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Nora Gavin #4
The Book of Killowen
An ancient volume of philosophical heresy provides a motive for murder in this haunting, lyrical novel of forensics, archeology, and history--the fourth in an acclaimed suspense series. What sort of book is worth a man's life? After a year away from working in the field, archaeologist Cormac Maguire and pathologist Nora Gavin are back in the bogs, investigating a ninth-century body found buried in the trunk of a car. They discover that the ancient corpse is not alone--pinned beneath it is the body of Benedict Kavanagh, missing for mere months and familiar to television viewers as a philosopher who enjoyed destroying his opponents in debate. Both men were viciously murdered, but centuries apart--so how did they end up buried together in the bog?
While on the case, Cormac and Nora lodge at Killowen, a nearby artists' colony, organic farm, and sanctuary for eccentric souls. Digging deeper into the older crime, they become entangled in high-stakes intrigue encompassing Kavanagh's death while surrounded by suspects in his ghastly murder. It seems that everyone at Killowen has some secret to protect.
Set in modern-day Ireland, "The Book of Killowen" reveals a new twist on the power of language--and on the eternal mysteries of good and evil.
While on the case, Cormac and Nora lodge at Killowen, a nearby artists' colony, organic farm, and sanctuary for eccentric souls. Digging deeper into the older crime, they become entangled in high-stakes intrigue encompassing Kavanagh's death while surrounded by suspects in his ghastly murder. It seems that everyone at Killowen has some secret to protect.
Set in modern-day Ireland, "The Book of Killowen" reveals a new twist on the power of language--and on the eternal mysteries of good and evil.
332 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2013
97 people are currently reading
1761 people want to read
About the author
Erin Hart
17 books607 followersERIN HART'S archaeological crime novels are set in the mysterious boglands of Ireland. She introduced pathologist Nora Gavin in one of the most lauded mystery debuts of 2003: HAUNTED GROUND (2003), was a Booksense 76 pick, won the Friends of American Writers award and Romantic Times' Best First Mystery, was shortlisted for Anthony and Agatha awards, and translated into ten foreign languages. LAKE OF SORROWS (2004) was shortlisted for a Minnesota Book Award, and FALSE MERMAID (2010) was named by ALA/Booklist as one of the Top Ten Crime Novels of 2010. THE BOOK OF KILLOWEN is due out in March 2013. A Minnesota theater critic, a former communications director of the Minnesota State Arts Board, and a founder of the Twin Cities Irish Music & Dance Association, Hart received an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota. Erin lives in Saint Paul with her husband, Irish musician Paddy O'Brien (http://www.paddyobrien.net), and travels frequently to Ireland.
Visit her website at http://www.erinhart.com.
Visit her website at http://www.erinhart.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
April 8, 2013
There is something about the mixture of medieval and modern mysteries set in the Irish countryside and involving artifacts preserved in peat bogs that just makes a perfect book for me. This is my favorite episode of Erin Hart's series so far. I enjoyed the layered plot, with the multiple possible plot lines and personalities. And I enjoyed learning about medieval scribes and history through the many facts peppered into the story, (I looked up some of these things afterward online and will continue to do so---beautiful artifacts and books!)
Highly recommended for those with these multiple interests.
Highly recommended for those with these multiple interests.
March 27, 2013
A year has passed since American pathologist Nora Gavin "brought her sister's killer to justice," and 12 months since she began sharing Irish archaeologist Cormac Maguire's bed, and together, they've been adjusting their domestic life to Cormac's father Joseph's aphasia (result of a stroke). Nora and Cormac are asked to join "the recovery team" for an ancient bog man discovered with the body of a Dublin TV host submerged in a Tipperary swamp. Nora and Cormac lodge with a community of artists at Killowen farm, each one becoming a suspect in the TV personality's murder.
The deeper Nora and Cormac dig into the peat, the more they find themselves "unraveling connections between the living and the dead" (you wouldn't be remiss in hearing James Joyce in that phrase). The nature of language and love - its "garbled code," its vocal tics and its illumination in books and art winds through Hart's plot in intriguing and surprising ways.
The deeper Nora and Cormac dig into the peat, the more they find themselves "unraveling connections between the living and the dead" (you wouldn't be remiss in hearing James Joyce in that phrase). The nature of language and love - its "garbled code," its vocal tics and its illumination in books and art winds through Hart's plot in intriguing and surprising ways.
