck in there for sexual gratification. Even the love interest doctor is in the end just a smarter than average shag for our guy. And the completely random gay kiss to make our guy question himself was not necessary and kind of a slap to the face.
Sean Duffy is a catholic detective in Ireland during the time of the troubles in the 80's. He lives amongst a protestant neighborhood (who at that time was just like asking for a bullet to the brain as explained in the book and in history). He is in a station that has very limited power, technology and experience. There are violent riots going on day and night and he gets assigned to a double murder of two gay men (which at the time being gay was an offense punishable by law). He jumps from wild conclusion to wild conclusion as he finds out new clues and makes mountains out of molehills as everyone around him berates his thinking. (By the way, he is college-educated which also sets him apart from those he works and lives with so he has to pretend it didn't happen). Because manpower is stretched thin he gets another case of a woman found hanging in the woods. He links this to the two gay men and becomes obsessed with a few odd clues found at the first scene to the point he starts to go a bit nuts and the conspiracy theories come out. But in the end, he managed to iron it out after his life is threatened, he gets some very high up the ladder help and he gets his ass handed to him by his boss. The conclusion was a bit far-reaching even for me and I don't think I'll be reading the next book.
Oh and I didn't like the way women are just kind stuck in there for sexual gratification. Even the love interest doctor is in the end just a smarter than average shag for our guy. And the completely random gay kiss to make our guy question himself was not necessary and kind of a slap to the face.