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Detective Alana Mack #2
Roses for the Dead
10am - A mother rushes for a train after dropping her daughter at school but is reported missing when she doesn't return to pick her up.
2.47pm - The same train causes the death of a young woman; her body bound and placed on the tracks.
When Detective Alana Mack discovers the missing mother has vanished from the same train that claimed the life of the young woman, she fears the worst.
A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims appear to have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark – identical single red roses left at each of their crime scenes. And that's not all…
Every trace of the women’s lives has been extinguished from their homes. Their bedding replaced with pristine white sheets, photos of loved ones and precious keepsakes all eradicated.
With little to go on in the sterile environments left by the killer, Alana and her team must desperately try and uncover the link between the women. But when another body is found, this time with a different, rare variety of rose, Alana's instincts tell her this tiny clue could crack the case open and lead them to the twisted individual.
Then Alana receives a chilling message: 'Roses are red. Blood is too. One and two are on me. Number three and four are on you.' The killer is hiding in plain sight and playing a sick game with her. If she doesn't find them soon, more innocent lives will be taken.
A heart-stopping thriller that will keep fans of Angela Marsons, Ann Cleeves, and Patricia Gibney glued to the pages and racing through Roses for the Dead in one sitting.
2.47pm - The same train causes the death of a young woman; her body bound and placed on the tracks.
When Detective Alana Mack discovers the missing mother has vanished from the same train that claimed the life of the young woman, she fears the worst.
A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims appear to have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark – identical single red roses left at each of their crime scenes. And that's not all…
Every trace of the women’s lives has been extinguished from their homes. Their bedding replaced with pristine white sheets, photos of loved ones and precious keepsakes all eradicated.
With little to go on in the sterile environments left by the killer, Alana and her team must desperately try and uncover the link between the women. But when another body is found, this time with a different, rare variety of rose, Alana's instincts tell her this tiny clue could crack the case open and lead them to the twisted individual.
Then Alana receives a chilling message: 'Roses are red. Blood is too. One and two are on me. Number three and four are on you.' The killer is hiding in plain sight and playing a sick game with her. If she doesn't find them soon, more innocent lives will be taken.
A heart-stopping thriller that will keep fans of Angela Marsons, Ann Cleeves, and Patricia Gibney glued to the pages and racing through Roses for the Dead in one sitting.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2024
83 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Jenny O'Brien
29 books173 followersHi and thanks for stopping by.
I took up writing about twenty years ago when I first came up with a plot for a book, and I haven't stopped since. When I’m not writing, I’m ferrying around 3 teenagers or working as a nurse. I’m also an all-year-round sea swimmer.
I write what I love to read, which is romance and thrillers.
My next release, out February, 2026, is The Resistance Knitting Club, a World War 2 historical novel set in Guernsey, the UK and France. I am currently working on my third WW2 novel.
If you like my writing please get in touch - my social media links are below (I’m rarely on Goodreads so it’s best not to drop me a message here). I also have a newsletter, which you can sign up to via my website.
Jenny O
Facebook: Jenny O'Brien Guernsey Writer
Twitter: scribblerjb
Instagram: scribblerjb
I took up writing about twenty years ago when I first came up with a plot for a book, and I haven't stopped since. When I’m not writing, I’m ferrying around 3 teenagers or working as a nurse. I’m also an all-year-round sea swimmer.
I write what I love to read, which is romance and thrillers.
My next release, out February, 2026, is The Resistance Knitting Club, a World War 2 historical novel set in Guernsey, the UK and France. I am currently working on my third WW2 novel.
If you like my writing please get in touch - my social media links are below (I’m rarely on Goodreads so it’s best not to drop me a message here). I also have a newsletter, which you can sign up to via my website.
Jenny O
Facebook: Jenny O'Brien Guernsey Writer
Twitter: scribblerjb
Instagram: scribblerjb
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
February 8, 2024
Detective Alana Mack and her team were working on the murder cases of two different women, at two different times, being bound and left to die on Dublin's Dart railway line. The murders were obviously well planned with a single red rose being left in the victim's pristine house, and frustrations were mounting within the police force. When another woman was murdered in the same way, they found minute differences - was it a copycat killer or the same killer changing their ways?
The same day of the third killing, a wife and mother went missing after dropping her daughter at school. It turned out she'd actually been on the train - could she have witnessed what happened? Alana was being hassled by her new boss, plus the frustrations of battering their heads against the walls of dead ends was getting to them all. Could they find the killer? The investigation was deepening; the woman was still missing; and then another person was murdered...
Roses for the Dead is the 2nd in the Detective Alana Mack series by Jenny O'Brien and it was another gripping read. We know who the killer is (although not the name) as the person was introduced early. Gradually we learn the motive of the kills, and see the reactions as the Garda Síochána slowly inch closer. Alana is a great character, and her partner Paddy, a wonderful support. I'm looking forward to #3 very much. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
The same day of the third killing, a wife and mother went missing after dropping her daughter at school. It turned out she'd actually been on the train - could she have witnessed what happened? Alana was being hassled by her new boss, plus the frustrations of battering their heads against the walls of dead ends was getting to them all. Could they find the killer? The investigation was deepening; the woman was still missing; and then another person was murdered...
Roses for the Dead is the 2nd in the Detective Alana Mack series by Jenny O'Brien and it was another gripping read. We know who the killer is (although not the name) as the person was introduced early. Gradually we learn the motive of the kills, and see the reactions as the Garda Síochána slowly inch closer. Alana is a great character, and her partner Paddy, a wonderful support. I'm looking forward to #3 very much. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2024
Roses For The Dead is a second book featuring detective Alana Mack and it is a corker. Complex, full of tension with an intriguing case, it definitely delivers.
I'm liking that series more and more and cannot wait for book three.
I'm liking that series more and more and cannot wait for book three.
February 15, 2024
A second thrilling read from this series!
Detective Alana Mack's current investigation seems to be going nowhere; two bodies found on railway tracks and no clues as to how they got there. Then a woman goes missing and another body turns up - but it can't be the missing woman as it was the train she was travelling on which struck the body. This is a turning point for the investigation: three murders elevates the case to a serial killer crime but that doesn't make it any easier to solve. A killer on the loose isn't the only thing Alana has to deal with though - her boss's replacement is about to be announced; will it be any better than the last or is that a futile hope? And, alongside the murders, there's also the case of the missing woman to work out . . .
I've read several of Jenny O'Brien's novels and I absolutely love this series. I suspect it's very close to the actual work of the crime units tasked with solving such crimes and this one is riveting. With very little to go on, Alana and her team work tirelessly to find crumbs of information to help them and it's amazing how they follow every slim lead to ensure that they get it right. Gripping from beginning to end, this is a series I shall definitely follow. No doubt about it, this is a stunning 5* read and one I highly recommend!
