I feel a bit misled by the Quinn/Malloy title.
There was barely any interaction between the two...
I felt like this ticked off a lot of boxes on what a good crime story should have.
There were some interesting characters... but I there was no chemistry between them... all a bit flat for me.
Just ok.

The Last Goodbye Arlene Hunt

Say hello to DI Eli Quinn and DS Roxy Malloy, quite possibly the best DI and Sergeant Team since Morse and Lewis.

DI Quinn, arrogant at times, works outside the lines at times, but he has a good moral compass and gets results.

DS Roxy Malloy; very often a character in a book reminds me of somebody I know, or another character from a TV series. In Roxy’s case I just kept seeing Taylor from Billions. What a great character she is. Straight as a die, stubborn, no filters, socially awkward, and determined to get to the truth. There is black and there is white, but there is no grey in her world.

At the start of the book Quinn and Malloy aren’t even on the same team, but her tenacity sees her seconded to him when she gets her teeth into a murder that may be connected to one he is investigating.

A killer is striking women in Dublin. The women are killed and staged in a romantic setting, unfortunately the men they are with ,when they are killed, are left butchered at the scene.

Quinn’s team are already investigating the first of these murders when a second murder takes place. Newly promoted to DS, Roxy and her partner are sent to the scene of another murder with a similar MO, but she isn’t as convinced as some that it’s the same murderer.

Seconded to Quinn’s team he quickly realises that Roxy is a rising star, even though she’s a little strange, and puts her to work.

Not surprisingly Roxy comes up with evidence that opens a can of worms. Her murder victim is the daughter of a mysteriously untouchable gangland boss.

From then on the investigations into the murders take a sinister twisting path through the politics of Dublin, and the clashing cultures of its previously corrupt police force and its modern cleaner counterpart.

This book is great. The new duo of Quinn and Roxy is one of those relationships that is going to have the reader wanting more and more books in the series.

As well as the characters the storyline is outstanding, and brutally realistic.

Can you tell I really enjoyed this book.

I guess the hunt for my holiday reads is over. I’ve just found Arlen Hunts back catalogue.

Pages: 294
Publishers: Bookouture
Publishing Date: 22nd May 2018.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Last Goodbye, the first novel to feature DI Eli Quinn and Acting DS Roxanne Malloy of the Dublin Gardaí.

Quinn and his number two, DS Miranda Linn, are investigating the brutal murder of a young couple which has a disturbing signature and M.O.. Malloy, investigating her first murder case, is advised that the murder of Andrea Colgan has links to Quinn's case, notably the yellow roses and unopened bottle of champagne. The cases are merged into one investigation despite both Malloy and Linn's reservations.

I thoroughly enjoyed Last Goodbye. I have not read Ms Hunt's work before so had no preconceptions. I am impressed by the logical plotting and steady pacing but am less keen on the ever changing point of view format, especially the the viewpoint of the killer, identified only as Wolf, and his topical manifesto. Despite the topicality of his motive there is really nothing new in what he has to say so it's more of the oft repeated trope, inadequate male with a troubled childhood. Personally I find the constant shifting of the perspective distracting as it doesn't allow total immersion or identification with the protagonists. Otherwise the novel is fine with some unexpected, probably not twists, more developments and strong characters.

Eli Quinn and Roxy Malloy are interesting protagonists. Both dedicated to finding the perpetrator their methods are polar opposites, in a compare and contrast way. He is the experienced, weary detective with a good ability to navigate the politics of the job. She is young, naïve and sees things starkly in black or white. Initially I warmed more to Quinn and found his thought processes conducive to a good investigation while Malloy with her bull in a china shop approach and single minded, obtuse thinking is frustrating but as the novel proceeds I found myself warming more to Malloy's honest approach and wondering about Quinn's more devious approach and willingness to pander to the establishment's self interest. I'll need to read the next one to firm up these feelings.

Last Goodbye is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.