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A review by kenlaan
Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly by Adrian McKinty
5.0
I finished this in less than 24 hours. It is definitely my favorite of the series, and I've thoroughly enjoyed every entry leading to it.
Where to start? I think more than anything, what keeps me coming back to this series is how thoroughly transported I am to the setting of 1980s Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. I can see the buildings, feel the weather, picture the clothes people are wearing, hear the music, and smell the smoke. And this is quite an accomplishment for someone as ignorant of the time and place as me. Related, I've decided I'll be reading a book on the Northern Ireland conflict ("the Troubles") this year as a result of this series.
But I think this book succeeds more than previous entries because of how taut the narrative is. A couple of the previous entries featured a locked room mystery, and I got the sense that McKinty was just as interested in playing with that construct as he was in telling a good story, partially to the detriment of the narrative, even though I still thoroughly enjoyed them. In this one, the mystery is just as compelling but it's filled with more impactful character moments and perilous decisions by Duffey. The book begins with Duffey digging his own grave with an IRA hit squad behind him!
McKinty is at the top of his game with this one and I'm looking forward to the next entry when I get to it.
Where to start? I think more than anything, what keeps me coming back to this series is how thoroughly transported I am to the setting of 1980s Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. I can see the buildings, feel the weather, picture the clothes people are wearing, hear the music, and smell the smoke. And this is quite an accomplishment for someone as ignorant of the time and place as me. Related, I've decided I'll be reading a book on the Northern Ireland conflict ("the Troubles") this year as a result of this series.
But I think this book succeeds more than previous entries because of how taut the narrative is. A couple of the previous entries featured a locked room mystery, and I got the sense that McKinty was just as interested in playing with that construct as he was in telling a good story, partially to the detriment of the narrative, even though I still thoroughly enjoyed them. In this one, the mystery is just as compelling but it's filled with more impactful character moments and perilous decisions by Duffey. The book begins with Duffey digging his own grave with an IRA hit squad behind him!
McKinty is at the top of his game with this one and I'm looking forward to the next entry when I get to it.