Who Took Eden Mulligan?

I loved the merging of genres in this book - true crime and mystery thriller! Forensic psychologist Rose Lainey heads home to Belfast to attend her mother’s funeral for the sake of her siblings. Rose had a tough relationship with her mother leaving home at eighteen for London. While in Belfast, she visits her college friend, DI Danny Stowe. Danny invites Rose to join his case involving three murders and an old missing persons case that appears to be connected. Honestly I was hooked from the beginning then it slowed down in the middle, but recovered quickly at the end with what I did not expect! Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

Excellent twists and turns, dark and chilling... a fab debut, this is an author to watch!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Who took eden mulligan ? these words are written at the site of a brutal murder .As the police hunt for the killer they also look in to the cold case of missing mom of 5 eden mulligan .Keeps you involved right up to the end .

A smart, masterfully written, slow-building mystery in which past and present collide. Highly recommend.

A heinous crime in contemporary Belfast is made more disturbing by its seeming ties to a cold case: the disappearance of Eden Mulligan in 1986 during The Troubles -- the term given for a period of conflict in Northern Ireland between the British and Irish Catholics who wanted an independent Ireland that lasted from the late 1960s until the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. While at first the connection between the two cases alludes the assigned detectives, it soon becomes clear that the shadow cast by the Troubles has far from receded, leaving an indelible mark on those who survived that time whether as adults or children. If the detectives are to solve this case, they must unearth old ghosts that many would prefer remain buried, reopen political wounds, and even take a hard look at their own connections to that time.

Rose is going home for her mother's funeral. She has not seen her siblings or mother in many years.
DI Danny an old friend of Rose's asks her to help on a very disturbing case. Four murdered young people. The fifth escaped death but in her mind she believes she killed her roommates.
Rose and Danny will work the case together. Actually two cases since the name of a victim in an unsolved case is scrawled across the wall at the crime scene of the four that were killed.
A dark psychological thriller. So many twists, that it keeps you guessing all the way to the end.
Great read!

Great twists in this story, keeps you absolutely gripped from Page 1 and no disappointment in the ending!

I really liked this book. There's a bloody murder inside an old house, a young girl walks into the police station covered in blood and tells them it's her fault everyone is dead!

When the police go to the house they find a horror scene, and someone has left a message.... Who took Eden Mulligan?

Rose is a great character and I enjoyed the relationship between her and Danny, and the story had plenty of twists to keep me guessing. I'd highly recommend this book.

A chilling novel which although fiction gives an insight into the reality of living through the "Troubles" a euphemism for the bloody conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland.

This is a really good, well written, gripping thriller!
Set in Northern Ireland around 2 central characters, Detective Danny and his old university friend Rose, a criminal psychologist, this story is fast paced, edgy, and well researched.
Best of all, it’s unpredictable.
A great read!

I would have given this 6 or 7 out of five stars if possible. If this book isn’t in every crime fiction readers top 10 of 2021 I will be astounded.
Set in Belfast, a modern day murder opens the door to an investigation into a cold case “ Who Took Eden Mulligan” is scrawled on the wall in a room of a house in which 5 friends were attacked, one escaped to the local police station and confessed to being responsible before collapsing.
The phrase on the wall refers to a woman that went missing during the Northern Ireland Troubles and became one of the people known as “The Disappeared” and that had me reach for google to do some research.
The two main characters Chief Inspector Danny Stowe and Dr Rose Lainey were best friends at University in England but haven’t seen each other since.
Lainey s back in Ireland visiting her estranged family after the death of her overbearing mother. She has questions about the activities of her mother during the troubles, and when she is asked to help Stowe she tentatively accepts, mainly because her family lived close to Mulligan at the time she went missing.
This is a stunning start to a new series and I can’t wait for the next instalment

A horrible murder of five young people, a false confession, a detective with his career on the line and his college friend with demons of her own, make for and exciting murder/mystery with plenty of twists and turns.
The author does a wonderful of job in bringing the past into the present and merging them into one story that will keep you guessing.
Thank you to Avon UK and Netgalley for and advanced copy. Will definitely be looking for more works from this author.

