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Detective Sean Duffy #4
Gun Street Girl
Belfast, 1985. Amid the Troubles, Detective Sean Duffy, a Catholic cop in the Protestant Royal Ulster Constabulary, struggles with burnout as he investigates a brutal double murder and suicide. Did Michael Kelly really shoot his parents at point-blank range and then jump off a nearby cliff? A suicide note points to this conclusion, but Duffy suspects even more sinister circumstances. He soon discovers that Kelly was present at a decadent Oxford party where a cabinet minister's daughter died of a heroin overdose, which may or may not have something to do with Kelly's subsequent death.
New evidence leads elsewhere: gun runners, arms dealers, the British government, and a rogue American agent with a fake identity. Duffy thinks he's getting somewhere when agents from MI5 show up at his doorstep and try to recruit him, thus taking him off the investigation.
Duffy is in it up to his neck, doggedly pursuing a case that may finally prove to be his undoing.
New evidence leads elsewhere: gun runners, arms dealers, the British government, and a rogue American agent with a fake identity. Duffy thinks he's getting somewhere when agents from MI5 show up at his doorstep and try to recruit him, thus taking him off the investigation.
Duffy is in it up to his neck, doggedly pursuing a case that may finally prove to be his undoing.
325 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2015
327 people are currently reading
2712 people want to read
About the author
Adrian McKinty
49 books4,389 followersAdrian McKinty is an Irish novelist. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and grew up in Victoria Council Estate, Carrickfergus, County Antrim. He read law at the University of Warwick and politics and philosophy at the University of Oxford. He moved to the United States in the early 1990s, living first in Harlem, New York and from 2001 on, in Denver, Colorado, where he taught high school English and began writing fiction. He lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 624 reviews
July 15, 2023
I enjoyed In the Morning I'll be Gone so much that I started Gun Street Girl as soon as I could acquire it. I am sticking to the audio versions of this series because the narrator is so good.
Easily five stars for this one. This series keeps getting better and better. Duffy is becoming burnt out by the way his job is going and the life he is leading. He is seriously considering accepting an offer to join MI5 although his heart is not really in it. His would be boss, Kate, is the Gun Street girl of the title and their relationship develops during the course of the book.
Again part of the magic of the book is the way Duffy is portrayed as being involved in some way with real historical events of the time such as the crash of a Chinook helicopter over the Mull of Kintyre, which killed everyone on board including 25 senior intelligence officers from MI5.
This is all wonderful stuff Mr McKinty. Please keep it going!
Easily five stars for this one. This series keeps getting better and better. Duffy is becoming burnt out by the way his job is going and the life he is leading. He is seriously considering accepting an offer to join MI5 although his heart is not really in it. His would be boss, Kate, is the Gun Street girl of the title and their relationship develops during the course of the book.
Again part of the magic of the book is the way Duffy is portrayed as being involved in some way with real historical events of the time such as the crash of a Chinook helicopter over the Mull of Kintyre, which killed everyone on board including 25 senior intelligence officers from MI5.
This is all wonderful stuff Mr McKinty. Please keep it going!
July 28, 2022
I rate this book 3.5 stars rounded down. It is an entertaining mystery. Detective Inspector Sean Duffy is called to the scene of a double murder. Duffy is a Catholic in an overwhelmingly Protestant RUC(Royal Ulster Constabulary). He is also determined to solve this murder, since it could be his last case. He has been offered a job with MI5.
He does solve the case, with unsatisfying results. He tangles with American spies, Special Branch, and Protestant terrorists.
I find that Duffy's use of drugs to be upsetting. He confiscates a bag of cocaine from an American Celebrity and keeps half for his personal use.
One quote: "In the last fourteen hours I'd had tea, coffee, pharma cocaine, hashish, tobacco, codeine, whiskey, bourbon, beer, and as a sleep aid: Valium and vodka and lime."
This is book 4 in the series and they are best read in order.
This was a library book that I read in 2 days.
He does solve the case, with unsatisfying results. He tangles with American spies, Special Branch, and Protestant terrorists.
I find that Duffy's use of drugs to be upsetting. He confiscates a bag of cocaine from an American Celebrity and keeps half for his personal use.
One quote: "In the last fourteen hours I'd had tea, coffee, pharma cocaine, hashish, tobacco, codeine, whiskey, bourbon, beer, and as a sleep aid: Valium and vodka and lime."
This is book 4 in the series and they are best read in order.
This was a library book that I read in 2 days.
September 3, 2016
3.5* Detective Sean Duffy is still trying to save the world from riots, strikes, demonstrations, and bombings in Ireland, as well as beatings, homicides and domestic disputes. It’s tough being a Catholic policeman working in a Protestant police station, but Duffy seems to thrive in his profession where he has his own set of rules. When under pressure or just feeling out of sorts, he’ll open a bottle of whiskey for a wee nip, along with a snort of what he calls rocket fuel up his nose, even when on duty. Summoned to what appears to be a murder of a millionaire and his wife, Duffy is about to go down a long road of lies, cover-ups, and MI5 knocking at his door. Adrian McKinty has his own unique style of writing, and with Duffy’s dry wit with a splash of sarcasm the reader will be more than entertained. Gun Street Girl is an adequate story line, but at times repetitive in chapters with suspects being interrogated with the same questions being asked excessively. Still an enjoyable novel as the reader becomes more acquainted with Duffy’s demons and his inner thoughts on life itself.
July 28, 2018
Adrian McKinty's series featuring Belfast detective Sean Duffy was originally conceived as a trilogy. Happily, McKinty changed his mind and has continued the series beyond the third book, In the Morning I'll be Gone. Gun Street Girl is the fourth in the series and is set in 1985. The Troubles still bedevil Northern Ireland and complicate enormously the lives of all the citizens, most especially that of Sean Duffy, a Catholic who had nerve enough (or who was crazy enough) to join the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
The novel opens with the discovery of two bodies, a man and his wife, who have been shot to death in their home. Their son, Michael, is missing and there is evidence to suggest that Michael killed his parents and fled after having a series of arguments with his father. A couple of days later, Michael turns up dead, having apparently committed suicide and leaving a note of confession behind.
The cases now appear to be concluded, but Duffy is not so sure. He and his team continue to poke and prod and discover that Michael left Oxford abruptly, just short of getting his degree, after attending a party where the daughter of a cabinet minister died of an overdose of heroin. The deeper Duffy digs, the more complicated the case becomes--and the more dangerous for Duffy himself. Along the way, he's managed to antagonize some powerful forces who don't want him mucking around in their business and who are determined to make him stop doing so, one way or another.
It's another great read from McKinty. Sean Duffy is a very engaging character--smart, witty, irreverent, and often funny as hell, even in the very difficult conditions under which he must live and work. His romantic life continues to be problematic and there's a long, hilarious scene in which he's persuaded to go to a social mixer where he might meet an eligible young lady. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book, and I can hardly wait to get to the next entry in the series.
The novel opens with the discovery of two bodies, a man and his wife, who have been shot to death in their home. Their son, Michael, is missing and there is evidence to suggest that Michael killed his parents and fled after having a series of arguments with his father. A couple of days later, Michael turns up dead, having apparently committed suicide and leaving a note of confession behind.
The cases now appear to be concluded, but Duffy is not so sure. He and his team continue to poke and prod and discover that Michael left Oxford abruptly, just short of getting his degree, after attending a party where the daughter of a cabinet minister died of an overdose of heroin. The deeper Duffy digs, the more complicated the case becomes--and the more dangerous for Duffy himself. Along the way, he's managed to antagonize some powerful forces who don't want him mucking around in their business and who are determined to make him stop doing so, one way or another.
It's another great read from McKinty. Sean Duffy is a very engaging character--smart, witty, irreverent, and often funny as hell, even in the very difficult conditions under which he must live and work. His romantic life continues to be problematic and there's a long, hilarious scene in which he's persuaded to go to a social mixer where he might meet an eligible young lady. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book, and I can hardly wait to get to the next entry in the series.
February 15, 2020
EXCERPT: He led me through the gates, along a gravel drive, into a wood-paneled entrance hall and finally into a large open-plan living room that overlooked the North Channel. The place was full of coppers and other hangers-on, some of whom turned to look at me the moment I stepped into the room. I ignored them.
The sun was up now and Scotland was so close you could see the chimney smoke from the villages on the other side of the sea. The living room itself was hung with tasteful, presumably original, artwork. Furniture: big stylish sofas, comfy chairs, a nice mahogany dining room table on to which a whole bunch of police forensic equipment had been placed. Floor: hardwood with massive, expensive looking Persian rugs on top. The TV was on, but at this time of day the only thing showing was the BBC test card: the little girl and the creepy clown playing noughts and crosses forever in a nursery hell.
Of course the focal point of the mise-en-crime were the two bodies sitting facing one another on two armchairs wither side of the TV set.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Belfast, 1985, amidst the “Troubles”: Detective Sean Duffy, a Catholic cop in the Protestant RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary), struggles with burn-out as he investigates a brutal double murder and suicide. Did Michael Kelly really shoot his parents at point blank and then jump off a nearby cliff? A suicide note points to this conclusion, but Duffy suspects even more sinister circumstances. He soon discovers that Kelly was present at a decadent Oxford party where a cabinet minister’s daughter died of a heroin overdose. This may or may not have something to do with Kelly’s subsequent death.
