I really loved this thriller, which is the third book in the series, of which I have loved the previous two books too.

The story is set in Ireland, and we are back with Jessie Boyle, Seamus Keneally, Terri and Dawn, as they gather round as a strong team, to help solve the case of a little kidnapped girl with cancer, called Rosie. She has been kidnapped from hospital, and the team are rushing to find out who has taken her and why. They need to find her within ten days, otherwise she could die. Will they be able to find her on time?

This is a wonderful book, which is really fantastic. I look forward to reading more books from this author. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

PLOT: The story revolves around a missing little girl who is battling cancer. She needs to be found in no later than 10 days as she needs treatment to keep her alive. There are many different aspects to the case and the avenues the team goes down. From cults, to crime bosses, US Intelligence to the serial killer still stalking Boyle.

CHARACTERS: Boyle, Keneally, Kehoe and Wilson all add something different to the story and the dynamic to the group. I still really love Terry Kehoe and her ability to uncover things. I also really enjoy her brother sister relationship with Seamus Kenneally. The biggest surprise character wise for me was Commissioner Dawn Wilson, she is a bad ass. The time behind a desk hasn’t dulled her skills. Also we get to see a bit of her back story which was interesting.


WRITING SYLE: One of my favourite aspect of Dunphy writing is his ability to weave in Irish history, with a dash of supernatural around the crime mystery.

THEME: Kidnapping, mystery, cult, folklore, thriller.

OVERALL: I really the book especially the character and will be continuing reading this series.

My Rating for Her Child’s Cry is 4 out of 5.

What a great Irish crime thriller this proved to be
In the Boyle and Keneally series this is book three.
This time their special team are called in once more
When an ill child disappears from the hospital floor.

The team has such diverse characters who
Together help discover, link and solve each clue.
However the twists from the past and history
All add to this enthralling mystery.

Why did they choose Rosie Blake to take?
Was it deliberate or a terrible mistake?
With the child needing continual treatment
Will the kidnappers actually relent?

This story has so many surprises as it unfolds
As secrets and motives begin to be told.
With the child's life in danger they're in desperate need
Of something to help them discover that vital lead.

A fascinating story keeping you on the edge of your seat,
With great characters and events its hard to beat.
I found it such an engaging read all the way
I really recommend you also read it some day.

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
It's a superb crime thriller and this is my honest review.

“Find her, please find her, before it’s too late.”
..

Having read the first book in this series, book #2 seems to have somehow slipped through the net, so there I was with book #3, hoping that I hadn’t missed out on any vital backstory in my absence. However, I need not have worried, as author Shane Dunphy filled in any gaps succinctly, without either causing a non-series reader to feel they have missed out on something vital, or a confirmed follower of Jessie Boyle to worry about too much repetition.

However, that’s where all the ‘feel-good’ factor stopped, because from there on out the adrenalin flow went off the scale, I could feel the tension oozing from the pages, and for a person who is not really animal friendly, the fear factor reached melting point at times.

I also established that each of the books in the Boyle and Keneally series, prominently feature elements of Irish myth, folk legend and supernatural horror, woven into the narrative alongside the more conventional elements of traditional crime fiction, so nothing is ever quite as it seems.

Everything begins when…

..

Young cancer patient, Arizona Rose (Rosie) Blake, is taken from her hospital bed and whilst the identity of the abductor is soon discovered, his motives take much longer to establish, by which time events have moved on apace and he has unwittingly placed Rosie in a life or death situation, from which he is no longer able to keep her safe. To criminal behaviourist, Jessie Boyle and her small team, Rosie’s wealthy parents seem surprisingly calm and detached from events. However, by the time the reason for their strange behaviour is established, one of them can be of no further assistance to police enquiries and the other will be facing the full force of Jessie’s wrath.