Who took Eden Mulligan by Sharon Dempsey is a story about two police cases past and present?
Iona Garner runs into a PSNI station covered in blood claiming to have killed 5 people in a run-down cottage in the outskirts of Belfast. When the visit the location, there is graffiti on the wall which reads Who Killed Eden Mulligan? Also, five wooden dolls hanging from a tree.
Forensic Psychologist Rose Lainey has come back to Belfast after 18 years to attend her mother’s funeral and re connect to her siblings, after all these years. When she is contacted by DI Danny Stowes who is leading the investigation of the deaths and an old university friend to help him with the case and find out who did kill Eden Mulligan. It takes Rose back to the days of the IRA and her own childhood as her own mother. As there were rumours that her mother may have been involved.
I thank Avon for a copy of this slow burning, gripping thriller which I really enjoyed, but it was different to what I was expecting. I like the characters of Rose and Danny quite different people, but they made a good team to find the killer and what happened to Eden. It was also a great insight to what happened in the troubles in Belfast in the 80’s between the IRA and the innocent people that got caught in it and what they had to do to survive and the repercussions after. 4 stars from me

A stunning book, two cases in one but over different generations and cleverly and completely intertwined. The backdrop for the cold case is set in a fascinating and sensitive period of history which gives the book gritty realism and a real humbling appreciation of what people actually lived through. There are also strong themes of family and community bonds and loyalties. A really enjoyable read and a book I quite honestly couldn’t put down.

A good read involving the present and past in Belfast. The investigation involves events from the troubled past of Northern Ireland . When the present and past collide an interesting mystery develops.

Thank you NetGalley and AVON/Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. for a copy of "Who Took Eden Mulligan?" in exchange for an honest review.

The story starts with Iona Gardener running into an PSNI station claiming to be at fault and having killed people.

Detective Inspector Danny Stowe is assigned to the Historical Enquiries Unit as punishment for a case having gone wrong. His old friend Dr. Roisin (Rose) Lainey is visiting Belfast from London where she works as a forensic psychologist for the prison service. She doesn't tell Danny that she's in Belfast for the funeral of her mother whom she's been estranged from since she was 18. When Danny is assigned to look into an active case he gets Assistant Chief Constable Ian McCausland to put Rose on the payroll to help him out.

At Lower Dunlore Cottage they find 3 dead and 1 badly injured. Scrawled over the fireplace in blackened chalk is "Who Took Eden Mulligan?" Now they have to prove that the past and the present are connected.

Eden Mulligan went missing in July 1986, possibly between the 17th and the 22nd. She left behind 5 children but the police didn't want to investigate a missing mother, they thought she'd return when she was ready. Her body was never recovered, so they were told she might have run off with another man, since her husband was gone for months at a time looking for work in England.

Danny and Rose think there is a link between the 5 children Eden Mulligan left behind and the 5 young people attacked at the cottage.

The story was engaging and well written, making you want to keep turning the pages to see what happens next. Ms. Dempsey brought to life the streets of Belfast. The ending was shocking and a thrilling end to the book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of Who Took Eden Mulligan?, a stand-alone procedural set in Belfast.

Iona Gardener stumbles into Dunlore police station, covered in blood and apparently confessing to killing her four friends. DI Danny Stowe is put in charge of the case and he enlists his old friend, forensic psychologist Dr Rose Lainey because he knows there’s more to the case than a false confession from Iona. There’s the creepy dolls tied to a tree in the garden and the message “who took Eden Mulligan?” scrawled on a wall.

I thoroughly enjoyed Who Took Eden Mulligan? which is a fascinating mixture of past and present. Eden Mulligan disappeared from Belfast in 1986 at the height of The Troubles, leaving five young children behind, but what does this have to do with a present day murder? It would seem that the past casts a long shadow.

