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Joe Swallow #1
A June of Ordinary Murders
In the 1880s the DMP classified crime in two distinct classes. Political crimes were ‘special’, whereas theft, robbery and even murder, no matter how terrible, were ‘ordinary’.
Dublin, June 1887: the mutilated bodies of a man and a child are discovered in Phoenix Park and Detective Sergeant Joe Swallow steps up to investigate. Cynical and tired, Swallow is a man living on past successes in need of a win.
In the background, the city is sweltering in a long summer heatwave, a potential gangland war is simmering as the chief lieutenants of a dying crime boss size each other up and the castle administration want the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden jubilee to pass off without complication. Underneath it all, the growing threat of anti-British radicals is never far away. With the Land War at its height, the priority is to contain ‘special’ crime. But these murders appear to be ‘ordinary’ and thus of lesser priority. When the evidence suggests high-level involvement, and as the body count increases, Swallow must navigate the waters of foolish superiors, political directives and frayed tempers to investigate the crime, find the true murderer and deliver justice.
A June Of Ordinary Murders captures the life and essence of Dublin in the 1880s and draws the reader on a thrilling journey of murder and intrigue
Dublin, June 1887: the mutilated bodies of a man and a child are discovered in Phoenix Park and Detective Sergeant Joe Swallow steps up to investigate. Cynical and tired, Swallow is a man living on past successes in need of a win.
In the background, the city is sweltering in a long summer heatwave, a potential gangland war is simmering as the chief lieutenants of a dying crime boss size each other up and the castle administration want the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden jubilee to pass off without complication. Underneath it all, the growing threat of anti-British radicals is never far away. With the Land War at its height, the priority is to contain ‘special’ crime. But these murders appear to be ‘ordinary’ and thus of lesser priority. When the evidence suggests high-level involvement, and as the body count increases, Swallow must navigate the waters of foolish superiors, political directives and frayed tempers to investigate the crime, find the true murderer and deliver justice.
A June Of Ordinary Murders captures the life and essence of Dublin in the 1880s and draws the reader on a thrilling journey of murder and intrigue
381 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
51 people are currently reading
870 people want to read
About the author
Conor Brady
19 books28 followersJournalist, author, former editor (@IrishTimes, The Sunday Tribune), former Commissioner, Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 16, 2012
A June of Ordinary Murders is an engaging historical police procedural. The start is quite ponderous and has too much show and not enough tell, with Brady spending time setting out the organisation of the Dublin police force, sometimes repeating certain information, and positioning the main characters. As the story unfolds the storytelling becomes more lively with a number of intersecting subplots, and the tale progresses to a nice resolution. The set-up is fairly standard police procedural fare, with Swallow being somewhat of a maverick, outsider cop with an idiot boss in Inspector Boyle and who is used to battling the interfering forces of the media and elite classes (in this case the British administration and city official). The characterisation is generally good throughout, especially Swallow, though the criminal classes and Boyle felt a bit caricaturish (also it’s difficult to take seriously any character named ‘Pisspot’, especially someone meant to be a ruthless criminal boss). The historicisation is well done, transporting the reader to late nineteenth century Dublin and its inequalities and political machinations. Overall, after a stilted start, A June of Ordinary Murders is an enjoyable multi-layered tale and a fine addition to Irish crime fiction. I look forward to Swallow's next outing.
August 14, 2015
If given the opportunity, I would have rated this book 2.5/5.
I found the writing clumsy at times and a bit of struggle to keep my interest. The author definitely has the ability to be a good writer as Chapter 2 grabbed me and made me want more. Unfortunately, the rest of the book appeared to be a first time author in need of a better editor. At times, the book become a lengthy history lesson, which seemed unnecessary, that made me glaze over.
Try as I might, I really did not like the Joe Swallow character. I’m not sure if he was supposed to be a good guy with a chip on his shoulder or just an ass with a healthy ego. Two of the main antagonists (Boyle and Kelly) were so far over the top the chapters featuring them became almost painful to get through.
The terrorist plot and kid sister character only weighed down the story and took away from the actual mysteries to be solved. It would have been a better book if that entire storyline had been removed and saved for its own book.
I realize now that it was the first book in a series. I may pick up Book 2 (Eloquence of the Dead) eventually, however it will be a low priority on my reading list.
I found the writing clumsy at times and a bit of struggle to keep my interest. The author definitely has the ability to be a good writer as Chapter 2 grabbed me and made me want more. Unfortunately, the rest of the book appeared to be a first time author in need of a better editor. At times, the book become a lengthy history lesson, which seemed unnecessary, that made me glaze over.
Try as I might, I really did not like the Joe Swallow character. I’m not sure if he was supposed to be a good guy with a chip on his shoulder or just an ass with a healthy ego. Two of the main antagonists (Boyle and Kelly) were so far over the top the chapters featuring them became almost painful to get through.
