“Compelling, unexpected twists and a hold-your breath standoff . . . Hand this one to readers of Tana French and to police-procedural fans.” —Booklist It’s been twenty years since Detective Cormac Reilly discovered the body of Hilaria Blake in her crumbling home. But he’s never forgotten the two children she left behind… When Aisling Conroy’s boyfriend Jack is found in the freezing black waters … boyfriend Jack is found in the freezing black waters of the river Corrib in Ireland, the police tell her it was suicide. She throws herself into work, trying to forget—but Jack’s sister Maude reappears in Ireland after years abroad, determined to prove Jack was murdered.
Meanwhile, Detective Cormac Reilly, who was recently transferred to Galway from his squad in Dublin, is assigned to dig into a cold case from twenty years ago—the seeming overdose of Jack and Maude’s drug and alcohol addled mother. Other detectives are connecting Jack’s death to his mother’s, and pushing Reilly to arrest Maude, and fast. But instinct tells him something isn’t quite what it seems…
This unsettling small-town noir draws us deep into the dark heart of Ireland, where corruption, desperation, and crime run rife. A gritty look at trust and betrayal where the written law isn’t the only one, The Ruin asks who will protect you when the authorities can’t—or won’t.
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The Ruin is McTiernan’s debut novel and what a novel it is. It’s a cracking read, fast-paced which hooks the reader in and never lets her go until the climactic end.
It begins in 1993 in Galway, Ireland when as a new recruit, Reilly is sent to a scene in a lonely broken down old house to find two abused and starved children, Maude and Jack alone with their dead mother. Twenty years later, Jack is found dead, supposedly suicide… or is it? Reilly uncovers secrets, lies, and corruption and struggles to trust anyone, most of all his own colleagues.
I confess to reading this crime series featuring Cormac Reilly a little out of sequence. The second novel The Scholar was enthralling and I scratched my head about the inclusion of Carrie O’Halloran’s character but now having read this novel, it all makes perfect sense. You can check out my review here. (https://sckarakaltsas.com/2019/05/29/book-review-the-scholar-by-dervla-mc-tiernan/)
Don’t get me wrong. The two novels are strong enough to stand on their own. But if you do read them in sequence, the nuances of the common characters become clearer.
There are two points of view, Reilly and Jack’s girlfriend, Aisling. I enjoyed all the characters which I thought were drawn well. Aisling, an ambitious doctor struggles with her grief and her scenes were particularly heartfelt. Reilly, at times, floundered and the reader felt as much on the outer as he did. I also enjoyed the inner workings and politics of the police department too. I did wonder about Reilly’s method of investigation; why didn’t he go to Maude immediately and ask her questions first, instead of going to the old next door neighbour? But what do I know? I’m not a detective.
Yes, this one is very difficult to put down and there is so much in it. I’d definitely read another of McTiernan’s books. Check it out.
I have read all of Tara French’s books. If you like her stories, you will enjoy reading this dark Irish tale set in the past and present-day with plenty of twists.
This story is fast-paced and a page-turner.
I keep seeing reviews for this comparing it to Tana French which, of course, makes sense because it’s set in Ireland. I’d like to point out that it’s a valid comparison far beyond that basis. French is one of the premiere writers of mystery/thrillers today and with The Ruin, McTiernan joins the ranks of my must-read authors as well. This story was beautifully told with constant action that pushed the story forward even when we were looking backwards and enough twists and turns to make me lose my spot more than once. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was perfect, pulling me into the story and making me feel like I was right there with the characters. Highly recommended read.
Looking forward to book 2 in this new series
Thanks to the First to Read program for a digital ARC of this book. The following is my honest review:
I REALLY enjoyed this book. I must admit it started out slow and I was a bit confused with all the characters and what role they were playing in the story. As the book continued though, I began to get a better grasp on what was going on and who the key players were.