New evidence leads elsewhere: gun runners, arms dealers, the British government, and a rogue American agent with a fake identity. Duffy thinks he’s getting somewhere when agents from MI5 show up at his doorstep and try to recruit him, thus taking him off the investigation.
Duffy is in it up to his neck, doggedly pursuing a case that may finally prove his undoing.
MY THOUGHTS: This was my Valentines Day present to myself. And damn....it's good. In fact the best of the series yet. I sat down with it when I got home and didn't move until I closed the cover on the final page a little before midnight. No dinner, no nothing. Just one of the best reads ever.
November 1985 and a country on the verge of the biggest uprising since the Hunger Strikes. But that is not the only piece of history McKinty has borrowed: 'there is the tragic death of Olivia Channon at Oxford; Lt. Colonel Oliver North's bizarre attempt to obtain anti-aircraft missiles using an Irish passport and the psuedonym John Clancy (his favourite author) during the Iran Contra affair; the events surrounding the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement; the chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre in which an entire cadre of MI5 agents based in Norther Ireland were killed; and the theft of Blowpipe and Javelin missiles from the Short Brothers factory in East Belfast.' (Author's afterword) I love the way he weaves these events into the life our fictional Sean Duffy.
But don't worry...it's not all work, Duffy does get time to play. A little.
The characters are an eclectic mix - all of them playing a vital part in the story.
As I said, the best in the series yet. And I can't wait to see what McKinty has in store for Duffy next.
*****
THE AUTHOR: Adrian McKinty is an Irish novelist. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and grew up in Victoria Council Estate, Carrickfergus, County Antrim. He read law at the University of Warwick and politics and philosophy at the University of Oxford. He moved to the United States in the early 1990s, living first in Harlem, New York and from 2001 on, in Denver, Colorado, where he taught high school English and began writing fiction. He lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two children.
DISCLOSURE: I own my copy of Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty and published by Serpent's Tail. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The sun was up now and Scotland was so close you could see the chimney smoke from the villages on the other side of the sea. The living room itself was hung with tasteful, presumably original, artwork. Furniture: big stylish sofas, comfy chairs, a nice mahogany dining room table on to which a whole bunch of police forensic equipment had been placed. Floor: hardwood with massive, expensive looking Persian rugs on top. The TV was on, but at this time of day the only thing showing was the BBC test card: the little girl and the creepy clown playing noughts and crosses forever in a nursery hell.
Of course the focal point of the mise-en-crime were the two bodies sitting facing one another on two armchairs wither side of the TV set.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Belfast, 1985, amidst the “Troubles”: Detective Sean Duffy, a Catholic cop in the Protestant RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary), struggles with burn-out as he investigates a brutal double murder and suicide. Did Michael Kelly really shoot his parents at point blank and then jump off a nearby cliff? A suicide note points to this conclusion, but Duffy suspects even more sinister circumstances. He soon discovers that Kelly was present at a decadent Oxford party where a cabinet minister’s daughter died of a heroin overdose. This may or may not have something to do with Kelly’s subsequent death.
New evidence leads elsewhere: gun runners, arms dealers, the British government, and a rogue American agent with a fake identity. Duffy thinks he’s getting somewhere when agents from MI5 show up at his doorstep and try to recruit him, thus taking him off the investigation.
Duffy is in it up to his neck, doggedly pursuing a case that may finally prove his undoing.
MY THOUGHTS: This was my Valentines Day present to myself. And damn....it's good. In fact the best of the series yet. I sat down with it when I got home and didn't move until I closed the cover on the final page a little before midnight. No dinner, no nothing. Just one of the best reads ever.
November 1985 and a country on the verge of the biggest uprising since the Hunger Strikes. But that is not the only piece of history McKinty has borrowed: 'there is the tragic death of Olivia Channon at Oxford; Lt. Colonel Oliver North's bizarre attempt to obtain anti-aircraft missiles using an Irish passport and the psuedonym John Clancy (his favourite author) during the Iran Contra affair; the events surrounding the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement; the chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre in which an entire cadre of MI5 agents based in Norther Ireland were killed; and the theft of Blowpipe and Javelin missiles from the Short Brothers factory in East Belfast.' (Author's afterword) I love the way he weaves these events into the life our fictional Sean Duffy.
But don't worry...it's not all work, Duffy does get time to play. A little.
The characters are an eclectic mix - all of them playing a vital part in the story.
As I said, the best in the series yet. And I can't wait to see what McKinty has in store for Duffy next.
*****
THE AUTHOR: Adrian McKinty is an Irish novelist. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and grew up in Victoria Council Estate, Carrickfergus, County Antrim. He read law at the University of Warwick and politics and philosophy at the University of Oxford. He moved to the United States in the early 1990s, living first in Harlem, New York and from 2001 on, in Denver, Colorado, where he taught high school English and began writing fiction. He lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two children.
DISCLOSURE: I own my copy of Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty and published by Serpent's Tail. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 4, 2020
Book four of the Sean Duffy series takes place during the Anglo Irish Agreement in 1985. Nothing like a political agreement meant to help bring an end to The Troubles that both sides hated. In between riot duty, Sean is investigating a double murder and suicide. A wealthy couple are killed and a day later, their son is found in a apparent suicide.
Sean may be a policeman, but that doesn’t stop him from smoking pot and stealing cocaine from evidence. He’s snarky, he’s driven, he’s willing to color outside the lines and piss everyone off in the process.
There’s always a layer of humor to this series and this time is no exception. We’ve got possible conspiracies at work and Sean is grappling with how to move the investigation forward. There’s a big difference between having theories and having proof. I did not realize until I finished the book that the most bizarre events in the book are based on actual events.
Kate, from MI5, continues to show up, and this time things get personal. What’s not clear is what their involvement is.
This is a fun, entertaining series that I recommend to those that like some history mixed in with their mystery.
Gerald Doyle does a great job narrating this although his American accents are definitely lacking.
Sean may be a policeman, but that doesn’t stop him from smoking pot and stealing cocaine from evidence. He’s snarky, he’s driven, he’s willing to color outside the lines and piss everyone off in the process.
There’s always a layer of humor to this series and this time is no exception. We’ve got possible conspiracies at work and Sean is grappling with how to move the investigation forward. There’s a big difference between having theories and having proof. I did not realize until I finished the book that the most bizarre events in the book are based on actual events.
Kate, from MI5, continues to show up, and this time things get personal. What’s not clear is what their involvement is.
This is a fun, entertaining series that I recommend to those that like some history mixed in with their mystery.
Gerald Doyle does a great job narrating this although his American accents are definitely lacking.
February 6, 2017
DI Sean Duffy of the Royal Ulster Constabulary is once again right back in the thick of ordinary and not so ordinary crime in 1980s Northern Ireland. Murders, possible suicides, riots, rocket grenades launched at his police Land Rover, stolen missiles, all against the backdrop of riots and life during the Troubles and Thatcher's politics..
Duffy is developing well as a character in this fourth in the series. The job is stressful and he has a poor lifestyle, skipping meals, sleeping poorly, smoking, drinking too much and using drugs to unwind. He is often called in at short notice and must remember to check under his BMW for bombs every time he gets into it. He uses his love of music to unwind and loves everything from jazz to classical to contemporary music. His love life is also once again dismal and he even agrees to attend a church social in hope of meeting single women, but even there he has little luck once someone finds out he's a policeman.
"The word went round and none of the other women came close. I didn't blame them. If you were a single lady, getting on in years, or worse, a widow, the last thing you wanted to do was marry a policeman who could be killed next week. It certainly didn't help that I was a catholic. A Catholic in Carrickfergus was bad enough, but a Catholic policeman? My life expectancy could be measured in dog years."
McKinty's writing is very wry, reflecting Duffy's view of life. Duffy is persistent and keeps tugging away at witnesses he feels are not telling him everything. He is a smart cop with good intuition when it comes to knowing his fellow man so it is no surprise that MI5 are trying to recruit him. The plot in this novel is a bit of a slow boiler but Duffy eventually uncovers a major plot involving a shadowy American with potential international ramifications.
I really enjoy that McKinty weaves in real events into his novels to give historical context to the crimes Duffy investigates. This one touches on the death of a young woman at an Oxford college society dinner, missiles stolen from factory in Belfast, the Iran-Contra affair involving Oliver North and the death of a large group of MI5 agents in a helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre.
Duffy is developing well as a character in this fourth in the series. The job is stressful and he has a poor lifestyle, skipping meals, sleeping poorly, smoking, drinking too much and using drugs to unwind. He is often called in at short notice and must remember to check under his BMW for bombs every time he gets into it. He uses his love of music to unwind and loves everything from jazz to classical to contemporary music. His love life is also once again dismal and he even agrees to attend a church social in hope of meeting single women, but even there he has little luck once someone finds out he's a policeman.
"The word went round and none of the other women came close. I didn't blame them. If you were a single lady, getting on in years, or worse, a widow, the last thing you wanted to do was marry a policeman who could be killed next week. It certainly didn't help that I was a catholic. A Catholic in Carrickfergus was bad enough, but a Catholic policeman? My life expectancy could be measured in dog years."