The novel is mainly told from Danny and Rose’s points of view so it’s all about the investigation. The reader knows no more or less than them, allowing room for speculation and theorising. I got small bits and pieces right, but mostly came up short with regards to the perpetrator and motive, which, incidentally, I found the least convincing part of the novel when all was revealed. The novel works well apart from that, as it concentrates on the disappearance of Eden Mulligan, assuming that if they solve that the current case will fall into place. This allows the author to explore the fear, tension and violence of the time and plausibly explain the lack of initial investigation. It seems like another world now but it was all too real and I think the author does a good job of explaining it and the current constraints on getting justice. I was hooked.

I liked Danny and Rose who are renewing a friendship forged at university. Danny stayed in Belfast but Rose is returning after many years absence. This lets the reader see the transformation of the city through fresh eyes. A city that is almost a character itself with a long, troubled past. Both Rose and Danny have personal problems and secrets, enough to be interesting but not enough to weigh the novel down. I thought the choice of their problems was inspired as it allows them extra empathy during their investigation.

Who Took Eden Mulligan? is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Iona Gardener shows up covered in blood that isn't hers and confesses the murder of four of her friends in the cottage near Belfast. When the police arrives at the crime scene, they find five old dolls hanging from a tree. And inside, among the dead bodies, there is a question written on the wall, „Who took Eden Mulligan?“. Eden Mulligan was a missing person, mother of five children, who disappeared during The Troubles, Northern Ireland conflict. But nothing connects Eden Mulligan with the five young people who spent their weekend at the cottage. So how are the two cases connected?

DI Danny Stowe and forensic psychologist Rose Lainey work on the case. Both cases. They have problems from the very beginning because nobody wants to talk, everyone is afraid. The conflict ended not so long time ago and the scars are still fresh. Or maybe it ended just officially.

DI Stowe is fighting his own personal problems. His marriage is not working well and he can't help it. The forensic psychologist, Rose Lainey is coming back to Belfast after her desperate try to run away from it. But you can't hide from your past, it follows you wherever you go.

This is a new author for me and I liked her writing. I liked the setting, Belfast, because I don't know much about it, I live on the other side of Europe. I wasn't familiar with The Troubles, so I did a research on internet. I like it when the book inspires me to do a research and learn about things that I don't know much, Irish history, for example. This isn't ordinary police procedural story and that's why I liked it. I liked how Rose 's character was portrayed, little bit more than Danny's. But that's my opinion. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and will be in search of other books from this author.

Well written thriller with great twists. The author does an excellent job of intertwining the past 'Troubles' and 'The Disappeared' of Northern Ireland with their lasting legacy to the present day. Being from Northern Ireland myself, this particularly resonated with me and was both realistic and poignant.
Rose is a great character, engaging and believable. Her relationship with the PSNI officer, Danny, is central to the story development and I hope the author has more plans for these two!
Definitely recommended and thank you Avon books and NetGalley for my ARC.

This was an excellent book very twisty quite creepy at times and I enjoyed it immensely. I haven’t read any books by this author before so I’m so pleased that I enjoyed it. Being set in Ireland made it different which makes a change for books usually set in London or the States. The pace kept going all the way through and I was desperate to find out what happened in the end. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Forensic psychologist Rose Lainey returns home to Belfast to attend her mother’s funeral and she is invited by her friend, DI Danny Stowe to take a look to a strange case. Iona is telling the police she is the one who killed her friends in the cottage they were spending time, but DI Dany doesn't believe her. This case is related to the disappearance of Eden Mulligan, but how?
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this fast pacing thriller.

Who took Eden Mulligan? Those words will go on to haunt the police as they try to solve a murder and a case of a missing person assumed to be connected. Belfast is the site of the murders where someone, Iona Gardner, confesses to killing four people while bloody and disheveled. Words were placed in graffiti style to alert the police to the connection but will they be able to put the two together? This book is very well written with enough suspense to keep you hooked as well as a fast paced story line that will make you want to keep reading. This author has found her niche and boy does she know how to write psychological thrillers. Well developed characters that make way for a great protagonist. Overall I give this one 5++ stars.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was attracted to this book by the title and the cover and I was definitely not disappointed. DI Danny Stowe and his old University friend forensic psychologist Rose Lainey come together to investigate the present day murders of 4 graduates in Northern Ireland. The crime scene suggests a link to the cold case of Eden Mulligan, a young mother who went missing in Belfast during the Troubles. I found this to be a fresh and original addition to the crime genre. Sharon Dempsey writes a gripping novel and for me gives hugely insightful look at what happened in Belfast communities during the years of the Troubles. I loved the characters of Stowe and Lainey and also the relationship between them. This was a novel that kept me gripped and guessing until the end and I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC

