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Inspector Sheehan Mysteries #3
Killer of Souls
Chief Inspector Sheehan and his team have never encountered a case like this, and it's taking Belfast by storm.
Sheehan is no stranger to serial killers, vicious psychopaths, religious fundamentalists, and more. But when members of a coven start turning up dead all over Belfast, Sheehan and his Serious Crimes Unit are faced with a level of evil beyond anything they have ever experienced.
To make matters worse, when they discover a malevolent Satanist -- supported by a powerful demon -- is setting the stage for a human sacrifice, the team is thrown into the unknown.
The clock starts ticking as the sacred Celtic feast of Lughnasa fast approaches. Can Sheehan discover who is murdering the coven and rescue the young woman who has been abducted for a human sacrifice before it's too late?
Sheehan is no stranger to serial killers, vicious psychopaths, religious fundamentalists, and more. But when members of a coven start turning up dead all over Belfast, Sheehan and his Serious Crimes Unit are faced with a level of evil beyond anything they have ever experienced.
To make matters worse, when they discover a malevolent Satanist -- supported by a powerful demon -- is setting the stage for a human sacrifice, the team is thrown into the unknown.
The clock starts ticking as the sacred Celtic feast of Lughnasa fast approaches. Can Sheehan discover who is murdering the coven and rescue the young woman who has been abducted for a human sacrifice before it's too late?
- GenresMystery
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2023
36 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Brian O'Hare
22 books178 followersBrian O'Hare, MA, Ph.D., is a retired assistant director of a large regional college of further and higher education. Married, three children, ten grandchildren, one great grandchild. He plays golf three times a week off a ten handicap and does a lot of voluntary work. Any writing he has previously done was academic...very much restricted to a very specific readership. Several articles in educational journals were followed by a number of book-length reports for the Dept. of Education and the University of Ulster.
He has also written an interesting biography of a man who daily performs amazing miracles of healing...The Miracle Ship. That is currently available in Amazon's Kindle bookstore. Hopefully those who read it will spread the word and write reviews to help John's message to reach the hearts of many, many people. The Miracle Ship has won top medallist honours in the New Apple 2015 Awards for literary excellence.
Brian had a liver disease since childhood which resulted in him taking early retirement a number of years ago. In 2002 he had a liver transplant but is strong and healthy now. He continued to do academic writing well into his retirement and followed that with a memoir about his liver transplant, dealing with the physical, emotional and spiritual experiences that came from that period in his life (A Spiritual Odyssey, published by Columba Press, Dublin).
Recently he experienced a desire to write fiction. Hence Fallen Men. It is a story about three priests...but it is religious in much the same way Thornbirds was religious. Fallen Men has won two awards, including top medallist honours in the contemporary fiction category of the 2015 New Apple Awards.
He has also finished two further novels, both part of a new series commissioned by Crimson Cloak publishing, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries.. The first is a murder mystery inspired by an old 14th century painting of the Last Judgement. It's called "The Doom Murders", and it is available on Kindle and in print. The Doom Murders has to date won three prestigious awards.
The second book in the series, "The 11.05 Killings", has now been written. Obviously it features the same detectives as in The Doom Murders but since it was published only a few weeks ago it has not yet had time to collect any awards. The third book in the series, The Coven Murders, is currently being written.
To launch the print version of The Doom Murders, CCP asked Brian to write a couple of short stories, featuring Inspector Sheehan. These were originally intended to be Facebook games (i.e. a kind of 'see the clues, guess the killer' thing) but the publisher liked them so much that she has started a new line called Crimson Shorts. Brian's two shorts ( a third was written to launch The 11.05 Killings) Murder at Loftus House and Murder at the Roadside Cafe are now available on Amazon in Kindle and print versions. So, too, is the third, Murder at the Wooodlands Care Home.
