I’ve read the entire Sean Duffy series: The Cold Cold Ground, I Hear the Sirens in the Street, and In the Morning I’ll Be Gone. You can read my reviews here and here. Then The Troubles Trilogy expanded to include Gun Street Girl, my review is here. Then Rain Dogs, review here. And Police at the Station and They Don’t Look Friendly, review here.
The seventh book in the Sean Duffy series just showed up: The Detective Up Late. Throughout the book, Adrian McKinty hints that this might be Duffy’s last case. Duffy is a veteran Detective Inspector in Belfast, Ireland. The previous books in the series were all based in the 1980s, but The Detective Up Late opens with a new decade dawning.
Sean Duffy is an unconventional police officer. He’s educated and smart–which generates resentment from some of his fellow officers. Duffy investigates the possible murder of a teenage girl and the twists and turns of the case unearths a number of surprises. My favorite episode in The Detective Up Late occurs when Duffy and his squad are ambushed by a hit team armed with automatic weapons. McKinty knows how to write edge-of-your-seat action scenes!
In addition to Duffy’s literary references, his love of music pops up at various times in these novels. For example, “But if you’ve got a record player and you’ve got an album by Ella Fitzgerald, you’r going to change you mind about topping yourself.” (p. 248)
If you’re in the mood for an unorthodox police procedural with sparkling wit and intense action, The Detective Up Late will keep those pages turning! GRADE: B+
I just got this from the library. Like you, I’ve read and enjoyed all the previous books int he series, and as long as it goes on I will keep reading them.
Jeff, I’m hoping this isn’t the last Sean Duffy book.
I haven’t read any of his series novels but I did read two standalones, THE CHAIN, and THE ISLAND that I thought were pretty good, especially THE CHAIN. Maybe I’ll try some of his earlier stuff.
Michael, I think Adrian McKinty wrote THE CHAIN and THE ISLAND because the Duffy books weren’t selling very well.
Read the first three but have fallen behind. Oh, those book club books!
Patti, most of the time Diane likes the Book Club books that she and the members choose.
I have read all of the series so far. Got a reserve in at the library.
Steve, I’m hoping the series continues.
Not on my radar, but what is is Jay and the Americans are playing in N. Tonawanda on Oct. 7! How they are going to do that since Jay is dead is anyone’s guess!
Bob, I’m sure the Rivera Theater will have its giant Ouija board ready to summon Jay!
I really liked the first four and have the others on my lengthy library want list. Maybe have to move the next one in the series into the pickup category. Like Patti, I sometimes fall behind in series i like due to so many new books that interest me. Off to another hospital sale this morning to look for more books I don’t NEED. PIcked up about 30 at our Chidren’s Hospital Book Market on Friday.
Kent, like you, I buy a lot of books at Library and Hospital Book Sales. My favorite Sean Duffy mystery was RAIN DOGS, a clever puzzler.