I tend to hesitate reading books in a series but S.A. Dunphy books are always exceptional. Dancing with the Dead is no exception and it’s a great “Book 1” in the Boyle and Keneally series. Jessie Boyle is a criminal behaviorist living in London until she is summoned home to Ireland by her old friend to help uncover the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Penny O’Dwyer. Part mystery with hints of thriller and Irish folklore, this book held my interest throughout. The added bonus of the Ireland setting made it all the better. Now, I’m committed to the series and looking forward to Book 2!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the first in the new “Boyle & Keneally” series and I’m really looking forward to the second book!

Criminal behaviourist Jessie Boyle flees London for her native Ireland after suffering an horrific tragedy. The police have only got a fortnight to find the captive Penelope O’Dwyer, daughter of a previous Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), and no leads until a psychopath prisoner offers up some important information – but he’ll only talk to Jessie. She doesn’t want to work but her high-ranking police officer friend, Dawn, calls in a favour, so Jessie reluctantly takes on the case, teamed up with Detective Seamus Keneally.

Can they rescue Penny in time? I was totally hooked from the first pages!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

The story begins in Londen, but very soon the author takes us to Ireland. I love the way he adds a few sentences in Irish. I wanted, in fact still want, to learn more about the language and started studying it, but omg this is difficult. I stopped but still love to listen to that fascinating tongue. No worries for those, like me, who don't understand it. The author kindly translates it for us. :)

What would you do when something happens that turns your world upside down? It's so cruel and brutal you give everything up and flee. You hope to have escaped, but what if life has other plans?

I love the main characters. Dawn and Jessie, two childhood friends living far apart, but are rekindling their friendship. Seamus is young, eager and ambitious and is not always happy in the beginning with the way the more experienced Jessie approaches the case. Terri is also young and is tech savvy and research is her middle name.

If I should trade places with any of them, I would not mind Terri's job. I'd rather not come face to face with crazy killers too many times. :)


The author not only treats us to a great crime story, but adds a bit of Irish mythology to the mix. I am really looking forward to reading about the next case our team will have to solve. 5 stars

Thank you

A new author for me and I really enjoyed this book. I loved the interaction between the main characters and the storyline kept me reading as I just wanted to know how it ended. It’s an interesting relationship between Jessie & Dawn and look forward to seeing how that pans out in future books. I would recommend this book and look forward to reading the next instalment.

Thoroughly enjoyed and read it in one sitting. Jessie, Seamus and Terri are all well-rounded characters and you can feel the interaction between them. I'm looking forward to the next book from and author I've never read before.

Dancing with the Dead (Boyle & Keneally Book 1) is the first in an intriguing new crime thriller series from accomplished Irish author S.A. (Shane) Dunphy. And certainly, 'Dancing with the Dead' is a strong start to the series. From the opening page, this book caught my attention and the rapid pace did not let up until the final page - leaving me wanting more (there is a book two, right?)
Penny O'Dwyer, the daughter of a former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) has been kidnapped and will be murdered by Halloween unless she is found by the Garda (police). Jessie Boyle, a former police former and criminal behaviourist is called to assist.
The case is a perplexing one and the quotes provided at the start of each section, from a real-life serial killer help to add to the feeling of tension and set the chilling tone for the investigation as our three protagonists, Jessie, Seamus and Terri delve into a mix of Celtic mythology and cold cases. The brief flashbacks provide an insight into each character and some useful background, allowing the reader to gain empathy with the character, without straying from the main story.
Dunphy has clearly spent time and much effort into his research into Celtic and Irish mythology which he weaves effortlessly into the case. This adds an unusual dynamic and background to the case and I certainly found it compelling.
An absolute 5 star read for sure, and I hope that Jessie, Seamus and Terri return for more adventures!

This was a first read for me by this author. I opened the book yesterday morning and didn’t stop reading until I was finished. This doesn’t happen for me very often. I just HAD to know how it ended!

While I’m not a huge fan of crime/serial killer stories, this book sucked me in. It gave me a lot of Joy Ellis vibes (and I am a huge fan of hers). The camaraderie and friendship between Jessie, Seamus and Terri reminded me a lot of Jackman and Evans. They’re easy characters to care about. I loved how each one was introduced. We get a bit of each of their backstories without leaving the path of the story. Each backstory is introduced just at the right time and is essential to the story.

This book also gave me a few CJ Tudor feels, with the folklore added to the storyline. I love Celtic folklore. It was weaved brilliantly into the story and mixed well with the modern day mystery.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I won’t but reading this book was like putting together a huge puzzle. Mr. Dunphy put each corner together first giving us a glimpse of what the whole picture would like. Then, he skillfully connects each little completed piece to give us the whole picture, like a fuzzy image coming slowly into a clear view. And yet, even with all that, we’re still left wanting more with a bit of something left over for the next book.

My recommendation is READ THIS!! Set aside a day and start in the morning because once you start, you will not want to put this book down. Personally, I cannot wait to virtually go to Ireland and visit Jessie, Seamus and Terri again. I’m so curious to see what the future holds for all of them!

In a small town on Ireland’s west coast, a young woman named Penelope O’Dwyer leaves a restaurant. It should take five minutes to walk back to where she’s staying. In those five minutes she disappears without a trace.
I was drawn into this book from chapter 1 and read it in one sitting. All I can say is this author has gained a forever reader with me! Look forward to reading more in this series ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Author for this advanced ebook copy.

The Boyle and Keneally series is going to be great!
I'm so excited I was able to read book one and continue on with the new books as they come.
I loved the mystery and guessing. It definitely keeps you interested and glued to the pages.
What I loved most was the story. Its just a very well rounded book with writing that is done very well.

Thank you Bookouture for the opportunity to read book one and I'm looking forward to reading more.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the read. This was my first read by this author and I loved it. Jessie Boyle leaves London after a tragic loss. She lands back in Ireland and is called to action to find a mission woman by an old friend . This is overall a good mystery that keeps you guessing. It’s the First book in this series’s and I’ll be on the lookout for the next in this series.

Penny O’Dwyer is snatched from the main street of a small coastal town in the west of Ireland. Her abductor sends a video stating that Penny – Penelope to her father, a former Taoiseach – has until Halloween to live. Jessie Boyle is the criminal behaviourist who has returned to Ireland for personal reasons – a country she had hoped never to work in again – whose oldest friend has convinced her to help in the case. We say ‘convinced,’ but calling in a debt is more apt. Jessie joins a team where they are faced with a chilling discovery: Penny is not the only woman who has been reported missing. However, nothing seems to link the women, except Irish myths that so many grew up with. It’s up to Jessie to understand the abductor’s reasoning: why are they acting in this manner? Who do they have next in their sight? This is the first in a new series and it will absolutely whet your thriller appetite. Jessie and her BFF Dawn make a clever team (love to see more of Dawn in the next book) and I’m excited to see where this goes.