ingevugteveen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
stefaniefrei's review
5.0
Restitution
Dieser dritte Band wurde noch nicht übersetzt.
2011, Ballyterrin. When Mickey Doyle, member of the infamous Mayday Five, shows up dead, it comes as no surprise. Declared "not guilty" in a fault-ridden trial, not even the IRA itself were much liking what his Republican splinter group had done: the bomb targeted to go off within a Protestant march had instead gone off early in a busy street, causing 16 deaths and hundreds of injuries, leaving behind a bloodshed and endless grief. But along with Doyle, the other members of the (fictive, but by no means unrealistic) group have disappeared. So the Northern Ireland based MPRU (Missing Persons Response Unit) is called upon, with forensic psychologist Paula Maguire to consult. As there had been threats uttered from within the victims in court, Paula Maguire and her colleagues in Helen Corry's team face the unrewarding task to investigate not only within ex IRA-ranks, but also within the victims's self support group. A tough task, given that Paula's own mother disappeared and her high-school sweatheart's father got shot within "the Troubles" - same, with nobody to legally hold responsible. Within the region, even with the peace lasting, there is always a fragile link to the past. "For a start, it wasn't very often you had more sympathy for whoever the killer was than the victim." Chapter Four.
This third Paula Maguire novel made me a bit uneasy about some few lines - author Claire McGowan weaved in segments from Kira's point of view. This left me wondering who she is, what happened to her, whom she lost. I am no big fan of thrillers/mysteries using the idea of interspersed chapters from the victims'/criminal's point of view (too over-dramatized, too much pressing for tears), but this one was soon infective. It kept me pondering about loss and redemption, the cost of peace versus justice, the thin line of getting going and going too far. On the other hand, I thoroughly loved the parts of "book within the book", the book "written" about the bombing.
This sequel is different from numbers one and two in the series in sofar as one feels pretty certain about "who did it" here - and then not. Who is the criminal really comes as the big question in the end, and again with a big twist. Claire McGowan continues to surprise by how expertly she weaves in a crime within a crime, all the same while holding up with her great character descriptions and her laconic dry humor (like "He was tricked out in a new grey suit, clasping his hands in front of his groin in that position men adopted during moments of gravity or penalty kick-offs." Pos 127). I still like her main figure Paula very much, who continues to search for the missing despite being seven months pregnant: this is what she is good at, she just cannot help doing it. My favorite in here is Kira, though. In Northern Ireland, there is a thin line between peace at all cost and the real thing, from the current mayor who used to be IRA to justice turning a blind eye to not disturb the compromise made. The series really puts the reader within the situation and makes you understand better what goes on, now and in the past; sadly, not that this is giving you any idea how this could have been handled any better.
As far as the main case is concerned, the book could be read standalone, but then there would be some minor spoiler regarding the character developments (less so here than with reading number two prior to number one, I would say). Same goes for the one big case that links all of the six books in the mini-series, the fate of Paula's mother, disappeared in 1993, when Paula was only thirteen.
5 stars, also for the great structure of this, with the book-within-the-book, Kira's part and yet again another completely different missing person's case. Claire McGowan does not repeat herself, only in her seemingly trademark twist-plotting and crime-within setup - but that is highly appreciated.
Dieser dritte Band wurde noch nicht übersetzt.
2011, Ballyterrin. When Mickey Doyle, member of the infamous Mayday Five, shows up dead, it comes as no surprise. Declared "not guilty" in a fault-ridden trial, not even the IRA itself were much liking what his Republican splinter group had done: the bomb targeted to go off within a Protestant march had instead gone off early in a busy street, causing 16 deaths and hundreds of injuries, leaving behind a bloodshed and endless grief. But along with Doyle, the other members of the (fictive, but by no means unrealistic) group have disappeared. So the Northern Ireland based MPRU (Missing Persons Response Unit) is called upon, with forensic psychologist Paula Maguire to consult. As there had been threats uttered from within the victims in court, Paula Maguire and her colleagues in Helen Corry's team face the unrewarding task to investigate not only within ex IRA-ranks, but also within the victims's self support group. A tough task, given that Paula's own mother disappeared and her high-school sweatheart's father got shot within "the Troubles" - same, with nobody to legally hold responsible. Within the region, even with the peace lasting, there is always a fragile link to the past. "For a start, it wasn't very often you had more sympathy for whoever the killer was than the victim." Chapter Four.
