This second book in the series sees Jessie and Seamus investigating the discovery of several bodies in Derrada Woods, a place rumoured to be haunted by the Abhartach, a dark force from Celtic legend. The first body was stumbled upon by a traveler Joe Keenan and his son Finbar, and initially the father falls under suspicion, simply due to his way of life. When the investigators start to dig (literally) they find a variety of victims and causes of death. So just who is using the woods as their dumping ground and how are none of the people reported missing? This is a great twisty tale involving traveler gangs, the Irish military special forces and the fear of the unknown as buried secrets are revealed in a complicated case. The narrator was perfect for the job and made listening an absolute pleasure!

This second book in the Boyle & Keneally series had me gripped as much as the first. In this outing our team is called in to investigate the discovery of several bodies in an ancient forest, Derrada Woods, in the remote west of Ireland. The bodies seem to have been dumped there over several decades and the people were murdered in a variety of ways. There have been rumors that Abhartach, a short, dark terror of early Irish legend, roams the woods and is able to strike with deadly precision, leaving no trace of his presence. Has the killer taken deadly inspiration from an old legend? The other mystery is why there are no missing person's reports or DNA records? No one wants Jessie, Seamus, and Terri working on this case. They are warned off by top officials, local authorities, and a gnarly old man. But the team isn't going to be called off, especially when a Traveling father is suspected of one or more murders solely based on his son finding a body and then reporting the body to the local police. Locking up an innocent man means that the real murderer/murderers are on the loose and more people will die.

Once again this team uses their various skills to unravel the clues, few as they are, to solve this crime. There are a couple of storylines taking place, with a dangerous showdown. We also see Irish Police Commissioner Dawn Wilson in action and she is another female that is underestimated. This is a complicated case with a lot of secrets, some Celtic legend and corrupt politicians. Add in some gang activity and there is danger, tense moments and a lot of breath holding. This was a gripping, creepy story that I enjoyed from start to finish. Dunphy writes a wonderfully riveting crime novel, that includes the traveller community, the little known Irish military special forces, Irish folklore, and mental health issues. I definitely recommend this book and series to those who enjoy police procedural stories with some Irish Mythology to make it just a bit more difficult to solve. I listened to the audiobook this time around, narrated by Shelley Atkinson. I love her soft Irish tone that makes the story seem realistic. I was pulled in by her performance adding to my enjoyment of the story.

Audio version of this book 📚- Book 2 of the series and a really good read/listen . An interesting storyline full of old Irish folklore set with a modern day twist, whilst giving an insight into the travelling community which kept you guessing whether there was a supernatural twist or not !!

The narrator was the same as in book one , she was easy to listen too but as in book one she somehow portrayed Jessie Boyles character in a reedy old ladies voice which didn’t seem to fit the character at all !!

Having listened to Book 1 & 2 I'm hooked on this series and can't wait for book 3

Lost Graves’ is the second in S.A. Dunphy’s series of Irish police procedurals featuring Jessie Boyle, a criminal behavioural specialist, and Detective Seamus Keneally, both working with a new task force investigating serious crimes.

When Finbar Keenan is out in the woods with his dog the dog unearths a human hand , Finbar goes and fetches his Dad Joe and they unearth more body parts . Although a traveller and wary of the Gardia , Joe knows he has no option but to contact the local Gardia

The issue is Joe is hiding from a traveller clan and this puts him and his son in danger as well as Jessie & Seamus
The story develops with a number of twists and turns and kept my interest right up to the end

Shelley Atkinson was again its narrator and I love her Irish accent it makes the story seem more real

Overall, a strong second outing for Jessie, Seamus, and their team. I will be eagerly waiting for more books in this excellent series of police procedurals.

Highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this book

Missed the first book but fortunately a great stand alone book. Loved it from the first few pages and gripped to the end. Wonderful descriptions and atmosphere. The textures of the scenery and the smell in the air is nearly palpable.