The terrorist plot and kid sister character only weighed down the story and took away from the actual mysteries to be solved. It would have been a better book if that entire storyline had been removed and saved for its own book.
I realize now that it was the first book in a series. I may pick up Book 2 (Eloquence of the Dead) eventually, however it will be a low priority on my reading list.
May 26, 2012
In reality I rated this book 4.5 stars.
“G Division divided all crime into two categories: ‘special’ or ‘ordinary’. The absolute priority was ‘special crime’ – anything with an element of politics or subversion. ‘Ordinary crime’ might be serious but it took second place to security or politically related issues.”
Dublin, June 1887. It’s the year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee and Dublin is getting ready for a visit by the Queen’s grandson. A royal visit that is worrying those in authority; for political reasons they need it to be a success, but Irish nationalists are forming an ever bigger threat.
On the 17th of June, the city is in the middle of an uncharacteristic heat wave when two bodies are discovered in The Phoenix Park. A man and young boy have been shot and subsequently mutilated and there is nothing to identify who they are or why they may have been killed. Detective Sergeant Joe Swallow of the Dublin Metropolitan Police is the man who has to investigate this case.
At the same time Ces Dawson, a woman running a highly effective criminal network dies, leaving in her wake a power-struggle between her deputies.
Only a day later another young woman is found murdered and this case is also assigned to Swallow.
Both cases soon prove to be very frustrating. The identity of Phoenix Park victims remains elusive, and without knowing who they are the police have little chance of discovering why they were killed, never mind by whom.
The case of the second young woman is taken of Swallow’s hands almost as soon as he discovers her identity. When it turns out she worked for a Dublin Alderman who has an important role in the upcoming royal visit the case is moved to a different security branch. A move which, Swallow realises, means that the case probably won’t be investigated properly at all.
Not inclined to concern himself with the politics of policing, Swallow doesn’t give up on either case. And when it appears that the two cases might be connected he is determined to get the bottom of it, regardless of the consequences.
And as if two murders weren’t enough to deal with Swallow has more to worry him. There is his relationship with a younger, pub-owning widow which he will have to make up his mind about. And although the murders Joe Swallow is investigating are ordinary ones, he isn’t far away from political troubles when his sister finds herself attracted to an Irish freedom fighter and his ideas. A situation which could see the girl in prison and could potentially cost Joe his job.
There is an awful lot going on in this fascinating historical mystery and the reader needs to pay attention to all of it if they want to stay on top of everything.
The mystery is well plotted and the answers are revealed in a convincing way. There are no miracle revelations or unlikely insights to move the story along and all the clues are in the story for the reader to find, provided they pay close attention (which this reader obviously didn’t).
Joe Swallow is an interesting and realistic main character. He is not without faults or above abusing his situation when he feels the need. At the same time, he has a strong sense of justice and is driven to solve his murders and see the killers brought to justice.
There is a lot of historical detail in this book. And while on the whole both the time and the setting are fascinating, I did find that at times there was maybe too much of it. In an ideal book, the historical facts would play a background role, painting a picture without taking over the story. In this book though it felt as if the author tried to get so many of such details in that it interrupted the flow of the story.
Very interesting though are the references to the early advances in the forensic sciences. While fingerprints are being hinted at, nobody is prepared to take them seriously yet. But facial reconstruction based on bone structure does play a vital part in the solution of the mystery in this book.
Overall this was a good historical mystery with an interesting main character and full of wonderful insights of Dublin in the 1880’s. If this turns out to be the first book in a series I will definitely read any sequels too.
Finally I want to share the following quote about Dubliners and their attitude to the weather. Since the weather has suddenly turned quite warm over the past few days, these lines made me smile. The rumblings about the heat are already starting:
“Dublin’s northerly latitude and prevailing westerly airflow ensure that it rarely enjoys any sustained elevation of barometric pressure or more than a few successive days of sunshine. When that pattern is broken the citizens are likely to take it as an aberration, an unnatural occurrence. Deprived of the rain and damp as their daily topics of grievance they turn irritable and fractious.”
“G Division divided all crime into two categories: ‘special’ or ‘ordinary’. The absolute priority was ‘special crime’ – anything with an element of politics or subversion. ‘Ordinary crime’ might be serious but it took second place to security or politically related issues.”
Dublin, June 1887. It’s the year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee and Dublin is getting ready for a visit by the Queen’s grandson. A royal visit that is worrying those in authority; for political reasons they need it to be a success, but Irish nationalists are forming an ever bigger threat.
On the 17th of June, the city is in the middle of an uncharacteristic heat wave when two bodies are discovered in The Phoenix Park. A man and young boy have been shot and subsequently mutilated and there is nothing to identify who they are or why they may have been killed. Detective Sergeant Joe Swallow of the Dublin Metropolitan Police is the man who has to investigate this case.
At the same time Ces Dawson, a woman running a highly effective criminal network dies, leaving in her wake a power-struggle between her deputies.
Only a day later another young woman is found murdered and this case is also assigned to Swallow.
