Member Reviews

I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus Books for an advance copy of The Killer in Me, the second novel to feature Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan of An Garda Síochána’s Bureau for Serious Crime, based in Dublin.

Frankie’s sister-in-law who runs a legal charity for the victims of miscarriages of justice asks her to review the conviction of Seán Hennessy who has just finished a 17 year sentence for murdering his parents. She is in the middle of a meeting with him when she is called away to a murder scene where two bodies have been found in the local church. Soon the pressure is on to resolve both cases to the satisfaction of the Commissioner.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Killer in Me which has a good plot with plenty of twists and turns. It held my attention throughout although, even after re-reading the final chapters, I’m still a bit confused about some of the detail but that’s probably due to my inability to keep up rather than any shortcomings of the author as the journey through the novel is exciting and thought provoking. Frankie narrates the novel from her first person perspective which has its good and bad points. Good in that the reader can follow her thought processes and feel the investigation but bad in that she sometimes slips into the past and other characters’s thoughts which can be a bit unnerving when these thoughts just suddenly appear, as they require an adjustment. Interspersed into her narrative are segments from interviews with Seán Hennessy where he discusses his time in prison. They are interesting and provide food for thought but they interrupt the flow of the investigation which has a plot good enough to hold the reader without them, being clever, fast moving and curiosity inducing.

It might sound strange given the first person narrative but I never really felt that I got to know Frankie Sheehan. She makes the point that her mother doesn’t like to hug and emotionally she’s much the same - it’s all about work for her. She spends time with her family but there is no mention of friends, apart from her wingman Baz, or a social life.

The Killer in Me is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

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Loved this book. And Tana French comparisons are totally justified. Taut police procedural which kept me guessing all the way along. Would recommend and can't wait to read more!

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An excellent storyline, clever twists and turns with an unexpected ending, a real page turner. I really enjoyed this book and will certainly be reading more by this author.

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As a crime fiction fan, there's nothing better than discovering a new seam of books to tap into, so I was very eager to read this, the second book featuring Dublin-based DCS Frankie Sheehan. As a senior detective, she finds herself facing two huge challenges: solving an horrific double murder and dealing with pressure to look into a potential miscarriage of justice 15 years previously. This book grabbed me from the off, and I quickly warmed to Frankie, who's a strong female protagonist with an interesting but not overblown backstory. I raced through it, keen to find out how both issues would be resolved, and enjoyed the twists, turns and misdirections along the way. I can pay it no better compliment than to say I rushed out and bought the first book in the series, which I'm already half way through. Let's hope there's a third book in the pipeline somewhere, because this has the makings of a really strong police procedural series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for allowing me to read an advance copy.

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The Killer in Me is a gripping crime thriller set in Dublin that will keep the reader guessing right up to the very end!!
Detective Inspector Frankie Sheehan is under pressure to find the vicious killer but also from the Garda Commissioner to make sure that the Garda are not exposed for what might have been a cover up in an investigation 17 years ago. The search for the killer frustratingly seems to lead only to dead ends as DI Sheehan and her team interview suspects and examine the available evidence. When they finally get the breakthrough they are looking for, there are still a few more twists before the mystery is solved. Dark and intense, this story is told wonderfully well.

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Enjoyable enough.
Some good characters and no feeling of having missed a lot in book one.
An crime that I couldn't guess who or why for quite some time.
Nicely tied up at the end.
I just don't think it's one that will stick with me.
12 hours after reading I'm already wondering at the plot details.

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I loved this. It's so dark and tense and the characters were really interesting and full of depth. I practically finished this in one sitting because I was so gripped. The investigation took different turns and I was constantly guessing about where things were heading. I love it when I find such a great book like this and I'm hoping that there will be lots more to come.

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I was a fan of “Too Close to Breathe” so very much looked forward to entering the world of Frankie Sheehan again.

The Killer In Me has that same atmospheric sense to it that Olivia Kiernan brought to her debut, beautifully written and totally immersive. The characters and the places pop and this case is complex and layered.

The procedural elements are authentic and well drawn, Frankie’s profiling background once again brings added oomph to the plot and it’s a considered page turner with lots of intricate detail that adds to the feeling of it.

Slowly but surely heading towards a cliff’s edge conclusion, The Killer In Me is clever and involving and I look forward to many more Frankie Sheehan adventures.

Recommended.

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4.5/5
I really loved this book. the two, interwinding story lines were fantastic - are they linked, are they not.. Just when you thought you knew, everything changes and you are again questioning everything. I kinda felt I knew who the killer was, deep down in my gut, but couldn't 'prove it'. It was a really thrilling read with plenty of twists and turns and nailing biting moments. LOVED THIS! I didn't actually realise it was book 2 in the series, so will definitely be going back for the first one. The characters were great - Detective Sheehan was inspiring - I want to know more about her! Jack Clancy .. interesting one, and I think I might have missed something about him in book 1?
I'll post a more in-depth review 3 weeks prior to release. the reviews will be on good read and my blog at that time.

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