Awesome book! This is a crime thriller that takes place in Ireland and the story was quite entertaining. I love the characters and how they work together.
I was on the edge of my seat and loved how it was done.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and I love Shelley Atkinson as the narrator. She has done such a good job with both books that I’ll have to listen to the next one also! S. A. Dunphy is quickly becoming one of my favorite crime writers. I highly recommend this.
Thanks Bookouture via NetGalley.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I’m afraid it really didn’t do it for me. I found the narrator had no emotion and made it really hard for me to get into the story.
It might be different if reading the printed version.
So not one for me, but thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me a chance to listen to it in exchange for an honest review.

I am always a bit wary of joining a new series without having read at least the first book however, I needn't have worried because this really works as a standalone and I am now hooked and eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

What we have here is a great story that mixes crime, mystery, serial killer, police procedural with Irish folklore, the supernatural, the travelling community and shady military operations. Now, you might think that's a lot and whilst it is, S.A. Dunphy brings it all together seamlessly and effortlessly.

A mass grave is found in Derrada Woods and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations Team are sent in to investigate; made up of Jessie, Seamus, Terri and Dawn, they are definitely a team not to be messed with and they quickly recognise the local police have the wrong man.

The ensuing investigation is full of twists and turns with plenty of action and suspense all written at a great pace. With short chapters, this is one of those books that have you thinking you can mange 'just one more chapter before bed' but before you know it, another hour has gone by ... you just get drawn in and it's hard to tear yourself away.

I listened to the audiobook and was completely absorbed by the narration done by Shelley Atkinson; her soft Irish tone really brought the characters to life and the subtle changes she made in order to make the different characters distinguishable was perfect.

Overall, a great 'listen' and I will definitely be looking out for the next in this enthralling series and my thanks must go to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

An amazing story. Set in Ireland it touches on topics I have only heard about involving travellers and the troubles. It is a real rollercoaster ride with a shocking ending. Excellent narration.

Lost Graves by S. A. Dunphy is the second book in the brilliant Boyle & Keneally series and I loved it. I was hooked within the first few pages. This latest book within this series was full of twists and turns throughout and the Narrator was Shelley Atkinson was excellent. I found this book very cleverly written and had you guessing till the end!

I highly recommend this book series and looking forward in book 3!

Big thank you to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture and Hachette UK - Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Action packed Irish crime series with strong female characters and a compelling plot.

This is the second installment but works as a standalone. Jessie and Seamus find themselves investigating a burial ground discovered in woodland. The local police are suspicious of the man who reported the discovery who comes from the travelling community, and have arrested him, despite his claims that he is being hunted by a gang who want him dead. But Jessie and Seamus see through the bigotry and think there is more to the story, with their investigation putting them both in danger.

A great adventure! I was a bit dubious in parts, not being partial to hunting or hunters (those bits could have been left out), but I was pleased with what happened to one of them. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but the ending was a bit sad.

I was rooting for the Abhartach from early on, and was very partial to both Seamus and Jesse. Dawn is my kind of boss lady. Maisie... holy cow, what a crazy woman! I haven't read the first Boyle and Keneally, but I am going to fix that asap. Worth a full star is the narration by Shelley Atkinson, that lovely Irish lilt was a pleasure to listen to.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

I am a huge fan of this author, I've read most of his books dating back several years. Shane is local to me so often mentions the county I live in, which is always nice.
After enjoying book 1 in this series I was delighted to dive into book 2, although this can be read as a standalone.
I really enjoyed the storyline, the characters are well written and I love the Irishness of the book.

Lost Graves is the second book by S.A. Dunphy featuring criminal behaviourist Jessie Boyle and her partner Detective Seamus Keneally in an ensemble procedural. Released 24th Jan 2022, it's 362 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This book combined quite a number of disparate themes: the travellers, shadowy military operations, and a series of historical murders and disappearances. This book, as well as the first in the series, has a tie in to local paranormal folklore and legends which interfere with clear headed fact gathering and investigation by Boyle and her team. I really like the interplay between the main characters and the author does a very good job of portraying them as living breathing people, with their own quirks and foibles. They're likeable and I found myself engaged in the story throughout. It's a modern (Irish) procedural, so there's a fair bit of rough language and some of the imagery is graphic.

