I have been waiting for a follow-up to The Mountains Wild after I finished it in a single sitting last year. Between Maggie D'arcy's rich character and the enthralling Irish setting, this easily became one of my favorite titles. I was thrilled to be approved for an early eARC of A Distant Grave and quickly dove in.

Still dealing with the fallout from the events of book one, Maggie D'arcy is looking forward to two weeks vacation in Dublin. When a strange shooting on a Long Island beach proves to be more than just a simple robbery, Maggie finds herself navigating an international investigation that spans decades and continents.

Without giving too much away, I LOVED this book.

Maggie D'arcy is such an amazing character. Honest, loyal, and meticulously thorough, she loves her job and wants to do it well. She also loves being a mother, and it is refreshing to see a woman in a position of power who wants both: career and family. Is it easy? Absolutely not, but that doesn't mean sacrificing one for the sake of the other--an arc I want to see more of in the genre.

The second book in a series can sometimes be tricky to pull off. You have to find a balance between reiterating context while making it relatively accessible for new readers, and Taylor handled that fine line really well. The plot is well nuanced and moves. We get the underlying tension of a previous case, the current case with potential gang ties, politics, international intrigue, and PTSD/war stories. It's a lot, but never did it feel like too much. The structure of alternating present and flashbacks worked well and not only set a steady pace for the mystery but also highlighted the importance of voice--hearing those who may not be given the opportunity to tell their stories.

I also loved the countryside scenes. No spoilers, but where TMW was like a love letter to Ireland, this was the response, both complex and honest. Vivid imagery, cultural tidbits, and a deeper look at Irish history, Taylor's writing is immersive and effortless.

Overall, A Distant Grave is a fast-paced, insightful, lyrical tale of love, loss, and redemption. I'd recommend to fans of international mysteries, police procedurals, The Killing or Bosch. Out in June, this is one you won't want to miss.

Big thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

“A Distant Grave,” by Sarah Stewart Taylor. One word describes this international murder-mystery novel—brilliant! This book should make the New York Times bestsellers list. As a sidebar, I’ve written the following review as a non-spoiler. I loved this e-book story!
I only had to read the beginning of the prologue to get hooked on this exceptional story. Taylor’s well-written prologue is written in the third-person describing ‘he.’ He is standing in the cold with the wind coming in from the ocean out in Long Island, New York. He happens to be Gabriel, a humanitarian aid worker, who has traveled to Long Island to do some urgent undisclosed business. Gabriel is one of the main characters that the story focuses on.
“The cold was different here. It got inside you, the raw edge slipping beneath your clothes at your collar and cuffs….” This is only one example of how the author does an outstanding job of initiating all of your senses as she progresses from chapter to chapter, from Long Island, NY to Ireland.
Character development and description were done well—you’ll love the good guys and despise the bad ones. The plot and sub-plots were unique providing interesting twists and turns. Trust me, you won’t figure it out to the end. Well done, Ms. Taylor!

My thanks to Sarah Stewart Taylor, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity of reading and reviewing “A Distant Grave.”

In the follow up to the critically acclaimed The Mountains Wild, Detective Maggie D'arcy tackles another intricate case that bridges Long Island and Ireland.
This mystery will blow you away! I haven't read the first one.... Now I've gotta go back!!!! But oh well! This was still a good book!

The murder on Long Island of an Irish humanitarian aid worker calls for trans-Atlantic police work in the second Maggie D'Arcy book

Sarah Stewart Taylor's A Distant Grave is an evenly paced novel with several storylines. Both locations have starring roles as Taylor paints the many moods of the Atlantic and the lush landscape of Ireland. Set in 2017, the book describes the first days of the Trump administration, the risk of aid worker kidnapping in Afghanistan, the stigma of unwed mothers in Ireland and the politics of policing.

The author unravels a complicated story in a simple fashion that keeps the reader intrigued and informed.

Clearly part of a series as a past case is continually mentioned that was never fully explained and that was disappointing since this was the first book I read by the author, but it was a good mystery.

This is a remarkable, totally engrossing mystery story that also brings in family life, a wonderful description of Ireland and a hint of romance. Maggie D'arcy is a police lieutenant on Long Island who is preparing for a trip to Ireland with her daughter to see her boyfriend Conor. It's her last day at work before the trip when she is called to the scene of a homicide. As it turns out the victim is an Irish national, Gabriel Treacy, and so her family vacation becomes a work trip as well. Once in Ireland Maggie finds out more about Gabriel, and when Gabriel's family solicitor is murdered as well, the stakes become even higher. I loved this book, and was so into it that I resented every time I had to put it down to deal with my own life since Maggie's life and adventures are so much more interesting than mine.