McKinty's writing is very wry, reflecting Duffy's view of life. Duffy is persistent and keeps tugging away at witnesses he feels are not telling him everything. He is a smart cop with good intuition when it comes to knowing his fellow man so it is no surprise that MI5 are trying to recruit him. The plot in this novel is a bit of a slow boiler but Duffy eventually uncovers a major plot involving a shadowy American with potential international ramifications.
I really enjoy that McKinty weaves in real events into his novels to give historical context to the crimes Duffy investigates. This one touches on the death of a young woman at an Oxford college society dinner, missiles stolen from factory in Belfast, the Iran-Contra affair involving Oliver North and the death of a large group of MI5 agents in a helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre.
March 9, 2019
Another very engaging, if very dark addition to the Sean Duffy series Sean is not doing too well personally and is frustrated professionally, too. While this might sound as though the book would be quite a downer, McKinty is so good at balancing the darkness of the story and setting and the inner turmoil of his protagonist with clever, quick dialogue and humor.
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Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
April 1, 2021
Μπέλφαστ,Νοέμβριος 1985-οι γονείς ενός τέως φοιτητή δολοφονούνται και ο ίδιος αγνοείται.Η έρευνα τελματώνει ενώ τα πτώματα αρχίζουν να συσσωρεύονται -τίποτα που δεν λύνεται μια βότκα γκίμλετ δηλαδή.Ταυτόχρονα όμως,αρχίζουν να κάνουν την εμφάνισή τους λαθρέμποροι και πιθανοί διακινητές όπλων,κάτι παλιοί γνωστοί,η MI5 ,και κάτι πράκτορες αγνώστου καταγωγής-τίποτα που δεν λύνεται με δυο φιάλες Islay single malt 18 ετών δηλαδή.Κερασάκι στην τούρτα,η υπογραφή της Αγγλοϊρλανδικής συμφωνίας,μια πράξη που πυροδότησε βιαιότητες,συρράξεις με την αστυνομία,επιπλέον εμφύλιες συγκρούσεις-στο προσκήνιο όλα αυτά,μιας και στο παρασκήνιο τα πάντα έτρεχαν με άλλες ταχύτητες.
Ο Σον ο Ντάφι,ο καθολικός μπάτσος της καρδιάς μας,προσπαθεί μαζί με τους συναδέλφους του να ξετυλίξει το κουβάρι των δολοφονιών κόντρα σε κάθε προγνωστικό,χωρίς ιδιαίτερη επιτυχία,εν μέσω ταραχών σε οδοφράγματα,ρουκέτες και γυάλινα μπουκάλια,πέτρες, τούβλα και βόμβες, κάτι που δικαιολογεί τη φήμη του στη Βορειοϊρλανδική αστυνομία.
Χιούμορ,άφθονη μουσική,μπόλικο αλκοόλ και άλλα συμπαρομαρτούντα,η Bmw,η οδός Κορονέισον,οι αγαπημένοι πια γείτονες,και η ασίγαστη επιθυμία του Ντάφι να ξεμπερδεύει με όλα αυτά,έφτιαξαν για ακόμη μία φορά ένα αξιολογότατο βιβλίο.
5⭐
Ο Σον ο Ντάφι,ο καθολικός μπάτσος της καρδιάς μας,προσπαθεί μαζί με τους συναδέλφους του να ξετυλίξει το κουβάρι των δολοφονιών κόντρα σε κάθε προγνωστικό,χωρίς ιδιαίτερη επιτυχία,εν μέσω ταραχών σε οδοφράγματα,ρουκέτες και γυάλινα μπουκάλια,πέτρες, τούβλα και βόμβες, κάτι που δικαιολογεί τη φήμη του στη Βορειοϊρλανδική αστυνομία.
Χιούμορ,άφθονη μουσική,μπόλικο αλκοόλ και άλλα συμπαρομαρτούντα,η Bmw,η οδός Κορονέισον,οι αγαπημένοι πια γείτονες,και η ασίγαστη επιθυμία του Ντάφι να ξεμπερδεύει με όλα αυτά,έφτιαξαν για ακόμη μία φορά ένα αξιολογότατο βιβλίο.
5⭐
October 9, 2022
A bit of a letdown after the awesomeness that was the previous book in this series, but that's probably a wildly unfair comparison to make...?
Am I just getting used to the craziness contained in these tales? The bitingly dark humor, the deeply flawed protagonist, the death of main characters with no warning, the multi-leveled plots overflowing with constant dread and the knowledge that horrible things can (and will) happen at any time, without warning, and without much time for reflection?
Possibly.
I sure hope not though because this series is still one hell of a ride!!
3 1/2 Searing Stars
Am I just getting used to the craziness contained in these tales? The bitingly dark humor, the deeply flawed protagonist, the death of main characters with no warning, the multi-leveled plots overflowing with constant dread and the knowledge that horrible things can (and will) happen at any time, without warning, and without much time for reflection?
Possibly.
I sure hope not though because this series is still one hell of a ride!!
3 1/2 Searing Stars
February 17, 2021
Γκωσαμε στους αλκοολικούς κατεστραμμένους μπάτσους που ξυπνάνε μετά από μεθύσι μην μπορώντας να θυμηθούν τίποτα, έχοντας λύση το μυστήριο, αποπλανήσει την πριγκίπισσα και έχοντας ρίξει και μερικά μπιστολίδια στο διπλανό βιβλίο. Μα τον Θεό, φτάνει αυτή η μανιέρα. Enough is enough, πως το λένε στο χωριό σας; Όχι ότι δεν είναι κάπως έτσι και ο Σον Ντάφι του McKinty, αλλά όπως και να το κάνουμε, μέσα στην καταστροφή του, ακούει τρομερή μουσική, βλέπει υπέροχες ταινίες και τρώει και λίγο τίμιο ξύλο. Εν ολίγοις, είναι ένας άνθρωπος σαν εμάς, λιγάκι χαμένο κορμί, με γούστο και εγωισμό. Έχει πάψει από καιρό να παλεύει για το καλό, να θέλει να διορθώσει τον κόσμο, γιατί το ξέρει πια καλά, πόνος του κάνεις δεν έσωσε τον κόσμο. Μαρσάρει με την μπέμπα του στον περιφερειακό της ζωής και αφήνει τα προβλήματα να πέσουν κάνω του. Το πολύ ιδιαίτερο των βιβλίων του McKinty δεν είναι ο πρωταγωνιστής χαρακτήρας του, όσο το ίδιο το περιβάλλον που επιλέγει να τοποθετήσει τις ιστορίες του. Βόρεια Ιρλανδία, δεκαετία του '80, στο πικ των Ταραχών. Η ιστορία της Β. Ιρλανδίας είναι αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι της πλοκής του McKinty ακόμα και όταν σε πρώτο πλάνο δεν φαίνεται να διαδραματίζει κάποιο ρόλο. Είναι εκεί, πάντα παρούσα, κρύα και αιματοβαμμένη.
Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είναι το τέταρτο της σειράς του Σον Ντάφι. Ατμοσφαιρικό όσο δεν πάει, περίπλοκο όσο πρέπει, με έναν χαρακτήρα πιο ώριμο σε σχέση με τα προηγούμενα τρία βιβλία. Μου άρεσε πολύ, διαβάστηκε νεράκι, αφήνοντας με στα κάρβουνα για τις επόμενες περιπέτειες του Ντάφι που ελπίζω να δούμε σύντομα στα ελληνικά.
Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είναι το τέταρτο της σειράς του Σον Ντάφι. Ατμοσφαιρικό όσο δεν πάει, περίπλοκο όσο πρέπει, με έναν χαρακτήρα πιο ώριμο σε σχέση με τα προηγούμενα τρία βιβλία. Μου άρεσε πολύ, διαβάστηκε νεράκι, αφήνοντας με στα κάρβουνα για τις επόμενες περιπέτειες του Ντάφι που ελπίζω να δούμε σύντομα στα ελληνικά.
April 25, 2021
Ο Αστυνόμος Ντάφι που όλοι αγαπήσαμε. Πίνει βότκες, παίρνει κοκαΐνη (από τα κατασχεμένα), προσαγάγει διαμένοντα στο Αμερικάνικο Προξενείο (έξω από αυτό , έστω), πηγαίνει σε πολυτελή μπουρδέλα (μόνο για να πει τον πόνο του στην υπομονετική πόρνη) και μάλιστα free of charge (ο ίδιος όμως ήθελε να πληρώσει, κύριος, αλλά η τσατσά δεν τον άφησε, τα τυχερά του επαγγέλματος), κάνει κάτι εξτραδάκια υπηρεσίες στις Ταραχές και παίρνει και το σχετικό επίδομα, ενώ σε οργανωμένη επιχείρηση που συμμετέχει όποιος φοράει στολή (και όχι μόνο) στη Β. Ιρλανδία, σηκώνεται και φεύγει, γιατί απλά μπορεί προφανώς. Και σε αυτό το βιβλίο πηδάει μόνο δύο (2) γκόμενες, τη μία μάλιστα "κεφάλι" των Μυστικών Υπηρεσιών που ήθελε να τον στρατολογήσει. Και λύνει και την υπόθεση γιατί επίσης μπορεί - αν και όχι τυπικά, κανένας "κακός" δεν οδηγείται στην δικαιοσύνη.
