In my recent searches for future reading material...I ran across a copy of of this book that just happens to be a part of a series that I haven't read in a long time but always enjoyed...So I thought I would see what Ed Loy is up to after the first 3 books. Ed is a man with a strong moral compass who has friends on both sides of the law. Although he may not agree with the actions or the mindset of the criminal syndicates that were spawned from The Troubles...he has a deep understanding of the reasons for and against the IRA. As a first generation American of Irish background I understood more after reading the first couple of books why my grandparents took my mother and her older sister and fled Ireland for America in 1926. In this part of the series, Ed...as a private detective finds himself working two separate cases that turn out to be linked by strands of violence resulting from the days of, and just after, The Troubles. Declan Hughes combines historical facts and fictional storylines to result in novels that are deeply enjoyable as well as very informative. ( )

Many years ago, I was introduced to Ed Hoy in Declan Hughes' debut novel "The Wrong Color of Blood". Hoy immediately became one of my favorite male protagonists in the thriller genre. Hoy is a fallible man with a strong moral compass who has friends on both sides of the law. Although he may not agree with the actions or the mindset of the criminal syndicates that were spawned from The Troubles, he has a deep understanding of the reasons for and against the IRA (Catholic paramilitary group that waged war against the ruling Protestant British establishment for religious and socio-economic reasons; renowned for being one of the forerunners of domestic terrorism). Hughes' Ed Hoy novels are set in modern day Ireland and America and superbly capture a sense of both locations. The older you become, the more you understand how little life is black and white, and Hoy navigates life intent on living as honorably as possible in the grey.

In "All The Dead Voices", Hoy, a private detective, is working two separate cases that are linked by strands of violence resulting from the days of and just after The Troubles. Hoy is tasked by a daughter, Anne, with looking into the long ago murder of her father, Brian Fogarty, a tax collector who was investigating three known criminals at the time of his death, and whose wife was having an affair with the man convicted of his murder. A conviction that was later overturned on appeal. A man whom the daughter, Anne, does not believe is guilty. In addition, Hoy is also looking into the murder of Paul Delaney, a rising football star who may have been dealing heroin for one of the three men that Fogarty was investigating at the time of his death. The initial request of Paul's two older half-brothers, Dessie and Liam, was for Hoy to check in with Paul and report back. Hoy has a history with Dessie Delaney - he saved his life by getting Dessie off drugs and getting him to go to Greece to live with Liam. Paul was murdered on Hoy's watch or at least that's how Hoy views it. Because of the entrenchment of drug culture and related turf wars, both of these crimes involve similar players.

Hughes is not only an excellent writer, but he excels at weaving a suspenseful & intelligent story that pulls you in from the start and holds you there to resolution. The combination of historical facts and fictional storylines result in novels that are deeply enjoyable as well as informative. ( )

Many years ago, I was introduced to Ed Hoy in Declan Hughes' debut novel "The Wrong Color of Blood". Hoy immediately became one of my favorite male protagonists in the thriller genre. Hoy is a fallible man with a strong moral compass who has friends on both sides of the law. Although he may not agree with the actions or the mindset of the criminal syndicates that were spawned from The Troubles, he has a deep understanding of the reasons for and against the IRA (Catholic paramilitary group that waged war against the ruling Protestant British establishment for religious and socio-economic reasons; renowned for being one of the forerunners of domestic terrorism). Hughes' Ed Hoy novels are set in modern day Ireland and America and superbly capture a sense of both locations. The older you become, the more you understand how little life is black and white, and Hoy navigates life intent on living as honorably as possible in the grey.

In "All The Dead Voices", Hoy, a private detective, is working two separate cases that are linked by strands of violence resulting from the days of and just after The Troubles. Hoy is tasked by a daughter, Anne, with looking into the long ago murder of her father, Brian Fogarty, a tax collector who was investigating three known criminals at the time of his death, and whose wife was having an affair with the man convicted of his murder. A conviction that was later overturned on appeal. A man whom the daughter, Anne, does not believe is guilty. In addition, Hoy is also looking into the murder of Paul Delaney, a rising football star who may have been dealing heroin for one of the three men that Fogarty was investigating at the time of his death. The initial request of Paul's two older half-brothers, Dessie and Liam, was for Hoy to check in with Paul and report back. Hoy has a history with Dessie Delaney - he saved his life by getting Dessie off drugs and getting him to go to Greece to live with Liam. Paul was murdered on Hoy's watch or at least that's how Hoy views it. Because of the entrenchment of drug culture and related turf wars, both of these crimes involve similar players.

Hughes is not only an excellent writer, but he excels at weaving a suspenseful & intelligent story that pulls you in from the start and holds you there to resolution. The combination of historical facts and fictional storylines result in novels that are deeply enjoyable as well as informative. ( )

Great setup and middle. Thereafter it becomes a nit too pat but the ending is strong enough. It's nice that its set in Dublin. All in all a strong crime pi novrl. ( )

It doesn't make any difference what the plot of this fourth Ed Loy novel is.. Mystery lovers in years past bought a Ross Macdonald story, or a Raymond Chandler, or Dashiell Hammett as now we buy a Robert Crais or Robert Parker or John Grisham book. We know we're going to get the best Noir, Thriller, Mystery, Crime novel available.. the plot is of little consequence.

Yes.. Declan Hughes is that good. A talented professional who transports us, vicariously, into his world for a few hours at a time, and makes us feel good that we're able to return to our own relatively safe and sane world, before turning off the lights at the end of the day! ( )