Also now available on Kindle (as well as print) is the story of Brian's liver transplant and the growth in spirit he experienced as he waited for almost a year, not knowing if he was going to live or die. See: "A Spiritual Odyssey [Diary of an Ordinary Catholic]"
He has also written an interesting biography of a man who daily performs amazing miracles of healing...The Miracle Ship. That is currently available in Amazon's Kindle bookstore. Hopefully those who read it will spread the word and write reviews to help John's message to reach the hearts of many, many people. The Miracle Ship has won top medallist honours in the New Apple 2015 Awards for literary excellence.
Brian had a liver disease since childhood which resulted in him taking early retirement a number of years ago. In 2002 he had a liver transplant but is strong and healthy now. He continued to do academic writing well into his retirement and followed that with a memoir about his liver transplant, dealing with the physical, emotional and spiritual experiences that came from that period in his life (A Spiritual Odyssey, published by Columba Press, Dublin).
Recently he experienced a desire to write fiction. Hence Fallen Men. It is a story about three priests...but it is religious in much the same way Thornbirds was religious. Fallen Men has won two awards, including top medallist honours in the contemporary fiction category of the 2015 New Apple Awards.
He has also finished two further novels, both part of a new series commissioned by Crimson Cloak publishing, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries.. The first is a murder mystery inspired by an old 14th century painting of the Last Judgement. It's called "The Doom Murders", and it is available on Kindle and in print. The Doom Murders has to date won three prestigious awards.
The second book in the series, "The 11.05 Killings", has now been written. Obviously it features the same detectives as in The Doom Murders but since it was published only a few weeks ago it has not yet had time to collect any awards. The third book in the series, The Coven Murders, is currently being written.
To launch the print version of The Doom Murders, CCP asked Brian to write a couple of short stories, featuring Inspector Sheehan. These were originally intended to be Facebook games (i.e. a kind of 'see the clues, guess the killer' thing) but the publisher liked them so much that she has started a new line called Crimson Shorts. Brian's two shorts ( a third was written to launch The 11.05 Killings) Murder at Loftus House and Murder at the Roadside Cafe are now available on Amazon in Kindle and print versions. So, too, is the third, Murder at the Wooodlands Care Home.
Also now available on Kindle (as well as print) is the story of Brian's liver transplant and the growth in spirit he experienced as he waited for almost a year, not knowing if he was going to live or die. See: "A Spiritual Odyssey [Diary of an Ordinary Catholic]"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 11, 2018
Fast-Paced Detective Story
Although it's the third book in the series, it could be read as a standalone. Inspector Sheehan comes across some gruesome murder cases, all connected, but hard to solve. Apparently, some influential, but evil, people are involved. Will he have the guts to unravel the mystery, to fight pure evil?
Of course, the opening scene of a young lady's parents having been murdered in cold blood is heart-wrenching. However, the reader is prompted to analyze the circumstances in a deeper way, to discover the true motives, to put themselves in the detective's shoes.
Fast-paced, intelligent and suspenseful read. Highly recommended to fans of whodunnit, detective stories.
Although it's the third book in the series, it could be read as a standalone. Inspector Sheehan comes across some gruesome murder cases, all connected, but hard to solve. Apparently, some influential, but evil, people are involved. Will he have the guts to unravel the mystery, to fight pure evil?
Of course, the opening scene of a young lady's parents having been murdered in cold blood is heart-wrenching. However, the reader is prompted to analyze the circumstances in a deeper way, to discover the true motives, to put themselves in the detective's shoes.
Fast-paced, intelligent and suspenseful read. Highly recommended to fans of whodunnit, detective stories.
October 29, 2018
Chief Inspector Sheehan has seen the evil in mankind, but is he ready to take on the demons of Hell when he uncovers a Satanic coven while investigating several gruesome murders? Could a two decade old skeleton tossed off in the woods be a key connection in stopping another ritual killing?
A young woman has been targeted for death and Sheehan’s team will do anything to prevent her murder, but is he willing to risk his eternal soul?
Prepare to be held captive from start to finish in Brian O’Hare’s THE COVEN MURDERS a stand-alone novel in the Inspector Sheehan Mysteries series as murder takes on an even darker countenance in the name of the devil and his demonic minions.