Detective Alana Mack's current investigation seems to be going nowhere; two bodies found on railway tracks and no clues as to how they got there. Then a woman goes missing and another body turns up - but it can't be the missing woman as it was the train she was travelling on which struck the body. This is a turning point for the investigation: three murders elevates the case to a serial killer crime but that doesn't make it any easier to solve. A killer on the loose isn't the only thing Alana has to deal with though - her boss's replacement is about to be announced; will it be any better than the last or is that a futile hope? And, alongside the murders, there's also the case of the missing woman to work out . . .
I've read several of Jenny O'Brien's novels and I absolutely love this series. I suspect it's very close to the actual work of the crime units tasked with solving such crimes and this one is riveting. With very little to go on, Alana and her team work tirelessly to find crumbs of information to help them and it's amazing how they follow every slim lead to ensure that they get it right. Gripping from beginning to end, this is a series I shall definitely follow. No doubt about it, this is a stunning 5* read and one I highly recommend!
March 19, 2025
Roses for the Dead is the 2nd book in the Detective Alana Mack police procedural series. Alana was in a serious accident before the series begins, and is now in a wheelchair. She is often underestimated because of her chair, but her mind is sharp, and although physically limited, can sort through evidence and clues to solve the most complicated mystery. In this book, Detective Alana Mack discovers that a missing mother vanished from the same train that claimed the life of the young woman. There have been other woman who died the same way, their bodies left on the Dart train line. After each murder, there is a single red rose left in their homes. The homes that have had all traces of the women eradicated with new bedding on their beds, all pictures of themselves and their families missing and no other physical evidence that they existed. The sterile environments make it difficult to solve the crimes, but Alana and her team get to work. When another body is found, with a different type of rose, they have to decide if this is the same killer or a copycat. With a poem sent to Alana, she realizes that the killer is playing a sick and dangerous game. Will they find him before another woman turns up dead?
This was another good police procedural. I really like Alana's character. Although she is in a wheelchair and physically limited, it seems her powers of observation and deduction are sharper than ever. Her boss, however, doesn't think she can do her job and is always hassling her. Alana's partner, Paddy, is very supportive of her and I like they way they work together. There is another missing woman that they must find before she is also a statistic, but they seem to be finding dead ends everywhere. We get the killer's POV in this book, but we don't know who it is. As the story unfolds we start to see what the motives are, and as that unfolds, the Garda Síochána begin to solve the crimes. This is a police procedural more than a crime thriller, with tidbits to find and piece together. I am enjoying this series and hope to read more about Detective Alana Mack. I was able to do a read/listen with the audiobook narrated by Michele Moran. She has just a hint of the Irish lilt which actually works well. She gives voice to the characters and her performance was enjoyable.
This was another good police procedural. I really like Alana's character. Although she is in a wheelchair and physically limited, it seems her powers of observation and deduction are sharper than ever. Her boss, however, doesn't think she can do her job and is always hassling her. Alana's partner, Paddy, is very supportive of her and I like they way they work together. There is another missing woman that they must find before she is also a statistic, but they seem to be finding dead ends everywhere. We get the killer's POV in this book, but we don't know who it is. As the story unfolds we start to see what the motives are, and as that unfolds, the Garda Síochána begin to solve the crimes. This is a police procedural more than a crime thriller, with tidbits to find and piece together. I am enjoying this series and hope to read more about Detective Alana Mack. I was able to do a read/listen with the audiobook narrated by Michele Moran. She has just a hint of the Irish lilt which actually works well. She gives voice to the characters and her performance was enjoyable.
February 14, 2024
In Dublin, two murdered women are left by railway tracks, while a single rose is left on their beds.
Detective Alana Mack of Dublin’s National Bureau of Criminal Investigations and her team are getting nowhere trying to find the person who has murdered two women, Nadine and Cathy, leaving their bodies near railway tracks while leaving a single red rose on the freshly made beds in their homes. The two women have no connection to one another that Alana and her crew have been able to find, and there is no forensic evidence pointing the way to a suspect. When Harvey Buckenham comes in to report that his wife Sarah has gone missing after failing to pick their daughter Belle up from school, Alana is afraid that Sarah might be more than just missing, she might be the killer’s third victim. Harvey had last heard from Sarah when she was on a train heading to collect Belle; the train was delayed, and Sarah asked Harvey to get Belle instead. When the dead body of a woman is discovered on the train tracks, hit by the very train on which Sarah had been riding, it is either a huge coincidence or Sarah’s disappearance has some connection to the case of the murdered women. This third victim, Avril Kenny, has no apparent connection to the previous two victims, but she does appear to have known Sarah. There are some anomalies between Avril’s death and those of the previous women….is the killer evolving, or is there a copycat afoot? Where is Sarah, and is there trouble in her marriage? The woman to whom Harvey points the police as Sarah’s closest friend. Maeve, actually loathes Sarah….why? As Alana tries to adjust to a new boss who strikes her as long on ambition and short on leadership, and her teammate Paddy Quigg is dealing with challenges in his new relationship, can they break the case (or cases) before another body is found?
Alana is an interesting lead character….smart, often impatient, but a solid leader to her team. That she is coming off of a divorce (with an ex who doesn’t truly believe they’re over) and is doing her best to keep at the job she loves even as she has to adjust to life in a wheelchair adds layers to her off-work persona. In this, her second outing after “The Puppet Maker”, we get to learn more about several of the team members in some depth as well. Paddy has his hands full with his girlfriend Irene's sister Annelise, to whom Irene is very close, and Annelise’s husband Eoin, who is to Paddy’s mind a bit of a prat. In short, the investigators’ personal lives are no more orderly than the crimes they are investigating, and the case or cases with unresolved deaths on their watch adds to their overall stress. With the killer narrating occasional chapters, the readers know a bit more than the investigators do, but while we learn about his troubled childhood and his first foray into murder, we don’t know who he is until the very end of the novel (though I had my suspicions a bit earlier than that). The blend of interesting characters on and outside of the investigating team, the dynamics of inter office squabbles and office politics, and the complications that relationships pose to those involved are all woven into the brisk plotting of the mystery at hand. I enjoyed reading both the first novel in this series and this follow-up, though it is not necessary to have read the first in order to fully appreciate Roses for the Dead. I was pleased to read at the end that there is a third installment on the way, which I look forward to reading. For readers of well-plotted police procedurals, including those by authors like John Connolly, Ken Bruen, Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid, I would recommend this series highly, as well as to those who like a good mystery with an Irish setting. Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy.