Συμπαθώ τον Αστυνόμο Ντάφι. Αλλά κάπου ινάφ με τους αντισυμβατικούς μπάτσους που τα βάζουν με το σύστημα, αλλά είναι μέσα το σύστημα (πχ ο Αστυνόμος Ρέμπους του Ίαν Ράνκιν). Και ενώ υπήρχε πάλι μια διάχυτη θλίψη, ένα κατάμαυρο φινάλε, που με έσπρωχνε για 5αρι, αυτή την φορά κάπου βαρέθηκα με την δήθεν αντισυμβατικότητα του Αστυνόμου-Γαμάω, και κυρίως κάπου βαρέθηκα με την ιντελεκτουέλ ροκαμπίλυ εικόνα του. Τόσες ροκ αναφορές ούτε η Σώτη Τριανταφύλλου, αλλά όπως έχω ξαναπεί (νομίζω), αγνοώ το γνωστικό επίπεδο των αστυνομικών στη Β. Ιρλανδία των 80s, αλλά μου φαίνεται πολύ far fetched να αγοράζει ο Αστυνόμος πχ το ost του Ένα Ζήτα και Δύο Μηδενικά του Νάιμαν και μάλιστα να το συγκρίνει με τις προηγούμενες δουλειές του (εγώ έμαθα τον Νάιμαν με το μεγάλο του "χιτ", τα Μαθήματα Πιάνου, αλλά εγώ, πάλι, είμαι εγώ), χώρια οι λογοτεχνικές γνώσεις του εφάμιλλες καθηγητή λογοτεχνίας σε πανεπιστήμιο, και όχι ενός μέσου αστυνομικού των 80s. Και ο καινούριος Αστυφύλακας-αστέρι (που μάλιστα έχει και δικό του βιβλίο ως Διοικητής της Ομάδας Ναρκωτικών εθισμένος στην ηρωίνη !) απέτυχε στα προφορικά για να μπει στην Οξφόρδη και μπήκε στην Αστυνομία. Γιατί ή Οξφόρδη ή Αστυνομία ; Αυτές ήταν οι επιλογές στο μηχανογραφικό; Είναι μία φαντασιακή εικόνα του συγγραφέα για τους "φανταστικούς" αστυνομικούς του; Και γαμιάδες, και μπάτσοι, και τριτοδεσμίτες; Η αλήθεια ποια είναι η άλλη επιλογή ; Ο μικροαστός Αστυνόμος Χαρίτος που τρώει τα γεμιστά της γυναίκας του, το κρουασάν στην υπηρεσία, και έχει όνειρο να δει την κοράκλα Εισαγγελέα για "να της στέλνει υποθέσεις" (Τζίσους) ; Δεν ξέρω...
Βέβαια, δεν το κάνει πρώτη φορά ο συγγραφέας, αλλά να, στο τέταρτο (4ο) βιβλίο μου χτύπησε κάπως...
Παρ' όλα αυτά, πολύ καλό βιβλίο, φυσικά θα διαβάσω και το 5ο...
Συμπαθώ τον Αστυνόμο Ντάφι. Αλλά κάπου ινάφ με τους αντισυμβατικούς μπάτσους που τα βάζουν με το σύστημα, αλλά είναι μέσα το σύστημα (πχ ο Αστυνόμος Ρέμπους του Ίαν Ράνκιν). Και ενώ υπήρχε πάλι μια διάχυτη θλίψη, ένα κατάμαυρο φινάλε, που με έσπρωχνε για 5αρι, αυτή την φορά κάπου βαρέθηκα με την δήθεν αντισυμβατικότητα του Αστυνόμου-Γαμάω, και κυρίως κάπου βαρέθηκα με την ιντελεκτουέλ ροκαμπίλυ εικόνα του. Τόσες ροκ αναφορές ούτε η Σώτη Τριανταφύλλου, αλλά όπως έχω ξαναπεί (νομίζω), αγνοώ το γνωστικό επίπεδο των αστυνομικών στη Β. Ιρλανδία των 80s, αλλά μου φαίνεται πολύ far fetched να αγοράζει ο Αστυνόμος πχ το ost του Ένα Ζήτα και Δύο Μηδενικά του Νάιμαν και μάλιστα να το συγκρίνει με τις προηγούμενες δουλειές του (εγώ έμαθα τον Νάιμαν με το μεγάλο του "χιτ", τα Μαθήματα Πιάνου, αλλά εγώ, πάλι, είμαι εγώ), χώρια οι λογοτεχνικές γνώσεις του εφάμιλλες καθηγητή λογοτεχνίας σε πανεπιστήμιο, και όχι ενός μέσου αστυνομικού των 80s. Και ο καινούριος Αστυφύλακας-αστέρι (που μάλιστα έχει και δικό του βιβλίο ως Διοικητής της Ομάδας Ναρκωτικών εθισμένος στην ηρωίνη !) απέτυχε στα προφορικά για να μπει στην Οξφόρδη και μπήκε στην Αστυνομία. Γιατί ή Οξφόρδη ή Αστυνομία ; Αυτές ήταν οι επιλογές στο μηχανογραφικό; Είναι μία φαντασιακή εικόνα του συγγραφέα για τους "φανταστικούς" αστυνομικούς του; Και γαμιάδες, και μπάτσοι, και τριτοδεσμίτες; Η αλήθεια ποια είναι η άλλη επιλογή ; Ο μικροαστός Αστυνόμος Χαρίτος που τρώει τα γεμιστά της γυναίκας του, το κρουασάν στην υπηρεσία, και έχει όνειρο να δει την κοράκλα Εισαγγελέα για "να της στέλνει υποθέσεις" (Τζίσους) ; Δεν ξέρω...
Βέβαια, δεν το κάνει πρώτη φορά ο συγγραφέας, αλλά να, στο τέταρτο (4ο) βιβλίο μου χτύπησε κάπως...
Παρ' όλα αυτά, πολύ καλό βιβλίο, φυσικά θα διαβάσω και το 5ο...
January 21, 2019
This is the fourth offering in McKinty’s Sean Duffy detective series set in and around Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Northern Ireland during the time of the Troubles; and it is clearly the best one so far. Duffy is feeling burn-out, self-medicating with pot, cocaine and alcohol. He is even leaving the investigation of a brutal double murder to DS McCrabban and two new DCs. But this is Duffy! Just a detail or two can start to niggle at his brain causing him to become fully engaged. Regardless of how many authorities (RUC higher-ups, MI5) tell him to back-off, he just keeps investigating. Recommend this excellent series.
February 13, 2021
Πέμπτο βιβλίο του Έιντριαν ΜακΚίντι που περνάει στη λίστα με τα διαβασμένα, τέταρτο που ανήκει στην υπέροχη σειρά με τον εξαιρετικά συμπαθή Σον Ντάφι. Η αλήθεια είναι ο τυπάκος αυτός μου έλειψε πάρα πολύ, μιας και το προηγούμενο βιβλίο της σειράς το διάβασα τον Δεκέμβριο του 2019, ήτοι δεκατέσσερις μήνες πριν. Βέβαια, ��πό τότε έχουν γίνει πολλά και μια κάποια καθυστέρηση δικαιολογείται απόλυτα, αλλά αυτή η σειρά είναι τόσο υπέροχη και εθιστική, που δεν γίνεται να μην έχεις λίγη αγωνία για το πότε και αν θα βγει το επόμενο βιβλίο.
Βρισκόμαστε στα τέλη του 1985 και η επικείμενη υπογραφή της Αγγλοϊρλανδικής Συνθήκης εγγυάται έναν νέο γύρο ταραχών και επεισοδίων σε όλη τη Βόρεια Ιρλανδία, και ιδιαίτερα στο πολυτάραχο Μπέλφαστ. Η διπλή δολοφονία ενός μεσήλικου ζευγαριού και η εξαφάνιση του άσωτου υιού τους, αρχικά δεν εντυπωσιάζει τον Σον Ντάφι, όμως κατά την εξέλιξη των ερευνών αυτός και οι συνεργάτες του θα βρεθούν αντιμέτωποι με μια ιδιαίτερα περίπλοκη υπόθεση, που θα τους οδηγήσει ακόμα και στην Οξφόρδη και το Λονδίνο, ενώ στη συνέχεια θα βρεθούν μπροστά σε ένα μεγάλο σκάνδαλο και μια σκοτεινή και επικίνδυνη συνωμοσία, στην οποία είναι μπλεγμένοι ορισμένοι πολύ περίεργοι τύποι...
