Anne Emery (2) (1968–)

I received an advance copy of this book, Thank You

This was a great book. Not only was the plot and storyline good, but you could tell there was a lot of research done about Ireland and the conflict that tore the country apart for so long. The book is over 400 pages long, and while it didn't drag, it felt at times that some of the story could have been eliminated with no detriment.
That said, I loved getting to know all of the characters. The story centers around Shay Rynne, who grew up in Dublin and wanted to join the Garda Siochana (the Irish Police). This wasn't common as most in Dublin thought the Garda weren't on their side. The final push that propelled him to join was the death of a friend. The case closed quickly, and in Shay's opinion, the wrong conclusion was drawn. He joins, and despite the less than welcome reception, he comes to excel and comes to be accepted. Other great characters in the book are Father Brennan Burke, a great friend of Shay's and someone with interesting and useful contacts. Other interesting characters are Finn, the owner of Christy's Pub and Father Burke's Uncle, and Talkie, Shay's father.
Good and interesting read.… (more)

Alternating between the 16th century and 2018, this novel tells a fascinating story of the early justice system, juxtaposed with a contemporary tale of overdevelopment in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. The Tierney family, always known for their hospitality, is the consistent thread through the centuries. We learn of the unsolved murder in 1595 of a well-loved prophetress and medical practitioner. Fast forward to the 21st century when the Tierney family inn is threatened by a New York developer. Their solution is to initiate an archaeological dig on their property, which will save their surroundings from being turned into an eyesore. The excavation reveals the area's secret past and leads to a satisfying resolution.… (more)

Father Brennan Burke investigates the suspicious death of one of his parishioners, Meika Keller. Her body washed ashore on a Halifax beach and at first the cause of death was thought to be suicide. This troubles Burke because he failed to meet with Meika the night before her death as he promised. He feels he may have let her down in an hour of need. Before long, however, police charge an army officer with her murder because he was seen with her the night she died. Burke's investigation leads him eventually to Germany from where Meika emigrated to Canada after escaping from then Communist East Germany in 1974. Using his family network of contacts, Burke learns that Meika's backstory is much different from the one she told her family and friends in Canada. The already complex story takes a twist when the man accused of her murder is himself murdered. The resolution to the mystery comes when Burke tracks down Meika's family in Germany. He learns the truth about her escape from East Germany, and this in turn leads him to discovery of the cause of her death.

Burke is the principal narrator of the story, supplemented by the Halifax police officer investigating Meika's death, and Monty Collins, a recurring character in the series as Burke's long time friend. Collins coincidentally is the criminal defence lawyer for the army officer charged in Meika's death. This storytelling approach results in difficulty for a reader trying to follow the story. The narrators are at different points in uncovering what is going on and this interferes with a reader's progress. The police officer's narrative is a large red herring involving among other things, the storage of nuclear weapons in Atlantic Canada and the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces. Collin's role is largely from his past association with Burke and a falling out they have over a past event which led to Burke being imprisoned in Northern Ireland. The storytelling could have been pared down by eliminating these narrators and making for a smoother, less disjointed read.

A positive to the storytelling is the portrayal of the various locales. Halifax, is portrayed for what it is, a naval town with a strong military background. The author demonstrates a knowledge of Atlantic Canada culture and the Canadian military. The best portrayals are atmospheric of the German locales, particularly Leipzig, bearing in mind the story is set in 1996, a short time after the re-unification of Germany.

This book is the eleventh of a series, but there will be no difficulty reading it as a standalone. The author does a good job of telling enough about Burke's backstory to explain his then current situation and motivations.

It's a busy story that requires a close reading. Father Burke is the standout character of the book with several solid supporting characters. There's plenty of atmosphere from an abundance of local colour for both Halifax, Berlin and Leipzig . While it's a good blend of crime fiction and spy thriller, the complex storyline told through several narrators. muddles the storytelling. Despite these nits, it's a worthwhile read.

I requested and received a complementary advance reading copy of this book from the publisher, ECW Press, via Netgalley. The comments about it are my own.… (more)