Detective Alana Mack of Dublin’s National Bureau of Criminal Investigations and her team are getting nowhere trying to find the person who has murdered two women, Nadine and Cathy, leaving their bodies near railway tracks while leaving a single red rose on the freshly made beds in their homes. The two women have no connection to one another that Alana and her crew have been able to find, and there is no forensic evidence pointing the way to a suspect. When Harvey Buckenham comes in to report that his wife Sarah has gone missing after failing to pick their daughter Belle up from school, Alana is afraid that Sarah might be more than just missing, she might be the killer’s third victim. Harvey had last heard from Sarah when she was on a train heading to collect Belle; the train was delayed, and Sarah asked Harvey to get Belle instead. When the dead body of a woman is discovered on the train tracks, hit by the very train on which Sarah had been riding, it is either a huge coincidence or Sarah’s disappearance has some connection to the case of the murdered women. This third victim, Avril Kenny, has no apparent connection to the previous two victims, but she does appear to have known Sarah. There are some anomalies between Avril’s death and those of the previous women….is the killer evolving, or is there a copycat afoot? Where is Sarah, and is there trouble in her marriage? The woman to whom Harvey points the police as Sarah’s closest friend. Maeve, actually loathes Sarah….why? As Alana tries to adjust to a new boss who strikes her as long on ambition and short on leadership, and her teammate Paddy Quigg is dealing with challenges in his new relationship, can they break the case (or cases) before another body is found?
Alana is an interesting lead character….smart, often impatient, but a solid leader to her team. That she is coming off of a divorce (with an ex who doesn’t truly believe they’re over) and is doing her best to keep at the job she loves even as she has to adjust to life in a wheelchair adds layers to her off-work persona. In this, her second outing after “The Puppet Maker”, we get to learn more about several of the team members in some depth as well. Paddy has his hands full with his girlfriend Irene's sister Annelise, to whom Irene is very close, and Annelise’s husband Eoin, who is to Paddy’s mind a bit of a prat. In short, the investigators’ personal lives are no more orderly than the crimes they are investigating, and the case or cases with unresolved deaths on their watch adds to their overall stress. With the killer narrating occasional chapters, the readers know a bit more than the investigators do, but while we learn about his troubled childhood and his first foray into murder, we don’t know who he is until the very end of the novel (though I had my suspicions a bit earlier than that). The blend of interesting characters on and outside of the investigating team, the dynamics of inter office squabbles and office politics, and the complications that relationships pose to those involved are all woven into the brisk plotting of the mystery at hand. I enjoyed reading both the first novel in this series and this follow-up, though it is not necessary to have read the first in order to fully appreciate Roses for the Dead. I was pleased to read at the end that there is a third installment on the way, which I look forward to reading. For readers of well-plotted police procedurals, including those by authors like John Connolly, Ken Bruen, Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid, I would recommend this series highly, as well as to those who like a good mystery with an Irish setting. Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy.
January 12, 2024
The second is this detective series set in Dublin Ireland and……it was ok. A little convoluted, perhaps too many characters and parts which seemed to drag.
We still don’t know how our main protagonist ended up in a wheelchair after her “ accident “ in the past. This now seems a conscious decision by the author and I think it’s a poor choice. Explaining Alana’s back story would help develope the character more and make the reader have more empathy and a better understanding of her.
At the end of the day I wanted to like this more than I did. It just dragged after a really interesting set up and seemed to over complicate things to explain everything, it felt clumsy.
I enjoyed the first more than this.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
We still don’t know how our main protagonist ended up in a wheelchair after her “ accident “ in the past. This now seems a conscious decision by the author and I think it’s a poor choice. Explaining Alana’s back story would help develope the character more and make the reader have more empathy and a better understanding of her.
At the end of the day I wanted to like this more than I did. It just dragged after a really interesting set up and seemed to over complicate things to explain everything, it felt clumsy.
I enjoyed the first more than this.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
December 27, 2023
This is the first time I have read anything by this author. The story was interesting to me but there were a lot of characters to try to keep straight. Detective Alana was a character that you would want in your corner as she went all in to solve the case!
Thanks so much to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc. The opinions are my own.
Thanks so much to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc. The opinions are my own.
February 15, 2024
I really enjoyed it! A good plot with convincing characters! I didn't guess till close to the end about the culprit, and that is good! I also enjoyed the fact that the police team's own private life stories didn't overwhelm the plot.
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
February 15, 2024
Roses for the Dead is the second book in the Detective Alana Mack series. This can be a stand-alone read. I did not read the first book and did not feel as if I was missing some important history.
In Dublin, two women have been murdered and left on railroad tracks. When the police went to investigate their homes, they found a cryptic message of a single rose being left on white sheets on their beds.
Detective Alana Mack of Dublin’s National Bureau of Criminal Investigations and her team are coming up empty trying to tie the murders together. But they work the case using new information but still too many puzzle pieces missing just yet.
Harvey Buckenham comes arrives to report that his wife Sarah is missing after failing to pick their daughter Belle up from school, Alana suspects that Sarah might be the next victim. Harvey says the last time he heard from her was when Sarah was on a train which was delayed, and she needed him to pick up Belle.
The dead body of a woman is found on the train tracks which is the very train Sarah had been on. Alana and the team wonder if it is just a huge coincidence or was Sarah’s disappearance connected to the case of the other murdered women. The third victim, Avril Kenny, has no connection to the previous two victims, but she does seem to have known Sarah from the gym she went to, and Avril had worked at. When the third is found Alana wonders if this is a copycat or has the killer struck again.
As Alana tries to work the case, she has a new boss to get to know. She is determined to solve the crime before there is another murder and her boss decides she isn't needed any longer.
This was an interesting story told from several points of views. First, we have the killer telling his story starting as a young child to the present. Their identity is unknown until about 80% through the story. Next, we have Paddy who is Alana's partner and friend. Then most importantly we have Alana. Alana is a detective with Dublin’s National Bureau of Criminal Investigations, but she is also a paraplegic which makes the story that much more interesting. Alana is reportedly stronger than anyone on the force due to her exercise routine of swimming and weightlifting. I am not sure I have read any other books with the lead character being disabled and working as a detective. It brings a new level of interest seeing how she works from her point of view.
The characters were an interesting blend. The squabbling that takes place at work and at home is relatable. Along with the office politics that are also a factor in the telling of this story. This is a fascinating as well as riveting roller coaster of a ride. I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next one in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
In Dublin, two women have been murdered and left on railroad tracks. When the police went to investigate their homes, they found a cryptic message of a single rose being left on white sheets on their beds.
Detective Alana Mack of Dublin’s National Bureau of Criminal Investigations and her team are coming up empty trying to tie the murders together. But they work the case using new information but still too many puzzle pieces missing just yet.
Harvey Buckenham comes arrives to report that his wife Sarah is missing after failing to pick their daughter Belle up from school, Alana suspects that Sarah might be the next victim. Harvey says the last time he heard from her was when Sarah was on a train which was delayed, and she needed him to pick up Belle.