Λοιπόν, τολμώ να πω ότι τούτο το βιβλίο είναι το καλύτερο της σειράς, καλύτερο ακόμα και από το τρίτο με τον τίτλο "Το πρωί θα έχω φύγει", στο οποίο έβαλα πέντε αστεράκια (κανονικά τεσσεράμισι). Εννοείται πως από τις πρώτες κιόλας σελίδες κατάλαβα ότι θα διάβαζα ένα σκληροτράχηλο, κυνικό και μαύρο αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα με όλα αυτά τα καλούδια που μας έχει συνηθίσει ο συγγραφέας, όμως η συνέχεια αποδείχτηκε ακόμα πιο φοβερή και τρομερή. Είναι σπάνιο ταλέντο να φτιάχνεις μια πλοκή γεμάτη μυστήριο, δράση και ιντριγκαδόρικες αποκαλύψεις, όπως είναι αυτή του συγκεκριμένου βιβλίου, και παράλληλα η γραφή να είναι τόσο γαμάτη, τόσο υπέροχη, σκληρή, κοφτή και βουτηγμένη στον κυνισμό και το κατάμαυρο χιούμορ -και με λίγες δόσεις λυρισμού-, όπως είναι η γραφή του ΜακΚίντι... Απλά υποκλίνομαι!
Υ.Γ. Αγαπητές εκδόσεις Οξύ, μπράβο για την ποιότητα της μετάφρασης και της επιμέλειας, αλλά μην αργήσετε πολύ με το επόμενο βιβλίο, ε;
Βρισκόμαστε στα τέλη του 1985 και η επικείμενη υπογραφή της Αγγλοϊρλανδικής Συνθήκης εγγυάται έναν νέο γύρο ταραχών και επεισοδίων σε όλη τη Βόρεια Ιρλανδία, και ιδιαίτερα στο πολυτάραχο Μπέλφαστ. Η διπλή δολοφονία ενός μεσήλικου ζευγαριού και η εξαφάνιση του άσωτου υιού τους, αρχικά δεν εντυπωσιάζει τον Σον Ντάφι, όμως κατά την εξέλιξη των ερευνών αυτός και οι συνεργάτες του θα βρεθούν αντιμέτωποι με μια ιδιαίτερα περίπλοκη υπόθεση, που θα τους οδηγήσει ακόμα και στην Οξφόρδη και το Λονδίνο, ενώ στη συνέχεια θα βρεθούν μπροστά σε ένα μεγάλο σκάνδαλο και μια σκοτεινή και επικίνδυνη συνωμοσία, στην οποία είναι μπλεγμένοι ορισμένοι πολύ περίεργοι τύποι...
Λοιπόν, τολμώ να πω ότι τούτο το βιβλίο είναι το καλύτερο της σειράς, καλύτερο ακόμα και από το τρίτο με τον τίτλο "Το πρωί θα έχω φύγει", στο οποίο έβαλα πέντε αστεράκια (κανονικά τεσσεράμισι). Εννοείται πως από τις πρώτες κιόλας σελίδες κατάλαβα ότι θα διάβαζα ένα σκληροτράχηλο, κυνικό και μαύρο αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα με όλα αυτά τα καλούδια που μας έχει συνηθίσει ο συγγραφέας, όμως η συνέχεια αποδείχτηκε ακόμα πιο φοβερή και τρομερή. Είναι σπάνιο ταλέντο να φτιάχνεις μια πλοκή γεμάτη μυστήριο, δράση και ιντριγκαδόρικες αποκαλύψεις, όπως είναι αυτή του συγκεκριμένου βιβλίου, και παράλληλα η γραφή να είναι τόσο γαμάτη, τόσο υπέροχη, σκληρή, κοφτή και βουτηγμένη στον κυνισμό και το κατάμαυρο χιούμορ -και με λίγες δόσεις λυρισμού-, όπως είναι η γραφή του ΜακΚίντι... Απλά υποκλίνομαι!
Υ.Γ. Αγαπητές εκδόσεις Οξύ, μπράβο για την ποιότητα της μετάφρασης και της επιμέλειας, αλλά μην αργήσετε πολύ με το επόμενο βιβλίο, ε;
March 11, 2015
I’ve read several McKinty books, but the Sean Duffy series is the best. Originally billed as a trilogy, I was delighted to see a fourth appear. Set during the Troubles, Sean is a Catholic cop in a Protestant world who makes sure to check the bottom of his car every day for bombs that might have been planted while he was away.
He watches as his superiors fuck up capturing a boatload of arms from America, then bails out his Chief Inspector in a brothel where a local pro has just whacked an American movie star on the head when he got a little rough after she refused to partake in his substantial stash of cocaine.
Sean then gets involved in the investigation of the murder of two prominent people, apparently a hit that’s first blamed on their son who left an apology and a suicide note before jumping off a cliff. But when his girl-friend is also found dead, with a suicide note and the motor running in her car, the coincidence seems forced and the autopsy reveals signs of murder. The new Jewish detective in the squad, a very bright Oxford grad manages to sniff out a connection with another death at a party in Oxford. Couple that with the return of MI5 agent Kate who wants to enlist Sean in the security service, and you have the makings of a nifty mystery.
I really like McKinty’s writing of Sean’s voice, melancholy mixed with humor. For example a scene at a church-sponsored dating social dance. All the girls make excuses when they discover he's a cop:
"I fought a strong urge to flee and introduced myself to a girl called Sandra who looked a bit like Janice from The Muppet Show band. She was an estate agent who sold houses all over East Antrim. “We’ve got something in common. I’m a peeler,”I said. “What do we have in common?” “Well, uh, both of us are at home to a certain amount of moral ambiguity in our work.” No hesitant buyer ever got up Sandra’s nose the way I instantly did, and she told me coldly that she had to mingle. Later I saw her dancing with a very tall man whose face was like a Landsat image of the Mojave. "
"The word went round and none of the other women came close. I didn’t blame them. If you were a single lady, getting on in years, or worse, a widow, the last thing you wanted to do was marry a policeman who could be killed next week. It certainly didn’t help that I was a Catholic. A Catholic in Carrickfergus was bad enough, but a Catholic policeman? My life expectancy could be measured in dog years."
And for some reason, perhaps my antipathy to B&B’s, this passage had me laughing out loud. Sean and Lawson are sent to Oxford where they are put up in a Victorian B&B run by a couple of eccentrics. She hands them their keys with the warning, “Now, Mr. Duffy, it’s the off-season at present, of course, so I can let you have the two rooms overlooking the garden—213, 214,” she said. “Keep the windows closed, mind. The squirrels will come in. We had a shocking incident two years ago with a gentleman from Norway.” That shocking incident with the squirrel….
One interesting note given some current political events in Ireland. Gerry Adams makes an appearance as an IRA leader in the book. Make of that what you will.
Excellent story.
He watches as his superiors fuck up capturing a boatload of arms from America, then bails out his Chief Inspector in a brothel where a local pro has just whacked an American movie star on the head when he got a little rough after she refused to partake in his substantial stash of cocaine.
Sean then gets involved in the investigation of the murder of two prominent people, apparently a hit that’s first blamed on their son who left an apology and a suicide note before jumping off a cliff. But when his girl-friend is also found dead, with a suicide note and the motor running in her car, the coincidence seems forced and the autopsy reveals signs of murder. The new Jewish detective in the squad, a very bright Oxford grad manages to sniff out a connection with another death at a party in Oxford. Couple that with the return of MI5 agent Kate who wants to enlist Sean in the security service, and you have the makings of a nifty mystery.
I really like McKinty’s writing of Sean’s voice, melancholy mixed with humor. For example a scene at a church-sponsored dating social dance. All the girls make excuses when they discover he's a cop:
"I fought a strong urge to flee and introduced myself to a girl called Sandra who looked a bit like Janice from The Muppet Show band. She was an estate agent who sold houses all over East Antrim. “We’ve got something in common. I’m a peeler,”I said. “What do we have in common?” “Well, uh, both of us are at home to a certain amount of moral ambiguity in our work.” No hesitant buyer ever got up Sandra’s nose the way I instantly did, and she told me coldly that she had to mingle. Later I saw her dancing with a very tall man whose face was like a Landsat image of the Mojave. "
"The word went round and none of the other women came close. I didn’t blame them. If you were a single lady, getting on in years, or worse, a widow, the last thing you wanted to do was marry a policeman who could be killed next week. It certainly didn’t help that I was a Catholic. A Catholic in Carrickfergus was bad enough, but a Catholic policeman? My life expectancy could be measured in dog years."
And for some reason, perhaps my antipathy to B&B’s, this passage had me laughing out loud. Sean and Lawson are sent to Oxford where they are put up in a Victorian B&B run by a couple of eccentrics. She hands them their keys with the warning, “Now, Mr. Duffy, it’s the off-season at present, of course, so I can let you have the two rooms overlooking the garden—213, 214,” she said. “Keep the windows closed, mind. The squirrels will come in. We had a shocking incident two years ago with a gentleman from Norway.” That shocking incident with the squirrel….
One interesting note given some current political events in Ireland. Gerry Adams makes an appearance as an IRA leader in the book. Make of that what you will.
Excellent story.
July 15, 2016
The murder of a wealthy couple and subsequent suicide of their son is the main storyline. Catholic RUC detective Sean Duffy and his kind-of partner Detective McCrabban are not satisfied with the murder/suicide explanation, especially when the son's girlfriend also dies. The Troubles of Ireland, the always changing roster of police in Carrick, and a possible career move for Sean into the intelligence community provide the rest of the backdrop. Sean Duffy remains his own man, warts and all (drugs, girlfriends, neighborhood friends and punks), etc. Once again, Sean goes up against the system to solve the crime and find the truth. Let's hope a fifth book is coming along in this trilogy.
