Too Close to Breathe

Too Close to Breathe is a book I was eager to read and I wasn't disappointed by it. It did take me a little getting into and I think it's because it felt a bit like I had missed something about Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan's past. It obviously was something major and was shaping the current story. However, it was drip-fed to me as I read on and I realised that it was actually a really good way of giving me information, not only about Frankie, but about the case she was working on before.

Before what, you may ask. Well, before Dr Eleanor Costello is found hanged at her home and before Frankie starts to wonder if it really is suicide or whether there's more to it.

This is a very well written story, a cat and mouse game show more between Frankie and a killer. She's one of those people who throw themselves into every situation with little regard for her own safety, which makes for a very exciting read, even if I did want to shout at my book and tell her not to do something so rash. She's a very intuitive cop, working on her instincts and what they tell her about a person or a case. Whilst her team support her well, she seems to me to be someone who works better alone as she's a bit of a maverick, and apart from fellow police officer, Baz, and her boss, Clancy, the rest of the team are more background characters. I guess they could be brought more to the forefront of future novels, as I believe this is the first in a series to feature DCS Frankie Sheehan.

Too Close to Breathe is quite a thrilling read, fast-paced in some ways and in others more of a slow reveal. One of the things I particularly enjoyed was the dark web element to the story, something which is current and relevant. In fact, dark is a word I would use to describe the whole book. It's very edgy, well-plotted and an excellent debut crime thriller. show less

Readable: Exciting, fast-paced, good dialog but without a natural flow or build up of content. One dimensional without the depth I've come to expect from great mysteries.

WOW... This is a debut book by Olivia Kiernan. DCS Frankie Sheehan has a lot going on. She is working on solving a string of crimes while also dealing with a crime that happen against her. There is no doubt the crime against her left her with many issues to deal with but working is helping her get on with her life. I like that a Frankie didn't let her issues keep her out of living life. I actually think that because of what happen it helps her keep prospective of the crimes, sees things other have or could have missed, and work harder to solve a crime that others have written off as unsolvable.

I was enthralled from the beginning and by the halfway point of the story I thought I had the case solved. Yea, well I wasn't even close. I love show more being wrong while reading. The hints led me one way while I should have gone the other way. While there were some hints that I knew were taking me the wrong direction since what fun would it be to give it all away at the beginning of the story I couldn't help but follow them.

I am a synopsis and cover person. For me to want to read a book the cover has to grab my attention. The cover of Too Close to Breathe did just that. I look at the cover and saw a mystery, a thriller, and a dark story that I couldn't wait to pick up. Then when I read the synopsis and Olivia Kiernan was compared to such amazing authors as Tana French and Gillian Flynn I knew that I would not be able to pass on this book. show less

Too Close to Breathe by Olivia Kiernan is an enthralling mystery set in Dublin. This first novel in the Frankie Sheehan series is a clever police procedural with marvelous a cast of characters.

Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan's first case when she returns to work following a work-related injury appears to be a suicide but is, in fact, murder. Eleanor Costello is a microbiologist and guest lecturer at a nearby college and her teaching assistant Lorcan Murphy is definitely shaken by the news of her death. Interestingly enough, Eleanor's husband Peter is missing which makes him Frankie's prime suspect. The investigation is frustratingly slow paced since there is little evidence but the discovery of another victim, Amy Keegan, show more breathes new life into the case. Will Frankie and her team catch the killer before he or she strikes again?

Frankie is a tenacious investigator with keen instincts which has contributed to her swift rise through the ranks. Although she has mostly recovered from her physical injuries, she does suffer from PTSD. She has an excellent working relationship with Assistant Commissioner Jack Clancy and her partner on the case, Detective Baz Harwood.

The investigation into Eleanor's murder reveals a few surprising details that are rather perplexing. What is the significance of the Prussian blue paint on the victim's body? Where is Peter and does his disappearance have any connection to his wife's murder? Is he responsible for some of the healed injuries that are discovered during Eleanor's autopsy? What are Eleanor and Peter doing on the Dark Web? Is Lorcan being completely honest during his interviews? And if not, why? And last, but not least, why can Frankie not shake the troubling feeling that the current murders are somehow linked to a prior case?

