Length 380 pages
Format softcover
Published 2018
Series Cormac Reilly #1
My Copy provided by the publisher
This police procedural set in mostly in Galway, Ireland introduces new series protagonist Cormac Reilly; a smart and dedicated Guard who isn't afraid to go against the grain to solve a case - even if it means investigating his colleagues.
The Ruin is a story of two tales intertwined by murder and circumstance. When Jake Blake goes missing, his partner, Aisling Conroy fears she's lost her loved one following the discovery of her pregnancy, however, it's not a matter of cold feet, with something more sinister the cause; suicide. Aisling starts questioning herself while trying to piece together a fractured picture of Jake - suicide doesn't 'fit' with Jakes profile, and when his long-gone sister, Maude returns poking holes in the guards case, murder becomes most likely.
20 years earlier, Jake was the victim of domestic abuse; the guard called to his residence, Cormac Reilly, took him to the hospital along with his sister who promptly disappeared, only to resurface in the present day. The clever interlocking of cases around Cormac was well executed.
The Ruin is a quick read such is the quality of the writing and easily flowing narrative. The characters are complex and well rounded. This feels like the beginning of what could be a long running series with bit players in the guard given complimentary page-time; just enough tease them out in readiness for further exploration.
My rating: 4/5 stars. The Ruin captures the rainy and grey of Galway while shining a light on an interesting protagonist with an equally interesting backstory that I'm keen to read more of.
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