Death in Dublin

Peter McGarr #16

by Bartholomew Gill

While investigating the brutal murder of a night watchman and the mysterious disappearance of the Book of Kells, an Irish cultural icon, police chief Peter McGarr finds himself plunged into a dangerous mystery involving the IRA and religious fanatics.

Genres: Mystery, Ireland, Fiction, Procedural, Detective, Mystery Thriller, Irish Literature

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Bartholomew Gill is the pen name of Mark McGarrity.

Mr. McGarrity was born in Holyoke, Mass., and graduated from Brown University in 1966. He studied for his master's degree at Trinity College, Dublin, and never tired of mining the country for material.

''One of the things they gave me,'' he once said of his books, ''is a chance to go back to Ireland time and time again to do research.''

He was also an avid outdoorsman, and since 1996 worked at The Star-Ledger of Newark as a features writer and columnist under the McGarrity name, specializing in nature and outdoor recreation. While continuing to produce McGarr novels, sometimes at the rate of one a year, Mr. McGarrity produced several articles a week for the newspaper. He wrote about a variety of topics ranging from environmental issues to the odd characters he encountered in his travels, like an Eastern European immigrant who grew up watching cowboy movies and found his dream job playing Wyatt Earp in an amusement park in rural New Jersey.

Mr. McGarrity also published five novels under his own name.

Series:
* Peter McGarr Mystery

Reviews

[Judith Shadford · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK. The initial crime--stealing the Book of Kells from Trinity College Library--was a humdinger. Then it gets a little gritty, but still highly interesting and related to the Book. There's a political angle--the New Druids, who want to return Ireland to the old Celtic gods and a new guy that's hired over McGarr's head; and his wife, murdered, two years ago, so he's eyeballing all the females with essentially the same menu of attributes. Worries about his teenage daughter who calls him Peter. Ultimately, and it is very much of a thriller, while narratives included such details as fastening a seatbelt, being hungry, etc., there's some major sequence jumping, from a helicopter hovering, to the ground; from a third floor flat, across the street and down a flight of stairs to the dock with the potential victim being tied up (legs, too) with duct tape, a pistol in her mouth and the bad guy holding the leash to pull the trigger--no narrative. Just wham. Then you kind of have to guess who shoots who in the penultimate scene. The last scene is a tangle of sheets and bare legs. Didn't work for me. No.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered this author in a used bookstore in the Lake District around 1998. It was a joy to find a series with complex characters that was set in Ireland. However, Death in Dublin was a challenge to get through. The main character is well-worn and is self-proclaimed as “old”. His wife had been killed two years before. Much of the book is about how good-looking the women are and it seems that loads of them are attracted to him. This book in the series was not the best of them.

[Jeannie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't get into it, didn't finish it

[Denny]

NOOK

[Mark Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent mystery novel in an Irish setting.

[Linda Dehaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a library sale and I'm glad I did. Great characters and writingg- unfortunately it is the last in the series. I may go back and read some earlier books .

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Dublin, Ireland, the Book of Kells is stolen from the Trinity College Library and Peter McGarr must solve the mystery of "whodunit" before his enemies successfully frame him and destroy his career. But who exactly his enemies are isn't always clear.

I really enjoyed this novel. The complexity was wonderful; the language was just plain fun! I never really felt like I had the entire mystery figured out – every time I’d start to think I knew the answers, Gill would throw a wrench in the plot. I enjoy plots that aren’t predictable. Peter is a bit of an anomaly for detectives in that he isn’t a cowboy. So many police and private detectives are loners with few ties and little trust in other people. Peter has strong ties to his family and his staff. I also really liked the character of Orla Bannon. She’s a strong, complex fun female character. She starts to lean toward stereotypes, but as soon as you try to peg her that way, she leans the other way.

I didn’t care so much for the fact that almost every female character addressed in the novel was sexualized in some way. So much attention was given to their physical appearance and whether or not that was an “attractive” appearance. The male characters aren’t presented that way.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

DEATH IN DUBLIN (Police Proced-CS Peter McGarr-Ireland-Cont) – G
Gill, Bartholomew – 16th in series
Avon Suspense, 2003, US Paperback – ISBN: 0060008504

First Sentence: Peter McGarr stepped out of the laneway into Dame Street, at the end of which stood the granite eminence of Trinity College about a quarter mile distant.

*** Peter McGarr may have seniority, but he is pushed into a secondary role, and then suspended, during the investigation of the theft of the Book of Kells and two other priceless books, as well as the vicious murder of the night watchman.
*** I have a real problem with male protagonists who start out by saying how devastated the still are at the loss of their lover/wife, and how long it’s been since they’ve been intimate with a woman, and then promptly leap into bed with someone or, in this case, two someones. It starts the whole thing off on such a false, insincere note for me. That aside, I loved the setting and learning more about Dublin, Trinity College and the Book of Kells. The villains were fairly obvious and there was plenty of violence. it was a good enough read but, as it is the last, or next to last, of the series, I doubt I’ll go back and read the prior books.

[Stacielynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chose this book because it is set in Ireland and wanted to continue my recent time spent there in some small way. And because I like mysteries and am always looking for a new series.