July 8, 2015
The Book of Killowen is the fourth and most recent book in author Erin Hart's series of mysteries featuring pathologist Nora Gavin and archaeologist Cormac Maguire, who tend to find themselves entangled in modern murders as they study Ireland's ancient past. In this volume, an ninth century bog body is found in the boot of a car, atop the body of a minor TV celebrity.
I do like Hart's books a lot. I adore the mix of the past and the present and I find them very easy to read – I devoured The Book of Killowen in under 24 hours and found it hard to put down so I could get some much needed sleep.
Yes, the device that Nora and Cormac keep stumbling over bog bodies connected to a modern day murder and getting tied up in that case is a bit... predictable and growing a little stale... but Hart's books are well constructed, the mysteries engaging enough that I want to keep on reading and I probably wouldn't be so attracted to this series without the thread of the past being woven into it. That said, perhaps it is time to give Nora and Cormac a long break from the bogs.
One of the strengths of Hart's books has been the character development given to characters who aren't the leads. In Haunted Ground and Lake of Sorrows , the people caught up in the current day murder, including the police detective, are well developed and given their own arcs. This was something I missed in The Book of Killowen. Stella Cusack, who is in charge of the investigation of Benedict Kavanagh's murder, is developed, but she doesn't come across as a particularly rich character – though I thought she could have been – and her arc is left teetering towards being resolved, rather than being resolved. Besides Stella, Cormac and Nora, no one else gets much development.
I did like that Hart, after introducing so many mysteries and mini-mysteries, did resolve them. I would have liked firmer confirmation on one, but all the evidence is there to let the reader come to the same conclusion.
All up, The Book of Killowen is a typically strong mystery and enjoyable book from Erin Hart, but perhaps a little weaker than her previous efforts. 3.5 stars.
I do like Hart's books a lot. I adore the mix of the past and the present and I find them very easy to read – I devoured The Book of Killowen in under 24 hours and found it hard to put down so I could get some much needed sleep.
Yes, the device that Nora and Cormac keep stumbling over bog bodies connected to a modern day murder and getting tied up in that case is a bit... predictable and growing a little stale... but Hart's books are well constructed, the mysteries engaging enough that I want to keep on reading and I probably wouldn't be so attracted to this series without the thread of the past being woven into it. That said, perhaps it is time to give Nora and Cormac a long break from the bogs.
One of the strengths of Hart's books has been the character development given to characters who aren't the leads. In Haunted Ground and Lake of Sorrows , the people caught up in the current day murder, including the police detective, are well developed and given their own arcs. This was something I missed in The Book of Killowen. Stella Cusack, who is in charge of the investigation of Benedict Kavanagh's murder, is developed, but she doesn't come across as a particularly rich character – though I thought she could have been – and her arc is left teetering towards being resolved, rather than being resolved. Besides Stella, Cormac and Nora, no one else gets much development.
I did like that Hart, after introducing so many mysteries and mini-mysteries, did resolve them. I would have liked firmer confirmation on one, but all the evidence is there to let the reader come to the same conclusion.
All up, The Book of Killowen is a typically strong mystery and enjoyable book from Erin Hart, but perhaps a little weaker than her previous efforts. 3.5 stars.
September 5, 2019
Excellent! All a novel should be. I am sad to see that this is the last published book in the series so far.
July 23, 2013
Fairly good murder mystery, first time I have read Erin Hart. The characters are fairly well developed, the story line is pretty good and the ending is ok. Although the subject matter is interesting, Medieval Irish history/book, it could have used more history and why the book of Killowen was so important, the author goes into the relevance, but only briefly, more could have been said as to why people would kill for this book. There is an additional storyline, which does not really add to the main plot of the book and it seems rushed and not quite done. Also, lightly sprinkled throughout the book are "big words" that make it seem like the author is showing off her vocabulary, and in a way broke the rhythm of the passage. All in all, I would try another book my Hart.
February 6, 2025
The fourth book in the Nora Gavin series finds Nora and Cormac Maguire back in Ireland after Nora returned to the United States to try and finally bring her sister's murderer to justice. This time they are drawn into forensic case that combines the discovery of an ancient "bog man" with a modern-day murder.
An excavator digging in the peat bog near Tipperary, discovers a sunken car. When the peaty turf is removed from the boot (trunk), it reveals the remains of a ninth century (or thereabouts) man. Nora, Cormac, and Niall Dawson, all experts in archaeology and pathology, are called in by Detective Stella Cusack and the local authorities to examine the remains. But the real question is how did a ninth century man wind up in the boot of a modern day vehicle?
