The story sounded so interesting but I hate to say that I actually could not finish this one.
It was time jumping without clear signs of doing so, and moved SO slow. I was really intrigued to know the end but honestly someone could tell me at this point and I’d be happy. There was too much similarity in between the two time periods and I couldn’t keep straight what wa going on when and with who. It had such a strong start and just completely lost me 35% of the way through. I got to about halfway and decided I was done. Sorry!

This is an excellently written mystery with engaging characters that draw you into the story. The book has a slow build up, but stick with it because once you are finished you will be glad you did. I had one of those mystery-reading experiences where you think it is person A, then person B, maybe person C, and it turns out to be person Z. I was completely fooled and suspected the wrong person for most of the book!

I feel that Ireland itself is a lovingly-depicted character in this book. The description of the Wicklow Mountains is lush, mysterious, and inviting. There are pieces of Irish history that were interesting to me and added to the story. I have only been to Ireland once, but reading this makes me want to pack my bags and go back.

This is a compelling new mystery series that I cannot wait to continue reading. 4.5/5

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was first drawn to this story by the Irish mountains setting as I lived in Ireland for a few years and spent a lot of time in the mountains and this book didn't disappoint.

I loved the Irish scenery, the different descriptions of Ireland from 1993 to 2016 and the political history that helped set the scene for this book. After a 23 year missing persons case come back to the forefront when evidence from a new crime brings to light some similarities from her cousin's disappearance now police detective Maggie D'Arcy returns to Ireland to learn more. Told between past and present, I was immersed in this novel and couldn't put it down. There were some great twists and turns and the ending surprised me!

I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my review. I would like to thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I had high hopes for this book, with the blurb comparing it to other authors I really enjoy, and all of the high star ratings on Good Reads and Net Galley. Overall, I enjoyed the mystery story line, but didn't feel that it lived up to the comparisons with the other authors.

I felt that the story started and ended rather slowly, that maybe some of the pages could have been removed for a neater ending. Sometimes a slow start can work out, to build suspense and give lots of details and descriptions. But this one felt like there were too many characters, too many details, but not the right sort of details. I felt like I was both overwhelmed and confused.

And some of the additional details of the Irish politics and history bogged the story down for me as well. I love mysteries, really well written mysteries, but am really picky about what I read. This was an enjoyable book, and for readers who enjoy Irish settings and mysteries, it would probably be very enjoyable. This was a very readable book, but for me it wasn't "all that". I"m grateful for the chance to read it, but maybe I expected more from the description.

Twenty-three years after her cousin's disappearance during a visit to Ireland, now Detective Marcy D'arcy is called back to the scene by a message from the Gardaí that new evidence has surfaced. A bloody scarf belonging to Erin has been found, and another young woman is missing. Marcy's frustration and anguish over her cousin's vanishing without a trace is evident as she is drawn back into the past looking for answers. What clues are they missing? Did her sister fall victim to a serial killer - one who's preying on young women again? Can authorities get to the truth before anyone else dies? Not without Det. D'arcy's help. And she'll give it to them with or without their permission.

The Mountains Wild is a highly atmospheric, twisted read with a killer setting in the mountains of Ireland. The author's descriptive prose denotes a scene of beauty with hints of malice, propelling a steady suspenseful pace. Revealed through Maggie's point of view, we are privy to her thoughts both as a smart detective and profiler and as a woman recalling her youth and days gone by with her strange cousin. Through chapters of past and present, readers become part of the original unsuccessful search in 1993 as well as the present one in 2016. Taylor's execution of the intense plot is excellent as are the police procedural elements. The story is riveting and best read with as few breaks as possible to maintain the flow and allow readers to follow the chain of evidence and introduction of various characters. While I wasn't totally shocked at the big reveal in the end, the groundwork was laid and it was expertly executed. The Mountains Wild is the study of a complex woman who must deal with the past in order to move into the future. It's also a study of a land, its history, and people. Fans of mystery, suspense, thrillers, and police procedurals will love this beautifully written book. Highly Recommended.

Years ago I stumbled upon Taylor's short series featuring a "funerary art" expert. I loved the series and looked forward to another book by the author when I saw this one. Unfortunately it didn't work for me quite as well. I loved the characters, but the novel itself just didn't flow that smoothly. Police detective Maggie D'Arcy returns to Ireland to unofficially help Garda detective Roly Byrne investigate a new lead into her cousin's 23-year-old disappearance case. Maggie earned a reputation from some high profile cases. Even though she cannot officially investigate, Roly welcomes her insights into the case he'd worked on years before. The book is well-plotted and keeps the reader guessing with an unexpected twist in the end. I cannot put my finger on exactly what made the novel not flow well for me, but I kept putting it down after reading a few pages for several days. I did read the last half of the novel fairly quickly so the flow problem improved. The book did not contain chapters, but dates and other breaks provided readers with opportunities to easily know where to resume reading. I received an electronic advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This second book today also shares family secrets, but in this case, it is the secrets that Erin took to her grave that ended up having repurcussions for her family. Maggie Part chick lit, part police procedural, this new book will have you looking forward to Sarah's next book! She deflty takes the reader back and forth in time, so that you thoroughly understand Erin's and Maggie's actions, and why they make the decisions that they do. Family is at the core of the book, and what we do to protect our family, It;s a page turner you do not want to miss.