This third Paula Maguire novel made me a bit uneasy about some few lines - author Claire McGowan weaved in segments from Kira's point of view. This left me wondering who she is, what happened to her, whom she lost. I am no big fan of thrillers/mysteries using the idea of interspersed chapters from the victims'/criminal's point of view (too over-dramatized, too much pressing for tears), but this one was soon infective. It kept me pondering about loss and redemption, the cost of peace versus justice, the thin line of getting going and going too far. On the other hand, I thoroughly loved the parts of "book within the book", the book "written" about the bombing.
This sequel is different from numbers one and two in the series in sofar as one feels pretty certain about "who did it" here - and then not. Who is the criminal really comes as the big question in the end, and again with a big twist. Claire McGowan continues to surprise by how expertly she weaves in a crime within a crime, all the same while holding up with her great character descriptions and her laconic dry humor (like "He was tricked out in a new grey suit, clasping his hands in front of his groin in that position men adopted during moments of gravity or penalty kick-offs." Pos 127). I still like her main figure Paula very much, who continues to search for the missing despite being seven months pregnant: this is what she is good at, she just cannot help doing it. My favorite in here is Kira, though. In Northern Ireland, there is a thin line between peace at all cost and the real thing, from the current mayor who used to be IRA to justice turning a blind eye to not disturb the compromise made. The series really puts the reader within the situation and makes you understand better what goes on, now and in the past; sadly, not that this is giving you any idea how this could have been handled any better.
As far as the main case is concerned, the book could be read standalone, but then there would be some minor spoiler regarding the character developments (less so here than with reading number two prior to number one, I would say). Same goes for the one big case that links all of the six books in the mini-series, the fate of Paula's mother, disappeared in 1993, when Paula was only thirteen.
5 stars, also for the great structure of this, with the book-within-the-book, Kira's part and yet again another completely different missing person's case. Claire McGowan does not repeat herself, only in her seemingly trademark twist-plotting and crime-within setup - but that is highly appreciated.
bgg616's review
4.0
Paula McGuire is a forensic psychologist working with the Missing Persons Unit in her hometown in Northern Ireland. Five suspects in a local bombing, who escaped conviction, disappear. The book opens with the first of them being found dead. The unit works to find the other four who are missing, and solve the murder. Paula's personal life is in turmoil, and much of the story focuses on her pushing herself almost beyond her limits. She is driven by the disappearance of her mother almost 2 decades earlier, among other things. Despite being warned off pursuing her mother's case, she cannot give up.
The middle of the book dragged for me, as the search continues. Interviews of the families of bombing victims, who are suspects in the murder and disappearances, were excruciating. I found this novel a difficult read because the pain of the families. The bombing in the novel occurred on a Saturday in the town center, killing 18 people including babies and young children. It is eerily similar to the Enniskillen bombing in 1987 and the Omagh bombing in 1998. In August 1998 in Northern Ireland , there were no British Army patrols. It was 4 months after the Good Friday (peace) agreement. I was traveling with my young son throughout Ireland including the North, and had decided to avoid Derry and Belfast. I thought we'd be safe. The Omagh bombing occurred at 3:10 PM on August 15th, 1998. That very day we were in Omagh center at 3:05. I saw no unusual activity. Traffic wasn't stopped although apparently a warning had been called in. I said no to my son's request to stop for a snack and we drove through town. To this day, I cannot believe we were that close, and that something (my second sight?) told me not to stop.