Feel the camaraderie between a team working together, hear the natural dialogue, and become part of the team assigned to solve these horrendous murders while piecing together the past with the present in order to prevent another twisted death. But, can they fight demons without the help of the Church? Will their cohesive nature be undermined by something they cannot see?
Brian O’Hare has crossed suspense, the occult and ritualistic sacrifices to create a mind-bending thriller that is taut, believable and magnetic. Filled with stark and raw details, these scenes come alive, the tension is at fever pitch as we watch a group of dedicated investigators go above and beyond to fight evil.
I was impressed with how well each character was developed, how human they felt and how Mr. O’Hare brought this tale to life with bold writing and true mastery of his craft! If you think you can figure out who the killer is, think again…
I received a complimentary copy from Brian O'Hare!
Series: The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries
Publisher: Crimson Cloak Publishing; 1 edition (February 11, 2018)
Publication Date: February 11, 2018
Genre: Suspense | Occult
Print Length: 385 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
A young woman has been targeted for death and Sheehan’s team will do anything to prevent her murder, but is he willing to risk his eternal soul?
Prepare to be held captive from start to finish in Brian O’Hare’s THE COVEN MURDERS a stand-alone novel in the Inspector Sheehan Mysteries series as murder takes on an even darker countenance in the name of the devil and his demonic minions.
Feel the camaraderie between a team working together, hear the natural dialogue, and become part of the team assigned to solve these horrendous murders while piecing together the past with the present in order to prevent another twisted death. But, can they fight demons without the help of the Church? Will their cohesive nature be undermined by something they cannot see?
Brian O’Hare has crossed suspense, the occult and ritualistic sacrifices to create a mind-bending thriller that is taut, believable and magnetic. Filled with stark and raw details, these scenes come alive, the tension is at fever pitch as we watch a group of dedicated investigators go above and beyond to fight evil.
I was impressed with how well each character was developed, how human they felt and how Mr. O’Hare brought this tale to life with bold writing and true mastery of his craft! If you think you can figure out who the killer is, think again…
I received a complimentary copy from Brian O'Hare!
Series: The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries
Publisher: Crimson Cloak Publishing; 1 edition (February 11, 2018)
Publication Date: February 11, 2018
Genre: Suspense | Occult
Print Length: 385 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 17, 2018
Having read Brian O’Hare’s work before, I can honestly say that, despite its title, The Coven Murders caught me by surprise. At times, I almost felt like I was back as an enthralled teenager, lapping up Dennis Wheatley’s satanic thrillers from the local library.
Well, times have certainly changed since then and The Coven Murders is definitely no tired rehash of The Devil Rides Out. While it is certainly a bold step in a new direction, Brian O’Hare’s latest work displays many of his familiar and praiseworthy hallmarks.
There is a strong and appropriate emphasis on police procedures and the interaction of the now familiar officers in Sheehan’s team.
Despite the necessity of the reader suspending disbelief in the existence of satanic powers, the plot is logical and well constructed, with no shortage of thrills, shocks, twists and turns.
Without over doing the description and running the risk of slowing down plot development, , the book does offer the reader a very real sense of the time and place, in which it is set.
However, what I really like is the skillful and unselfconscious way in which the author juxtaposes the essential normality of life in Northern Ireland with the utterly bizarre events of the case.
A very strong recommendation for fans of good, well written and researched thrillers.
One final thought. I do wonder how easy it will be for Brian O’Hare to take Sheehan and his indefatigable team back to more normal cases with his next book. I, for one, can’t wait to find out.
Well, times have certainly changed since then and The Coven Murders is definitely no tired rehash of The Devil Rides Out. While it is certainly a bold step in a new direction, Brian O’Hare’s latest work displays many of his familiar and praiseworthy hallmarks.
There is a strong and appropriate emphasis on police procedures and the interaction of the now familiar officers in Sheehan’s team.