Both cases soon prove to be very frustrating. The identity of Phoenix Park victims remains elusive, and without knowing who they are the police have little chance of discovering why they were killed, never mind by whom.
The case of the second young woman is taken of Swallow’s hands almost as soon as he discovers her identity. When it turns out she worked for a Dublin Alderman who has an important role in the upcoming royal visit the case is moved to a different security branch. A move which, Swallow realises, means that the case probably won’t be investigated properly at all.
Not inclined to concern himself with the politics of policing, Swallow doesn’t give up on either case. And when it appears that the two cases might be connected he is determined to get the bottom of it, regardless of the consequences.
And as if two murders weren’t enough to deal with Swallow has more to worry him. There is his relationship with a younger, pub-owning widow which he will have to make up his mind about. And although the murders Joe Swallow is investigating are ordinary ones, he isn’t far away from political troubles when his sister finds herself attracted to an Irish freedom fighter and his ideas. A situation which could see the girl in prison and could potentially cost Joe his job.
There is an awful lot going on in this fascinating historical mystery and the reader needs to pay attention to all of it if they want to stay on top of everything.
The mystery is well plotted and the answers are revealed in a convincing way. There are no miracle revelations or unlikely insights to move the story along and all the clues are in the story for the reader to find, provided they pay close attention (which this reader obviously didn’t).
Joe Swallow is an interesting and realistic main character. He is not without faults or above abusing his situation when he feels the need. At the same time, he has a strong sense of justice and is driven to solve his murders and see the killers brought to justice.
There is a lot of historical detail in this book. And while on the whole both the time and the setting are fascinating, I did find that at times there was maybe too much of it. In an ideal book, the historical facts would play a background role, painting a picture without taking over the story. In this book though it felt as if the author tried to get so many of such details in that it interrupted the flow of the story.
Very interesting though are the references to the early advances in the forensic sciences. While fingerprints are being hinted at, nobody is prepared to take them seriously yet. But facial reconstruction based on bone structure does play a vital part in the solution of the mystery in this book.
Overall this was a good historical mystery with an interesting main character and full of wonderful insights of Dublin in the 1880’s. If this turns out to be the first book in a series I will definitely read any sequels too.
Finally I want to share the following quote about Dubliners and their attitude to the weather. Since the weather has suddenly turned quite warm over the past few days, these lines made me smile. The rumblings about the heat are already starting:
“Dublin’s northerly latitude and prevailing westerly airflow ensure that it rarely enjoys any sustained elevation of barometric pressure or more than a few successive days of sunshine. When that pattern is broken the citizens are likely to take it as an aberration, an unnatural occurrence. Deprived of the rain and damp as their daily topics of grievance they turn irritable and fractious.”
June 12, 2012
Enjoyed reading this over the last week. More of a full police investigation novel than a quick whodunnit, lots of layers and nuances. Plenty of historical insight into the political situation in Dublin pre-independance, but good central RIC characters. Hope there is going to be a series featuring Joe Swallow, look forward to more, there is plenty of scope with the characters and situations established.
July 11, 2015
Totally started slow, but was a delicious mystery set in a time unlike my own. I loved it.
December 6, 2023
Glad to add another series to my ever growing list of historical mysteries. This story is set in the late nineteenth century Dublin, during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Amidst the political discontent in Dublin, a body of a man and a boy is discovered days before the anticipated arrival of the Queen's grandson to grace the jubilee celebrations. This is followed by the death of a maid in the Alderman's household. A female head of a criminal network dies and the sister of Detective Joe Swallow becomes entangled with rebel forces. Everyone is on the edge in the sweltering heat. It is entertaining how these connect together to form an entertaining detective novel. Unlike most historical mysteries where the story happens almost in isolation, this book seems more alive and aware of what is happening in the background. Look forward to following future adventures of Joe Swallow.
September 6, 2021
So many problems, where to start?
You don’t need to have ever been to Dublin’s Merrion Square—-just Google it—-to know that it would be impossible to identify someone standing across the square, especially by her eyes.
A Vermeer? Really? Only a small number were ever produced.
That letter that’s explains everything?
“Feckin ” and “fuckin” do not mean the same thing to an Irishman. It’s not a matter of dialect; they are different words with different meanings and are not interchangeable.
On a related note, why do only some people, and only sporadically, speak in dialect?
The whole thing feels anachronistic, like a contemporary tv police procedural in 19th century drag.
You don’t need to have ever been to Dublin’s Merrion Square—-just Google it—-to know that it would be impossible to identify someone standing across the square, especially by her eyes.
A Vermeer? Really? Only a small number were ever produced.
That letter that’s explains everything?
“Feckin ” and “fuckin” do not mean the same thing to an Irishman. It’s not a matter of dialect; they are different words with different meanings and are not interchangeable.
On a related note, why do only some people, and only sporadically, speak in dialect?
The whole thing feels anachronistic, like a contemporary tv police procedural in 19th century drag.