Although initially a little slow paced, Close to Breathe is an engrossing mystery. Frankie Sheehan is an outstanding lead protagonist whose dedication to her job sometimes leads to impetuous decisions that put her in jeopardy. Baz is a fantastic partner who is extremely supportive even when he does not agree with Frankie. The investigation is fascinating and delves into the murky world of the Dark Web and the BDSM community. Olivia Kiernan brings the novel to a twist-filled and exciting conclusion. Fans of the genre are sure to enjoy this first installment in the Frankie Sheehan series. show less

Too Close To Breathe (2018) by Olivia Kiernan. The lead character in this Dublin, Ireland thriller is DCS Frankie Sheehan. She is just coming back to work after a medical leave. On her last case she was just moments too late to stop a vicious murder, but just in time to get a nasty long cut across her face as the killer tried to hit her neck. He was captured and she went to hospital. But now she is back and the first case up is a suspicious suicide. The woman was hung but indications are she was helped.
There is also the upcoming trial of the killer that attacked Frankie. She is preparing for that trauma while heading up her team of investigators. One body becomes two bodies when a second victim is found within a Halloween pyre in show more Frankie’s hometown. Indications strongly link the two murders and point to one suspect only. Problem is, he has gone missing. And when he is found he has a rock solid, impervious alibi for the murders which sends the entire investigation into shambles.
This is a hard core police procedural told from Frankie’s POV. She is an interesting character, beset by both physical and mental trauma. Step by step she and her team seek to find the true killer even as the clock ticks rapidly towards the termination of the search. We see a gritty Dublin and it’s surroundings as October slips all the way into Christmas and the decision to end this costly investigation draws near.
With no clues, no suspects and no more time or money, it is up to Frankie to save it all, or die trying.
This story is set in the world or today complete with cell phones and the dark web. BDSM is a featured part of this tale. An undercover search on the Black Widow web site has the detectives trolling for a killer among the anonymous players and perverts. The links between every idea the team comes up with seem to lead in one direction, but there are evil twists herein.
Frankie is a distinctive new character, strong and vital, willing to risk all for justice, but belabored with doubt also. And this story shows the reader just how invested many of the police are in solving crimes while detesting many of the things they have to do. Here we have a three dimensional group of characters doing their best to the end. show less

A woman is found hanging in her home. Is it suicide or murder? Soon, there is another murder, some disappearances, and a cast of suspicious characters tied to the underworld of the Dark Web and BDSM.

Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan leads the investigation for the Bureau for Serious Crime. She has just returned from a leave of absence after being attacked while working another case. There are frequent referrals back to this case, initially giving snippets of details about the earlier incident. At first, I thought this was the second novel in a series and wished I had read the first one for better background. But, this is a debut novel and in time all was revealed.

This police procedural focuses quite a bit on Frankie’s show more inner thoughts and especially the impact of her recent trauma. This is a quick, compelling read, well written with a fairly tight storyline. An excellent debut; I hope it will become a series. show less

The Irish are fantastic storytellers, and Olivia Kiernan proves that she is going to be one of the best. Too Close to Breathe is the first in the Frankie Sheehan mystery/thriller series and debut novel for her.

Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan who four months earlier, was almost killed in an attack trying to apprehend a killer. When she is called to a Dublin suburb to investigate the supposed suicide of a woman, Eleanor Costello, who is found hanging from a rope in her home. At first, it seems cut and dried and the case can be closed but after the autopsy report shows old wounds and broken bones Frankie realizes that this is not a suicide. Of course, the first suspect is the husband.

Another woman's body is discovered with show more the same MO as Eleanor's. Then Paul Costello is found and that really throws the investigation into a tailspin. Frankie is challenged with all she has to try to figure out what really happened. Frankie is a strong but flawed, a bit rough around the edges, woman who tries to take charge of her demons and keep an open mind in her investigation. With the help of her team, Frankie pulls out all the stops in this case.

Too Close to Breathe is a taut thriller that will have fans of Tanya French and Gillian Flynn excited to read this new author. I really loved the story and definitely want to read more from Olivia Kiernan. show less