4-4.5*
Rose Lainey, forensic psychologist, has returned to Belfast, her home town, for her estranged mother’s funeral. She had left Belfast many years ago to get away from any association with her family name. Her mother, she believes, had a dark past connected to the IRA.

D I Danny Stowe has been pushed aside after messing up his last big case. His marriage is on the rocks which isn’t helping him stay focused.

A young woman, Iona Gardener, walks into a police station covered in blood declaring that she has ‘killed them’ before collapsing.

Danny is given a break since at the scene is a message “Who took Eden Mulligan?” and is put in charge of the investigation.

Rose looks in on Danny, friends since being at university together, who asks her to help with the case. She agrees. He wants her help interviewing Iona, who is believes didn’t kill anyone, but she is not yet fit. So, in the meantime, Rose will look into the Eden Mulligan case. Is it really connected to the present murders? If so, how? And if Iona didn’t kill them who did?

Set in Belfast of the present day and looking back to the 1980s this book gives a fascinating insight into what it was like for those living through ‘The Troubles’ particularly for those living in the Catholic areas of Belfast. Eden Mulligan was a Protestant married to a Catholic man who was often absent working in England. When he was home he drank a lot. They had five children whose lives were irrevocably altered when their mother disappeared one night and their father never came back to care for them.

This is a tremendous story of murder, abduction and loss. It goes beyond the normal police procedural investigation into the murky world of the IRA, how it impacted on people’s lives. Also, at the involvement of priests and how being ‘a man of the cloth’ might bring influence and power in and over a community but even that cannot always save him if his personal life choices change.

These various threads are well handled and written by the author who writes with authority and the voice of experience. The two main characters are well drawn and likeable. This is certainly a duo who have the ability to become favourites for many readers of any future books. There is also scope to develop D I Stowe and his squad into terrific characters and, along with Rose, a great team.

I liked the setting, the various storylines including Rose and Danny’s backstories which were neatly woven into the book. It is well paced, an engrossing story and a wonderful read that I would not hesitate to recommend.

Thanks: Many thanks to Ellie Pilcher for the invite to read Who Took Eden Mulligan? and to Avon Books for the eBook via NetGalley.

Thanks for a preview of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Rose returns home to her family that she has not seen for years, it is unfortunately her mothers death that draws her back.

She meets up with an old friend Danny who is a policeman. Rose gets drawn into a case that Danny is working on and together, along with Danny's team they do their best to solve the mystery. A bunch of teenagers are found in an old cottage, there are 2 survivors. On the wall there is a message about the disappearance of Eden Mulligan,. Eden disappeared many years ago so therefore this modern day murder and Eden are connected...but how??? This sets off the main story of this book and really drew me in to the theme and kept me guessing.

Rose and Danny make a great team, both with issues within their personal relationships but both great individual characters. I would love to read more about Rose and Danny and hope there will be another book.

I read this really quick as I could not put the book down. Worth a read for anyone who likes a good murder mystery.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

''They're dead. They're all dead. It's my fault. I killed them.'' These are the words of Iona Gardener, who stands bloodied and staring as she confesses to the murders of four people in a run-down cottage outside Belfast. Outside the cottage, five old dolls are hanging from a tree. Inside the cottage, the words ''WHO TOOK EDEN MULLIGAN.?'' are graffitied on the wall, connecting the murder scene with a famous cold case.

This story gives us an insight to the IRA and the troubles in Belfast in the 1980's. Two cases, years apart that are entwined. The characters are well rounded, believable and likeable. Most of the investigation focuses on the cold case. The story does dip for a bit in the middle. This is a well written and informative read. The loose ends were tied up nicely by the end.