August 13, 2016
I did like this book, I liked the characters and the plot moved along at a fairly plodding pace and picked up towards the end. I liked the fact that I couldn't identify the murderer easily.
I would like to read more from this author as there are very few historical mystery writers who set their stories in Ireland.
The only really annoying thing about reading this was because I chose to read the kindle version, everything in italics was tiny, and it became very tedious.
I would like to read more from this author as there are very few historical mystery writers who set their stories in Ireland.
The only really annoying thing about reading this was because I chose to read the kindle version, everything in italics was tiny, and it became very tedious.
April 21, 2015
Perfect historical mystery! This book is so good I sat up in my bed and read the whole thing. I was so excited to have a great book to read I didn't even lay down, just sat up and smoked and read til it was over. Very satisfying
May 19, 2015
I gave this book a blurb, which I don't often do! A very engaging read.
October 11, 2021
I’m still trying to find out what a police side-car was in 1887. Not, evidently, something connected to a motorcycle as the driver is described as pulling on the reins. Using my deductive powers, I have concluded that this must have been a horse drawn conveyance! There were a few other terms in this book that I couldn’t find definitions for but overall I liked it. I absolutely got a feel for Dublin, the turmoil and general way of life for the time. The mystery was interesting and I think I might grow to like Joe Swallow.
Also I learned that Wellington – the hero of Waterloo – was born in Dublin. I learned this on page 4 of this book. You'd think the English could have been more grateful and treated Ireland better! 😂
Also I learned that Wellington – the hero of Waterloo – was born in Dublin. I learned this on page 4 of this book. You'd think the English could have been more grateful and treated Ireland better! 😂
November 14, 2017
A decent murder mystery, set in Dublin in 1887. As well as murder, there's the actions of various Irish Nationalists as the celebration of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee meets with public expressions of protest against British rule.
Although Conor Brady does capture the atmosphere of late 19th Century Ireland, and has obviously researched the history of the period, there's a lot of padding in the book's 400 pages and it tends to get a bit repetitive. That said, I'll probably check out the other books in this series featuring Irish police detective Joe Swallow.
Although Conor Brady does capture the atmosphere of late 19th Century Ireland, and has obviously researched the history of the period, there's a lot of padding in the book's 400 pages and it tends to get a bit repetitive. That said, I'll probably check out the other books in this series featuring Irish police detective Joe Swallow.
October 9, 2018
Brady does a great job of making you feel like you're in Ireland in the Victorian era. Joe Swallow is an interesting protagonist because although he is dedicated to his job, he is clearly a man with flaws. There were times when I didn't like Swallow, but that made the story feel more real.
At first, the murders that start the story felt very similar to murders that have happened in other books, especially those by P.D. James. As the story progresses, the identity of the victims becomes crucial.
At first, the murders that start the story felt very similar to murders that have happened in other books, especially those by P.D. James. As the story progresses, the identity of the victims becomes crucial.
August 16, 2023
This is a well-written mystery that takes place at the end of the 19th century. The protagonist, Joe Swallow, is a Dublin police detective. But there is more to this story than just a good who-done-it. Brady does a great job of telling the story, and at the same time letting us in on Swallow's life, and personality.
May 24, 2022
Set in 1880s Ireland, Detective Joe Swallow is investigating the numerous murders that have been occurring in Dublin. His investigation is met with stonewalling, political corruption, and more.
Not a bad story, the book was hard for me to follow.
Not a bad story, the book was hard for me to follow.
October 18, 2013
I was sadly not very impressed with this book. For starters, it was much longer than it needed to be, and I'm not one to say that lightly. Part of this frustration is due to the fact that Brady unnecessarily repeats himself a lot. Once you define a term for your readers, you don't need to define it again later. Once you mention a particular character's motivations or worries, you don't need to spell it all out again in the next chapter.
I enjoyed the story and the setting, though, and it was fascinating to see the intricacies of the law in nineteenth-century Dublin. Having read loads of contemporary Irish crime fiction, I appreciated Brady casting some light on Dublin's police and criminal history. The mystery itself is intriguing, and even though it seemed obvious to me that certain aspects of the plot would be related to one another, I wasn't able to figure out how. It's a well-crafted mystery to make the reader feel that the answer is right there but stubbornly out of reach.
What I wasn't as happy about was the way Brady handled those involved in the Irish struggle against British imperial rule. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know half as much as I'd like to know on the subject, so maybe it's my ignorance that leads me to find fault here. Brady writes near the beginning of the book, "In Swallow's experience, Ireland's distress was too often invoked as a cover for what was simply crime. Violence, misappropriation of funds, even murder could be presented under the guise of patriotism. It was not that he doubted the sincerity of some of the politicals, as they were referred to in police parlance. Many of them were honourable people, he acknowledged. But good causes could also be exploited." I thought this was a fair representation, and an interesting take on the issue. Of course, as a policeman, Swallow's experience would be with those who were primarily criminals, using patriotism as a cover, so this is also a logical characterisation of Swallow. And Swallow's acknowledgement that not everyone is like that seems like a very thoughtful and open-minded position for him to take.