The dead body of a woman is found on the train tracks which is the very train Sarah had been on. Alana and the team wonder if it is just a huge coincidence or was Sarah’s disappearance connected to the case of the other murdered women. The third victim, Avril Kenny, has no connection to the previous two victims, but she does seem to have known Sarah from the gym she went to, and Avril had worked at. When the third is found Alana wonders if this is a copycat or has the killer struck again.
As Alana tries to work the case, she has a new boss to get to know. She is determined to solve the crime before there is another murder and her boss decides she isn't needed any longer.
This was an interesting story told from several points of views. First, we have the killer telling his story starting as a young child to the present. Their identity is unknown until about 80% through the story. Next, we have Paddy who is Alana's partner and friend. Then most importantly we have Alana. Alana is a detective with Dublin’s National Bureau of Criminal Investigations, but she is also a paraplegic which makes the story that much more interesting. Alana is reportedly stronger than anyone on the force due to her exercise routine of swimming and weightlifting. I am not sure I have read any other books with the lead character being disabled and working as a detective. It brings a new level of interest seeing how she works from her point of view.
The characters were an interesting blend. The squabbling that takes place at work and at home is relatable. Along with the office politics that are also a factor in the telling of this story. This is a fascinating as well as riveting roller coaster of a ride. I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next one in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
January 29, 2024
4.25⭐️
No 2 Alana Mack Detective series
Set in Ireland, Alana is a detective with a disability, the reader gets to see the limitations and adaptations of her working life in a wheelchair. It’s not common to have a protagonist with a physical disability, which gives it an edge.
Women have been m*rdered leaving their bodies on the rail tracks. There are specific rituals applied to each of the victims. Another woman has gone missing, the only connection is she was on the train which collided with a woman on the track.
The POVs are from Alana, plus one from an unknown person in a second poignant thread that takes place in 2003 I felt so sorry for him.
From the beginning this book felt like it was in its stride feeling more polished than the first book. The protagonist’s are likeable, the reader has got to know them over the two books. My favourite character by far is Paddy, but Alana is growing on me. The story is self contained and can be read as a standalone, but for the character development it’s better read in order.
It’s got an easy going relaxed writing style that I like. The pacing is on the slower side for me, but typical of a police procedural. There’s a couple of plot intricacies that I enjoyed.
I managed to twig who the k*ller was but not until the 11th hour 😂 still it’s an achievement for me.
It’s not only the location that’s changed from the previous series, I feel that the tone is a little less cosy and a little more earthy, although it still doesn’t register on my gore score, so it’s not going to isolate previous readers. It’s one that I think readers of SA Dunphy’s DI Tessa Burns would also enjoy.
This is definitely one I’d have loved to listen to on audiobook as I adore Irish accents.
No 2 Alana Mack Detective series
Set in Ireland, Alana is a detective with a disability, the reader gets to see the limitations and adaptations of her working life in a wheelchair. It’s not common to have a protagonist with a physical disability, which gives it an edge.
Women have been m*rdered leaving their bodies on the rail tracks. There are specific rituals applied to each of the victims. Another woman has gone missing, the only connection is she was on the train which collided with a woman on the track.
The POVs are from Alana, plus one from an unknown person in a second poignant thread that takes place in 2003 I felt so sorry for him.
From the beginning this book felt like it was in its stride feeling more polished than the first book. The protagonist’s are likeable, the reader has got to know them over the two books. My favourite character by far is Paddy, but Alana is growing on me. The story is self contained and can be read as a standalone, but for the character development it’s better read in order.
It’s got an easy going relaxed writing style that I like. The pacing is on the slower side for me, but typical of a police procedural. There’s a couple of plot intricacies that I enjoyed.
I managed to twig who the k*ller was but not until the 11th hour 😂 still it’s an achievement for me.
It’s not only the location that’s changed from the previous series, I feel that the tone is a little less cosy and a little more earthy, although it still doesn’t register on my gore score, so it’s not going to isolate previous readers. It’s one that I think readers of SA Dunphy’s DI Tessa Burns would also enjoy.
This is definitely one I’d have loved to listen to on audiobook as I adore Irish accents.
February 14, 2024
Great series
I loved The Puppet Maker so I was looking forward to the second book in the series featuring wheelchair bound Detective Alana Mack and it doesn’t disappoint. Parallel with the investigation into the deaths of young women in Dublin we learn more about the police team and their families. There’s even a new love interest for Alana Mack in the shape of the charming but unsuitable Billy Slattery. With plenty of twists and turns, the story is definitely a page-turner and I’m already looking forward to book 3, Cage of Bones which I’ve pre ordered.
I loved The Puppet Maker so I was looking forward to the second book in the series featuring wheelchair bound Detective Alana Mack and it doesn’t disappoint. Parallel with the investigation into the deaths of young women in Dublin we learn more about the police team and their families. There’s even a new love interest for Alana Mack in the shape of the charming but unsuitable Billy Slattery. With plenty of twists and turns, the story is definitely a page-turner and I’m already looking forward to book 3, Cage of Bones which I’ve pre ordered.
January 10, 2024
I was excited to read this second book in the Alana Mack series. (I guess the offputting nickname "Alan" has fallen away.) In this book, a woman disappears after getting off a train that was also ran over another woman, in a repeat of two similar murders that had happened months earlier. Alana's team is investigating both. I mostly liked this and will continue this series. 3.5 stars rounded to 3.
April 25, 2024
Book 2 in the Detective Alana Mack series. An enjoyable read that had you gripped. My only criticism is that the main character Alana, isn’t a very likeable character, it would be nice to see her character grow a little warmer and not as serious.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm publishing for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm publishing for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
February 15, 2024
Suspenseful. Absorbing. A wonderfully tense book that I read in one sitting. Loved this one so much.
February 14, 2024
Once again, Jenny O’Brien has written another compelling crime novel. Paraplegic detective Alana Mack is back with her team, this time investigating the murder of two women, where both bodies have been wrapped and laid across train tracks. Then another disappearance is reported, but this time when a body turns up, it’s not the missing woman and the MO isn’t quite the same. Among other things, the signature rose left with the first two bodies is missing, making the team wonder whether they might have two murderers on their hands.
A great return to Clonabee and another case for Alana Mack and her team. A cleverly written story with many twists and turns. As for her debut, The Puppet Maker, the detail in the writing shows a huge amount of research. I mostly read and review psychological thrillers and crime, and Jenny O’Brien is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. Can’t wait to see what she does next.
My thanks to Storm Publishing, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of Roses for the Dead in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for a copy of Roses for the Dead in exchange for an honest review.
A great return to Clonabee and another case for Alana Mack and her team. A cleverly written story with many twists and turns. As for her debut, The Puppet Maker, the detail in the writing shows a huge amount of research. I mostly read and review psychological thrillers and crime, and Jenny O’Brien is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. Can’t wait to see what she does next.