This is an okay police procedural. I was expecting more from a novel that compares itself to Tana French, and it definitely didn’t reach that level for me. It was slow to start, slow in the middle and did not pick up the pace nearly enough at the end.

There was also something about Maggie D’Arcy that came off as insincere, both in her job and how often she trotted out Irish fun facts. It was almost like she was constantly trying to prove her Irish-adjacency to the reader. And after checking the author’s bio, which is almost exactly the same background as Maggie and Erin’s, I think I understand where that influence came from.

Maggie is the ‘only person who can solve this’ in the way a lot of these books frame their heroines & heroes. But I never connected with her, the missing person, Erin, or any of the other characters. The writing was fine, though I wouldn’t go so far as to call it ‘lyrical’. It’s a little too dry to be considered a thriller, so if you’re looking for something like that I’d pass on this one.

The Mountains Wild is the first book in a new series by this author.  It is her first book in many years, although she did have an earlier series that I read.  I think that The Mountains Wild is the start of something good!  I already am eager to read the next title.


There are many things that I thought were very well done in this book.  The settings came to life vividly and authentically.  Much of the story takes place in Dublin and its surrounding area; I felt like I was on the streets, at the pubs and in the countryside. The secondary location is on Long Island which is also well portrayed with its beaches and the family's Irish bar.


The characters were either people that I really wanted to spend time with...or really didn't, meaning that in each case the author brought them to life.  There are families, friends, a priest, suspects all taking their turns in these pages.


As for the plot...protagonist and detective D'Acrcy's unstable cousin disappeared in Ireland twenty plus years ago.  Her disappearance seems tied to a string of murders, including a current case.  What happened?  Who was responsible?  Could it be one of the characters whom I liked? The case, no surprise, will be solved but I did not foresee some of the twists.


I highly recommend this title.  If you like mysteries by Tana French, this could be just your cup of tea...or should I say pint?


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title.  I rate this book most highly

This is the first book in a proposed new series by Sarah Stewart Taylor featuring Maggie D’Arcy. Maggie is a detective in New York who travels to Ireland when evidence is discovered relating to the twenty-three year old disappearance of her cousin, Erin. There is some belief the same serial kidnapper/rapist is responsible for the disappearance of both Erin and another girl who has gone missing, as well as several others over the past few decades.
The story alternates between 2016 and the current activities of both Maggie and the Irish Gardai as the local police force are called, and the activities that took place in 1993, when Erin disappeared. Peppered throughout are also a few memories of Maggie’s about growing up with Erin and their relationship. These all fold together to give a more complete picture of Maggie’s and Erin’s personalities as well as some family dynamics. It flows well and is not difficult to follow, although there is an increase in the number of characters the reader must keep track of from both time frames.
In addition to the current investigation into the missing woman and Maggie’s reopening some investigative avenues into Erin’s disappearance, there is a strong romantic thread dating back to Maggie meeting and falling in love with Conner, an Irish national. Suggestions throughout the book lead the reader to believe the memory of this relationship was greatly responsible for the breakup of Maggie’s marriage.
There are also hints that Maggie constantly worries about the safety of her daughter Lily. Her ex husband has moved into her house to care for Lily, and every conversation includes Maggie asking for receiving reassurances about his locking the doors, securing the alarm, etc. While the questions are eventually answered, there is an indication that this concern may lead to a situation that will cause difficulty in the future.
The book is an intense read, and better if read either straight through or in large swaths so as to maintain some continuity for the reader. There are a number of characters who are well developed and who would be a welcome addition to books moving forward in the series, especially if Maggie winds up moving to Ireland; a not unreasonable expectation considering how much she seems to like the country.
All the mysteries draw to reasonable and satisfying conclusions, although in one instance it felt just a touch sudden. The clues were all there and the author has an excellent way of disguising them so that you may simply read right past them without realizing their actual significance. The book is well written and gives a reasonable flavor of Ireland without feeling like a travelogue.
If you are a reader who likes police procedural style books with a strong emphasis on individual detective work and on character development this is a new series I recommend to you. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, in anticipation of another good mystery and hope of learning how Maggie decides to move forward with her life. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital reader copy of this book in response for an unbiased review.