A straightforward kidnap and ransom demand this definitely isn’t, as Jessie, Seamus, Dawn and Terri soon discover. For Jessie, her nemesis from the very first occasion I met her and the reason she left the English mainland to return to her Irish homeland, is still taunting and teasing her, although on this occasion, he is surprisingly helpful in guiding her path through the maze of deception, but only because he isn’t done with her yet! As leader of this small unit, Dawn once enjoyed a surprisingly intimate relationship with the least likely of soul mates, a suspect in the case, who is still willing to offer her a few crumbs of information for old times sake. Workaholic, Seamus thinks he might have found his own slice of happiness, although when you are in his line of work, true love never seems to run smoothly. For behind the scenes researcher, Terri, being asked to leave the safety blanket of her office and desk, makes her feel valued, especially when not only is a child’s life at stake, but the team desperately needs another pair of boots on the ground – After this experience though, I think her computer skills might be all the comfort she craves.

The race to find Rosie is numbered in hours rather than days, so when the action moves to a remote Irish island location, the weather closes in and all the local residents seem to be conspiring against you, it pays to keep looking over your shoulder and have good friends to depend on, who will never knowingly let you down! Never mind the animal phobia, I also needed to put my claustrophobia to one side now, and that’s easier said than done!

A rogue operator who is trying to make his name in local gangland activities, sets everything spiralling downwards, making this life or death investigation much more difficult to get a handle on. Myths and legends centuries old, rear their ugly heads once more and a violent sect, for whom suffering, death and sacrifice is second nature and all part of a pre-ordained plan, is resurrected by local aristocracy. An outside member of Dawn’s team is uncovered as someone not to be trusted – And when is a kidnap, not a kidnap?

..

This fast-paced, multi-faceted, sinister and complex storyline, was thoughtfully broken down into several bite-sized chapters, some of which were narrated by specific characters. The many threads of the story wove themselves together beautifully into a final crescendo which I never saw coming, although as there were so many twists and turns along the way, that was hardly a surprise! Whilst the diverse elements and acts of pagan and occult savagery, which verge on terrorism rather than religious zealotry, take centre stage in the plot, they are carefully crafted to sit in harmony, work with, and never to overshadow, the crime solving outcomes of the case.

This book is an excellent choice, if like myself, you are a confirmed ‘armchair traveller’. So many of the locations mentioned in the storyline are real places, which I could check out for myself, although Shane more than adequately catalogues his own ‘potted’ guide in the “Acknowledgements and some comments from the author” section at the end of the book, which I actually read first, so that I could immerse myself in the in the amazing Irish setting and hit the ground running. The remote island where Terri finds herself captive, and the bothy hidden in the folds of the mountains where Jessie and her fellow officers believe they have made their final stand, are scenes all set with great attention to detail and descriptive qualities which paint a vivid picture, acting as a good foil for the city landscape and the mundane machinery of the authorities.

Shane has created and developed a strong, authentic and addictive core cast of characters, who each have their own strengths and weaknesses, whose individual skills complement one another, who work well as a team and have some excellent synergy and dynamics between them. As with all investigative teams, their personal lives seem to be a cause of constant stress and angst, so whilst Seamus is still trying to balance his professional and personal life and failing dismally with the latter, the three ladies, who are of slightly more mature years, have decided to concentrate on their careers first and foremost. Which camp is the happier with the current situation, is yet to be established conclusively.

Rosie is actually a very astute child, although through the necessity to protect herself, when those around her can’t or won’t, has become quite withdrawn and uncommunicative. However, she finds her own way in which to express herself and release some of the pent up tension and emotion, which fills her young life, and it is this which in no small way, helps Jessie and the team to figure out what is going on in her head and indeed what fate might have befallen her.

This storyline was ably supported by a large touring support team of nefarious complex characters, who only added to the tension and upped the anti, throughout. Dour, disturbed, manipulative and dangerous, didn’t even begin to describe this duplicitous gathering of humanity. Their malevolence knew no bounds, making them totally untrustworthy, unlikeable and impossible to connect with – Just, I suspect, as the author had intended.

What always makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every new book I read, I am taken on a unique and individual journey, by authors who fire my imagination, stir my emotions and stimulate my senses. This story definitely had the power to evoke so many feelings, that I’m sure I won’t have felt the same way about it as the last reader, nor the next. Shane offered me a ticket to hell and back, so thanks for one gut-wrenching journey!