As Nora begins her examination of the body in situ, she realizes that there are one too many feet. There's another body underneath the bog man--and it winds up being Benedict Kavanaugh, a well-known philosopher and TV personality who has been missing for a few months. Why are the two bodies together? What was Kavanaugh doing in the area? And why didn't anyone see him and/or come forward when appeals were made at the time of his disappearance? All trails seem to lead to Killowen, a local artist's colony. Kavanaugh's wife and her "assistant" often stayed there. All of the inhabitants seem to be a bit skittish on the subject of Kavanaugh. And...once upon a time the philosopher that Kavanaugh was most interested in stayed at a local monastery. Nora, Cormac, and Stella Cusack find themselves in the middle of a mystery with ties to blackmail, treasure trove, secret identities, and ancient heresy. The past and present mingle and it's sometimes difficult to discern how much the past has influenced the murder of Kavanaugh. And why does the killer seem to be able to anticipate their every move?
---Spoiler ahead!!!---
I thoroughly enjoyed Hart's Haunted Ground, the debut novel in this series. I found her combination historical/modern mystery very intriguing and well done. The second novel, Lake of Sorrows, wasn't quite as captivating and I never could bring myself to read False Mermaid (which tells the story of of bringing Nora's sister's killer to justice). The blurb on that one indicates that once again the more recent murder had ties to a more historical one in Ireland and I just couldn't see how that would work. I was glad to see that Nora and Cormac were back at work in Ireland for this one. The tie-up between the ancient philosopher's murder and Kavanaugh's made sense and, for the most part, the mystery works well. The characterization is strong and vibrant--even more so than the debut novel. And it was interesting to meet the various inhabitants of the artist's colony.But.... (here's where the spoilery bit comes in)
If it weren't for that little quibble, I'd give this a full four-star rating for sure. ★★★ and 3/4 (but, rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
An excavator digging in the peat bog near Tipperary, discovers a sunken car. When the peaty turf is removed from the boot (trunk), it reveals the remains of a ninth century (or thereabouts) man. Nora, Cormac, and Niall Dawson, all experts in archaeology and pathology, are called in by Detective Stella Cusack and the local authorities to examine the remains. But the real question is how did a ninth century man wind up in the boot of a modern day vehicle?
As Nora begins her examination of the body in situ, she realizes that there are one too many feet. There's another body underneath the bog man--and it winds up being Benedict Kavanaugh, a well-known philosopher and TV personality who has been missing for a few months. Why are the two bodies together? What was Kavanaugh doing in the area? And why didn't anyone see him and/or come forward when appeals were made at the time of his disappearance? All trails seem to lead to Killowen, a local artist's colony. Kavanaugh's wife and her "assistant" often stayed there. All of the inhabitants seem to be a bit skittish on the subject of Kavanaugh. And...once upon a time the philosopher that Kavanaugh was most interested in stayed at a local monastery. Nora, Cormac, and Stella Cusack find themselves in the middle of a mystery with ties to blackmail, treasure trove, secret identities, and ancient heresy. The past and present mingle and it's sometimes difficult to discern how much the past has influenced the murder of Kavanaugh. And why does the killer seem to be able to anticipate their every move?
---Spoiler ahead!!!---
I thoroughly enjoyed Hart's Haunted Ground, the debut novel in this series. I found her combination historical/modern mystery very intriguing and well done. The second novel, Lake of Sorrows, wasn't quite as captivating and I never could bring myself to read False Mermaid (which tells the story of of bringing Nora's sister's killer to justice). The blurb on that one indicates that once again the more recent murder had ties to a more historical one in Ireland and I just couldn't see how that would work. I was glad to see that Nora and Cormac were back at work in Ireland for this one. The tie-up between the ancient philosopher's murder and Kavanaugh's made sense and, for the most part, the mystery works well. The characterization is strong and vibrant--even more so than the debut novel. And it was interesting to meet the various inhabitants of the artist's colony.But.... (here's where the spoilery bit comes in)
If it weren't for that little quibble, I'd give this a full four-star rating for sure. ★★★ and 3/4 (but, rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
October 18, 2016
When a body is found in a car boot in a bog, Cormac Maguire and Nora Gavin are called down to the scene to investigate. Maguire is an archaeologist, and Gavin a forensic pathologist. Maguire's expertise is needed because the body is from the ninth-century, preternaturally preserved in the bog. Unfortunately, underneath the bog man is another body, this one much more recent.