This story took a bit of time to set up, but once it got going, was a impressively twisty tale of family, obsession, secrets, and murder set in Ireland in the 1990s and the present.

I've long been a huge fan of female Irish crime authors like Denise Mina and Tana French. Sarah Stewart Taylor is American, but her book is set in Ireland and features Maggie, an American detective whose beloved cousin Erin disappeared in Ireland in the 90s. (The cousins have Irish roots but were raised in America.)

Now a police detective on Long Island, Maggie learns there has been a possible new development in her cousin's case, which has tentatively been linked to those of other missing or murdered women and a young girl who has just been abducted. On behalf of her uncle, Erin's father, Maggie heads back to Ireland to meet with the Garda and assess the new developments.

The story switches between the past and the present, as Maggie also spent time in Ireland immediately after her cousin's disappearance, meeting with the Garda and doing a little looking around on her own.

This is an intricate story that takes some time to set up the history of the case and all the relationships. I was feeling a little impatient at first, but got used to the past/present format and, as the search for the most recent missing girl ramped up, began to get sucked in. The last third of the book, when all the puzzle pieces started to fall into place, was really impressive.

This book has a specific audience. It is perfect for fans of Tana French or Deborah Crombie or Louise Penny. The mystery is well written and the prose is oftentimes just beautiful This one is perfect for fireside reading and will definitely be a hit for atmospheric mystery lovers.

All it took was a comparison of the author to Tana French and Kate Atkinson to get me on board. They are two of my favorite authors. And the writing did immediately grab me. I loved Taylor’s descriptions, the way I could totally imagine the scenes she was painting.
Maggie is a Long Island detective, busy with her own life, when the call comes in. Her cousin, Erin, had disappeared in Ireland 23 years before. Now, her scarf has been found at the scene where another young woman has just gone missing. Maggie flies over to assess the situation. The story goes back and forth between the two investigations, with flashbacks to Maggie’s childhood with Erin. I enjoyed the bits of historical facts about the interplay between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The book is much more character driven that fast paced. Even as a young woman, before she got into law enforcement, Maggie was a good detective. The story kept my interest, with tantalizing bits dribbled out like bread crumbs. I always just felt slightly off balance, not knowing where it would go next. It’s a good, strong ending, although one resolution felt a little wrong. I had no clue as to how it was going to play out.
Now, the comparison to French is much more accurate than to Atkinson. There’s no humor here. This is a dark book, but an enjoyable read. I would definitely seek out other books by Taylor.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

I have read a lot of mysteries and pride myself on being able to figure out whodunnit before the author gives it away. This was not the case in The Mountains Wild. It is an excellent mystery story and so well plotted and thought out, I didn't solve it until the very end, when the author did. No spoilers here but I encourage you to read it yourself and see how you do.

The Mountains Wild is a mystery set in Dublin and in Long Island, New York. Maggie D'arcy is a detective living close to her Uncle Danny Flaherty who runs an Irish pub in Long Island. Maggie ended up in law enforcement after working with the Irish Guarda in Dublin to find her missing cousin, Erin Flaherty in 1993. Erin had gone to Dublin to find her mother who had abandoned her soon after Erin's birth. When Erin's roommates called Danny to say they hadn't seen or heard from her, Maggie flew to Ireland to look into the disappearance. Erin and Maggie were raised as sisters, back and forth between Uncle Danny and Maggie's house until they were grown. Erin was a troubled teen and a flighty adult who often took off without notice. But this absence was unlike the others - her trail just disappeared.. Erin's disappearance was never solved and Maggie returned home to the U.S. to marry her high school crush and raise a daughter, Lily.

Now in 2016, they recive word from the Guarda that Erin's scarf was located on top of skeletal remains that may or may not be Erin. Maggie's parents have passed away and her uncle's heart is weak so she flies over to identify the scarf and see what she can learn. From here on the story goes back and forth between the original investigation in 1993 and the current one in 2016. The plot is well thought out and easy to follow. The characters are real and well-developed and the Irish reference and dialect authentic, as are the descriptions of Dublin and the surrounding countryside. It was a really good, enjoyable story and it was nice to be transported to Ireland for a few days instead of stuck in my living room during quarantine. I recommend The Mountains Wild to anyone who enjoys an excellent mystery story with a little romance thrown in. I appreciate the chance to read the ARC!

This is my first from this author and the start of her second mystery series, and I really enjoyed it.

Maggie D’Arcy is a Long Island homicide detective whose cousin Erin disappeared 23 years ago in Ireland while hiking. She is haunted by questions and returns there for a second time when Erin’s scarf is discovered after another hiker goes missing.

Lots of twists and turns with this one, and while perhaps overly long, it kept me invested in the story with beautifully descriptive writing and well-drawn characters, especially the wild and tormented Erin.