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 8 hours and 51 minutes and is capably narrated by Shelley Atkinson. She manages the read very well. There are both male and female characters of a range of ages and accents, and she keeps them distinct and perfectly understandable. I couldn't really hear distinct differences between regional accents for some of the characters, but it didn't affect my enjoyment overall. Sound production and quality are high throughout.

Four and a half stars for both the print and audio versions. Definitely for fans of Irish crime, but also for more general readers of procedurals. This is a good addition to the start of what is turning out to be a strong series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is the second book in the series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. Really enjoyed this on audio and I found myself looking for jobs to do so I could keep listening. Great character development and I really liked the dynamics between Jessie, Seamus, Terri and Dawn along with having such a soft spot for Joe and his son Finbar. This one had such an interesting storyline that had so much going on that there was never a dull moment. Love when a storyline just keeps on giving but more especially the different aspects of the storyline worked so well and I was so intrigued. It definitely has the creep factor along with suspense and mystery. The narrator was a little irritating at times and didn’t do anything for the listening experience but having said that the storyline was so good it didn’t affect it. This is my first book by this author and I really liked the style of writing so I’ll definitely be checking out more of this series.

4.5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟/🌟

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC that is was published on the 24th of Jan.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Lost Graves' by S.A Dunphy.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for S.A Dunphy, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 24th January 2022.

This is the fifth book I have read by this author under Shane Dunphy but his second book by S.A Dunphy. It is also the second book in the 'Boyle & Keneally' series but can be read as a standalone. I have also read the first book in this series called 'Bring Her Home' which I loved and would definitely recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Patricia Gibney, Lisa Gardner and Lisa Regan will not want to miss this.' I am a huge fan of Lisa Gardner, Lisa Regan and Patricia Gibney so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Shane Dunphy and if this is half as good as Shane's previous books it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 86 chapters, 6 extracts and an epilogue set over 5 parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Ireland 🇮🇪 UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. The fact that this book is based in Ireland is even better as I have been on holiday in Ireland many times so may even recognise some places Shane has set the book around.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Jessie Boyle, Seamus Keneally and Terri Kehoe. The benefits of third person perspective and especially with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!! Well I must say Shane you are very talented man!!! What another absolutely addictive read!! I've been eagerly awaiting the second book in the 'Boyle & Keneally' After reading the fantastic 'Bring Her Home' and this did not disappoint!

This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that places you write in the heart of the storyline and leaves you shivering in the woods and leaves your heart pounding. The title, cover and synopsis work perfectly with the storyline.

This is the second crime novel I have read by Shane and he is one of those rare authors who books are fantastic and yet also keep getting better and better. I have read most of his non fiction books from when he was working as a child protection worker and loved them all. They were heartbreaking and I shed many tears but they were fantastic books. Shane then started writing crime novels and was intrigued by the change of genre and was looking forward to seeing if these book would be as good as his previous non fiction work. I am very pleased to say that Shane writes fiction just as fantastically as non fiction!!!