Rosie Blake is a very sick little girl. She practically lives in the hospital where she receives treatment. When she is apparently snatched from the hospital, it's a literal race against time. Because if she isn't found within 10 days, she'll die. Jessie and her team act quickly, but when their chief subject is found murdered they're back to square one...


Another great mix of crime fiction and Irish myths and legends. The books never go so far to go all out on the more supernatural element, but just enough to give the series its all-important USP. It's a great series with loads of potential.

Another excellent read from Shane Dunphy. Plenty of tension and mystery. As usual Jessie Boyle and her team are on top form, on the hunt for a missing and very ill little girl. It tells a modern story with plenty of Irish folklore thrown in.
I flew through this book and cannot wait for the next instalment.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an advance copy

The third book in this gripping and action packed series. I adore the mix of mythology, the evil serial killers and the gorgeous settings. From start to finish it's a rollercoaster of emotions and at times I was nearly too shook to turn the page.

The main characters are fascinating as individuals and powerful as a team. I love watch them progress professionally and personally.

This series is going from strength to strength and I'm here for it!

#HerChildsCryBoyleKeneallyBook3 #NetGalley This is book 3 in the series and I have not read the first 2 books. I didn't find this a hindrance at all but I'm sure it would have given me a bit more background on the relationships between the main characters if I had. The storyline was a harrowing one - a terminally ill child being abducted from her hospital bed whilst receiving chemo and when the action happened I found I was riveted to each page hoping they were successful in their race against time to save Rosie! Whilst the pagan ritual side to the story was interesting I found that I got bored reading through the pages of history on the subject and I did have to skim read at times. Aside from that I enjoyed the story and would definitely look for other books by this author. The cliffhanger at the end leads me to believe there will be more in this series!!

This series and this book is one of those you just cannot put down. I read this in one breathless sitting.Wow.What a story. Packed with twists, this is truly a killer read.

HER CHILD'S CRY
PolProc-Boyle/Keneally-Ireland-Contemp
By S.A. Dunphy– 3rd book in series
Bookouture, Apr 2022, 343 pp.
Rating: Okay/C

First Sentence: ‘Between 2015 and 2019 a total of one hundred children were abducted in Ireland, one-third of whom were taken within the Dublin Metropolitan Area.’

Ten days. That is all the time the police have to rescue Rosie Blake. Rosie is a child with cancer who was stolen from the hospital. She can only survive ten days without her medication. The police find the suspect quickly, except he is dead; murdered and Rosie still is missing. It is up to criminal behaviorist Jessie Boyle and her team to find Rosie in time, without Jessie dying.
Doesn't everyone love a good race-against-the-clock mystery? Dunphy creates a setup that is tense and effective and encourages the reader to keep going. To end the opening section with a single-sentence portent—“That would come later.”—is both unnecessary and lazy. There was no need to add an extra push.
Dunphy's principal characters are interesting and fully developed. You know who they are and how they fit together, giving you bits of their personalities. He knows how and when to interject humor, both in his dialogue and in situations.
It is unfortunate when the author begins with a plot for a compelling mystery but decides to veer off down a strange path. The plot becomes overly complicated, filled with extraneous historical information, and unnecessary portents, of which there are many. The story gets lost due to a lack of focus. The folklore is interesting, but it overshadows the strength of the plot rather than adding to it.
Dunphy has the talent to write a really good mystery, if that’s his goal, or to write a fascinating book of magic and folklore, or a history of Ireland. Combining them becomes messy and convoluted.
HER CHILD’S CRY is the third book in the Boyle/Keneally series. One hopes an author learns and grows with each book. Sadly, that is not the case here.

This is number three in a series and I normally have a very strict "start at the beginning rule". However, the premise of this one really caught my interest. Terminally ill child kidnapped from hospital ? That's nuts. So in I dove and I was not sorry. I love Boyle and Keneally, starting at number three was no issue at all and I soon got engrossed. Uruz, a mystical organisation, desperate parents, the NSA somehow it all comes together in a thrilling finale. Not to be missed (and I will of course be downloading books one and two for my holidays)

This series just keeps getting better and better!!