This one was a little frustrating. Clearly I came in in the middle of the series, which can be disorienting and was. The crime, the theft of The Book of Kells from Trinity College, was intriguing. The characters were compelling and the plot twists were good. I like the way it presented 21st Ireland as a country in transition, particularly the challenge of being a destination for immigrants.

But stuff just bugged me. Why the two common-law-wife thing? ANd why does it have to be pointed out over and over again? I get it. Why the thoroughly depraved behavior on the part of some characters? And suddenly, two years after his wife's tragic death, McGarr ends up in bed with not one, but two women whose interest in him is questionable. And how can two former disgraced cops be brought in to help? That just seems stupid.

I suspect there may be something I am missing and will have to go to an earlier title to learn if there is a rich back story that lead us to this point.

[Martin Mulcahey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't let this be your introduction to Bartholomew Gill. This is not a bad book, and I only give it a half hearted review because I bought it believing I would get more of a historical thriller instead of detective novel. I know, my fault. The other thing is that even if I had loved the content so much of McGarr's past was given away in this book that I have no need to get the other books since I know their endings already. Overall not a bad book, but I thought the character of Orla Bannon was wasted. She was the best part for me and seemed underutilized, and I did not like the way she was portrayed just before the final act...., you will see what I mean when you read it. As I said, if you like a good detective romp get an earlier McGarr book (good writing, but somewhat dark wit), since you will have the answers to those revealed to you in this one.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the information about the Book of Kells, and I loved the visit to Dublin. I liked the protagonist McGarr, but the supporting characters didn't seem that distinct to me. Well, except for the two wives, one husband thing... which I didn't like in this book any more than in the other in this series that I read. Also, this book came right up to the edge of my tolerance for violence. Still, I'd read more in this series just for the location, especially when I'm in the mood for a police procedural (which is often).

[Maurean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather enjoyed this easy, semi-cozy (a bit of 'gorey detail', but still 'light' reading.) mystery; it was wonderful in its descriptions,interesting Irish lore, and it had everything just right - the bad guys get their come-up-ence, and the hero gets the girl.

As is typical, I 'find' a new author by their final work, but the sucker-for-series that I am, I will look for other McGarr titles, most specifically "The Death of an Irish Politician" (the 1st in the series),and "The Death of an Irish Sinner" ('cause the premise sounds intriquing).

[MeLani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bartholomew Gill has written a complex, suspenseful, and intelligent mystery. In addition, he delves into the personal struggles of Peter McGarr of the Dublin Murder Squad. McGarr is still dealing with the loss of his wife and father-in-law, trying to find hope while being submersed in the murky crime world of Dublin. A wonderful tale. I only wish Bartholomew Gill were still alive to continue his wonderful work.

[Gloria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely a light summer read, with the typical set-up of the tough but tender policeman etc. However the setting and the additional details of some Celtic history makes it justifiable in the face of the stacks of serious academic reading... Not as justifiable as an Amanda Cross or many o he Soho imprints, but justifiable for a quick afternoon read.

Very bloody, lots of sex from a male perspective and tons of swearing. Don't say I didn't warn you.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 16th (and final) peter McGarr mystery brings McGarr the beginnings of closure on the increasingly ugly nature of Irish society. High end art theft, murder, and ultra-conservative church politics of the sort that had left to the death of McGarr's wife and father in law a book earlier maintain a plot that should have led to three or four more seres books, but Gill died before his time.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very well written book. Somewhat entertaining, but the writing itself was not good. A lot of the time it was hard to tell who was speaking. Really unfortunate since this would have been a nice series to read through.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to really like this book. The idea was great in theory. I just had a really hard time staying engrossed. This is probably a bad book to start your journey with Peter McGarr, it's hard to sympathize with him if you don't know the background well enough.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is very good if you have any interest in ireland at all. Each one in the series tells about some aspect of Ireland and its people and the stories are well done as well.

[Cathy]

Didn’t finish. hated it. brittle,

[Teresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Far too bloody.

[Genesis · Rating 3 out of 5]

started off great, too much of the foul mouthed dirty side of Dublin...but I guess it was a murder mystery.

[Jan C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure why I put this book down a few years ago. I picked it back up and finished in just a few days.


Forgot how much I enjoyed Gill's books. Nice swan song.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much continuation of a series; might be better if previous books had been read. Very strong in setting.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent police procedural. I would probably read Gill again, though it may have just amused me since I recently vacationed in Dublin and enjoyed all the references to places I had visited.

[maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very pleasant albeit simply mystery that takes place in Dublin (Trinity College) and involves the theft and ransom of the Book of Kells. Fun to read of places I've been.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

too much swearing. Do cops really talk like that?

[Karen Butman]

It was interesting. I learned a little bit about the Book of Kells which is the focus of this mystery. Interesting twist.

[Terry Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good development of unsavory characters as we've come to expect from Gill.

[Hapzydeco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read. Well developed characters. This may be Gill’s last work since he died in 2002.

[Woolfhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very violent, but good. Great example of writing non-obtrusive Irish dialect.