The Dead Room
4.5 Stars

The rapid pacing, intricate plotting and excellent characterization more than compensate for the slightly far-fetched premise and Darby's sudden transformation from lab rat into serious kick-ass chick.

Fox Mulder's "Trust No One" maxim fits the plot of this book to a tee as Darby slowly unravels the mystery of a gruesome home invasion, and soon comes to realize that rampant corruption in the Boston PD and FBI means that everyone around her is a potential villain. The story is complex but everything is ultimately explained and the twists and turns will definitely keep you up late turning the pages.

The ending is somewhat bittersweet and open ended but Mooney's writing is skillful and intense, which means I will be reading Darby's next adventure sooner rather than later. ( )

I'm saying this more and more these days, but this isn't my regular type of read. It's a procedural crime thriller about soem deaths being caused by people who are supposed to be dead. As I say, it's not my usual read, but the story kept me hooked from beginning to end.

My only slight downside was that I found it a little predictable, but I get that a lot and it shouldn't put you off. The story is well constructed and the pace builds nicely to a satisfying conclusion. The investigation itself has suitable twists and turns to keep you guessing. I would have expected a bit more fallout from the end, but that's no big thing.

The writing itself is good and the author knows how to write a good action scene. I also enjoyed some of the more technical details, nicely integrated and not confusing. If you enjoy crime novels then this is well worth a look.
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I'm saying this more and more these days, but this isn't my regular type of read. It's a procedural crime thriller about soem deaths being caused by people who are supposed to be dead. As I say, it's not my usual read, but the story kept me hooked from beginning to end.

My only slight downside was that I found it a little predictable, but I get that a lot and it shouldn't put you off. The story is well constructed and the pace builds nicely to a satisfying conclusion. The investigation itself has suitable twists and turns to keep you guessing. I would have expected a bit more fallout from the end, but that's no big thing.

The writing itself is good and the author knows how to write a good action scene. I also enjoyed some of the more technical details, nicely integrated and not confusing. If you enjoy crime novels then this is well worth a look.
( )

Complicated plotting with lots of characters, most not what they seem. Set in a Boston Crime Scene Unit, which investigates a multiple shooting and throws an unwelcome light on the Irish organised crime scene. Probably not one for the squeamish... ( )

Mooney is America's answer to Val McDermid, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the 3rd in his series of Darby McCormick books. An exciting thriller which looks at a grizzly murder with all sorts of twists and turns, 'The Dead Room' is a rollercoaster of an adventure which I found extremely hard to put down. Would highly recommend all crime lovers, especially those who are encapsulated by the twisted and gripping literature of Thomas Harris. This will not disappoint. ( )