Irregulars

Sean O'Keefe #2

by Kevin McCarthy

Dublin, 1922, as civil war sets brother against brother and Free State and Republican death squads stalk the streets of Dublin, demobbed RIC-man Sean O Keefe is hired by one of Monto s most powerful brothel owners to search for her missing son. Hired to find the boy amid the tumult and terror of a country at war with itself, O Keefe soon discovers that the story is not as simple as it first seemed, and that sometimes the truth can depend on whose side you are on.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Ireland, Irish Literature, Mystery, Crime

464 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2013

About the author

Kevin McCarthy is the author of the highly acclaimed historical crime novel, 'Peeler' (Mercier Press, 2010). Called a '...dark, brooding, morally complex masterpiece...' by the Belfast Telegraph, 'Peeler' was selected by the Irish Times as one of its Top Ten Thrillers of 2010 and as a Read of the Year 2010 by the Philadelphia Inquirer. His short story "Twenty-five and Out" appears in 'Down These Green Streets: Irish Crime Writing in the 21st Century'. Kevin's second novel, 'Irregulars', is published by New Island Books and was shortlisted for the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Book of the Year 2013. His novel, 'Wolves of Eden', published by W.W. Norton, was selected by Amazon as one of its 20 Best Books 2018. His latest novel, 'The Wintering Place' (W.W. Norton, 2022), a follow up to The Wolves of Eden, was selected by Amazon as one of its 20 Best Books of the Month, November 2022. He is represented by Jonathan Williams Literary Agency.

Reviews

[LenaRibka · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

A great series set in Ireland in the troubled 1920s.



A gripping plot, memorable characters, an authentic historical atmosphere, difficult to put down.

[Alona · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD!
It took me a little while to really get into the story, mainly because there were quite a lot of characters to remember and I kept getting mixed up with who’s on who’s side, but once I did, it was an amazing read!

5 stars for the story.
5 stars for the writing.
And 5 stars for the narrator.

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irregulars is the second Sean O’Keefe story, set a couple of years after Peeler, during the Irish civil war. Like Peeler, the story is multi-layered and nuanced, capturing the convoluted national politics and family allegiances of the time. And by demobbing O’Keefe and having him search for a politically-motivated and adventure-seeking teenager, the plot allows McCarthy to portray the vast social differences between the well-to-do and the slums, as well take a relative impartial path through the politics and skirmishes between pro- and anti-treaty forces. In so doing, he creates a very strong sense of place and time. Indeed, the contextual history is very much front stage in the telling, with McCarthy demonstrating and imparting a detailed knowledge of Dublin and the civil war in the early 1920s. This does work to slow the story a little, and at times veers the book towards a history lesson rather than crime tale, but it is generally fascinating stuff. Where the telling does falter, however, is in the inclusion of a number of passages which are superfluous or overly long and little progress the story and the narrative would have benefitted from them being omitted or tightened. This is countered by the generally strong characterisation, especially Sean O’Keefe, Nora Flynn, the agent employed to track him, and Just Albert, the brothel strong-arm, and some really wonderful dialogue. Overall, Irregulars is a very good read, with a strong sense of place and history, excellent prose and dialogue, and an engaging, page-turning plot.

[Urmila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping, nuanced and vivid portrait of a particular moment in history, with compelling characters - I love this author’s mixing of historical fiction and crime fiction. Just as good as the first book. Do the audiobook version to get the different flavors of Irish accents - it’s 💯!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good, if not better, than the first Sean O'Keefe novel. Great, believable, multifaceted characters and a really interesting perspective on Irish history, this time the civil war that followed the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1921. The language can be difficult to decipher at times but it provides a level of authenticity that I loved. McCarthy also writes vivid descriptions of the devastating effects of poverty on the Irish people.

[Barbara Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

One of the best Irish novels I’ve read in a long time, great potential for a TV adaptation, the descriptions of Dublin at the time of the Civil war are fascinating and obviously well researched, hope to see more from this author.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nowhere near as good as the first in the series, this second of the Sean O’Keefe novels is set in October 1922 Dublin during the Civil War. O’Keefe, angst-ridden, drinking too much and no longer in the RIC, is tasked with finding the son of a brothel madam likely involved with the Irregulars. There’s really not much to the story as, helped by the invulnerable “Just Albert”, the boy is tracked through a divided, poverty-stricken city. It’s well-written but a little too cliched in places, as when O’Keefe is rather too quickly mutually attracted to a Free State agent

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as entertaining as Peelers, but a winner just the same.

[Kyri Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Particularly the setting, which seems oddly underrepresented in fiction, but also the characters, plot, and writing were generally solid. I wasn't crazy about the only non-heterosexual character being a villain (really, in this setting it would be acceptable not to portray any non-heterosexual characters to start with), but other than that I would recommend this.

[Jibraun · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book, was a good follow up after the 'Peelers'. Ending was a bit cold!

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a follow up novel to Peeler. It finds Sean O'Keefe a few years after the end of Peeler. When I first started the novel, I was a little disappointed not to find the original set of characters. That soon disappeared with the introduction of the people now populating Sean's world and the new challenges he is facing.
Against the back drop of the Irish Civil War,Sean has to keep a promise. Just Albert is so well written I have a visual of him and who would play him if a movie were ever made.
Being Irish and a student of the history of my country, any novel set there is sure to catch my interest.
If you enjoyed these books you should check out the Belfast Trilogy by Stuart Neville, starting with The Ghosts of Belfast.
Enjoy!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picking up a few years after the last novel featuring Sean O'Keefe. With the RIC no longer in operation O'Keefe has returned home to Dublin with the country in the grip of Civil War. Trying to keep a low profile from some of those who still carry a grudge against the former Crown forces he finds himself having to repay a debt owed by his father to a local brothel madame. Reluctantly agreeing to help locate her son he has to descend into the underworld of Dublin. Neither the forces of the new Irish Free State or the Anti-Treaty IRA can be trusted.

The book doesn't pack as much of a punch as the first novel featuring Sean O'Keefe but still a good read.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent; well-written, intricate plot, interesting depictions of myriad characters and of the historical events of the period. It's a brutal and violent book, reflecting both the emotional and the physical truth of those very turbulent times, though hard to read at times. One caveat, but: I had my doubts about Sean's ability to move about, or even survive, following a couple of his beatings. He would have been in poor shape after his months of dissipated living.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

We went through Ireland's War of Independence in the company of O'Keefe in Peelers, but now the RIC has been disbanded and he's out of a job, he's up in Dublin trying to remain uninvolved in the Civil War...Hunched over a pint too many in Slattery's Bar in Rathmines, he's roused by bullets shattering the mirror in the bar...

[Ellen Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. That is what I think. Peeler was one of my favs and I have been waiting for the return of Mr. O'Keefe. Not disappointed - in the story or the story telling. Want to remember this tale and these words: 'He curses his father, and regrets it, and then does not.'

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good writing, detailed, descriptive style that takes us to Ireland of the 1920's & the complex civil strife that is reaching the boiling point. The murder of a young woman plays out in this back drop with a host of seedy characters & authorities who all have an agenda.

[Will Gibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d give it about an 8.5 out of ten. If you’re read the first book in the series this one is a bit better, however, it’s less of a mystery than the first and more of a thriller. You could probably read it as a stand alone.

[Lisa Redmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding.

[Joop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

[Mark Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this on holiday, was a cracking read, well written and excellent plot. I'll be looking for more Kevin McCarthy.

[margaret gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

A different take on the troubles too be sure.
I would hope to hear more of Sean and good ole Finch in the future.