However, the primary "political" in the novel - O'Donnell - is basically just a drunk with a taste for violence and causing a scene. Even more troubling is the treatment of Swallow's sister, Harriet. She is becoming a "political" herself, and is involved with O'Donnell. Swallow is concerned about her: "His instincts told him there was more to Harriet's attitude than some awakening of political awareness. There was a great deal of passion and an insufficiency of logic in her tirade." As it turns out, she's in love with O'Donnell, and has taken up his apparently insane political beliefs. What bothers me here, more than anything else, is that his intelligent younger sister, who's training to become a teacher, is represented as being incapable of forming her own beliefs, obviously led to her current opinions because of love, and a misguided affection, at that.
It would have made for a truly interesting narrative if Swallow had been wrong on just one account. If we had seen one of those "honourable politicals" referred to at the beginning of the novel, or if Harriet had been shown to continue in her political involvement outside of O'Donnell's influence, the reader would be able to get outside of Swallow's perspective and see that these issues are more complex than he represents them to be. I love an unreliable narrator. As it stands, however, Brady appears to support all of the beliefs ascribed to Swallow, which not only make Swallow appear "too good" as a character (I like my characters to make mistakes within the world of the novel, harbour some beliefs that are somehow acknowledged as "wrong," etc.), but also make it seem that Brady believes Irish patriots were criminal scum and young women aren't capable of forming their own opinions. Which I realize, to be fair, probably wasn't his intention, especially since he went out of his way to clarify at the beginning that not every patriot is a criminal, but "show, don't tell," right? Give us an example of a patriot who isn't a criminal to reinforce that statement.
So, my reservations about the text aren't enough for me to dislike it, but at the same time, I don't know that I'd read anything else by this author.
I enjoyed the story and the setting, though, and it was fascinating to see the intricacies of the law in nineteenth-century Dublin. Having read loads of contemporary Irish crime fiction, I appreciated Brady casting some light on Dublin's police and criminal history. The mystery itself is intriguing, and even though it seemed obvious to me that certain aspects of the plot would be related to one another, I wasn't able to figure out how. It's a well-crafted mystery to make the reader feel that the answer is right there but stubbornly out of reach.
What I wasn't as happy about was the way Brady handled those involved in the Irish struggle against British imperial rule. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know half as much as I'd like to know on the subject, so maybe it's my ignorance that leads me to find fault here. Brady writes near the beginning of the book, "In Swallow's experience, Ireland's distress was too often invoked as a cover for what was simply crime. Violence, misappropriation of funds, even murder could be presented under the guise of patriotism. It was not that he doubted the sincerity of some of the politicals, as they were referred to in police parlance. Many of them were honourable people, he acknowledged. But good causes could also be exploited." I thought this was a fair representation, and an interesting take on the issue. Of course, as a policeman, Swallow's experience would be with those who were primarily criminals, using patriotism as a cover, so this is also a logical characterisation of Swallow. And Swallow's acknowledgement that not everyone is like that seems like a very thoughtful and open-minded position for him to take.
However, the primary "political" in the novel - O'Donnell - is basically just a drunk with a taste for violence and causing a scene. Even more troubling is the treatment of Swallow's sister, Harriet. She is becoming a "political" herself, and is involved with O'Donnell. Swallow is concerned about her: "His instincts told him there was more to Harriet's attitude than some awakening of political awareness. There was a great deal of passion and an insufficiency of logic in her tirade." As it turns out, she's in love with O'Donnell, and has taken up his apparently insane political beliefs. What bothers me here, more than anything else, is that his intelligent younger sister, who's training to become a teacher, is represented as being incapable of forming her own beliefs, obviously led to her current opinions because of love, and a misguided affection, at that.
It would have made for a truly interesting narrative if Swallow had been wrong on just one account. If we had seen one of those "honourable politicals" referred to at the beginning of the novel, or if Harriet had been shown to continue in her political involvement outside of O'Donnell's influence, the reader would be able to get outside of Swallow's perspective and see that these issues are more complex than he represents them to be. I love an unreliable narrator. As it stands, however, Brady appears to support all of the beliefs ascribed to Swallow, which not only make Swallow appear "too good" as a character (I like my characters to make mistakes within the world of the novel, harbour some beliefs that are somehow acknowledged as "wrong," etc.), but also make it seem that Brady believes Irish patriots were criminal scum and young women aren't capable of forming their own opinions. Which I realize, to be fair, probably wasn't his intention, especially since he went out of his way to clarify at the beginning that not every patriot is a criminal, but "show, don't tell," right? Give us an example of a patriot who isn't a criminal to reinforce that statement.
So, my reservations about the text aren't enough for me to dislike it, but at the same time, I don't know that I'd read anything else by this author.