In this book, the team of Jessie Boyle, Seamus Keneally, Terri Kehoe and Commissioner Dawn Wilson have only a week to find a nine year old cancer patient, Arizona Rose Blake who has been abducted but which turns into a cat and mouse chase involving the Irish mob and the Reavers, an Irish version of the Hellfire Club, a supernatural, satanic cult who are back after centuries to fulfil a prophesy of unleashing Hell on earth. Plus, the serial killer Uruz makes contact again with Jessie Boyle (via text messages and phone call) and by the end of the book, readers can anticipate that things will now be entering phase two where Uruz is concerned. I am getting very strong vibes that Uruz could be someone very close to home.

Gripping, atmospheric, twisty and unputdownable, this is another absolute winner in an already exciting and excellent series.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author S. A. Dunphy for the e-Arc of the book.

Dark, creepy and unsettling, S A Dunphy continues the Boyle & Keneally series with the third terrifying installment, Her Child’s Cry.

Little Rosie Blake has been stolen from her hospital bed where she was getting treatment for cancer. Naturally, her parents are beside themselves and are desperate to find their little girl and take her back to safety and to hospital to get the necessary treatment she needs to stay alive. With poor Rosie only able to survive without medication for ten days, time is of the essence, but so far the police haven’t made any progress with their investigation and have come to a dead end. Criminal behaviourist Jessie Boyle and her team have been brought in to help and at long last it seems like a breakthrough in this case has been made – only just when they were about to make an arrest, the suspect’s dead body was found.

With the case getting more and more desperate with each passing day, Jessie and her team are at their wits’ end. Rosie still hasn’t been found and there is a dangerous killer still at large. Jessie cannot help but wonder whether Rosie’s disappearance could have something to do with the sudden revival of Dublin’s Hellfire Club, an ancient cult that is obsessed with death and human sacrifice. With the stakes having never been higher, Jessie needs to trust her instincts in her search for a sick little girl and her quest to find her takes her all the way to Ireland’s remote mountains. But will Jessie find Rose and take her back to safety in time? Or is it already far too late?

S A Dunphy’s Her Child’s Cry is an unflinching, gut-wrenching and shocking exploration of evil that will chill readers to the bone and have them sleeping with the lights on and making sure that all the doors and windows have been bolted shut. A twisted and disturbing thriller that grips from the start and will keep readers completely glued to its pages, Her Child’s Cry is certainly not for the faint-hearted or the easily spooked.

In Boyle and Keneally’s third case, S A Dunphy has written a nerve-twisting and heart-stopping crime novel that will haunt readers long after they’ve turned the last page.

A little girl with cancer is snatched from a hospital. Her abductor is found dead shortly afterwards but Rosie is still missing. Behaviour specialist Jessie Boyle and DS Seamus Keneally begin a frantic search for the little girl but her time is running out..
Her Child's Cry is the third book to feature Boyle and Keneally but the first that I have read. There are mentions of events from previous books and I presume the serial killer character appeared in an earlier book.
This book is full of tension right from the beginning. A little girl with cancer is kidnapped which is a highly emotive case. I liked the main trio of investigators as they work together to figure out who took Rosie and why. Their boss Dawn Wilson is a great character, a strong woman in a male dominated world and a fabulous leader.
The book is set in Ireland and there are some historical elements to the plot. There are many different plot strands as the investigation proceeds and they explore cults, gangs and internet predators.
There are some chapters written from specific characters viewpoints including Rosie's. This gives us a personal perspective as well as increasing the tension as we fear for their safety. I enjoyed following the twists and turns of the plot developments and want to read the previous books to see how the serial killer interacted with the lead characters.
Her Child's Cry is an entertaining crime thriller novel.

Her Child's Cry by S. A. Dunphy is the third book in the brilliant Boyle & Keneally series of Irish police procedurals featuring Jessie Boyle, who is a criminal behavioural specialist, and Detective Seamus Keneally and their work with a task force investigating serious crimes. Oh, I have loved these books. They have gripped me from the beginning till the end.

When little Rosie Blake has been taken from the hospital where she was being treated for cancer, Rosie’s distraught parents haven’t heard a word from anyone. Sitting waiting and every minute that ticks by Rosie is getting weaker and weaker. She needs this medication to keep her alive.