My thanks to Storm Publishing, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of Roses for the Dead in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for a copy of Roses for the Dead in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2024
Some strange connections between some murdered women and common threads running between the. The repetition of trains being part of their deaths and the fact that an unusual rose being left as a calling card makes the case mysterious.
Some of the methods used by the perpetrator are also unusual but I won’t give any spoilers.
I enjoyed the original threads of the story and details which did well to cancel out the more well trodden roads of a bullied child turning bad and infidelity being the cause of revenge. The forensics were portrayed with knowledge and scientific credibility too. A few glaring typos eg breaks for brakes, hear for here and a misquote as it’s the love of money that is the root of all evil, not money.
Good characters, even paced storyline and enough interesting detail to keep me turning the pages.
Some of the methods used by the perpetrator are also unusual but I won’t give any spoilers.
I enjoyed the original threads of the story and details which did well to cancel out the more well trodden roads of a bullied child turning bad and infidelity being the cause of revenge. The forensics were portrayed with knowledge and scientific credibility too. A few glaring typos eg breaks for brakes, hear for here and a misquote as it’s the love of money that is the root of all evil, not money.
Good characters, even paced storyline and enough interesting detail to keep me turning the pages.
January 6, 2024
Roses for the Dead by Jenny O’Brien. Detective Alana Mack series, #2. Storm Publications, 2024.
As senior officer of Dublin’s crack crime team, until a new Detective Sergeant is appointed, Detective Garda Alana Mack is leading her colleagues through two missing and murdered women cases when a third missing person is reported. A mother phones her husband to say she is delayed, so can’t pick up her child from school. Then she disappears.
Aside from discovering the killer, and whether a serial or copycat, there are a few subplots going on. Alana uses a wheelchair; her first encounter with the new Detective Sargeant is suboptimal, not when he is introduced at the Station and things don’t improve from there. Meanwhile, her main work sidekick Paddy has family distractions, and there too things only get worse.
Since mid-June 2023, I’ve started over 220 crime novels, most from series, written by over 60 new-to-me authors. I did finish most of these, the books and then the series, by most authors.
Jenny O'Brien's writing is smooth, polished and a pleasure to read. There is something remarkably fresh about it. I will certainly catch up and read her other work.
And superb character development. A test for me as to the degree to which I engage with characters is whether I think about or wonder about or care about characters when I am not reading, and I certainly did with this team.
This is my first Jenny O’Brien book. I suspected that this is not her first novel. Now I see that she has other series, including the six-book Detective Gaby Darin series, and some standalone books.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of Roses for the Dead for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #RosesfortheDead #NetGalley.
As senior officer of Dublin’s crack crime team, until a new Detective Sergeant is appointed, Detective Garda Alana Mack is leading her colleagues through two missing and murdered women cases when a third missing person is reported. A mother phones her husband to say she is delayed, so can’t pick up her child from school. Then she disappears.
Aside from discovering the killer, and whether a serial or copycat, there are a few subplots going on. Alana uses a wheelchair; her first encounter with the new Detective Sargeant is suboptimal, not when he is introduced at the Station and things don’t improve from there. Meanwhile, her main work sidekick Paddy has family distractions, and there too things only get worse.
Since mid-June 2023, I’ve started over 220 crime novels, most from series, written by over 60 new-to-me authors. I did finish most of these, the books and then the series, by most authors.
Jenny O'Brien's writing is smooth, polished and a pleasure to read. There is something remarkably fresh about it. I will certainly catch up and read her other work.
And superb character development. A test for me as to the degree to which I engage with characters is whether I think about or wonder about or care about characters when I am not reading, and I certainly did with this team.
This is my first Jenny O’Brien book. I suspected that this is not her first novel. Now I see that she has other series, including the six-book Detective Gaby Darin series, and some standalone books.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of Roses for the Dead for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #RosesfortheDead #NetGalley.
January 11, 2024
A Brilliantly Plot Full of Suspense and Intrigue
This is the second book I have read in a series by Jenny O'Brien, and it is set in Dublin Ireland. The story is about a disabled police officer called Alana Mack and her team of detectives.
A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark an identical single red rose left at each of their crime scene.
When a mother rushes for a train after dropping her daughter at school and is reported missing by her husband when she does not return to pick her up from school Detective Alana Mack discovers the missing mother has vanished from the same train that claimed the life of the three young woman. Alana fears the worst, but something does not sit right with Alana until the women reappears.
A truly thrilling book the characters are all natural and true to life and without giving too much away, this book has everything you would want in a thriller including a brilliantly plot full of suspense and intrigue. I loved all the twists and turns, with the characters are all extraordinarily strong people. The book is professionally written and a fast-paced crime thriller that you genuinely enjoy. It has left me looking forward to reading more books from Jenny O'Brien. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the second book I have read in a series by Jenny O'Brien, and it is set in Dublin Ireland. The story is about a disabled police officer called Alana Mack and her team of detectives.
A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark an identical single red rose left at each of their crime scene.
When a mother rushes for a train after dropping her daughter at school and is reported missing by her husband when she does not return to pick her up from school Detective Alana Mack discovers the missing mother has vanished from the same train that claimed the life of the three young woman. Alana fears the worst, but something does not sit right with Alana until the women reappears.
A truly thrilling book the characters are all natural and true to life and without giving too much away, this book has everything you would want in a thriller including a brilliantly plot full of suspense and intrigue. I loved all the twists and turns, with the characters are all extraordinarily strong people. The book is professionally written and a fast-paced crime thriller that you genuinely enjoy. It has left me looking forward to reading more books from Jenny O'Brien. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 25, 2023
Roses for the Dead by Jenny O'Brien is the 2nd book in the Alana Mack series, and it does not disappoint. I did read the first book, and I would recommend reading it to get acquainted with the characters. However, Roses for the Dead can be read as a standalone.
I really like Detective Alana Mack. She is feisty, and I love the banter she has with her team. All the characters in this series are really well-developed and solid.
A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims appear to have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark—identical single red roses left at each of their crime scenes.
Alana receives a chilling message, suggesting the killer is hiding in plain sight and playing a sick game with her. If she doesn't find them soon, more innocent lives will be taken.
I read this book in one day. I had a hard time putting it down because the story unfolded so effortlessly and the writing is done well to keep me invested in the story.
A good plot with tension and twists; it is a solid read and a good addition to the series.
I would recommend this book and this author. I can't wait for more in this series. The cover is pretty cool, too.
#RosesfortheDead #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co
I really like Detective Alana Mack. She is feisty, and I love the banter she has with her team. All the characters in this series are really well-developed and solid.
A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims appear to have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark—identical single red roses left at each of their crime scenes.
Alana receives a chilling message, suggesting the killer is hiding in plain sight and playing a sick game with her. If she doesn't find them soon, more innocent lives will be taken.
I read this book in one day. I had a hard time putting it down because the story unfolded so effortlessly and the writing is done well to keep me invested in the story.