Despite the necessity of the reader suspending disbelief in the existence of satanic powers, the plot is logical and well constructed, with no shortage of thrills, shocks, twists and turns.
Without over doing the description and running the risk of slowing down plot development, , the book does offer the reader a very real sense of the time and place, in which it is set.
However, what I really like is the skillful and unselfconscious way in which the author juxtaposes the essential normality of life in Northern Ireland with the utterly bizarre events of the case.
A very strong recommendation for fans of good, well written and researched thrillers.
One final thought. I do wonder how easy it will be for Brian O’Hare to take Sheehan and his indefatigable team back to more normal cases with his next book. I, for one, can’t wait to find out.
October 8, 2018
Okay, Brian O'Hare is new author to me, I truly appreciate having the chance to read this book thx 2 the author himself, glad he did reach out to me, thx!! honest review, honest opinions totally, let's roll, I see this is a standalone and folks who have read it have had no issues reading it out of order, since I am new ...glad to hear that. Amazing, great, well written characters, set in a Northern Irish setting, totally would make me smile any day, hope to travel over the pond (as they say) one day??! God willing and the creek don't rise. If you know Beth she love mysteries ...then humor. Supernatural is not really my go-2 read ...but I enjoy it and I appreciate the style. Lots of details, if you so enjoy that style, a really well written book. if you are a fan of the BBC crime series, you will love every second of this read, I wish I could get that on my tv, but we only do rabbit ears, no cable here. I love catching up on Amazon Prime movies or tv series there as well. ( ;
October 8, 2020
This is the third in series, and by this time I was getting to know Jim Sheehan and his merry band of detectives. It immediately gave me a good feeling, and straightaway the storyline took off. Once I started I couldn't stop and every waking moment, I had my nose buried in the story devouring it as I went.
I was also disturbed by it and in a way that it got under my skin. Why would the affable, likable Sheehan change? He had a blazing row with his wife and acted completely out of character. That really bothered me. Even his wife was behaving strangely. Then we get to the police station and into the office. All the detectives I knew and loved were behaving oddly. They were in fact horrible, rude, objectionable, and just downright nasty.
All was revealed and the climax of the story was terrifying. In fact, he was brilliant as the story moved from a normal crime story to a scary occult tale. Five Stars. Totally brilliant writing from O'Hare!
I was also disturbed by it and in a way that it got under my skin. Why would the affable, likable Sheehan change? He had a blazing row with his wife and acted completely out of character. That really bothered me. Even his wife was behaving strangely. Then we get to the police station and into the office. All the detectives I knew and loved were behaving oddly. They were in fact horrible, rude, objectionable, and just downright nasty.
All was revealed and the climax of the story was terrifying. In fact, he was brilliant as the story moved from a normal crime story to a scary occult tale. Five Stars. Totally brilliant writing from O'Hare!
September 30, 2021
The Coven Murders by Brian O’Hare is the third book I’ve read in the Inspector Sheehan mysteries.
What a thrilling opening with a ritual Black Mass and a human sacrifice, and from there on Brian O’Hare’s concise and succinct writing, and great storytelling, carries the story along at a great pace to its chilling conclusion.
Twenty-one years after the Black Mass in an old, ruined church, Inspector Sheehan faces dark, satanic forces that stretch he and his team to the limits of their endurance.
This is a fast-paced, unique, and intriguing book, and something of a surprise with its occult elements. I love that with the Inspector Sheehan mysteries, the entire team is involved, which makes for some wonderful characters.
I highly recommend this book to people who like murder mysteries and crime dramas. Also, if you find the occult and dark mysteries enthralling.
I couldn’t put this book down.
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a thrilling opening with a ritual Black Mass and a human sacrifice, and from there on Brian O’Hare’s concise and succinct writing, and great storytelling, carries the story along at a great pace to its chilling conclusion.
Twenty-one years after the Black Mass in an old, ruined church, Inspector Sheehan faces dark, satanic forces that stretch he and his team to the limits of their endurance.