July 11, 2015
This story takes place in Dublin, in June of 1887. Two shot and mutilated bodies are discovered in Phoenix Park. Detective Sergeant Joe Swallow catches the investigation. Swallow is nearing middle age and has enemies within his department and in the press, and his many successes are in the past and he needs to solve these murders.
Dublin is baking in an unusually long summer heat wave, a crime bosses' imminent death leaves two warring factions of criminals to fight for dominance, the Prince is coming to Dublin as part of the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden jubilee, and there are growing threats to his life from the anti-British factions.
The title of the book refers to how the police classified crime. Anything involving high-class or important people, or with political overtones, was "Special." Other crimes, including murder, were "Ordinary" as long as they only dealt with lower-class, "ordinary" people.
This is an excellent book, one I thoroughly enjoyed. It is a slow-moving, densely written book, not a quick read. Tightly plotted, it takes its' time, as Swallow tirelessly uncovers layer after layer of secrets, not knowing himself where it is heading, doggedly pursuing the truth.
I do have a few quibbles: the beginning is VERY slow, and bogs down with what I would term a "research dump" about the Irish troubles of the time. While some of it is needed to illustrate the unrest of the time and the anti-British feelings of the people, the majority of it was overkill, boring, and didn't advance the story. I started skipping over those parts, and a couple of chapters in I was absorbed into the story. I was also bothered by a few places where the author repeated himself, and a big deal was made of Swallow using a Remington typewriter, which jarred me out of the story. Although invented in the 1870's, they weren't in common use and were very expensive for the time. The police department was understaffed and under-equipped, and I find it hard to believe that they would have such a machine, or that a man such as Swallow would teach himself to use it.
The author is a former editor of The Irish Times, and this is his first novel, so I think these things can be forgiven, especially since after these few mistakes the novel as a whole is so good.
Dublin is baking in an unusually long summer heat wave, a crime bosses' imminent death leaves two warring factions of criminals to fight for dominance, the Prince is coming to Dublin as part of the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden jubilee, and there are growing threats to his life from the anti-British factions.
The title of the book refers to how the police classified crime. Anything involving high-class or important people, or with political overtones, was "Special." Other crimes, including murder, were "Ordinary" as long as they only dealt with lower-class, "ordinary" people.
This is an excellent book, one I thoroughly enjoyed. It is a slow-moving, densely written book, not a quick read. Tightly plotted, it takes its' time, as Swallow tirelessly uncovers layer after layer of secrets, not knowing himself where it is heading, doggedly pursuing the truth.
I do have a few quibbles: the beginning is VERY slow, and bogs down with what I would term a "research dump" about the Irish troubles of the time. While some of it is needed to illustrate the unrest of the time and the anti-British feelings of the people, the majority of it was overkill, boring, and didn't advance the story. I started skipping over those parts, and a couple of chapters in I was absorbed into the story. I was also bothered by a few places where the author repeated himself, and a big deal was made of Swallow using a Remington typewriter, which jarred me out of the story. Although invented in the 1870's, they weren't in common use and were very expensive for the time. The police department was understaffed and under-equipped, and I find it hard to believe that they would have such a machine, or that a man such as Swallow would teach himself to use it.
The author is a former editor of The Irish Times, and this is his first novel, so I think these things can be forgiven, especially since after these few mistakes the novel as a whole is so good.
June 1, 2019
If you ignore the fact that the forensic capabilities used in the book were not actually in use during the time the book is set, it's a pretty okay book. However, for the nit-picky non-fiction reader who likes to delve into fictional crime periodically, expect to find yourself constantly annoyed at the forensic evidence collected in Dublin in the late 1800s. If it was set in the 1980s, not the 1880s, this would make sense....yeah. It's jarring enough to constantly leave you annoyed at the story. Additionally, the writing was cumbersome and clunky and the whole book was in need of a proper editor to make it polished. It reads more like a first draft than a finished product.
April 19, 2015
Excellent period mystery that makes the most of it's setting and location.
July 25, 2015
good mystery buyer could have been shorter. Rookie mistake. here's going Brady tightens up the next one. I'll give it a try it was a good mystery with interesting characters.
November 29, 2015
This book was really hard for me to get into. I almost put it aside. I finished it and it is a really well written story and great mystery.
November 13, 2015
Good plot, but so long winded with descriptions of police procedures in Dublin in the 1800s, that it was a really boring read for me
June 1, 2020
Too many repeats and over indulgence of facts not relevant to story. Also ends very quickly and without any surprises. I'd only give half a star if I could.
July 17, 2017
More reviews available at my blog, Beauty and the Bookworm.