A good plot with tension and twists; it is a solid read and a good addition to the series.
I would recommend this book and this author. I can't wait for more in this series. The cover is pretty cool, too.
#RosesfortheDead #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co
February 16, 2024
Roses for the Dead
by Jenny O'Brien
Pub Date: 14 Feb 2024
"Roses for the Dead" is Book 2 of Detective Alana Mack series. Although I didn't read the first book, "The Puppet Maker" I didn't find it difficult to catch on. It can be read as a standalone. After reading book 2 in the series I definitely plan on reading the first book.
I felt this was an easy read, suspenseful, tense at times. A well written book with a good storyline.
Many thanks to #RosesfortheDead #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.
by Jenny O'Brien
Pub Date: 14 Feb 2024
"Roses for the Dead" is Book 2 of Detective Alana Mack series. Although I didn't read the first book, "The Puppet Maker" I didn't find it difficult to catch on. It can be read as a standalone. After reading book 2 in the series I definitely plan on reading the first book.
I felt this was an easy read, suspenseful, tense at times. A well written book with a good storyline.
Many thanks to #RosesfortheDead #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.
March 23, 2024
Wow, what a rush. I just finished this book and I had to read the last couple of chapters twice because I couldn't believe what I was reading. The motive for the recent murders was a shock but the identity of the killer left me reeling. The fall out from this case is going to affect the team of detectives for a long time to come. Definitely a 5 star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
February 20, 2024
4 Stars
One Liner: Better than book one and enjoyable
Detective Alana Mack is worried when a woman goes missing from the same train where another one has died. It appears that a killer is targeting women and leaving their bodies along Dublin’s Dart train line. As bodies pile up, Alana knows she has to solve the case as soon as possible.
Things get even more complex when she receives a threatening message. Can Alana use the clues to find the killer and prevent more deaths?
The story comes in third-person POVs from Alana (more), Paddy, Lorrie, and the killer.
My Thoughts:
The second book in the series reads well as a standalone. It is also better than the first book in many ways. The POV jumps are not random but are limited to four characters and come in different chapters. There’s no excessive dwelling on the past except for a couple of references for new readers.
Multiple cases soon converge into a single/ dual track. The circumstances are such that the police are trying hard for a breakthrough. This means they go through the same information a few times. However, something new turns up each time to prevent monotony.
Alana is also better in this one. Yeah, she is still abrupt and a touch rude. But it doesn’t put the reader off. We can see her stress and the calculated risks she has to take. Moreover, her thoughts and emotions are centered on the cases most of the time, so it is easier to empathize with her. Her disability is seamlessly woven into the plotline to keep it real and is aligned with her arc.
We get the killer’s POV quite early, which means it is easy to guess who it is. I did guess who it was in the first third itself, but that didn’t make the story any less intriguing. There are a couple of twists, though nothing major. Yet, the plotline keeps you hooked to see if you’re right.
The pacing is slow, as I assumed. This will be a slowish series, and that’s okay. The story doesn’t drag. Moreover, things take time when the police and forensics are involved.
Alana and Paddy make a great team. The non-romantic relationship between them is a great plus. Paddy has a side track, which adds a layer to his character. They are both complex people, so the series should be interesting as we proceed.
The Dublin setting doesn’t come alive in this one, but there’s enough to follow the case. The setting has changed from book one to two (it was a seaside place last time), so that could also be the reason.
The ending has a touch of hope for Alana’s personal track, though she and I are in no hurry to take the leap. Let’s go slow and steady.
To summarize, Roses for the Dead is a compact police procedural with some intriguing characters and an absorbing plot. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #RosesForTheDead
***
TW:
One Liner: Better than book one and enjoyable
Detective Alana Mack is worried when a woman goes missing from the same train where another one has died. It appears that a killer is targeting women and leaving their bodies along Dublin’s Dart train line. As bodies pile up, Alana knows she has to solve the case as soon as possible.
Things get even more complex when she receives a threatening message. Can Alana use the clues to find the killer and prevent more deaths?
The story comes in third-person POVs from Alana (more), Paddy, Lorrie, and the killer.
My Thoughts:
The second book in the series reads well as a standalone. It is also better than the first book in many ways. The POV jumps are not random but are limited to four characters and come in different chapters. There’s no excessive dwelling on the past except for a couple of references for new readers.
Multiple cases soon converge into a single/ dual track. The circumstances are such that the police are trying hard for a breakthrough. This means they go through the same information a few times. However, something new turns up each time to prevent monotony.
Alana is also better in this one. Yeah, she is still abrupt and a touch rude. But it doesn’t put the reader off. We can see her stress and the calculated risks she has to take. Moreover, her thoughts and emotions are centered on the cases most of the time, so it is easier to empathize with her. Her disability is seamlessly woven into the plotline to keep it real and is aligned with her arc.
We get the killer’s POV quite early, which means it is easy to guess who it is. I did guess who it was in the first third itself, but that didn’t make the story any less intriguing. There are a couple of twists, though nothing major. Yet, the plotline keeps you hooked to see if you’re right.
The pacing is slow, as I assumed. This will be a slowish series, and that’s okay. The story doesn’t drag. Moreover, things take time when the police and forensics are involved.
Alana and Paddy make a great team. The non-romantic relationship between them is a great plus. Paddy has a side track, which adds a layer to his character. They are both complex people, so the series should be interesting as we proceed.
The Dublin setting doesn’t come alive in this one, but there’s enough to follow the case. The setting has changed from book one to two (it was a seaside place last time), so that could also be the reason.
The ending has a touch of hope for Alana’s personal track, though she and I are in no hurry to take the leap. Let’s go slow and steady.
To summarize, Roses for the Dead is a compact police procedural with some intriguing characters and an absorbing plot. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #RosesForTheDead
***
TW:
February 7, 2024
I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of Roses for the Dead, the second novel to feature DS Alana Mack of An Garda Síochána, set in Dublin.
A train line is halted when a train runs over a woman’s body. Coincidentally or not a woman travelling on the same train goes missing. This worries Alana and the team because they are already investigating two dead women found separately near rail tracks. They have nothing to go on forensically with the bodies and their homes cleaned, only the fresh white sheets and single rose on their beds.
I thoroughly enjoyed Roses for the Dead, which I found more engrossing than the previous novel, even if the team spend a lot of time going round in circles and getting nowhere. The novel is mostly told from Alana’s point of view with the odd contribution from the unnamed killer and, in the first half of the novel, flashbacks to the killer’s childhood. These I skipped as another story of lost parents and bullying has no interest for me.
The novel starts with the third body and a touch of internal politics, which is quite funny given what comes later. It gets serious when Sarah Buckenham is reported missing, as while she is obviously not the body on the tracks, she might be the next victim. The plot gets complicated after this with several characters up to no good, although Alana isn’t quite sure about what kind of no good. It’s convoluted and clever in this, although probably not realistic. Still, who cares when it’s entertaining. I particularly liked that the eponymous roses play a large part in the solution.