This is a fast-paced, unique, and intriguing book, and something of a surprise with its occult elements. I love that with the Inspector Sheehan mysteries, the entire team is involved, which makes for some wonderful characters.
I highly recommend this book to people who like murder mysteries and crime dramas. Also, if you find the occult and dark mysteries enthralling.
I couldn’t put this book down.
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 7, 2020
Once again a great read from Brian O’Hare. I have loved all his Chief Inspector Sheehan books, and this one scores very highly. A fast paced, truly gripping story. A convincing tale of satanism alive and well among the powerful, and an equally convincing story of Sheehan's team pursuing justice no matter what. I love the characters of this team of detectives, each one of them is so well written and easy to emphasise with, they are all so real and believable. This was certainly a dark but brilliantly written book that kept me gripped from beginning to end. I felt personally involved in the struggle between good and evil and some of the scenes are so tense I could feel my heart rate increasing as I read. I always thoroughly enjoy crime/detective novels and have therefore loved all of Brian O’Hare’s Chief Inspector stories but this one also delivered a paranormal element and that certainly brought a real sense of urgency and excitement to the crime solving. This book is definitely not your traditional police procedural. “The Coven Murders” is fast-paced, full of surprises, well plotted, and well researched, read it, you won’t be disappointed.
March 28, 2020
This was an occult story, but you did not get the blood and gore, Instead you got poetry. The author has a way of flowing words together that make you visualize them. "A low voice that quivered with intensity", is just one example. At times I forgot that I was reading about murders. At other times I knew I was reading horror for sure. This is the third book in the series, and I can not wait to read the previous two and the rest as they come out. There is so much more to this novel, parentage being the most unexpected. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy, all opinions are my own.
May 17, 2018
Great characters, a Northern Irish setting, and the devil is in the detail. Thanks to the author for providing me an ARC copy of the novel that I freely chose to review.
I read and reviewed a previous novel in this series (The 11:05 Murders. The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Book 2) some time back and really enjoyed the cast of characters (it was refreshing to see a team of the police working together and not full of corrupt individuals for whom solving a mystery is the last thing in their agendas) and the well-built plot, full of twists and turns.
The author pre-warned me that this was quite a different type of beast and the plot was less standard. If you’ve read the above description you’ll have realised already that is the case. I love horror, but perhaps because I’ve read and watched a lot in the horror genre, it takes a fair bit to scare me. From the genre point of view, although this novel has pretty eerie moments, I did not feel truly scared. It might depend on the readers’ personal beliefs and in how worried they are about Satan and evil powers.
This novel is again written in the third person. Although it is mostly told from Inspector Sheehan’s point of view, some other members of his team get some space as well, and this allows readers to catch up on some their personal developments, and also to get a detailed account of some aspects of the investigation that Sheehan is not directly involved in. I grew very fond of some of the characters in the previous book and I was pleased to see what they’d been up to. Readers who worry about head-hopping don’t need to be concerned in this case, as each individual chapter is solely told from one point of view, and it is clear whose head we are in.
The plot is once more well-constructed and involved, although I did not find it too difficult to spot (or suspect) who the guilty party was, but, in my opinion this novel was a bit different and the emphasis was not on guessing who’d done it. The prologue sets up the story for readers and give us clues that Sheehan’s team are not privy to, and therefore we are at a somewhat unfair advantage. If I had to put it another way, I’d say that ‘the devil is in the detail’ (pun intended). For me, the novel became a process to see how the investigation team would put all the clues together, and also how the different strands and the new and old crimes fitted in. How would an eminently practical team accept what the clues seemed to point at and how would they confront such otherworldly forces?
Once again I think one of the strong points is the team and the interaction between its members (we even get a new member, sort of, and some extra help) and especially the fact that this time the strength of the bond between its members is put to the test in a very extreme way.
I enjoyed the setting of the story in Northern Ireland, the reflections of the text on politic and religious matters there, and I enjoyed meeting two characters who become pivotal to the case and join forces with the depleted team (I understand one of these characters had appeared in book 1 of the series but I have yet to read it).They are stupendous and I hope we’ll meet them again in other books.