This storyline is definitely unique which I loved. I'm a big fan of crime but it can be tedious reading similar storylines so this one was a nice refreshing change. It is very fast paced and addictive. I was completely absorbed from page one until the fantastic explosive ending. It is ram packed with suspense, mystery, history, mythology, horror, tension, humour and everything you want in an unputdownable page turner. I loved the gothic atmosphere surrounding this story with the forests, the Abhartach and the dark storyline. There were so many twists and turns throughout leading you to one red herring and then another whilst constantly questioning yourself of the Abhartach is actually behind everything all along. I enjoyed that there were several different sub plots and so much going on without getting confusing. I read this book mainly on my kindle but I also listened to some in audio book form which is the first time I have ever used audio books. I must say the narrator on the audio book was absolutely superb and even my partner was intrigued when we listened to it in the car and my partner does not have any interest in books at all. I must say a HUGE congratulations Shane on actually hooking my partner in to a book which I never thought would be possible!! I absolutely loved the first book 'Bring Her Home' but I must say this one hooked me in even more. It was definitely something about the creepy storyline that I jist loved. The book wrapped up perfectly with everything explained (it's a pet hate of mine where a book ends and vital parts seem to have gotten lost in the storyline and never mentioned again) but I will say that I was actually gutted with what happened to a certain person. Ummm... I was going to say something else but won't as I don't want to spoil it for future readers but please do pop me a message if you read this book as I'd love to know your thoughts as I'm sure you will know what I mean!! One of the best things about this series too is that although it is predominantly a crime thriller it has sprinkles of humour throughout which lightens it up from time to time and Shane does it well. I was shocked when I did discover who was behind the graves as I had genuinely believed it was others entirely so well done Shane on shocking me, not an easy feat considering how many crime books I have read. I was intrigued about the Abhartach and enjoyed doing my own research on him. I really couldn't recommend this book and this series more and I would absolutely love to see this made into a TV series!!

There were chapters from/about the Leitrim burial site, Maisie Dunne and the Abhartach which gave some interesting background information. The fact that Shane has obviously either done some research or knows alot about mythology and Ireland (the fact that he lives there probably helps) shines through and I was intrigued by all the mythology, folklore and history in the storyline. I actually ended up reading more about the Abartach which was quite interesting. I also enjoyed learning some of the Irish sayings scattered through. This book is an explosive start to a promising new series and I cannot wait to get my hands on thenext in the series. I cannot say I was completely surprised when I discovered about Balor but it didn't actually disappoint as the storyline was such a heart racing and unique one.

Although this is the second book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I absolutely loved meeting all the characters for this series again and I became really invested in each of them. Jessie, Seamus and Terri worked as a perfect team and I loved the team dynamics. Each of the main characters were strong, realistic and their own unique personalities and they came together perfectly as a team and as friends. I absolutely love Jessie and Dawn's kick a## take no cr## attitude and although Terri gives the impression of a timid mouse she has definitely got a surprise roar and bite to her. I really enjoyed seeing much more of her in this book and seeing her work solo and how she coped it certain situations. I love seeing strong women leads in books being female myself and you can't get much stronger than these three!!! Jessie is absolutely ruthless and I just loved her attitude. Although Dawn is the commissioner she is down to Earth and friendly and cares about her team. I really enjoyed watching Jessie and Seamus friendship grow and develop and I'm looking forward to watching them together and seeing what happens. They clicked together really well and although Seamus calls Terri his sister in the book the three actually seem to have the family feel about them with Jessie and Seamus being Terri's Mum and Dad who are protective of her. I haven't read a book with such fantastic team dynamics in a long time. In terms of personalities and these three are very quickly becoming like friends to me who I thoroughly look forward to meeting again and spending time with them. Jessie seems to be quite serious but can relax and have fun. Seamus is definitely the class clown and brought alot of humour to any situation. The both make fantastic partners and have that rare ability to speak without words and they know what each other mean but also so does the reader. Terri is the wild card and I'm looking forward to watching her come out of her shell even more. Seamus is cute and I think his relationship with his mum Katie is lovely and Katie is another character I really like and am looking forward to meeting again as I missed her in this book. I wasn't a fan of a certain someone from the start and got bad vibes from them which turned out to be right. I won't say any more about them though as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. A certain person, shall I say, was a fantastic surprise and I feel did feel sorry for them. It was actually intriguing getting to know them and I'm glad they weren't your "typical".... (won't add the word not to give away). I definitely agree with what Shane said about them at the end on the note from him. I am looking forward to seeing this great gang again soon.