I like Alana Mack, a wheelchair bound detective, who doesn’t let her disability get in the way of her smart thinking and detecting. She has created a great team around her so it’s a pleasure to spend time with them.
Roses for the Dead is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
A train line is halted when a train runs over a woman’s body. Coincidentally or not a woman travelling on the same train goes missing. This worries Alana and the team because they are already investigating two dead women found separately near rail tracks. They have nothing to go on forensically with the bodies and their homes cleaned, only the fresh white sheets and single rose on their beds.
I thoroughly enjoyed Roses for the Dead, which I found more engrossing than the previous novel, even if the team spend a lot of time going round in circles and getting nowhere. The novel is mostly told from Alana’s point of view with the odd contribution from the unnamed killer and, in the first half of the novel, flashbacks to the killer’s childhood. These I skipped as another story of lost parents and bullying has no interest for me.
The novel starts with the third body and a touch of internal politics, which is quite funny given what comes later. It gets serious when Sarah Buckenham is reported missing, as while she is obviously not the body on the tracks, she might be the next victim. The plot gets complicated after this with several characters up to no good, although Alana isn’t quite sure about what kind of no good. It’s convoluted and clever in this, although probably not realistic. Still, who cares when it’s entertaining. I particularly liked that the eponymous roses play a large part in the solution.
I like Alana Mack, a wheelchair bound detective, who doesn’t let her disability get in the way of her smart thinking and detecting. She has created a great team around her so it’s a pleasure to spend time with them.
Roses for the Dead is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
February 2, 2024
Netgalley has introduced me to another cracking author, book series and 'must find everything else they have written' entry for the list.
I thought this was a brilliant police procedural. The second in a series, which didn't matter at all to the telling of the book as all prior content you need to know in order to be brought up to speed was covered beautifully!
It follows Detective Alana Mack and her team as they set about to uncover the whereabouts of a missing person, solve recent murders and solve a cold case set of murders from a while ago.
Alana and her team are bright and they have the funny banter that makes them really personable as a team and makes the reader invested in their lives. I will make it a point to go back and read the first novel and continue to read the next ones in the series. I actually picked the perpetrator of most of the murders early on when the book was concentrating on that character. I forgot my theory as the book went on with twist after twist but was gratified to know it had picked it when all was explained at the end.
I really appreciate that the lead is a person with a disability. Having such a high profile job, I never considered that the job would allow for a wheelchair user, instead forcing them to a desk job instead. I enjoyed reading about the modifications that Alana set out for herself, at crime scenes, transport and in turn knowing when she should be present and when to send her colleagues in instead.
I hope that the relationship between herself and her new boss will develop and also between her friend, the newspaper man. A very interesting dilemma there too.
My biggest thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was a brilliant police procedural. The second in a series, which didn't matter at all to the telling of the book as all prior content you need to know in order to be brought up to speed was covered beautifully!
It follows Detective Alana Mack and her team as they set about to uncover the whereabouts of a missing person, solve recent murders and solve a cold case set of murders from a while ago.
Alana and her team are bright and they have the funny banter that makes them really personable as a team and makes the reader invested in their lives. I will make it a point to go back and read the first novel and continue to read the next ones in the series. I actually picked the perpetrator of most of the murders early on when the book was concentrating on that character. I forgot my theory as the book went on with twist after twist but was gratified to know it had picked it when all was explained at the end.
I really appreciate that the lead is a person with a disability. Having such a high profile job, I never considered that the job would allow for a wheelchair user, instead forcing them to a desk job instead. I enjoyed reading about the modifications that Alana set out for herself, at crime scenes, transport and in turn knowing when she should be present and when to send her colleagues in instead.
I hope that the relationship between herself and her new boss will develop and also between her friend, the newspaper man. A very interesting dilemma there too.
My biggest thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2025
Roses for the Dead by Jenny O’Brien
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
10am - A mother rushes for a train after dropping her daughter at school but is reported missing when she doesn't return to pick her up.
2.47pm - The same train causes the death of a young woman; her body bound and placed on the tracks.
When Detective Alana Mack discovers the missing mother has vanished from the same train that claimed the life of the young woman, she fears the worst.
A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims appear to have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark – identical single red roses left at each of their crime scenes. And that's not all…
Every trace of the women’s lives has been extinguished from their homes. Their bedding replaced with pristine white sheets, photos of loved ones and precious keepsakes all eradicated.
With little to go on in the sterile environments left by the killer, Alana and her team must desperately try and uncover the link between the women. But when another body is found, this time with a different, rare variety of rose, Alana's instincts tell her this tiny clue could crack the case open and lead them to the twisted individual.
My Opinion
Roses for the Dead is the second book in the Detective Alana Mack series but it could be read as a standalone. Jenny O’Brien has written an interesting case, there was so much tension it was easy to keep reading. With an interesting range of characters, this really is a great series to read.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
10am - A mother rushes for a train after dropping her daughter at school but is reported missing when she doesn't return to pick her up.
2.47pm - The same train causes the death of a young woman; her body bound and placed on the tracks.
When Detective Alana Mack discovers the missing mother has vanished from the same train that claimed the life of the young woman, she fears the worst.
A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims appear to have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark – identical single red roses left at each of their crime scenes. And that's not all…
Every trace of the women’s lives has been extinguished from their homes. Their bedding replaced with pristine white sheets, photos of loved ones and precious keepsakes all eradicated.
With little to go on in the sterile environments left by the killer, Alana and her team must desperately try and uncover the link between the women. But when another body is found, this time with a different, rare variety of rose, Alana's instincts tell her this tiny clue could crack the case open and lead them to the twisted individual.
My Opinion
Roses for the Dead is the second book in the Detective Alana Mack series but it could be read as a standalone. Jenny O’Brien has written an interesting case, there was so much tension it was easy to keep reading. With an interesting range of characters, this really is a great series to read.
Rating 4/5
July 16, 2024
Detective Alana Mack Book 2.
This book has a great plot that had me hooked. And a twist I did not see coming! Loved it and can't wait to read the next one.
10am: A mother rushes for a train after dropping her daughter at school but is reported missing when she doesn't return to pick her up.
2.47pm: The same train causes the death of a young woman; her body bound and placed on the tracks.
When Detective Alana Mack discovers the missing mother has vanished from the same train that claimed the life of the young woman, she fears the worst.
A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims appear to have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark – identical single red roses left at each of their crime scenes. And that's not all…
Every trace of the women’s lives has been extinguished from their homes. Their bedding replaced with pristine white sheets, photos of loved ones and precious keepsakes all eradicated.