The writing is dynamic and flows well, and the intrigue will keep readers turning the pages, although it does not move at neck-breaking pace. There is sufficient detail to allow the readers to easily imagine where things are taking place without slowing the action, and despite the tense moments, there are also plenty of light and humorous interactions that allow us a bit of a break from the tension.
I know that some people do not enjoy books with satanic themes. If that’s the case, you’d better avoid it, although I don’t think one needs to have strong religious beliefs to enjoy the book (I am sure most paranormal readers enjoy the flights of fancy the genre allows without necessarily thinking all the premises are true if any). No matter what one’s position is, the plot requires some suspension of disbelief, and personally, I am not a big fan of blaming the devil for all the ills of the world, but I enjoyed the book and I’m keen on seeing where the next case will take Sheehan and his team.
I recommend it to those who enjoy mysteries, police procedural novels, who are especially interested in a Northern Irish setting, and who are willing to stretch their imagination beyond the usual suspects.
I read and reviewed a previous novel in this series (The 11:05 Murders. The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Book 2) some time back and really enjoyed the cast of characters (it was refreshing to see a team of the police working together and not full of corrupt individuals for whom solving a mystery is the last thing in their agendas) and the well-built plot, full of twists and turns.
The author pre-warned me that this was quite a different type of beast and the plot was less standard. If you’ve read the above description you’ll have realised already that is the case. I love horror, but perhaps because I’ve read and watched a lot in the horror genre, it takes a fair bit to scare me. From the genre point of view, although this novel has pretty eerie moments, I did not feel truly scared. It might depend on the readers’ personal beliefs and in how worried they are about Satan and evil powers.
This novel is again written in the third person. Although it is mostly told from Inspector Sheehan’s point of view, some other members of his team get some space as well, and this allows readers to catch up on some their personal developments, and also to get a detailed account of some aspects of the investigation that Sheehan is not directly involved in. I grew very fond of some of the characters in the previous book and I was pleased to see what they’d been up to. Readers who worry about head-hopping don’t need to be concerned in this case, as each individual chapter is solely told from one point of view, and it is clear whose head we are in.
The plot is once more well-constructed and involved, although I did not find it too difficult to spot (or suspect) who the guilty party was, but, in my opinion this novel was a bit different and the emphasis was not on guessing who’d done it. The prologue sets up the story for readers and give us clues that Sheehan’s team are not privy to, and therefore we are at a somewhat unfair advantage. If I had to put it another way, I’d say that ‘the devil is in the detail’ (pun intended). For me, the novel became a process to see how the investigation team would put all the clues together, and also how the different strands and the new and old crimes fitted in. How would an eminently practical team accept what the clues seemed to point at and how would they confront such otherworldly forces?
Once again I think one of the strong points is the team and the interaction between its members (we even get a new member, sort of, and some extra help) and especially the fact that this time the strength of the bond between its members is put to the test in a very extreme way.
I enjoyed the setting of the story in Northern Ireland, the reflections of the text on politic and religious matters there, and I enjoyed meeting two characters who become pivotal to the case and join forces with the depleted team (I understand one of these characters had appeared in book 1 of the series but I have yet to read it).They are stupendous and I hope we’ll meet them again in other books.
The writing is dynamic and flows well, and the intrigue will keep readers turning the pages, although it does not move at neck-breaking pace. There is sufficient detail to allow the readers to easily imagine where things are taking place without slowing the action, and despite the tense moments, there are also plenty of light and humorous interactions that allow us a bit of a break from the tension.
I know that some people do not enjoy books with satanic themes. If that’s the case, you’d better avoid it, although I don’t think one needs to have strong religious beliefs to enjoy the book (I am sure most paranormal readers enjoy the flights of fancy the genre allows without necessarily thinking all the premises are true if any). No matter what one’s position is, the plot requires some suspension of disbelief, and personally, I am not a big fan of blaming the devil for all the ills of the world, but I enjoyed the book and I’m keen on seeing where the next case will take Sheehan and his team.