I wouldlike to thank #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author #SharonDempsey for my ARC #WhoTookEdenMulligan in exchange for an honest review.

What a stunningly good book this is! It is completely unputdownable.

Right from the very arresting prologue, my attention was grabbed. I could not put this book down, and just kept turning the pages, late into the night.

There’s so much to this gritty and compelling book. It’s a thriller and police procedural, with a forensic psychologist, a gruesome murder, family secrets and lies, all set to the backdrop of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. This is all so cleverly interwoven to create a really dark but authentic story.

As a child growing up in Dublin, I heard about Northern Ireland and the Troubles on practically a daily basis on the News. But this book really gives us a vision of exactly what it was like to live there, to feel the sense of fear and intimidation that permeated everyday life. It gives us a glimpse into the effect on families and communities.

Above all else, this is a superb, and totally compelling read. The characters are so authentic, and I liked both Danny and Rose. They’re both dealing with a lot on their personal lives, and neither are perfect. Their relationship works so well, both as friends and work colleagues.

The plot moves fast, and is very clever. I had no idea who had murdered the victims, nor how it could be connected with the case of Eden Mulligan. When the truth is revealed it’s a shock, with a few twists along the way.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough, it’s a really standout thriller, one of my favourites so far this year.

Review link attached.

Thanks to netgalley for this one.

An eerily and prescient novel, It would be easy to spoil for others so I’ll proceed with heeded caution.

I have to say, this one had me enthralled the entire way. What it does better than most, is humanising its characters whilst simultaneously portraying the inhumane. The relationships that are formed are elegantly crafted and the prose is both verbose and easy-going.

There are elements here that show a great maturity and complexity in the styling and I can’t applaud the author enough for allowing an eery and elegant story to grow and fester in my psyche. This really did permeate my inner-core with its subtle yet blunt and thumping pulse that relented sombrely and derisively as I read-on.

This is a truly captivating read and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy. This is one I’ll undoubtedly be reading again.

There were times when the writing was a bit redundant/repetitive, and other times when the tone was a little... opinionated? Judgy? And it got under my skin a bit. But that is me nitpicking, because overall I found this book to be an excellent read and thoroughly enjoyed the story.

I haven’t read anything else by Sharon Dempsey before Who Took Eden Mulligan?, which I found to be an intriguing Irish crime novel with some really likable, interesting characters.

The story follows our two protagonists: Danny Stowe, a Detective Inspector leading his first case in a rural area outside of Belfast, and forensic psychologist Rose Lainey, one of Danny’s childhood friends. Rose returns to the area for her mum’s funeral but ends up being pursuaded by Danny to stay and help him investigate a perplexing murder case.

A young girl has confessed to murdering four of her university friends in a frenzied attack, but the evidence doesn’t quite add up. There are links to a cold case where a woman disappeared for no apparent reason many years before. Together, Danny and Rose start to investigate.

The novel is not just about the investigation but their relationship, with tension and history between them bubbling under the surface, as well as Rose’s family history affecting her treatment of the case. The novel’s themes also includes lots about the IRA and The Troubles, and this subject is really interesting to read more about. The plot moves along quite slowly, so I wouldn’t say I was a particularly fast-paced read, if thats what you’re into.

The characters in this novel feel realistic and interesting, and I would happily read more about Danny and Rose, so I do hope this becomes a new series.

This is a well written thriller. Great story line that will keep you in the edge of your seat. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC. I definitely recommend if you enjoy a good suspenseful thriller!