A June of Ordinary Murders was a Book of the Month pick a while ago, and while I missed out on getting it through BOTM, I added it to an Amazon order so I could get free same-day shipping at one point. I like mysteries with a historical setting much more than I like contemporary ones; investigation just seems so much more interesting in the days before the advanced forensics we have available now. I mean, those forensics are great for actually solving crimes, but they typically don't make the process as fun to read about! (Or do they? I'm watching FX's People V. OJ Simpson right now on Netflix and maaaaan.) This book, with its setting in Victorian-era Ireland, specifically Dublin, and the potential of a serial killer seemed to be something that would be very interesting. (Have I mentioned I also love Criminal Minds?)
The story here follows Joe Swallow, a detective with the G-unit in Dublin. Swallow had some success earlier in his career, but recently an unsolved crime has been hanging over him. With the discovery of two mutilated bodies in a park and no leads to be found, and with a volatile political climate simmering all around, he feels a lot of pressure to solve the crime, and fast--but doesn't really know how.
Unfortunately, the book wasn't all I'd hoped it would be. The setting is excellent, yes, and I rather liked the actual mystery and how it unfolded, as well. But Brady apparently has a love for info-dumping. While a few nuggets of information are necessary in order to get a grip on the setting and the characters--such as an "ordinary" crime just being one that doesn't have a political element--I felt he went into way too much depth sometimes. Pages upon pages of background on characters and situations who ultimately weren't that important took up space. For example, was the entire saga of the barge trip and how barges and locks work really necessary? It didn't feel like it. It just felt like the 15 minutes of stuff that would occur before the start of a Law & Order episode, and could have easily been worked into the main narrative rather than just dropped all in one place. Episodes like this made my eyes glaze over and sometimes made it hard to continue reading the book.
Additionally, while I felt like the main crime as well-integrated into the larger story, the second crime was not. It initially seemed like it had promise, but at the end of the book I was left going, "Really? That's it?" That's not a great feeling to be left with at the end of the mystery; everything with the main crime felt so neatly tied together, but for the second crime, it ultimately just felt tacked-on and unnecessary, added in for extra page space more than anything else. Thinking back on it, I actually can't think of any way in which any of the information tied to the second crime was really integral to the main one. It was meant to serve as a distraction, I suppose, but honestly I was just bored by it rather than distracted, as well.
Overall, this was an okay book, but I found myself bored at multiple points while reading it. I appreciated the historical setting, but it's just a "meh" book overall.
2 stars out of 5.
A June of Ordinary Murders was a Book of the Month pick a while ago, and while I missed out on getting it through BOTM, I added it to an Amazon order so I could get free same-day shipping at one point. I like mysteries with a historical setting much more than I like contemporary ones; investigation just seems so much more interesting in the days before the advanced forensics we have available now. I mean, those forensics are great for actually solving crimes, but they typically don't make the process as fun to read about! (Or do they? I'm watching FX's People V. OJ Simpson right now on Netflix and maaaaan.) This book, with its setting in Victorian-era Ireland, specifically Dublin, and the potential of a serial killer seemed to be something that would be very interesting. (Have I mentioned I also love Criminal Minds?)
The story here follows Joe Swallow, a detective with the G-unit in Dublin. Swallow had some success earlier in his career, but recently an unsolved crime has been hanging over him. With the discovery of two mutilated bodies in a park and no leads to be found, and with a volatile political climate simmering all around, he feels a lot of pressure to solve the crime, and fast--but doesn't really know how.
Unfortunately, the book wasn't all I'd hoped it would be. The setting is excellent, yes, and I rather liked the actual mystery and how it unfolded, as well. But Brady apparently has a love for info-dumping. While a few nuggets of information are necessary in order to get a grip on the setting and the characters--such as an "ordinary" crime just being one that doesn't have a political element--I felt he went into way too much depth sometimes. Pages upon pages of background on characters and situations who ultimately weren't that important took up space. For example, was the entire saga of the barge trip and how barges and locks work really necessary? It didn't feel like it. It just felt like the 15 minutes of stuff that would occur before the start of a Law & Order episode, and could have easily been worked into the main narrative rather than just dropped all in one place. Episodes like this made my eyes glaze over and sometimes made it hard to continue reading the book.
Additionally, while I felt like the main crime as well-integrated into the larger story, the second crime was not. It initially seemed like it had promise, but at the end of the book I was left going, "Really? That's it?" That's not a great feeling to be left with at the end of the mystery; everything with the main crime felt so neatly tied together, but for the second crime, it ultimately just felt tacked-on and unnecessary, added in for extra page space more than anything else. Thinking back on it, I actually can't think of any way in which any of the information tied to the second crime was really integral to the main one. It was meant to serve as a distraction, I suppose, but honestly I was just bored by it rather than distracted, as well.
Overall, this was an okay book, but I found myself bored at multiple points while reading it. I appreciated the historical setting, but it's just a "meh" book overall.
2 stars out of 5.
August 18, 2025
Definitely a slow start, but once it started the pace was fast and furious with an interesting twist.