Congratulations Shane, a man of many talents, on an absolutely fantastic explosive addition to a very addictive series. This is why you are my favourite male author!! Here is to yet another success 🍻!!!

Overall an absolutely addictive, unique and unputdownable addition to a page turning series

Genres covered in this novel include Psychological Thriller, Crime, Thriller and Mystery amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Carol Wyer, Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan, Lisa Gardiner and ANYONE looking for a unique and addictive storyline.


362 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

#LostGraves #Bookouture #SADunphy #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@SADunphy @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86

https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86

https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?ref=bookmarks

https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__tn__=%2As-R

This is the second book in the series and I'm really engaged with the main characters and their personal stories, however you could read this book on its own. Set in the West of Ireland, the story line is very spooky and disturbing at times, however the dynamic detective duo Jessie and Seamus come to the rescue and solve the mysteries. I loved the introduction of a genealogist into the mix to try to identify some of the bodies found in the forest, some had been there for many years. A bit of Irish folklore and superstition as well and the scene is set. Narration was excellent. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

Narrator has a great voice but I find it hard to distinguish between different characters.


**feedback for publisher only**
I enjoyed this story but it's hard to get emotionally invested with these characters as there just doesn't seem to be much there. I also felt this way with the first book.

Lost Graves by S.A Dunphy.
Boyle and Keneally Book 2.
Narrated by Shelley Atkinson.
The only sound in the forest was the wind through the branches; the only light came from the campfire. Jessie stood up, suddenly gripped by a powerful sense of dread. There was something - someone - beyond the darkness, through the trees....
When single father Joe Keenan and his young son, Finbar, make camp for the night in the ancient forest of Leitrim, little do they imagine their rural escape is about to turn into a nightmare. For deep in the woods they find a corpse.... As the remains of dozens more victims are uncovered by police, it becomes clear this is the burial site of a serial killer who has obviously been active, unnoticed, for years. Arrested for the murders, while his beloved son is sent into care, Joe pleads his innocence to no avail. But criminal behaviorist Jessie Boyle is convinced the killer is still out there. Determined to reunite Joe and his son, Jessie’s investigation turns toward the local community. Who knows the shadowy depths of the forest well enough to hide not just one, but many bodies? Then someone else goes missing, and the situation takes a terrifying turn: It’s clear the killer is escalating their gruesome spree. Forced to enter the woods alone to save a life, Jessie runs from a killer so skilled at hiding and so clever at hunting, it will take every ounce of her strength to make it out alive....
I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I liked the narrator. Gripping and tense. I did like Jessie.. I do like this series and I hope there is more to come. 4*.

4.75⭐️
#2 Boyle and Keneally

I enjoyed the first book in this Irish crime series, so was looking forward to this one.
I had the 🎧 audiobook version.
I loved the narrators accent and distinctive voices for the main characters, she does a great job. I think the narrator has probably increased my rating.

Jessie a criminal behaviourist, with her Detective partner Seamus and Terri a historian/ IT specialist/miracle worker are part of a serious crimes task force. This is not a bog standard police procedural by any means.

Joe’s son Finbar and dog Rufus find bones in a wood, which turn out to be a mass grave. They are travellers and untrusting of the police, but Joe reports the find. The Police go for the easy suspect and charge him with the murders.
Jessie and Seamus build a good relationship with Joe and set out to prove him innocent. I really liked the main characters, there’s a great dynamic between the team, they are an easy comfortable fit.

There’s a creepy folklore element to the storyline which gives a dark menacing atmosphere. I really enjoyed the subject matters covered in this book. There’s so much going on and a good pace is maintained throughout. The writing style is relaxed but tight and concise. I just wish for less ‘said’ to denote ownership of dialogue, it’s quite distracting with the audiobook version.

It has a full on action ending. I loved this book, for me it’s even better than the first. This is fast becoming a favourite new series for me.