I really enjoyed this - a cross between the historical fiction of Susanna Kearsley and the contemporary mysteries of Tana French. The story took some twists that I didn't anticipate (). I did like the sense of place here. I had a good feel for Killowen, but not as much its inhabitants. I think Hart did a good job setting up each character with motives and as a suspect, but I think that she could've spent more time developing characters a bit more. That being said, I'll happily pick up the other three in the series.
I really enjoyed this - a cross between the historical fiction of Susanna Kearsley and the contemporary mysteries of Tana French. The story took some twists that I didn't anticipate (). I did like the sense of place here. I had a good feel for Killowen, but not as much its inhabitants. I think Hart did a good job setting up each character with motives and as a suspect, but I think that she could've spent more time developing characters a bit more. That being said, I'll happily pick up the other three in the series.
March 7, 2015
This book was simply brilliant. I am still reeling from the creativity of Author Erin Hart. The way she intertwined the ancient history with modern Ireland was truly enthralling. The use of archeology to help solve the mystery was almost as much fun as the mystery itself. I don’t think I could have enjoyed this book more.
Nora & Cormac are dynamic characters dripping with intelligence and charisma. I will happily read any book starring these two. I was instantly attracted to them and found them easy to relate to. Neither is pushover, rather they complement one another beautifully. Adding to the mystique is a group of eccentric artists, each with their own secrets.
Resist the urge to purchase a ticket to Ireland after reading this book! It is incredibly descriptive. I felt like I was sitting on the rolling green hills as I read. Beyond that, this book taught me a great deal about Ireland’s history. It was fascinating. I was just as wrapped up in the mystery as I was with the times gone by.
Like I said, this book was brilliant. It was a roller-coaster ride at its finest and even brought me to tears at the end.
Nora & Cormac are dynamic characters dripping with intelligence and charisma. I will happily read any book starring these two. I was instantly attracted to them and found them easy to relate to. Neither is pushover, rather they complement one another beautifully. Adding to the mystique is a group of eccentric artists, each with their own secrets.
Resist the urge to purchase a ticket to Ireland after reading this book! It is incredibly descriptive. I felt like I was sitting on the rolling green hills as I read. Beyond that, this book taught me a great deal about Ireland’s history. It was fascinating. I was just as wrapped up in the mystery as I was with the times gone by.
Like I said, this book was brilliant. It was a roller-coaster ride at its finest and even brought me to tears at the end.
5 Stars for The Book of Killowen and pair it with pint of Guinness.
Purchase link - The Book of Killowen (Maguire)
More books from Erin Hart
Haunted Ground: A Novel (Nora Gavin Book 1)
Lake of Sorrows: A Novel (Nora Gavin Book 2)
False Mermaid (Nora Gavin Book 3)
The Book of Killowen (Nora Gavin 4)
Die Frau im Moor.
Kalte Umarmung
Read
January 24, 2025Page 80. DNF
October 24, 2017
A gripping mystery! Kind of a modern day Indiana Jones story. Will have to read the rest of the series!
July 20, 2022
This was the last book in the series sorry to see it end.
May 25, 2016
Another winner from Hart. Interesting since the main characters, Nora and Cormac are not really the focus, at least not at the get go. Hart's secondary characters take center stage, especially Stella Cusack, the police detective. But this does not distract from the story since Ms. Hart is quite adept at writing secondary characters which pique interest. Stella rates up there with Devaney from Books one and three. Nora definitely stays in the background in this installment, though Cormac becomes a bigger player as the story moves on. However, as a change of pace Nora and Cormac mainly relay information to Stella and the police detective actually does the main work of solving the crimes.
One drawback. I found the writing in Book four was not as lyrical as the previous entries.
One particular device which displays the subtle nuances of Erin Hart's writing talent. Stella continually worries about losing the case to the Serious Crimes task force in Dublin. But pride alone does not fuel her insecurities. Stella has sacrificed time with her daughter working on the case, time which cannot be reclaimed and which is a very fitting parallel for how her career has been affecting her family life for years.
The mystery of who killed Benedict Kavanaugh was wonderfully complex. I kept changing my mind as to who was guilty. Plenty of suspects with reasons. And I was completed shocked to find out Molloy had a hand in Clattery's death and that he was a crooked cop. Finding out he had neglected to share information with Stella when at her house gave me pause, but I certainly did not have him pegged as a murderer. And trusting Molloy was not Stella's biggest faux pas (he was her partner, after all). No, I couldn't understand why she didn't warn Cormac to keep an extra close eye on his father after she figured out that Joseph had seen the man who started the fire, a misstep which almost cost Joseph his life.