"In the 1880s the DMP classified crime in two distinct classes. Political crimes were ‘special’, whereas theft, robbery and even murder, no matter how terrible, were ‘ordinary’. Dublin, June 1887: the mutilated bodies of a man and a child are discovered in Phoenix Park and Detective Sergeant Joe Swallow steps up to investigate. Cynical and tired, Swallow is a man living on past successes in need of a win. In the background, the city is sweltering in a long summer heatwave, a potential gangland war is simmering as the chief lieutenants of a dying crime boss size each other up and the castle administration want the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden jubilee to pass off without complication. Underneath it all, the growing threat of anti-British radicals is never far away. With the Land War at its height, the priority is to contain ‘special’ crime. But these murders appear to be ‘ordinary’ and thus of lesser priority. When the evidence suggests high-level involvement, and as the body count increases, Swallow must navigate the waters of foolish superiors, political directives and frayed tempers to investigate the crime, find the true murderer and deliver justice.
"In the 1880s the DMP classified crime in two distinct classes. Political crimes were ‘special’, whereas theft, robbery and even murder, no matter how terrible, were ‘ordinary’. Dublin, June 1887: the mutilated bodies of a man and a child are discovered in Phoenix Park and Detective Sergeant Joe Swallow steps up to investigate. Cynical and tired, Swallow is a man living on past successes in need of a win. In the background, the city is sweltering in a long summer heatwave, a potential gangland war is simmering as the chief lieutenants of a dying crime boss size each other up and the castle administration want the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden jubilee to pass off without complication. Underneath it all, the growing threat of anti-British radicals is never far away. With the Land War at its height, the priority is to contain ‘special’ crime. But these murders appear to be ‘ordinary’ and thus of lesser priority. When the evidence suggests high-level involvement, and as the body count increases, Swallow must navigate the waters of foolish superiors, political directives and frayed tempers to investigate the crime, find the true murderer and deliver justice.
August 24, 2018
Not all mysteries are created equal. I found this one to be a few steps above the run-of-the-mill pap, like the Agatha Raisin I had just finished reading. The author, a former editor for The Irish Times newspaper, knows his turf--and his history. The story is set in 1887 Dublin in the midst of a heat wave. (Yes, Ireland has them occasionally.) Without losing track of the narrative, the author is able to depict the climate of a country emerging from years of famine and heading toward revolution. Brady writes a scene so graphically that the reader almost feels the heat of the Dublin streets before the era of air conditioning. This is Detective Inspector Swallow's first foray into the world of print, but if the loose threads at the end of this story are any indication, he will provide material for more captivating reads ahead.
June 19, 2019
Really well-written, well-researched book that conveys a vivid sense of Ireland at a pivotal time in history with the Fenian cause. The author was editor of the Irish Times and knows his city, his police procedurals and his history. And the main character, detective Joe Swallow, is an appealingly three-dimensional protagonist - believable, flawed but sympathetic. I gave it four stars only because the pace was a bit deliberate: I wouldn't call it an easy read in spots - the texture is thick, like the unseasonable heat wave hanging over Dublin for the duration of the book. Ultimately, though, it ended strong and in a satisfying way, with a clear invitation for new books to come in the series - and I see there are several following I'll check out. For any mystery enthusiasts who also have an interest in Irish culture it's well worth the read.
January 9, 2021
It wasn't a bad book; it wasn't a great book. Brady is a decent writer in that he can put nice sentences together and his prose never makes me cringe. I wish there was more craft to his narrative, though. For such a long book with so many moments of personal interaction, I didn't feel like most of the characters really breathed or had much history with each other. Brady frequently just used information dumps to relate background details instead of finding more creative and integrative ways of working that in. His attempts to build atmosphere often felt like he had done too much reading on this Dublin summer and fallen in love with too many real details, leaving descriptions feeling pedantic. I did enjoy his attempts to show varying opinions on Irish independence from his Irish characters, but that too felt like one more thing he struggled to really bring into focus.
November 26, 2017
I read this after I read #3. The writing and plotting is excellent, and the characters well-drawn for the initial book. The competition between the different branches of security and police and the politics of the period add to the suspense. It is interesting to see police work changing due to changes in science and technology of the period: use of telephones and telegraphs, poison detection, the beginning of finger printing, the use of facial reconstruction in the case of victims mutilated. Still, much of the case depends upon plodding work, the skill of the detectives in questioning and following leads, etc. Swallow and his compatriot friends in the Dublin Metropolitan Police are interesting characters. I recommend this series highly.
September 24, 2019
"Ordinary Murders" are those deemed non-political. This is the first in the Swallow mysteries, set in late 1800s Dublin. The country is preparing for a visit from British royalty for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, while many Irish are currently fighting for independence. Swallow is called to a murder scene in a quiet park. With few clues and no identification, he knows it won’t be easy to find the killer. While Swallow is still mired in this first case, he gets another: the body of a woman is found in a canal, who turns out to be a servant in the house of influential Alderman Thomas Fitzpatrick. This second case is quickly taken away from Swallow because of its political connections. But he finds a link between the two cases...a good mystery read as fall encroaches.
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