Reviews

No Obvious Cause by Valerie Keogh

mmmalaspina's review against another edition

mysterious fast-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

mairin3's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

bwagner's review against another edition

4.0

This is the second book I have read by this author, I think they are getting better and better with each book. They are suspenseful, mystery that had me turning pages fast. Her characters are connectable and made me feel as if I was part of the story. The twists and turns had me sitting on the edge of my seat. This is a great mystery that had me guessing on who did it until the end. You don't want to miss this mystery, I know I don't regret picking it up. I highly recommend reading this book.

longtimereader's review against another edition

4.0

I wanted to read this book because it's in Dublin. That just sounded good and I hadn't read this author before. I found that I liked the plot. The murder weapon is creative. Mike is a neat character and I liked Edel as well. This book has a child kidnapping, break-ins, other crimes, a slew of suspects, a bit of romance, lots of working to find who-done-it, and plenty of good dialog. The mystery is strong, I like the crime-solving. The ending didn't let me down. I'm now looking forward to the next book in this series.

Thanks to Bloodhound Books for my copy. This review is my own, containing my thoughts and opinions of this book.

nietzschesghost's review against another edition

4.0

No Obvious Cause is the second book in the Dublin Murder Mysteries series featuring Garda Sergeant Mike West set in Dublin, Ireland and was previously published as Close Ranks. It isn’t essential to have read the first book as the main storyline is contained to this instalment, however, there are some minor threads running through it that would make more sense and be more enjoyable if you have read the series opener prior to this. Mike West is called in to investigate a rather peculiar and baffling case; a case of cyanide poisoning delivered through food but not how you might think. The root vegetable cassava is toxic enough to become poisonous should the dish not be cooked thoroughly and the fact that this seems intentional leads him to believe that the victim was targeted. Elsewhere, Edel Johnson of a Garda approved support group crosses paths with Mike again at the home of a victim she is consoling and sparks fly.

This is a compulsive and engrossing read and the series of seemingly motiveless crimes make it all the more compelling; I was gripped from the outset and although it begins quite slowly it soon picks up. I found it refreshingly original with the use of a vegetable I knew little about as a murder weapon which was an extremely clever part of the plot. The cast of characters was well developed and engaging and most had likeable personalities. The dynamic between Mike and his colleagues was very believable and realistic and Mike has a few human flaws and because of this, he is relatable. This series is very much character-driven, however, this instalment gets the delicate balance between the characters personal lives and the crimes just right. I haven’t been the biggest fan of Keogh’s previous thrillers/police procedurals but I am glad I chose to pick this up. Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.