Sean Duffy 4 somehow seems more real than the others, and this is on top of my earlier reviews that talk about how real these novels seem.

It's 1985 and Sean has been reinstated as a Detective Inspector and McCrabben is now the lead murder investigator. A husband and wife are murdered. Their son has vanished but later turns up dead of suicide. Open and shut, right? Well, of course not or there wouldn't be a book. The investigation takes us up the north coast (I had no idea that you can see Scotland from Northern Ireland) and then over to Oxford. McKinty again has repurposed real events in service of the novel. I found it all quite enjoyable. ( )

This is my new favorite in the series, as I continue through my re-visit of it. In it, Sean Duffy deals with arms dealing, a double murder and possible suicide, questions about his future with the RUC, and a new recruit to CID. As usual, he gets himself into trouble and trouble also has a way of finding him. The ending comes with a bit of a twist, and the whole thing was just a great listen. ( )

Author's usual good plot and maudlin characters. Well narrated ( )

Inspector Sean Duffy’s latest case begins as a double murder, and is soon followed by more deaths. What appeared to be a straightforward case is (of course) anything but. Duffy and his colleagues find themselves working with MI5 and Special Branch, who are investigating potentially related matters.

Meanwhile, Duffy is trying to strike up a relationship with a news reporter. He is also being actively recruited by MI5, who are offering him a higher level post than anything he would ever achieve in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Since Duffy is perpetually fed up with his chain of command this has some appeal, as does the woman recruiting him. And yet he also values his fellow investigators, including Lawson, a sharp new member of the force, and his long-time colleague McCrabban.

The investigation takes several turns, and like previous books the crime has links to actual historic events of the period (in this case, 1985). The final dramatic showdown coincides with equally dramatic events in Duffy’s personal life, and the question of joining MI5 is resolved … at least for now. ( )

I have read another book by this author but not in the Sean Duffy Series, this is an outstanding police procedural book. It takes place in Belfast circa 1985. A number of likable and believable characters, and a fantastic blending of actual events into the story. A great summer read. ( )