The first thing you
realise when starting to read this novel is that it’s set very firmly in
Ireland with many Irish characters! The dialogue immediately places the reader
right in the middle of the setting, as do the descriptions of landmarks. The
River Lee plays a big part, as one of the crimes Katie Maguire has to investigate
is the Lee Pusher, someone who is pushing people into the river and drowning
them. I had to go and do a search on Cork out of curiosity and the Lee definitely
looks like a river you’d be hard pressed to survive, even as a good swimmer.
DS Maguire is high up
in the police force now, directing a number of other officers, but still
manages to be in the thick of things, along with having to cop the blame when
the media start complaining about all the unsolved crimes. First up is the
murder of a court Justice, burned in his car, then various gang members start
picking each other off in an Irish version of the Hatfields and the McCoys. The
cold-bloodedness of the gang leaders is chilling and perhaps this is where the
book title comes from.
Between all of this and attempts to derail her career by
a jealous superior officer, Katie Maguire has to grit her teeth and keep going,
no matter what.
I have read a previous
Maguire novel but it’s not necessary to enjoy this one, as it stands alone. The
intricate investigation details for all the various crimes and murders are
well-woven and I never felt confused or lost track of what was happening. Even
minor characters such as the two women involved with the gang leaders are
brought to life as rounded and real, which enriches the novel further. It seems
this is the last Maguire novel, which is a pity, plus it seems to end rather
abruptly, which made me wonder if I had a full copy, or perhaps another one is
coming after all …
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