While the crime was artfully done, the whole storyline concerning Eliana and Joseph Maguire was obvious from the get go. I guessed before the group even reached Killowen that Eliana was his daughter. And the whole situation seemed a little far-fetched. Who would just take her along and entrust their disabled father's care to a complete stranger without asking for credentials? Maybe this is the norm in Ireland, but I can't see many people in the U.S. acting so carelessly. Not to mention, I think the real caretaker assigned to assist Joseph Maguire would have informed her superiors after arriving at Cormac's house only to find everyone gone. And wouldn't they, in turn, attempt to contact Cormac on his cell phone to straighten out the mix up? A very weak premise. That said, I did like Eliana and the storyline. I only hope it wasn't just thrown in so Hart could display her knowledge about the horrific kidnappings which took place in South America that most people of a certain age have certainly heard of. I'd like to see Eliana in future books and observe the way her entrance into the lives of Joseph, Cormac and Nora alter the dimensions. I think her character holds a lot of promise.
One drawback. I found the writing in Book four was not as lyrical as the previous entries.
One particular device which displays the subtle nuances of Erin Hart's writing talent. Stella continually worries about losing the case to the Serious Crimes task force in Dublin. But pride alone does not fuel her insecurities. Stella has sacrificed time with her daughter working on the case, time which cannot be reclaimed and which is a very fitting parallel for how her career has been affecting her family life for years.
The mystery of who killed Benedict Kavanaugh was wonderfully complex. I kept changing my mind as to who was guilty. Plenty of suspects with reasons. And I was completed shocked to find out Molloy had a hand in Clattery's death and that he was a crooked cop. Finding out he had neglected to share information with Stella when at her house gave me pause, but I certainly did not have him pegged as a murderer. And trusting Molloy was not Stella's biggest faux pas (he was her partner, after all). No, I couldn't understand why she didn't warn Cormac to keep an extra close eye on his father after she figured out that Joseph had seen the man who started the fire, a misstep which almost cost Joseph his life.
While the crime was artfully done, the whole storyline concerning Eliana and Joseph Maguire was obvious from the get go. I guessed before the group even reached Killowen that Eliana was his daughter. And the whole situation seemed a little far-fetched. Who would just take her along and entrust their disabled father's care to a complete stranger without asking for credentials? Maybe this is the norm in Ireland, but I can't see many people in the U.S. acting so carelessly. Not to mention, I think the real caretaker assigned to assist Joseph Maguire would have informed her superiors after arriving at Cormac's house only to find everyone gone. And wouldn't they, in turn, attempt to contact Cormac on his cell phone to straighten out the mix up? A very weak premise. That said, I did like Eliana and the storyline. I only hope it wasn't just thrown in so Hart could display her knowledge about the horrific kidnappings which took place in South America that most people of a certain age have certainly heard of. I'd like to see Eliana in future books and observe the way her entrance into the lives of Joseph, Cormac and Nora alter the dimensions. I think her character holds a lot of promise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2013
The Book of Killowen is a triumph in the series by Erin Hart featuring archaeologist Cormac Maguire and pathologist Nora Gavin. The intriguing question is asked, “What sort of book is worth a man’s life?”
The Book of Killowen is a manuscript written by an ancient scribe who was ultimately murdered and thrown into a bog due to the writing’s heretical nature. Enter Maguire and Gavin, called onto the scene who discover yet another set of remains, and not so ancient, mixed in with the bog man’s.
Hart’s ability to weave history with modern-day crime is her forte. This book is a smorgasbord of offerings consisting of historical fact, Irish lore and intrigue from the secret-riddled lives of those involved in the life and death of the current victim, as well as that of the well-preserved body of the man buried in the peat.
Maguire and Gavin are totally engaging as the facets of their own lives are mingled and explored with the lives of the other characters. Topics are masterfully woven into the plot from the art of cheese-making to the aphasia related to the effects of a medical stroke. One cannot help but be entertained and educated while the search for the killer is undertaken officially by a somewhat angst-ridden detective and her partner and unofficially by Maguire and Gavin. The Book of Killowen is yet another excellent read by author Erin Hart.
The Book of Killowen is a manuscript written by an ancient scribe who was ultimately murdered and thrown into a bog due to the writing’s heretical nature. Enter Maguire and Gavin, called onto the scene who discover yet another set of remains, and not so ancient, mixed in with the bog man’s.