Pub date:2/2021

DI Danny Stowe of PSNI has been side-lined to working cold cases. He gets an opportunity to re-prove himself when he is appointed lead on a murder case following the discovery of the bodies of several young people in a cottage near Belfast. Intriguingly, the case appears to have links to a missing person’s case from the 80s.
He enlists the help of Forensic Psychologist Rose Lainey, a friend from University days who happens to be back in Northern Ireland for a funeral.
Who Took Eden Mulligan is Sharon Dempsey’s second crime novel set in Northern Ireland. Writing a current day crime novel set in Northern Ireland is not new, however combining it with the investigation of a case set in The Troubles is. Ms Dempsey tells the story as it is, and as it was. Her writing style is gentle, but uncompromising and her extensive journalistic experience is evident throughout.
The bonus for this reader is one of having been born in the area where the historic case occurred, and the knowledgeable descriptions aroused many memories.
The Will they Won’t they relationship between Danny and Rose added to the enjoyment, there might be a series here.
A very enjoyable and well-informed read, highly recommended.

This is an intriguing read, combining a current murder investigation and a cold case involving a missing mother of five children. I loved the characterisation and the intricate plotting, as well as the Belfast setting. A mixture of police procedural, thriller and romance. giving a good insight into the IRA and the troubles of 1980's Belfast. A good solid read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

A very well written psychological thriller. Good plot with many twists and turns. Edge of your seat suspense. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

This book sounded like something I’d really enjoy, a blend of true crime and a mystery thriller. I was drawn to the book because of this and the fact it’s set in Ireland. I have a soft spot for books set in Ireland. I’m not Irish so I don’t know what appeals to me so much about the place. I loved the fact that forensic psychologist features in the book, making it a bit different than the usual thriller. This ticked all the boxes for me; well written, full of great characters, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. This is my first time reading the author and I will check out more of her work.

I won't go too much into details on this one. I find that just this little bit is pretty interesting. This novel starts with a girl named Iona Gardener. Iona runs into a police station covered in blood claiming to be at fault and having killed people. When the police arrive at the crime scene they find five old dolls hanging from a tree. And inside, among the dead bodies, there is a question written on the wall, „Who took Eden Mulligan?“. Eden Mulligan was a missing person, mother of five children, who disappeared during The Troubles, Northern Ireland conflict.

My review:
This novel was so dark and creepy I loved that there was a mix of true crime and mystery thriller. It kept me up all night. I just needed to know what was going to happen. I was hooked from the start. The story and writing were soo good and the details were perfect. I really enjoyed the scene-setting. I was also really attracted to the book cover. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

Why did Iona Gardener confess to killing her four friends when she didn't do it? And what does the scrawled declaration 'Who Took Eden Mulligan?' mean. What connection does it have to the gruesome murders?

An unusual premise of a murder combined with a historical missing person mystery that has never been solved. Set in Belfast the two main characters Danny and Rose met at university. While Danny stayed and became a detective, Rose left and became a forensic psychologist who Danny calls upon to help him unravel the murder case.

This was a clever story written both at the time of the Troubles when Eden Mulligan vanished and in present day. I enjoyed it very much. Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read and review 'Who Took Eden Mulligan.

3.5 stars

This is an intriguing police procedural that blends a current murder with a cold case from 1986. It begins with a prologue guaranteed to get your heart thumping.

First, our MC’s. Chief Inspector Danny Stowe has just been handed a chance to redeem himself. After botching his last case, he was banished to the basement to shuffle through “historical enquiries”. And in a place like Belfast, there’s no shortage of those.

Dr. Rose Lainey is all too familiar with suffering caused by the Troubles. She couldn’t get out of Belfast soon enough & fled to university with no intention of ever returning. There she met a young guy named Danny Stowe & they became best buds. Rose went on to become a forensic psychologist working for the prison system in London. Now her mother has died & Rose returns to Belfast for the first time in 15 years.

It’s inevitable the two old uni friends will meet again, they just probably never guessed it would be over dead bodies.

Danny’s dusty exile is interrupted when a young woman stumbles into the precinct covered in blood. She tells them her friends are all dead. And she killed them. Hmmm….someone should definitely look into that. It’s like he’s been thrown a life preserver, although the old adage “be careful what you wish for” springs to mind. And just like that, he’s heading up what becomes known as the Dunlore stabbings.

Two issues need his immediate attention. The young woman who confessed is a mess & interviewing her will be a delicate matter. Also, at the scene they found “Who took Eden Mulligan” spray painted on a wall. It’s a name Danny knows well from his cold case review. He needs someone with an analytical mind & background in psychology to help him crack it…….if only he knew a forensic psychologist.