February 6, 2022
I have always loved this series, mainly because of the audio narrator, but also because the main character is the opposite of what you would expect a cop to be. Of course, most crime stories have a quintessential rogue underdog main character, but Duffy is not even trying to care or show any moral compass.
He has the habit of taking drugs from a bust for his own use, he is overworked, underpaid, and will cut corners with no qualms. But he does have a tenacity to get the job done.
As a cop during the Irish Troubles, he just wants to survive one more day, checking for mercury tilt bombs underneath his car every day before driving off, tired before the day even started.
This instalment was good from the perspective of spending time with Duffy, but the criminal case itself failed to capture my attention.
Taken in the bigger context of the series, this was still a solid audio experience but not one that will stay for me a long time.
He has the habit of taking drugs from a bust for his own use, he is overworked, underpaid, and will cut corners with no qualms. But he does have a tenacity to get the job done.
As a cop during the Irish Troubles, he just wants to survive one more day, checking for mercury tilt bombs underneath his car every day before driving off, tired before the day even started.
This instalment was good from the perspective of spending time with Duffy, but the criminal case itself failed to capture my attention.
Taken in the bigger context of the series, this was still a solid audio experience but not one that will stay for me a long time.
February 5, 2015
There were one or two inconsistencies that tempted me to rate this 4 1/2 stars but it's Sean Duffy and I couldn't do that to him. Duffy continues to get into more and more serious trouble, and annoy people at higher and higher levels. His drinking and other substance abuse seems worse than ever, but considering his job and the times he was living in, you wonder how most people made it day to day. And womanizing. Well he's only 35 and has a normal sex drive but not normal job. How he keeps his women straight, I wonder. Also driving 100 mph in his BMW on those coastal roads...There are a number of related murders in this novel, and Duffy is determined to prove that they are all in fact murders and related. A theme in his books has been murders that are not products of the Troubles. In the fourth Duffy book, it gets even more complicated. At the end, I wondered how long Duffy will be among the living...this is another Duffy story that may make you want to go bar hopping in Carrickfergus or at least to see the castle and other local sights.
February 4, 2021
Ο λατρεμένος ΜακΚίντυ πάλι φλερτάρει ανάμεσα στην ιστορία και την νουάρ αφήγηση, σε σημεία θλιβερός και συνεχώς αγωνιώδης, πάντα συνεπής απέναντι στο κοινό του και τον ήρωα του Σον Ντάφι.
January 4, 2023
καταπληκτικό!!!!!!!!! λάτρεψα τον Σον Ντάφι!!!
διαβάζεται απνευστί
διαβάζεται απνευστί
August 25, 2015
This is the best Sean Duffy book in the four book series. I only hope McKinty writes more as the character and story line are developing so well. Duffy is a man who is looking for a place to belong. As one of the very Catholic policeman in the RUC, he tries to date women who want nothing to with him because he is a policeman and had swastikas painted on his house's front door. He's a square peg looking for a square hole instead of a round one and that leads to a lot of his problems in this book.
After a watching a botched interception of guns, Duffy wanders off and stumbles into a double homicide. The homicide leads to more murders, supposed suicides and investigations into missing JAVA missiles and more trouble than any man should have to bear. There is an inept American stumbling around that may be CIA. He is training a new policeman and checking for bombs under his car. He is being recruited for a top Irish secret agency.
Duffy is a complex character that is evolving. That is a hard thing to do. I think of Lee Child's wonder Jack Reacher's novels and realize Reacher is not evolving. He's who he is. That's why I find Duffy so exciting. It's interesting to find a character who changes, grows and matures. He is not completely good like real life people aren't. He has layers. The writing is taut and fast paced. It makes it difficult to put the book down. You just want to find out what will happen next.
This is a really good book in a really good series. I highly recommend it.
After a watching a botched interception of guns, Duffy wanders off and stumbles into a double homicide. The homicide leads to more murders, supposed suicides and investigations into missing JAVA missiles and more trouble than any man should have to bear. There is an inept American stumbling around that may be CIA. He is training a new policeman and checking for bombs under his car. He is being recruited for a top Irish secret agency.
Duffy is a complex character that is evolving. That is a hard thing to do. I think of Lee Child's wonder Jack Reacher's novels and realize Reacher is not evolving. He's who he is. That's why I find Duffy so exciting. It's interesting to find a character who changes, grows and matures. He is not completely good like real life people aren't. He has layers. The writing is taut and fast paced. It makes it difficult to put the book down. You just want to find out what will happen next.
This is a really good book in a really good series. I highly recommend it.
June 26, 2019
Did Michael Kelly kill his parents and then kill himself? Duffy suspects otherwise. Is an Oxford party where a cabinet member's daughter dies of a heroin overdose involved? This book is set in Northern Ireland in 1985 at the time of the Irish Troubles. It is a fascinating read with dark and witty humor involving gun runners, arms dealers, British government and an American agent. Meanwhile M15 is trying to recruit Duffy.
Adrian McKinty's writing gives you a sense of atmosphere and you feel like you are right there in Northern Ireland. I love his long chapter names and his short one word sentences that move the plot so quickly. If you haven't read any of the Sean Duffy series, you need to rectify that. It's a great series and each book gets better and better. I look forward to reading Rain Dogs and I would recommend this series to those who love mystery thrillers.
Adrian McKinty's writing gives you a sense of atmosphere and you feel like you are right there in Northern Ireland. I love his long chapter names and his short one word sentences that move the plot so quickly. If you haven't read any of the Sean Duffy series, you need to rectify that. It's a great series and each book gets better and better. I look forward to reading Rain Dogs and I would recommend this series to those who love mystery thrillers.
June 24, 2018
3.5 stars. I'm really enjoying this series. Although the mystery element in this one was not as good as the previous in the series, I absolutely adore the Duffy's humor. His descriptions of the troubles and Belfast in the 1980's are very well done. I would like to see a more authentic love interest in the coming books, this one felt very fake and one-dimensional. Gerard Doyle really makes these characters come alive with his narration - highly recommended.
The Story: The murder of a very wealthy couple and the suicide of their son is soon revealed to be something much bigger than the easy solution of murder-suicide.
The Story: The murder of a very wealthy couple and the suicide of their son is soon revealed to be something much bigger than the easy solution of murder-suicide.
July 15, 2017
This is my fourth Sean Duffy read and each of the books is original, smart and compelling. Excellent character development and seemingly historically accurate for a difficult time in Northern Ireland's "troubles". Very good read.
March 1, 2021
Δείτε επίσης και στο Chill and read
Αν σας ενδιαφέρει η ιστορία της Βόρειας Ιρλανδίας και δεν έχετε διαβάσει ακόμα κάποιο βιβλίο του Adrian McKinty με ήρωα τον ντετέκτιβ Σον Ντάφι, τότε πρέπει οπωσδήποτε να το κάνετε!
Στην τέταρτη αυτή ιστορία με πρωταγωνιστή τον αστυνόμο Σον Ντάφι βρισκόμαστε στο Μπέλφαστ του 1985, την εποχή των Μεγάλων Ταραχών, τότε που αν ήσουν Βόρειο-Ιρλανδός θα ήσουν είτε με τον ΙΡΑ είτε με τους Ενωτικούς. Κατά βάση όμως, θα έπρεπε να είσαι προτεστάντης και άρα Ενωτικός, γιατί οι Καθολικοί του ΙΡΑ ήταν ταραχοποιά στοιχεία και τα έβαζαν με τα σώματα ασφαλείας. Και αν ήσουν Καθολικός και ήσουν και αστυνομικός, όπως ο Ντάφι, τότε τα πράγματα ήταν ακόμα χειρότερα. Όμως ο Ντάφι δεν πτοείται και συνεχίζει τη δουλειά του κανονικά, χώνοντας τη μύτη του σε ξένες υποθέσεις, που όμως πιστεύει ότι σχετίζονται με τη δική του, χωρίς να τον ενδιαφέρει και πολύ πως θα φανεί στους ανωτέρους ή τι αντίκτυπο θα έχει για εκείνον. Καθώς οι εξεγέρσεις πληθαίνουν και δυναμώνουν και ενώ ένστολοι από διάφορα τμήματα καλούνται να πάρουν μέρος στην καταστολή ή έστω στην αντίσταση κατά των εξεγερθέντων, ο Ντάφι ερευνά ένα διπλό φόνο και μια δολοφονία, υποθέσεις που σχετίζονται ξεκάθαρα, αλλά το πόρισμα φαίνεται πιο πολύ στημένο παρά ξεκάθαρο.
Για την εξιστόρηση κι αυτής της ιστορίας, ο συγγραφέας δανείζεται και μεταφέρει την παλμό κάποιων ιστορικών γεγονότων που έχουν σημαδέψει τη χώρα. Με πρώτη και καλύτερη την κλιμάκωση των Ταραχών το 1985 με αφορμή την Αγγλο-Ιρλανδική συμφωνία της Μάργκαρετ Θάτσερ, τουλάχιστον όπως παρουσιάζεται στο βιβλίο. Στο παιχνίδι μπαίνει η προσπάθεια ενός Αμερικανού (του συνταξιοδοτημένου πλέον αντιπλοίαρχου των πεζοναυτών Όλιβερ Νόρθ) να αποκτήσει έναν αριθμό αντιαεροπορικών πυραύλων, κατά τα φαινόμενα από ένα εργοστάσιο στη Βόρεια Ιρλανδία, χρησιμοποιώντας πλαστή ταυτότητα. Και σαν να μην έφταναν όλα αυτά, μια ολόκληρη ομάδα της ΜΙ5, της Υπηρεσίας Ασφαλείας Εσωτερικού της Βρετανίας, σκοτώνεται κατά τη συντριβή ελικοπτέρου σε ένα ύψωμα της Σκοτίας.
