laurahastoomanywips's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A great read.
Very well written characters and an interesting twisty plot. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Very well written characters and an interesting twisty plot. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
myrdyr's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 stars. I don't know why, but for me, this book was reminiscent of a mystery set in the 1940s, like a Philip Kerr book. I had to keep reminding myself that it was set in the early 2000s. I will try the next in the series.
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
First of a series and I really enjoyed the various twists and turns of the plot to the extent that I will read on.
We are introduced to Inspector benedict Devlin of the Irish Garda who has to investigate the suspicious death of a girl whose body is found on the border. As he investigates more casualties and bodies emerge and he has to look at a disappearance going back to 1989. Dodgy politicians and policeman , together with an old flame setting out to wreck his marriage add to the interest in the plot so that by the end I was rapidly turning the page. a good read and I'm looking forward to reading more.
We are introduced to Inspector benedict Devlin of the Irish Garda who has to investigate the suspicious death of a girl whose body is found on the border. As he investigates more casualties and bodies emerge and he has to look at a disappearance going back to 1989. Dodgy politicians and policeman , together with an old flame setting out to wreck his marriage add to the interest in the plot so that by the end I was rapidly turning the page. a good read and I'm looking forward to reading more.
wendoxford's review against another edition
3.0
Whilst this had all the elements of a great police procedural, somehow for me, it felt dated, in a bad way. It was a classic tangled mess of clues, red herrings, building tension, sniffs of corruption, flawed characters etc but did not really carry me
It had a wide range of personalities presented in a first person narrative told by Inspector Devlin. It carried the shady legacy of The Troubles opening with a corpse "placed" on the border between the Republic & Northern Ireland over the Christmas period.
I found it page turning and multi-layered and yet the plotting seemed to have large holes. I am finding it hard to pin down my negative feelings and imagine I might try the next in the series to see if I need further immersion!
It had a wide range of personalities presented in a first person narrative told by Inspector Devlin. It carried the shady legacy of The Troubles opening with a corpse "placed" on the border between the Republic & Northern Ireland over the Christmas period.
I found it page turning and multi-layered and yet the plotting seemed to have large holes. I am finding it hard to pin down my negative feelings and imagine I might try the next in the series to see if I need further immersion!
caitlinxmartin's review against another edition
3.0
In the past couple of years there has been a lot of good new crime fiction coming out of Ireland so I was pleased to find even more! [b:Borderlands|1667428|Borderlands|Brian McGilloway|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1186591257s/1667428.jpg|1662315] introduces us to An Garda Inspector Benedict Devlin, working on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
I like police procedurals and this is a good one made even more interesting to me because of its setting. Borders are interesting places and border towns even more so as the people on each side spill over and influence each other. There is a perpetual sense of ambiguity that makes these places transgressive and McGilloway definitely captures that.
Benedict Devlin has the potential to be a recurring police character who will be worth reading about. He carries his own set of ambiguities that will make him interesting to read. I like that he's not a super cop - sometimes he's competent and sometimes the obvious flies by, but he keeps on banging away at the problem until he gets some resolution.
There are interesting secondary characters here, as well, as plenty of twists and turns. All in all a good read and a good first outing.
I like police procedurals and this is a good one made even more interesting to me because of its setting. Borders are interesting places and border towns even more so as the people on each side spill over and influence each other. There is a perpetual sense of ambiguity that makes these places transgressive and McGilloway definitely captures that.
Benedict Devlin has the potential to be a recurring police character who will be worth reading about. He carries his own set of ambiguities that will make him interesting to read. I like that he's not a super cop - sometimes he's competent and sometimes the obvious flies by, but he keeps on banging away at the problem until he gets some resolution.
There are interesting secondary characters here, as well, as plenty of twists and turns. All in all a good read and a good first outing.
lschoeb's review against another edition
4.0
I ended up liking this book even more than I thought I would. The Irish history that's woven into the stories I find really interesting and it's just a quick, easy, entertaining and interesting read. I'm excited to read more of the series and from the author in general.
ladybookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
elizastudying's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
ericwelch's review against another edition
4.0
I read the second in the Inspector Devlin series, Gallows Lane, first. This is the first in the series, and it would be extremely difficult to summarize the book without giving away huge spoilers. I’ll just say that it involves the investigation into the deaths of several young people, all connected by a ring, a woman who disappeared many years before, financial misdeeds by a politician, possibly the IRA, and some policemen.
Then there’s also something that’s been ripping up Devlin’s neighbor’s sheep. The neighbor is sure it’s Frank, Devlin’s daughter’s dog.
A really good police procedural with so many twists and blind alleys it’s difficult to keep up. My only complaint is that, unlike Adrian McKinty, McGilloway isn’t as skillful in delivering a sense of place which I especially like in stories that take place in Ireland.
Nevertheless, I look forward to the third in the series. I’ll buy all of them. I will also have to sample his other series with DS Lucy Black as the protagonist.
Then there’s also something that’s been ripping up Devlin’s neighbor’s sheep. The neighbor is sure it’s Frank, Devlin’s daughter’s dog.
A really good police procedural with so many twists and blind alleys it’s difficult to keep up. My only complaint is that, unlike Adrian McKinty, McGilloway isn’t as skillful in delivering a sense of place which I especially like in stories that take place in Ireland.
Nevertheless, I look forward to the third in the series. I’ll buy all of them. I will also have to sample his other series with DS Lucy Black as the protagonist.
canadianbookworm's review
5.0
I've been carrying this one around for a while in my purse for waiting in lineups and at offices. It is the first in a new series featuring Inspector Devlin of the Garda in Ireland.
Local teen Angela Cashell's body is found on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. There is a ring on her finger, and a photo placed with her body.
As Devlin and his team work the case, they are led back to a disappearance of a woman 25 years before and clues that link to many men, on both sides of the law.
The personal life of Devlin and his fellow police officers is also brought into the book. His wife Debbie is no pushover and she often gives him useful advice.
I liked this book and will look for more as the series progresses.
Local teen Angela Cashell's body is found on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. There is a ring on her finger, and a photo placed with her body.
As Devlin and his team work the case, they are led back to a disappearance of a woman 25 years before and clues that link to many men, on both sides of the law.
The personal life of Devlin and his fellow police officers is also brought into the book. His wife Debbie is no pushover and she often gives him useful advice.
I liked this book and will look for more as the series progresses.