Hart’s ability to weave history with modern-day crime is her forte. This book is a smorgasbord of offerings consisting of historical fact, Irish lore and intrigue from the secret-riddled lives of those involved in the life and death of the current victim, as well as that of the well-preserved body of the man buried in the peat.
Maguire and Gavin are totally engaging as the facets of their own lives are mingled and explored with the lives of the other characters. Topics are masterfully woven into the plot from the art of cheese-making to the aphasia related to the effects of a medical stroke. One cannot help but be entertained and educated while the search for the killer is undertaken officially by a somewhat angst-ridden detective and her partner and unofficially by Maguire and Gavin. The Book of Killowen is yet another excellent read by author Erin Hart.
May 15, 2013
Ah Erin Hart, it’s a love hate relationship with this author. She doesn’t shy away from the vulgar F word which I so hate, and some of her books have been a little too descriptive for me in the sex category. But gosh darn it, I just love the history in her mystery!
We have the familiar characters of Nora Gavin and Cormac Maguire, along with the detective from the last book. And of course, all sorts of juicy new characters to try and figure out. A bog man is found, along with a recently killed man. Two mysteries to solve at once. Who killed the new guy, and what can they determine about the ancient bog man. Everyone in the story has secrets, which ones matter in relation to this murder and the theft of ancient artifacts? There was one big secret that I caught on to right away, and many others that I didn’t.
She weaves a wonderful tale, always making me wish I could be on the next plane to Ireland. If you don’t mind the swearing and occasional crass moments, it’s a tremendous piece of fiction. You don’t have to have read the first books in the series, but as always when characters are carried from book to book, it helps.
We have the familiar characters of Nora Gavin and Cormac Maguire, along with the detective from the last book. And of course, all sorts of juicy new characters to try and figure out. A bog man is found, along with a recently killed man. Two mysteries to solve at once. Who killed the new guy, and what can they determine about the ancient bog man. Everyone in the story has secrets, which ones matter in relation to this murder and the theft of ancient artifacts? There was one big secret that I caught on to right away, and many others that I didn’t.
She weaves a wonderful tale, always making me wish I could be on the next plane to Ireland. If you don’t mind the swearing and occasional crass moments, it’s a tremendous piece of fiction. You don’t have to have read the first books in the series, but as always when characters are carried from book to book, it helps.
September 27, 2013
Nothing to add to other 3-star reviewers. I love this author, love the Irish setting and her historical research. Love Nora & Cormac, the main characters. I liked Stella, the investigator in this fourth novel and her struggles with her teen, Lia, and the possibility of romance. I have enjoyed the previous three books very much.
BUT the actual setting of the artists' colony at Killowen and all the miscellaneous residents were hard to keep track of. I felt that the setting up of all various suspects was a little heavy-handed on this occasion. There was little development of Nora & Cormac's relationship. We had evil Fox-style hosts from TV shows, white slavery from Eastern Europe, adultery, Tourette's Syndrome, monks, artifacts, mysterious hippies, blackmail, bog bodies, artists, treasure hunters, bad parenting... after awhile, I started to feel a little inundated with miscellany, like Hart decided on this fourth outing to just throw EVERYTHING at the wall to see what would stick.
I am a loyal reader and I'll keep seeking out Erin Hart's work, but this was not my favorite to date.
BUT the actual setting of the artists' colony at Killowen and all the miscellaneous residents were hard to keep track of. I felt that the setting up of all various suspects was a little heavy-handed on this occasion. There was little development of Nora & Cormac's relationship. We had evil Fox-style hosts from TV shows, white slavery from Eastern Europe, adultery, Tourette's Syndrome, monks, artifacts, mysterious hippies, blackmail, bog bodies, artists, treasure hunters, bad parenting... after awhile, I started to feel a little inundated with miscellany, like Hart decided on this fourth outing to just throw EVERYTHING at the wall to see what would stick.
I am a loyal reader and I'll keep seeking out Erin Hart's work, but this was not my favorite to date.
September 30, 2013
When I started this book, I had to roll my eyes a bit. I mean, I am willing to believe that people with Nora & Cormac's jobs would see a bog body several times in a short period of time. Maybe. But that they'd see a bog body somehow tied in with a more modern murder victim once, much less 3 times in 4 years defies credulity. I actually was kind of fed up with the device after book 2 and wouldn't have gone on with the series if not for the fact that I thought book 3 might be a departure, with her going to America and solving her sister's murder. And it did, I liked the book in spite of the "ancient murder" tie in being a pretty serious stretch.
But here, going back to the same plot device as the first two books, I was like "come, on, really?"