I recommend it to those who enjoy mysteries, police procedural novels, who are especially interested in a Northern Irish setting, and who are willing to stretch their imagination beyond the usual suspects.
November 28, 2018
It’s fairly unusual for us to be approached with books that merge together the paranormal and crime thriller genres so I was pleased when O’Hare contacted me with this one. The novel is set in Northern Ireland where the police force is bombarded with both the discovery of a skeleton and a series of murders. With the potential linking of the two cases and the strange whiff of supernatural in the air, Chief Inspector Sheehan and his team work hard to try and find the culprit before anyone else is murdered. I haven’t read the rest of this series but as a standalone book it works very well and isn’t at all confusing. I am very proud to announce that I guessed the identity of the murderer pretty early on (I hereby expect to be addressed as Sherlock Holmes… or Chief Inspector Sheehan, a commendable detective indeed) possibly because I read too much crime fiction. This didn’t reduce my enjoyment though, on the contrary, I found this a gripping read that gave me a lot of relief to an otherwise stressful weekend spent planning and writing essays.
The story is set in Northern Ireland, somewhere I must confess I’ve always wanted to go. There is some interesting history to the Protestant-Catholic conflicts still prominent over there included in the story. The imagery, particularly during the festival scene, is fantastic. If I’m being really pernickety then are moments when the writing style feels a little repetitive, for instance, the car-tailing scenes are quite similar and at the start, the word ‘grinned’ is overused. Overall the dialogue is very good, however, it does sometimes border on stereotypical with the upper-class characters being veeery posh and the dodgier guys really showing it! Aside from this, I can’t flaw O’Hare at all, I found the book engaging and exciting.
The police and forensics team itself are a real treat – such vibrant and comedic characters! Throughout reading this they delighted me, both from their amusing lines and O’Hare’s careful consideration on each of their backgrounds. It can never be emphasised enough just how valuable a sub-plot is to adding new dimensions to characters and achieving that all-important sense of verisimilitude. Most of all, I have to praise the O’Hare for writing McNeill’s speech impediment in a professional manner. There is a very small quantity, both in film and literature, of characters who have long-term stammers. Even when this is represented, 95% of the time the writer only includes it to provide a bullying storyline or to give the character an innocent, anxious or quiet persona, often as an act (like Quirrell in the Harry Potter series and Tina in Glee). As you can tell from my ranting, it’s one of my pet peeves so congratulations O’Hare on being part of the minority that does not do that! I also found Andrew a complete and utter sweetheart and hope he finds some happiness in the next book.
Overall I found this a stimulating read with wonderfully written characters. The paranormal elements weren’t too cliched and slotted into the general rhythm of the novel nicely.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, for more reviews please see the book blog I co-run - The Eccentric Trilogy.*
The story is set in Northern Ireland, somewhere I must confess I’ve always wanted to go. There is some interesting history to the Protestant-Catholic conflicts still prominent over there included in the story. The imagery, particularly during the festival scene, is fantastic. If I’m being really pernickety then are moments when the writing style feels a little repetitive, for instance, the car-tailing scenes are quite similar and at the start, the word ‘grinned’ is overused. Overall the dialogue is very good, however, it does sometimes border on stereotypical with the upper-class characters being veeery posh and the dodgier guys really showing it! Aside from this, I can’t flaw O’Hare at all, I found the book engaging and exciting.
The police and forensics team itself are a real treat – such vibrant and comedic characters! Throughout reading this they delighted me, both from their amusing lines and O’Hare’s careful consideration on each of their backgrounds. It can never be emphasised enough just how valuable a sub-plot is to adding new dimensions to characters and achieving that all-important sense of verisimilitude. Most of all, I have to praise the O’Hare for writing McNeill’s speech impediment in a professional manner. There is a very small quantity, both in film and literature, of characters who have long-term stammers. Even when this is represented, 95% of the time the writer only includes it to provide a bullying storyline or to give the character an innocent, anxious or quiet persona, often as an act (like Quirrell in the Harry Potter series and Tina in Glee). As you can tell from my ranting, it’s one of my pet peeves so congratulations O’Hare on being part of the minority that does not do that! I also found Andrew a complete and utter sweetheart and hope he finds some happiness in the next book.