And they’re off. Danny moves upstairs to run the present day investigation while Rose takes over the basement and gets acquainted with the decades old Eden Mulligan case (which is eerily similar to the real life disappearance of Jean McConville in 1972). As the story progresses, we become more familiar with both MC’s histories & private lives as they reconnect with each other. And always lurking in the background is Belfast itself, a city whose streets & residents still bear the scars of generations of conflict.

So here’s the deal. I love a twisty police procedural, especially when cold cases are involved. There’s something about re-examining an old unsolved case that I find intriguing & the mystery behind Eden Mulligan’s disappearance was probably my favourite part of the plot. However, this also has a strong romantic element. Danny & Rose initially reconnect as friends but seem destined to become more in subsequent books.

I picked this up because I had really enjoyed “Little Bird”, the author’s previous book. From reading the blurb, for this one, I didn’t appreciate how big a role the budding romance would play in the overall story line. So I would categorize this as romantic suspense & I’m afraid I’m more of a straight up crime/procedural fan. Not the author’s fault, just a matter of personal preference. It’s a well written story that will keep you guessing & as a bonus, set in one of my favourite cities.

I found this book really interesting, because of the backdrop of the Troubles in Northern Ireland at the time. I learnt a lot about the historical context as I read. Liked that past and present ran alongside each other when telling the story. Enjoyed the back story between the 2 main characters too and hope they return in future.

This is a multi layered mystery with many strands, set in a Belfast now free of The Troubles in the 70's and 80's. But someone doesn't want the past to be left there, as the words 'Who Took Eden Mulligan?" are there for the police to see, left after the shocking murders of four people.

Rose Lainey has come back to Belfast to attend her mother's funeral, she and Danny were at Liverpool Uni together and she agrees to help him with this baffling case.

I enjoyed the chemistry between the two, their interactions felt natural.

Who Took Eden Mulligan? is more than a murder mystery, it's about the assumptions people make, of living in fear in Belfast in the 1980's, fear of saying or doing the wrong thing, I could almost feel that claustrophobia in the writing, which was excellent from beginning to end.

The tension is slow and steady, gradually building up to a fast pace at the end.....and I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book of many layers.

I would love to read more of DI Danny Stowe and forensic psychologist Rose Lainey and see where their next case takes them.

A country tending its wounds, a family tending their wounds, and a forensic psychologist tending her own wounds combine with the somewhat gothic atmosphere outside Belfast Ireland to create an immersive mystery experience. The pace is a big uneven and the characters at times can be a bit cliché (old university friends who pine for each other but instead declare themselves best buds), but when taken in the entire context of the book, it seems to work. I also frequently wondered whether this was the beginning of a series with Rose Lainey returning home. I would be interested in reading more!

Fans of the police procedural will enjoy this for the dual time line stories that shine a light on the Troubles. Set in Belfast, it starts off with a bang when Iona walks into the police claiming she's killed her friends. Di Danny Stowe, who has been working cold cases, is called in because the phrase Who Took Eden Mulligan, one of his files, is written on the wall in the house with the bodies. He asks for help from his old friend Dr Rose Lainey, who is. back in Belfast after years away. These two- well, they make a good team. Why is Iona claiming to be a murderer? What did happen to Eden? No spoilers from me. I liked how Dempesy wrapped into insight into Belfast in the 1980s. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Hope to see more with Lainey and Stowe.

“Who Took Eden Mulligan” by Sinead Dempsey is an intense psychological investigation thriller that links the murder of three students to the disappearance of a mother of five children over twenty years ago. In the opening chapters we meet the two lead investigators, Danny Stowe from PSNI and Rose Lainey who has returned to Belfast on a temporary basis and about their backstories. After a frustrating period of time making very little progress, the investigators finally catch a break that they feel could help them make some progress.

This story looks into events and agreements that people outside of Northern Ireland will most likely not be aware of. The traumatic impact on victims of injustices is also a theme though not exclusive to the troubles. .