As in the two previous McGuire novels, McGowan brings the story to a climatic ending, with only some issues resolved. But there is never a neat ending, and readers will have to read the next book in the series to get more answers.
The middle of the book dragged for me, as the search continues. Interviews of the families of bombing victims, who are suspects in the murder and disappearances, were excruciating. I found this novel a difficult read because the pain of the families. The bombing in the novel occurred on a Saturday in the town center, killing 18 people including babies and young children. It is eerily similar to the Enniskillen bombing in 1987 and the Omagh bombing in 1998. In August 1998 in Northern Ireland , there were no British Army patrols. It was 4 months after the Good Friday (peace) agreement. I was traveling with my young son throughout Ireland including the North, and had decided to avoid Derry and Belfast. I thought we'd be safe. The Omagh bombing occurred at 3:10 PM on August 15th, 1998. That very day we were in Omagh center at 3:05. I saw no unusual activity. Traffic wasn't stopped although apparently a warning had been called in. I said no to my son's request to stop for a snack and we drove through town. To this day, I cannot believe we were that close, and that something (my second sight?) told me not to stop.
As in the two previous McGuire novels, McGowan brings the story to a climatic ending, with only some issues resolved. But there is never a neat ending, and readers will have to read the next book in the series to get more answers.
rachdadams_writer's review
4.0
What I loved most about this book - the way it is split up between the protagonist's life and the life of the person the audience is to presume is the antagonist. I also loved the case entries written from the POV of the reporter covering the horrible bombing. It really pulls the reader into getting to know these people who have no voice of their own. It makes you think about events through our history - all those victims out there, who we don't really know...
This is the first book in the series that I have a bit of criticism on. And it's just - this is essentially the third climax that was very quickly pushed through. The protagonist just seems to act out of character, sometimes... placing herself in unnecessary danger. In the other books, these events weren't obvious, but this time, I expected it and was even cringing at this.
Otherwise it was masterfully written, in my opinion, kept me moving, and I would definitely still recommend it. I already have the 4th book on my to be read listing.
This is the first book in the series that I have a bit of criticism on. And it's just - this is essentially the third climax that was very quickly pushed through. The protagonist just seems to act out of character, sometimes... placing herself in unnecessary danger. In the other books, these events weren't obvious, but this time, I expected it and was even cringing at this.
Otherwise it was masterfully written, in my opinion, kept me moving, and I would definitely still recommend it. I already have the 4th book on my to be read listing.
_bookzeal's review
3.0
Oh Paula, I love you but you were so frustrating in this book! I didn’t really agree with any of the choices made in this one, or the thought processes behind said choices. And also this one was a little too heavily political for my general mystery preferences, it dragged a bit. It’s very much centered around the IRA/Ireland First, with not enough focus on the individual characters outside of their involvement or dealings with various members.
The synopsis for the next one looks more my speed though, and it looks like Paula gets it together more maybe? I can’t see how she couldn’t at this point.
The synopsis for the next one looks more my speed though, and it looks like Paula gets it together more maybe? I can’t see how she couldn’t at this point.
trusselltales's review
4.0
McGowan has an unerring ear for dialogue and a captivating sense of time and place. Growing up in the Republic of Ireland I have a long familiarity with the Troubles, but not the visceral understanding of living in Northern Ireland in the peak or aftermath. McGowan, though, does a stellar job of drawing the reader into the world, a feeling which is intensified in each Paula Maguire book. Place and Irish social history aside, it's hard to argue with a book that melds flawed characters with crime solving and a finely balanced exploration of justice versus law.
(Net galley copy provided for honest review)
(Net galley copy provided for honest review)
thebookishmama's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I love the way the author intertwines the case while also growing the storylines of the main characters in a good balance. I didn’t find this story as captivating as the previous two in the series but grew my attachment to Paula and Guy so I will of course be finding the 4th book and reading on.