‘I just want my little girl back. She’s so little, she needs her mummy. And she doesn’t even have her panda bear with her. Find her, please find her, before it’s too late.’ Tick Tock! Tick Tock!

The Police are unable to find any clues that will help them find little Rosie. Criminal behaviourist Jessie Boyle and her team are brought in to help.

Who would be so evil as to steal a sick child? and why?

Narrowing down on one suspect, Jessie quickly moves to arrest them, only to discover the suspect’s dead body instead.!

But, No sight of Rosie or anything that will lead them to her. This case becomes even more desperate.

Where is Rosie?

Can they find her in time before it's too late?

WoW what a book! Excellent from start to finish!

I highly recommend all of these books 5 stars every book within this series.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC.

"Completely unputdownable Irish crime fiction" is what it says on the cover of this book, and it is so true! The crew of Boyle, Keneally, Kehoe, and Wilson work so well together to solve big crimes, and with each book I appreciate the characters even more. This is book three in the series, but it could be read as a stand alone book. There were a couple bizarre twists and turns in the book, a couple of which made the hair on the back of my neck stand up! The action was non-stop and I thoroughly enjoyed working through the tiny details of the investigation to see how they led to bigger clues in order to solve the case.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I'm hoping there will be a book four in this series in the future!

I loved the intensity buildup within the book when it came to Jessie and her team pulling all their puzzle pieces together. I thought that the villain character was written very well. Hiding his identity among all the other characters was very smart. The book is a page turner, but the ease of reading it was a little rough. The plot is a great attention getter for the book. The suspense and drama among a couple of the characters was a boiling point for me as the reader hoping that those characters will get theirs in the end.

Her Child's Cry, although a little long, was a good story. It kept the reader's attention as well as I found it a little scary in parts.. Jesse Boyle, a criminal behaviorist and detective Seamus Kenneally are partners and the main characters in this story. The other supporting characters are very important to the story. Jesse and Seamus are part of a special police force along with Dawn Wilson, Ireland's Garda commissioner and Terri Kehoe researcher for their task force.

The task force is notified that a child with cancer, Rosie Blake has been taken from Beaumont Hospital. They meet with her parents, Peter and Shauna Blake. Rosie was taken by a hospital aide, Richard Boche who is later found murdered, While leaving the hospital she gets a text message from serial killer Urez who escaped capture for abducting her partner and lover, Will. He warns her of a group called the Reavers

The story takes the reader through betrayal, a secret society, more murders, some romance, disappearances, chases and a man with a dog. There is so much going on in this story that it is hard to put it all on paper. The story builds up with twists and turns that takes the reader to an exciting and unpredictable ending.

Thank you NegGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

I like the intensity and the story's suspenseful nature; with its clever plotting and the believable team dynamic, it's an addictive read. The Irish setting, interwoven folklore, and relatable characters make this disturbing and intriguing to read. The ending is impactful and paves the way for the next instalment in this excellent series.

When nine-year-old Rosie Blake disappears from the hospital, everyone is on alert. Rosie has a rare form of cancer and has a very specific treatment plan. If she’s not found within a certain period of time she will certainly die. Criminal behaviorist Jessie Boyle and her partner Seamus Keneally must find out who took her and work hard at finding her in time.

Jessie, Seamus and the rest of the team work at a fever pace in order to locate Rosie. Danger is close at their heels, especially when a body found definitely points to the victim being Rosie’s kidnapper. Now the team must understand why the man was killed and possibly who his partner that might still have Rosie could be.

The case takes a surprising turn when a link to a cult called The Reavers proves to be behind Rosie’s disappearance. The cult is firmly rooted in dark beliefs. Beliefs such as death and sacrifice, thus truly raising the stakes in this most serious of cases.

This third book in the Boyle and Keneally series has the same horror vibe that was in the first two books. Perhaps not for the faint of heart, especially since a young child is concerned, but yet this book was impossible to put down. As each book in the series can work as a standalone novel, I definitely recommend reading the first two books, Bring Her Home and Lost Graves, for the full experience. I thoroughly enjoy this series and am excited for the next installment.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/Q2gclqieN-o