That said, Erin Hart does know how to tell a story. And even though this one really pushed the bounds of realism (all those people dying in such a short period of time!) I was interested all the way through, and never saw the resolution(s) coming.
That said, I am glad I've reached the end of the series and can give Nora & Cormac a break for a while, maybe when the next book comes out I can view them with fresh, less skeptical eyes.
But here, going back to the same plot device as the first two books, I was like "come, on, really?"
That said, Erin Hart does know how to tell a story. And even though this one really pushed the bounds of realism (all those people dying in such a short period of time!) I was interested all the way through, and never saw the resolution(s) coming.
That said, I am glad I've reached the end of the series and can give Nora & Cormac a break for a while, maybe when the next book comes out I can view them with fresh, less skeptical eyes.
March 15, 2013
This is on whole a good mystery, but Hart did not know when to stop, with extraneous plot twists at the end that do not add to the story, but maybe just an opportunity for her to make some political point. On the other hand, the book provides fascinating, well-researched details about 1100-year-old Irish scholars, scribes and books. Police and archaeologists must work together to unravel both a modern and ancient murder, with plenty of suspicious residents around a bog where the bodies are found. Enjoyable reading, but not motivating enough to go back to #1-3 of the series. (I thought this #4 stood well on its own).
December 11, 2014
Thank goodness Erin Hart has returned to the Irish bog after that unfortunate interlude in Minneapolis in the third book of this series. This one had some interesting themes (ancient books, calligraphy, philosophy....) although ultimately the plot got pretty convoluted, with too many subplots (not all of them entirely believable), and not enough development of some of the main characters. Still a good read, although the gallnuts were hard to swallow.... (sorry, could not resist). Also, a lot of the plot seemed to hang on chance eavesdropping, or characters secretly following each other. How often does that actually happen?
June 25, 2013
I enjoyed this book very much and now want to go back and read the previous books by this author.
Well-written, with an interesting plot involving lost manuscripts, a bog man, contemporary murders, and lots of buried secrets, the story stars Nora and Cormac, archaeologists who come to rescue and study the body of a man preserved in a peat bog and stay at an artists' retreat while they do so. A breadth of colorful characters inhabit the site and the story, along with a very human detective who helps to bring the mysteries to resolution.
Well-written, with an interesting plot involving lost manuscripts, a bog man, contemporary murders, and lots of buried secrets, the story stars Nora and Cormac, archaeologists who come to rescue and study the body of a man preserved in a peat bog and stay at an artists' retreat while they do so. A breadth of colorful characters inhabit the site and the story, along with a very human detective who helps to bring the mysteries to resolution.
August 9, 2014
I'll give this a weak 4 stars. There is an Agatha Christie moment near the end that I think could have been handled more realistically. The problem with this series is that Nora and Cormac are not really central to the action (except in book 3 which is completely different). I think that makes the stories less exciting than they might be if they were told another way.
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February 14, 2013holy crap.
I loved this. It hit the sweet spot for me of murder, history and books. Right there.
Cried at the end but not where you might think.
Full disclosure, I am working on some publicity for Erin and her husband Paddy right now so I can't say any more.
I loved this. It hit the sweet spot for me of murder, history and books. Right there.
Cried at the end but not where you might think.
Full disclosure, I am working on some publicity for Erin and her husband Paddy right now so I can't say any more.
June 26, 2013
What begins as one mystery quickly turns into several, all deftly intertwined and slowly but satisfactorily solved by the end of the book. Erin Hart's research is evident on every page, her knowledge of the subject giving depth to the story. A truly wonderful read!
March 15, 2013
Erin Hart is a master of plot twists and turns plus she infuses her mysteries with fascinating tidbits about Irish mythology and history, forensics, and, in this one, a little botany. Great characters--and a lot of them--and a satisfying ending. More than this you can't ask. A ripping good read.
April 4, 2013
Wonderful series! I love it. It was good to be back in the world of Nora and Cormac. Their group now includes his father which adds a nice dimension to the storyline. I hope this series continues for a long time.
November 2, 2020
The fourth book in the Nora Gavin series and interestingly enough, the lead is little more than a side presence in her own series. After three novels with the crux of Nora's existence being driven by the death of her sister, I was excited to see what the next installment would reveal about a woman no longer tethered by the past.
That was not this book. Instead Nora is merely a passenger in the mystery du jour. Trading family tension over a dead sister for family tension over a boyfriend's ill father, the beats and rhythms of the novel are familiar and well worn. The discovery of a bog body followed by the discovery of a modern mystery. What really impressed me was that for an author who had previously woven her stories through the tight lens of Nora and the lead investigator, The Book of Killowen veered hard in the other direction.