Ο αστυνόμος Ντάφι δεν μπορεί να είναι ένας συνηθισμένος αστυνομικός αν λάβει κανείς υπόψη του τον τόπο στον οποίο βρίσκεται, τη χρονική περίοδο και την πολιτική κατάσταση. Δε λέω ότι οι όλοι οι αστυνομικοί της Βορείου Ιρλανδίας είχαν μια τάση προς τις καταχρήσεις, αλλά ο Ντάφι ταιριάζει καλύτερα στο προφίλ του ταλανισμένου ντετέκτιβ. Το ότι είναι ένας Καθολικός Αστυνομικός στο Όλστερ πάντως του ταιριάζει γάντι.
Απόλαυσα τη διήγηση και το βασικό χαρακτήρα, τον τρόπο που διεξήγαγε την έρευνα και που αντιμετώπιζε τα πάντα. Ήξερε πως η δουλειά του ήταν λιγάκι πιο επικίνδυνη από αυτή των συναδέλφων του σε άλλες χώρες, ή στην Βρετανία, λόγω της γενικότερης κατάστασης αλλά και του θρησκεύματός του, όμως δεν άφηνε τα δύσκολα για μια πιο εύκολη ζωή, για μια πιο εύκολη δουλειά. Είχε ενδιαφέρον η αντίδρασή του όταν ταξίδεψε για λίγο στη Βρετανία, στα πλαίσια της έρευνας και είδε πόσο ήσυχη ήταν η ζωή εκεί, πόσο πιο χαλαρά ήταν όλα και όλοι στο αστυνομικό τμήμα, όπου δεν περίμεναν επίθεση ανά πάσα στιγμή, όπως στο τμήμα στο οποίο εργάζεται ο ίδιος. Αυτή η ηρεμία που θα μπορούσε να έχει δεν είναι ικανή να τον κάνει να αλλάξει. Προτιμάει να ακούει τους δίσκους του, παρέα με μια βότκα γκίμλετ κι ένα τσιγάρο.
Αν σας ενδιαφέρει η ιστορία της Βόρειας Ιρλανδίας και δεν έχετε διαβάσει ακόμα κάποιο βιβλίο του Adrian McKinty με ήρωα τον ντετέκτιβ Σον Ντάφι, τότε πρέπει οπωσδήποτε να το κάνετε!
Στην τέταρτη αυτή ιστορία με πρωταγωνιστή τον αστυνόμο Σον Ντάφι βρισκόμαστε στο Μπέλφαστ του 1985, την εποχή των Μεγάλων Ταραχών, τότε που αν ήσουν Βόρειο-Ιρλανδός θα ήσουν είτε με τον ΙΡΑ είτε με τους Ενωτικούς. Κατά βάση όμως, θα έπρεπε να είσαι προτεστάντης και άρα Ενωτικός, γιατί οι Καθολικοί του ΙΡΑ ήταν ταραχοποιά στοιχεία και τα έβαζαν με τα σώματα ασφαλείας. Και αν ήσουν Καθολικός και ήσουν και αστυνομικός, όπως ο Ντάφι, τότε τα πράγματα ήταν ακόμα χειρότερα. Όμως ο Ντάφι δεν πτοείται και συνεχίζει τη δουλειά του κανονικά, χώνοντας τη μύτη του σε ξένες υποθέσεις, που όμως πιστεύει ότι σχετίζονται με τη δική του, χωρίς να τον ενδιαφέρει και πολύ πως θα φανεί στους ανωτέρους ή τι αντίκτυπο θα έχει για εκείνον. Καθώς οι εξεγέρσεις πληθαίνουν και δυναμώνουν και ενώ ένστολοι από διάφορα τμήματα καλούνται να πάρουν μέρος στην καταστολή ή έστω στην αντίσταση κατά των εξεγερθέντων, ο Ντάφι ερευνά ένα διπλό φόνο και μια δολοφονία, υποθέσεις που σχετίζονται ξεκάθαρα, αλλά το πόρισμα φαίνεται πιο πολύ στημένο παρά ξεκάθαρο.
Για την εξιστόρηση κι αυτής της ιστορίας, ο συγγραφέας δανείζεται και μεταφέρει την παλμό κάποιων ιστορικών γεγονότων που έχουν σημαδέψει τη χώρα. Με πρώτη και καλύτερη την κλιμάκωση των Ταραχών το 1985 με αφορμή την Αγγλο-Ιρλανδική συμφωνία της Μάργκαρετ Θάτσερ, τουλάχιστον όπως παρουσιάζεται στο βιβλίο. Στο παιχνίδι μπαίνει η προσπάθεια ενός Αμερικανού (του συνταξιοδοτημένου πλέον αντιπλοίαρχου των πεζοναυτών Όλιβερ Νόρθ) να αποκτήσει έναν αριθμό αντιαεροπορικών πυραύλων, κατά τα φαινόμενα από ένα εργοστάσιο στη Βόρεια Ιρλανδία, χρησιμοποιώντας πλαστή ταυτότητα. Και σαν να μην έφταναν όλα αυτά, μια ολόκληρη ομάδα της ΜΙ5, της Υπηρεσίας Ασφαλείας Εσωτερικού της Βρετανίας, σκοτώνεται κατά τη συντριβή ελικοπτέρου σε ένα ύψωμα της Σκοτίας.
Ο αστυνόμος Ντάφι δεν μπορεί να είναι ένας συνηθισμένος αστυνομικός αν λάβει κανείς υπόψη του τον τόπο στον οποίο βρίσκεται, τη χρονική περίοδο και την πολιτική κατάσταση. Δε λέω ότι οι όλοι οι αστυνομικοί της Βορείου Ιρλανδίας είχαν μια τάση προς τις καταχρήσεις, αλλά ο Ντάφι ταιριάζει καλύτερα στο προφίλ του ταλανισμένου ντετέκτιβ. Το ότι είναι ένας Καθολικός Αστυνομικός στο Όλστερ πάντως του ταιριάζει γάντι.
Απόλαυσα τη διήγηση και το βασικό χαρακτήρα, τον τρόπο που διεξήγαγε την έρευνα και που αντιμετώπιζε τα πάντα. Ήξερε πως η δουλειά του ήταν λιγάκι πιο επικίνδυνη από αυτή των συναδέλφων του σε άλλες χώρες, ή στην Βρετανία, λόγω της γενικότερης κατάστασης αλλά και του θρησκεύματός του, όμως δεν άφηνε τα δύσκολα για μια πιο εύκολη ζωή, για μια πιο εύκολη δουλειά. Είχε ενδιαφέρον η αντίδρασή του όταν ταξίδεψε για λίγο στη Βρετανία, στα πλαίσια της έρευνας και είδε πόσο ήσυχη ήταν η ζωή εκεί, πόσο πιο χαλαρά ήταν όλα και όλοι στο αστυνομικό τμήμα, όπου δεν περίμεναν επίθεση ανά πάσα στιγμή, όπως στο τμήμα στο οποίο εργάζεται ο ίδιος. Αυτή η ηρεμία που θα μπορούσε να έχει δεν είναι ικανή να τον κάνει να αλλάξει. Προτιμάει να ακούει τους δίσκους του, παρέα με μια βότκα γκίμλετ κι ένα τσιγάρο.
May 4, 2015
Like many others, I was thrilled when I saw the author added one more book to this series, originally intended to be a trilogy. After reading it, I'm hoping for book #5.
Inspector Sean Duffy, the token Catholic in Carrickfergus RUC station, is back. He's 35 & has been dealing with Belfast's criminals & "the Troubles" for 10 years now. His world is one where checking under your car each morning for a mercury bomb is like tying your shoes...an unconscious & unremarkable habit.
He & colleague DS "Crabbie" McCrabban are called to the scene of a double murder. A wealthy businessman & his wife have been shot & their 22 year old son is missing. It has all the markings of a domestic situation gone horribly wrong but neither could have predicted just how complicated it will get. Before it's all over, the case will sprout tentacles that reach to unionists, the IRA, american spooks & #10 Downing Street.
While this can be read as a stand alone, if you haven't read previous books do yourself a favour & start at the beginning ("The Cold, Cold Ground"). You'll get the full back story & have a great time in the process.
Like the rest, this is narrated by Sean. He's such a well developed character that I swear I could pick him out of a line-up. He's irreverent, sarcastic & smart & many of his comments/thoughts are laugh out loud funny. It provides a much needed balance to the grim reality of the time (1985) when an end to the Troubles was not even a concept, let alone on the horizon.