The story, set in Ireland, is quite atmospheric and starts off with a bang. A young detective, Cormac Reilly, is called to a domestic situation. When he arrives he finds a young girl and her brother (Maude and Jack) alone in the house with their dead mother. It appears the woman has died from alcoholism or perhaps a drug overdose. Jack is taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment because his body is covered in bruises. While there, Maude walks out and no one makes much effort to track her down.
Fast forward 20 years. Jack is in a good place. He has a good job and is in a committed relationship. When Jack doesn’t come home one evening, his girlfriend Aisling becomes concerned. Jack’s body is found in a river and the police declare it was suicide. Maude reappears suddenly and insists Jack was murdered. Detectives that Cormac works with push to have Maude arrested for Jack’s murder. Cormac must figure out who murdered Jack and why.
I loved the pace of this book. The case is slowly presented to you over a series of time, little by little. It has a very real life feel to it. This didn’t seem like a police procedural where something crazy happened which will eventually explain it all away. Instead, the characters are developed in such a way that the reader can relate to them and understand their motives and intentions. I also thought McTiernan did a great job connecting two incidents that occur nearly 20 years apart in a believable, realistic way!
Overall, I thought this was a refreshing take in the mystery/police procedural genre and I am really excited to read the next installment in the Cormac Reilly series!
Welcome to Galway, Ireland. Detective Sergeant
Cormac Reilly and his partner, Emma leave Dublin
when Emma gets a great job offer in Galway.
In Dublin, Detective Sergeant Reilly has built a 20
year career in an elite unit on the force. Now in
Galway, he is put on cold cases. No one is very
helpful or friendly to him in this new command.
His first cold case is the death of Hilario Blake. This
case in over twenty years old and was one of the
first in his young career.
So what connects the current suicide of Jack Blake
with this case?
Come along with Detective Sergeant Reilly as his
past and present intertwine in a thought provoking,
uniquely and complex plot. The characters are a
cast of cleverly and creatively crafted characters.
There is danger, drama, intrigue with plenty of
twists and turns in this fast paced Irish thriller.
So come learn a wee bit about the Irish law system
while accompanying the Detective Sergeant in
this Irish exciting experience.
I volunteered to read Ruin. Thanks to Penguin’s
First-to-Read program for the opportunity. My opinion
is my own.
Fantastic start to what I hope is an ongoing series! It ACTUALLY is similar to a Tana French book. Get it now!
Realistic characters in a very readable story line.
I really liked this book. Well thought out plot; well developed characters. Highly recommend.
I couldn’t put it down. I’m so happy to have discovered this author.
This is a haunting book-It takes you on a journey through the devastation wrought on children placed in a mal functioning social system through no fault of their own. Questions of morality and ethics become secondary to the subsequent evolving story of Maude and Jack-The mystery of whodunit and why is riveting. You can’t help cheering on Cormac -the new police officer in Galway-as he tries to sort out not only the past but the present day obfuscation that it taking place in the station. As one story reaches a conclusive ending there are still major under currents of existing impropriety that remain unresolved. I do hope the author ties some of the threads together in her next book-Well Done-
Excellent writing — kept you glued to the edge of your seat wondering about things hinted at early but revealed slowly.
I think this leads in my top 5 books of 2020! Amazing!
the police officer goes to a domestic disturbance and finds two young children alone with their dead mother it was a very good book.
Great characters, original story-line 🙂
Terrific start to a procedural series set in ireland. Enjoyed both the mystery and the characters. Immediately read the next in the series, The Scholar, which was heavy on character development but more obvious in crime and plot. Can’t wait for the next one.
Wonderful character development in this series. It’s so much more than a mystery.
A twisted haunting tale of life – and characters – where nothing is as it seems. McTiernan’s mastery is evident in the fast-pace, tight dialogue, and unexpected plot shifts that keep you turning until the very last page
I just didn’t care about the characters. I was glad when I finished the book.
Extremely well done. Tragic crime procedural that kept me guessing. Interesting and complicated plot. Will read this author again.