No less than 10 suspects, all fleshed out with mysterious pasts and possible motive. The story is split between the narration of Nora, Cormack and the DI but reveals each character and thier lies in turn. The mystery itself is satisfying and the historic context for the bog body is curiously fascinating.
If you're here for the next phase of Gavin's life I suspect you'll be disappointed, but if you want a mysterious body from a bog and a good who done it, this more than fits the bill.
That was not this book. Instead Nora is merely a passenger in the mystery du jour. Trading family tension over a dead sister for family tension over a boyfriend's ill father, the beats and rhythms of the novel are familiar and well worn. The discovery of a bog body followed by the discovery of a modern mystery. What really impressed me was that for an author who had previously woven her stories through the tight lens of Nora and the lead investigator, The Book of Killowen veered hard in the other direction.
No less than 10 suspects, all fleshed out with mysterious pasts and possible motive. The story is split between the narration of Nora, Cormack and the DI but reveals each character and thier lies in turn. The mystery itself is satisfying and the historic context for the bog body is curiously fascinating.
If you're here for the next phase of Gavin's life I suspect you'll be disappointed, but if you want a mysterious body from a bog and a good who done it, this more than fits the bill.
October 4, 2017
(3.5 stars) This the 4th book in the Nora Gavin series. Nora is pulled back into the field after about a year’s break to help Cormac with a puzzling case. A bog body has been discovered in the trunk of a car. As they work to remove and preserve the remains, they are stunned to find that a far more recent corpse is also in the trunk. The two arrange to stay in the area at an artist’s retreat, Killowen,along with Cormac’s father and his new Spanish care assistant. Cormac’s father is experiencing significant dysphasia, but seems to take an immediate liking to the young woman now taking care of him. When the body is discovered to be a TV host who delighted in tearing down the philosophical viewpoints of his guests, the list of suspects may be larger than the police anticipated. They must work to figure out how the two bodies ended up in the car and who might have put them there. The leads begin pointing to a search for a very rare book and the unusual cast of characters at Killowen become part of the suspect pool, along with the murder victim’s artist widow and her assistant, both of whom had stayed at Killowen. Nora and Cormac work to solve the two murders and also have to deal with a family mystery of their own.
March 4, 2018
The truth is, these books went from really good to just okay. I was literally haunted by the first two, and after a pause in reading the series, I went back and read them and then the last two in the series. I had to find out what happened to Nora and Cormac, and I needed to revisit Ireland. But the last two really lacked the magic of Ireland that was in the first book. I loved it because I felt like I was there, on the bogs and in the smoky, music filled pubs. The last book was fully in Ireland, but there was no essence of Ireland in it, no sounds and smells. Heck, I have never been to Ireland, but I felt like I had after reading Haunted Ground. The Book of Killowen, well, it was just a book.
January 15, 2018
This murder mystery is a fun read. I picked this up because I recently visited Ireland and bicycled through boglands, where this book is set. The story revolves around the interweaving of two murders - one occurred in the 9th century and the other in the present day. The character development is good and there are surprises in the mystery. I liked the background on ancient Irish manuscripts, especially after seeing the Book of Kells in Dublin. My main complaint is that the author put too may disparate issues in one story. We've got everything from Tourettes Syndrome to issues of disappeared persons in South America. Overall, I'd give this 3.5 stars.
January 23, 2018
I randomly picked this novel up from the library and fell instantly in love with Erin's writing style. I was drawn in with the archeology of it, the Killowen Man and the history behind it as well as the murder mystery. I know the book is the fourth in a series, but I don't feel like you need to read the other three to understand the characters or anything, there are a few things about Nora that the previous books may have talked about but you don't need those to enjoy this one.
I am highly interested in medieval times and this book definitely peaked all my interests.....I highly suggest it.
I am highly interested in medieval times and this book definitely peaked all my interests.....I highly suggest it.
October 4, 2025
Book #3 of ‘book I grabbed at the library sale based off of random reasons’. This one was grabbed because I thought it was called The Book of Killoween. It’s not, but I found myself enjoying the book all the same. It was a murder mystery and a book in a series which usually I don’t go for but this one was pleasant. Instead of just a body being found there’s also a big man found! There was a lot of niche knowledge to be found which lead to finding the killer. My only complaint is it suffered from too big of a cast, which confused me at times. If I happen upon the other books in the series I would give them a read!
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