He started out wanting to make a difference. Now, he's resigned to just doing the best he can. Never mind winning the war. He'll settle for taking the odd battle & making it home alive for another day. His humour is a coping mechanism to deal with the endless conflict while denying he's actually scared spitless.
The story is told in an economical but fluid style of prose that holds your attention while keeping you slightly on edge. Like Sean, we never know where the next threat is coming from. In between the riots & assaults, we are treated to scenes that are hilarious (a church sponsored mixer where Sean is viewed as a "dead man walking") & lines so good you stop to read them again (after testing some coke confiscated from a brothel, Sean describes it as "so pure it was like getting yelled at by God").
Many familiar characters reappear, real & fictional. Kate, his MI5 contact in a previous book, is back to take another stab at poaching him for her team. And 2 new recruits inject some fresh faces into the mix. Real life personalities & events lend an authentic tone to the story. Mrs. Thatcher continues to be universally loathed & in an interesting twist, Jerry Adams is tied to the IRA (something he has denied as recently as several weeks ago on "60 Minutes").
McKinty has given his main character the same address as the house he grew up in & is obviously intimately acquainted with the era. His portrayal is perceptive & informed, tinged with black humour that can provoke giggles at the most inappropriate time. It's an entertaining, fast paced read with a convoluted plot that puts a very human face on this period of Northern Ireland's history. The author adds to this by not shying away from killing off a main character. As in real life, not everyone survived & by the end, Sean's future is unclear.
So puhLEEZE, Mr. McKinty....just one more?
Inspector Sean Duffy, the token Catholic in Carrickfergus RUC station, is back. He's 35 & has been dealing with Belfast's criminals & "the Troubles" for 10 years now. His world is one where checking under your car each morning for a mercury bomb is like tying your shoes...an unconscious & unremarkable habit.
He & colleague DS "Crabbie" McCrabban are called to the scene of a double murder. A wealthy businessman & his wife have been shot & their 22 year old son is missing. It has all the markings of a domestic situation gone horribly wrong but neither could have predicted just how complicated it will get. Before it's all over, the case will sprout tentacles that reach to unionists, the IRA, american spooks & #10 Downing Street.
While this can be read as a stand alone, if you haven't read previous books do yourself a favour & start at the beginning ("The Cold, Cold Ground"). You'll get the full back story & have a great time in the process.
Like the rest, this is narrated by Sean. He's such a well developed character that I swear I could pick him out of a line-up. He's irreverent, sarcastic & smart & many of his comments/thoughts are laugh out loud funny. It provides a much needed balance to the grim reality of the time (1985) when an end to the Troubles was not even a concept, let alone on the horizon.
He started out wanting to make a difference. Now, he's resigned to just doing the best he can. Never mind winning the war. He'll settle for taking the odd battle & making it home alive for another day. His humour is a coping mechanism to deal with the endless conflict while denying he's actually scared spitless.
The story is told in an economical but fluid style of prose that holds your attention while keeping you slightly on edge. Like Sean, we never know where the next threat is coming from. In between the riots & assaults, we are treated to scenes that are hilarious (a church sponsored mixer where Sean is viewed as a "dead man walking") & lines so good you stop to read them again (after testing some coke confiscated from a brothel, Sean describes it as "so pure it was like getting yelled at by God").
Many familiar characters reappear, real & fictional. Kate, his MI5 contact in a previous book, is back to take another stab at poaching him for her team. And 2 new recruits inject some fresh faces into the mix. Real life personalities & events lend an authentic tone to the story. Mrs. Thatcher continues to be universally loathed & in an interesting twist, Jerry Adams is tied to the IRA (something he has denied as recently as several weeks ago on "60 Minutes").
McKinty has given his main character the same address as the house he grew up in & is obviously intimately acquainted with the era. His portrayal is perceptive & informed, tinged with black humour that can provoke giggles at the most inappropriate time. It's an entertaining, fast paced read with a convoluted plot that puts a very human face on this period of Northern Ireland's history. The author adds to this by not shying away from killing off a main character. As in real life, not everyone survived & by the end, Sean's future is unclear.
So puhLEEZE, Mr. McKinty....just one more?
February 1, 2022
'Gun Street Girl' by Adrian McKinty is number four in the Detective Sean Duffy series. Duffy, a Catholic Northern Ireland "peeler", is doing his job of solving murders during a civil war between Protestants and Catholics. It is difficult, to say the least! Duffy has to check his car for bombs whenever he drives. A lot of neighborhoods are designated as either Protestant or Catholic, or poor or wealthy enclaves, and police need to drive armored vehicles generally in the Catholic and poor areas. They always have to add hours to their drive time due to numerous checkpoints. There are a LOT of bombings, riots and protests every day, so murders of individuals are a murky business of detection. Every dead body has an added layer of political weight for everyone. Whose toes will be stepped on if the death is investigated - MI5? -the American CIA? -British aristocrats and politicians? -the dozens of Provo or IRA militias? A lot of people have hidden affiliations, including the journalists. Every organization has been infiltrated by spies working for the other side, whomever they may be today.
I copied the cover blurb below:
"Belfast, 1985, amidst the “Troubles”: Detective Sean Duffy, a Catholic cop in the Protestant RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary), struggles with burn-out as he investigates a brutal double murder and suicide. Did Michael Kelly really shoot his parents at point blank and then jump off a nearby cliff? A suicide note points to this conclusion, but Duffy suspects even more sinister circumstances. He soon discovers that Kelly was present at a decadent Oxford party where a cabinet minister’s daughter died of a heroin overdose. This may or may not have something to do with Kelly’s subsequent death.
New evidence leads elsewhere: gun runners, arms dealers, the British government, and a rogue American agent with a fake identity. Duffy thinks he’s getting somewhere when agents from MI5 show up at his doorstep and try to recruit him, thus taking him off the investigation.
Duffy is in it up to his neck, doggedly pursuing a case that may finally prove his undoing."
I am really enjoying this dark noir mystery series! Interested readers should begin with book one, The Cold Cold Ground.
I copied the cover blurb below:
"Belfast, 1985, amidst the “Troubles”: Detective Sean Duffy, a Catholic cop in the Protestant RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary), struggles with burn-out as he investigates a brutal double murder and suicide. Did Michael Kelly really shoot his parents at point blank and then jump off a nearby cliff? A suicide note points to this conclusion, but Duffy suspects even more sinister circumstances. He soon discovers that Kelly was present at a decadent Oxford party where a cabinet minister’s daughter died of a heroin overdose. This may or may not have something to do with Kelly’s subsequent death.
New evidence leads elsewhere: gun runners, arms dealers, the British government, and a rogue American agent with a fake identity. Duffy thinks he’s getting somewhere when agents from MI5 show up at his doorstep and try to recruit him, thus taking him off the investigation.
Duffy is in it up to his neck, doggedly pursuing a case that may finally prove his undoing."
I am really enjoying this dark noir mystery series! Interested readers should begin with book one, The Cold Cold Ground.
May 2, 2023
Although this series continues to be above average in the quality of the writing and plotting, for me this entry was less satisfying than the ones that preceded it. The key elements remain: Sean Duffy continues to be out of place as a Catholic detective in the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1985 Belfast; he continues to ignore regulations as he sorts out homicides against the background of the Troubles; his on-and-off relationship with MI5 continues; and his love of music, primarily jazz and classical, makes a regular appearance.
So what put me off? Well, alcohol and drugs, especially the cocaine he keeps for himself after a bust at the beginning of the book, play an even more dominant role in this book than in the past, to the point where it is hard to suspend disbelief enough to accept that he is still walking around and thinking clearly. Also, the tension related to the core plot didn't engage me as completely as it has in other volumes.
On the positive side, McKinty once again integrates into his story real people and historical events, though these events didn't actually occur in close time proximity to one another, or in 1985. But they did occur; because Louse Penny does much the same in her Gamache series, I've become accustomed to googling bizarre events in crime fiction and often end up thinking "Holy crap - you can't make this stuff up!"
My slight disappointment with this entry doesn't mean I will stop reading this series. McKinty has created an interesting character in an unsettled environment, and I look forward to seeing what he gets up to next. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
So what put me off? Well, alcohol and drugs, especially the cocaine he keeps for himself after a bust at the beginning of the book, play an even more dominant role in this book than in the past, to the point where it is hard to suspend disbelief enough to accept that he is still walking around and thinking clearly. Also, the tension related to the core plot didn't engage me as completely as it has in other volumes.
On the positive side, McKinty once again integrates into his story real people and historical events, though these events didn't actually occur in close time proximity to one another, or in 1985. But they did occur; because Louse Penny does much the same in her Gamache series, I've become accustomed to googling bizarre events in crime fiction and often end up thinking "Holy crap - you can't make this stuff up!"
My slight disappointment with this entry doesn't mean I will stop reading this series. McKinty has created an interesting character in an unsettled environment, and I look forward to seeing what he gets up to next. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
August 1, 2021
Καταπληκτικό,για τα δικά μου γούστα ο Sean Duffy είναι ο απόλυτος αντιήρωας,τον κυνηγάει αδυσώπητα η μοίρα αλλά αυτός δεν το βάζει κάτω.Και ακούει και Springsteen κάτι που είναι πολύ σημαντικό:)
April 9, 2022
Εξαιρετική τετραλογία!!!
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