With little to go on in the sterile environments left by the killer, Alana and her team must desperately try and uncover the link between the women. But when another body is found, this time with a different, rare variety of rose, Alana's instincts tell her this tiny clue could crack the case open and lead them to the twisted individual.
Then Alana receives a chilling message: 'Roses are red. Blood is too. One and two are on me. Number three and four are on you.' The killer is hiding in plain sight and playing a sick game with her. If she doesn't find them soon, more innocent lives will be taken.
This book has a great plot that had me hooked. And a twist I did not see coming! Loved it and can't wait to read the next one.
10am: A mother rushes for a train after dropping her daughter at school but is reported missing when she doesn't return to pick her up.
2.47pm: The same train causes the death of a young woman; her body bound and placed on the tracks.
When Detective Alana Mack discovers the missing mother has vanished from the same train that claimed the life of the young woman, she fears the worst.
A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims appear to have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark – identical single red roses left at each of their crime scenes. And that's not all…
Every trace of the women’s lives has been extinguished from their homes. Their bedding replaced with pristine white sheets, photos of loved ones and precious keepsakes all eradicated.
With little to go on in the sterile environments left by the killer, Alana and her team must desperately try and uncover the link between the women. But when another body is found, this time with a different, rare variety of rose, Alana's instincts tell her this tiny clue could crack the case open and lead them to the twisted individual.
Then Alana receives a chilling message: 'Roses are red. Blood is too. One and two are on me. Number three and four are on you.' The killer is hiding in plain sight and playing a sick game with her. If she doesn't find them soon, more innocent lives will be taken.
February 6, 2024
The second in the Detective Alana Mack series set in Dublin, Ireland. Alana, who works for the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations, is in a wheelchair and still coming to terms with her disability. This is a great team and Alana is a great character, strong and clever. Her partner Paddy Quigg is another wonderful character and a perfect foil for Alana. There is an interesting addition too in this book, a new boss and he and Alana definitely got off on the wrong foot, but I feel it in my bones that there is something more to come!
Briefly, two women have been murdered, their bodies left by railway lines, and when their homes are searched the beds have clean white linen with a single red rose on the bed. The team are unable to find any connection between the two women and when a man comes in to report his wife Sarah missing it looks like there may be another victim. But when a third women is found on the train tracks it isn’t Sarah but strangely Sarah was travelling on the train that hit her.
Although largely told from Alana’s POV the reader is a bit ahead of the police as we are party to his thoughts with some chapters told from his POV. Alongside the main storyline we learn more about some of the police team, particularly Paddy’s family. A well written book with a good storyline and good red herrings that kept me guessing. An excellent police procedural and a series I’m finding very entertaining.
Briefly, two women have been murdered, their bodies left by railway lines, and when their homes are searched the beds have clean white linen with a single red rose on the bed. The team are unable to find any connection between the two women and when a man comes in to report his wife Sarah missing it looks like there may be another victim. But when a third women is found on the train tracks it isn’t Sarah but strangely Sarah was travelling on the train that hit her.
Although largely told from Alana’s POV the reader is a bit ahead of the police as we are party to his thoughts with some chapters told from his POV. Alongside the main storyline we learn more about some of the police team, particularly Paddy’s family. A well written book with a good storyline and good red herrings that kept me guessing. An excellent police procedural and a series I’m finding very entertaining.
February 11, 2024
Detective Alana Mack & her team are investigating two murders of woman. A killer is on the loose, targeting women and leaving their broken bodies scattered across Dublin's Dart train line. The victims appear to have no connection to one another, but their murders bear the same chilling hallmark – identical single red roses left at each of their crime scenes. Then a mother is missing & has vanished from the same train that claimed the life of the young woman, she fears the worst. Every trace of the women’s lives has been extinguished from their homes. Their bedding replaced with pristine white sheets, photos of loved ones and precious keepsakes all eradicated. Then Alana receives a chilling message: 'Roses are red. Blood is too. One and two are on me. Number three and four are on you.'
Alana & her team are back in another well written, engrossing thriller. The characters have depth & the pace is good. I really like Alana & her team & I’m liking getting to know them better, there’s a good mix of professional & private lives. The case is intriguing & I was kept guessing as to who the killer was & how everything was linked. I look forward to the next book in the series
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Alana & her team are back in another well written, engrossing thriller. The characters have depth & the pace is good. I really like Alana & her team & I’m liking getting to know them better, there’s a good mix of professional & private lives. The case is intriguing & I was kept guessing as to who the killer was & how everything was linked. I look forward to the next book in the series
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
February 9, 2024
The second in this series, I preferred this book to the first one . Alana is the main detective in this team in Dublin, she is in a wheelchair after some unspecified accident in the past. The team felt more established in this book, their work as a team gelled more. saying that, there were moments when the pace of the book was very slow and some repetition. The crimes are unusual, the timing of the 3 (or 4) murders, the reasoning behind them is quite convoluted though does come together in a fairly logical way .
The perpetrators are not immediately obvious, some parts of the book are told from the main (male) murderer, but it takes a long time until his identity is revealed . This is not a criticism because it added an interesting aspect to the book. There is also a dialogue between Alana and Billy, a reporter, which stretched out a little too long for me and the investigation went on a little too long without making any progress, no doubt realistic, but it doesn't always make good reading.
My thanks go to Net Galley for a good read in exchange for an honest review.
The perpetrators are not immediately obvious, some parts of the book are told from the main (male) murderer, but it takes a long time until his identity is revealed . This is not a criticism because it added an interesting aspect to the book. There is also a dialogue between Alana and Billy, a reporter, which stretched out a little too long for me and the investigation went on a little too long without making any progress, no doubt realistic, but it doesn't always make good reading.
My thanks go to Net Galley for a good read in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2024
I found this to be a good, engaging read. There was a lot going on that took a while to unpack, but that is the beauty of books like this!
Alana Mack is an unusual police officer, in that she spends her days in a wheelchair but this wasn't always her reality and I like that this story talks a little about the world of a serving police officer who is not able to police the way that she used to.
I really liked Alana and her entire team, actually. They have each other's back in an emotional and physical sense and they are real people doing a difficult job. Sometimes, their personal and professional lives collide though.
No spoilers!
I think I would have liked to have learned a little more about the killer's rationale behind the staging of some of the crime scenes, a bit more depth, perhaps? However, it was a very solidly written book and I enjoyed it.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing.
Alana Mack is an unusual police officer, in that she spends her days in a wheelchair but this wasn't always her reality and I like that this story talks a little about the world of a serving police officer who is not able to police the way that she used to.
I really liked Alana and her entire team, actually. They have each other's back in an emotional and physical sense and they are real people doing a difficult job. Sometimes, their personal and professional lives collide though.
No spoilers!
I think I would have liked to have learned a little more about the killer's rationale behind the staging of some of the crime scenes, a bit more depth, perhaps? However, it was a very solidly written book and I enjoyed it.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing.
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