My only negatives were that it was told in varying timeframe/locations and could be a bit of a struggle to keep it all straight at times, and I think I caught a few inconsistencies in the story along the way.

But it was still absorbing, and I will be interested in reading more from this author.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MinotaurBooks for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

The Mountains Wild
Sarah Stewart Taylor
June 23, 2020

Maggie D’arcy, a detective in the Long Island Police Department was content with her job, her life as a mom to Lilly, a mostly happy teenager, and divorced wife of Brian D’arcy. He was formally from Dublin, now living in Long Island. Maggie’s family has roots in Ireland but her Uncle Danny and his daughter Erin Flaherty, moved to New York while she was still young. Her mother left when she was little and Danny felt it best to head back to Long Island where close family could help with Erin. He bought a bar, made it an Irish Pub, and did well. Erin missed her mum and gran but Maggie’s mother became very close, helping to raise her. Erin was a year older than Maggie so they were sisters with different mothers. Erin spent most of her life playing games, chasing good times but she also enjoyed playing hide and seek without adult guidance. It was not uncommon for her to disappear, hours later the family and friends would be out searching the neighborhoods and beaches of Long Island. It wasn’t unexpected for Danny to get a call from school reporting her absence.
After high school, Maggie went off to college, Erin decided to pursue her lost family in Ireland. She saved tips from the bar, bought a ticket and headed Dublin. At least this time she confided in her family. She continued schooling in Dublin. In 1993 her room-mates called to report her missing. Danny decided to wait a bit before the panic but eventually sent Maggie over to the Emerald Isle to locate her.
Maggie and Erin’s journey flashes back and forth between the present time and 1993 events. Much of this story takes place in Ireland. The truth of Erin’s disappearance unfolds in 2016 after others of the same age have been reported missing. It is an excellent tale that blends the Irish history into the New York IRA troubles. I am always in for an Irish mystery. I enjoyed the Gaelic dialect as well as the Long Island lingo. Taylor’s script is a challenge to unfold. I thoroughly respect an author that doesn’t giveaway secrets in advance of the conclusion.
The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor will be published on June 26, 2020 by Minotaur Books of New York. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review this novel and to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to request it. Mystery lovers will need to seek out this latest from Ms. Taylor. I was reading late into the night devouring this one.

Wow. My jaw has been open this past hour, and it’s going to take a bit of time to recover from this one. Taylor weaves a story of mystery, murder, and intrigue with threads from both the past and present that come together in a brilliant tapestry of writing. The plot is insane, so many vivid details and characters that grab you, shake you, and make you question what you thought you knew. A mystery that keeps you riveted until the bitter end, I couldn’t put this book down and can’t stop thinking about it. Best book I’ve read in a seriously long time.

First off, the cover for this book blows. Like it is really bad. And that is unfortunate because I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery found within the pages. A Long Island police woman has her own family mystery, a cousin who disappeared years ago in Ireland. When her scarf is then found in an area where other women have disappeared as well, the case reopens and a trip to Dublin is called for. I loved the characters in this book: Maggie, the detective who has long memories of her trip long ago to Dublin as she searched for Erin; Erin herself, the free spirit cousin who had secrets and demons; the Irish cop who provides a 'partner' spirit to Maggie; and the lost love found in Dublin. I was intrigued by references to 'the Troubles,' the city of Dublin, and the search over many years to find answers that didn't want to be found. Satisfying murder mystery.

What I liked: I partly chose this book because it took place in Ireland. I loved reading about the scenery and the culture and history of Ireland. The characters were well developed and the wonderful plot is the only thing that kept me going in this book. I had to know what happened!
What I didn't like: the writing. It was slow repetitive and seemed to drag a lot. It failed to keep my attention so I kept wandering to other things and had to keep rereading what I had just read. Were it not for the plot I doubt I would have been able to finish
Giving the book 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, the Author and publisher for an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Mountains Wild, with it's alternating timelines, unravels the mystery of a missing American in Dublin. Told from the perspective of Maggie as a 22 year old woman and as a 45 year old Detective, we learn about the disappearance of her cousin Erin and the present day search for another missing woman. How they intertwine is the making of this excellent mystery.

The dual timelines caught my attention as they both really brought the story alive. I may be a little more inclined to the 1993 one, as we really get to know Maggie, her relationship with Erin, and her time in Dublin. However, the 2016 one delves into the present day mystery and is where we come to learn the fate of these women. How we get there is one wild ride.

Not only does this book provide a good mystery but also some historical context, particularly surrounding the American/British/Northern Ireland triangle. While I am well aware of the history there, it still intrigued me and definitely has me seeking out more information about it.

If you enjoy good mystery with a twist (because the ending of this story definitely has an unexpected one) then I would definitely recommend picking it up. Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur books for my DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.