Overall I found this a stimulating read with wonderfully written characters. The paranormal elements weren’t too cliched and slotted into the general rhythm of the novel nicely.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, for more reviews please see the book blog I co-run - The Eccentric Trilogy.*
September 2, 2019
We skipped the second installment within The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries and began reading the third one in the series, called The Coven Murders. Thinking only about the name of the book, you definitely get a feel for exactly what this book is about. Yes, there is a practicing coven in Sheehan's vicinity and murder is the IT game again. This story is a little darker and a bit more into a darker ritualistic practice, but it is a fascinating concept and O'Hare continues to draw readers into the series with the magnitude of his mysteries!
Inspector Sheehan and his team have been through a lot, but when it comes to faith--this is one thing that they have yet to agree on. Everyone in the unit has seen their fair share of creepy and gruesome, but is it truly enough to believe in something that is other-worldly? Sheehan and his team are about to find out as they dive into a case of a twenty year old murder. Human bones outside of an old and ruined church are found, which appear to be that of a young female and the cause of death is later found to be one stab wound to the chest. There are certainly some warning flags that go off when Sheehan trifles through the remains of the church, but he dismisses them all and continues on his way. When they get a call of two new bodies with one stab wound each to the chest, they are cautious to link the two crime scenes together without solid evidence. The MO paints a clear picture that these murders are affiliated once more bodies turn up with the same stab wound, but in what way--that is the mystery!
O'Hare has a superb story-line, filled with creativity, historical elements, and originality. The concepts and the plotting in The Coven Murders are fantastic and will leave the reader with the urge to dive into the next in the series. The pace is quick and steady from the beginning and carries through the entirety of the story. O'Hare provides an urgency to solve the case as sinister and unexplained happenings begin to shroud around the Inspector's unit. The scenes are vivid for the imagination and characters are credible. This is the third installment in the Inspector Sheehan Mysteries, but these can be read as standalones. With the exception of a few characters that are introduced in previous installments, the crime is totally new and do not warrant an absolute need for their backstory. If you are interested in mysteries, crime fiction, and police procedure, this may be a perfect fit. Fair warning, once you plunge into this novel, you may find yourself picking up the rest of the series soon after.
A paperback copy of this book was provided to Turning Another Page by the author and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a five-star rating for The Coven Murders by Brian O'Hare.
Inspector Sheehan and his team have been through a lot, but when it comes to faith--this is one thing that they have yet to agree on. Everyone in the unit has seen their fair share of creepy and gruesome, but is it truly enough to believe in something that is other-worldly? Sheehan and his team are about to find out as they dive into a case of a twenty year old murder. Human bones outside of an old and ruined church are found, which appear to be that of a young female and the cause of death is later found to be one stab wound to the chest. There are certainly some warning flags that go off when Sheehan trifles through the remains of the church, but he dismisses them all and continues on his way. When they get a call of two new bodies with one stab wound each to the chest, they are cautious to link the two crime scenes together without solid evidence. The MO paints a clear picture that these murders are affiliated once more bodies turn up with the same stab wound, but in what way--that is the mystery!
O'Hare has a superb story-line, filled with creativity, historical elements, and originality. The concepts and the plotting in The Coven Murders are fantastic and will leave the reader with the urge to dive into the next in the series. The pace is quick and steady from the beginning and carries through the entirety of the story. O'Hare provides an urgency to solve the case as sinister and unexplained happenings begin to shroud around the Inspector's unit. The scenes are vivid for the imagination and characters are credible. This is the third installment in the Inspector Sheehan Mysteries, but these can be read as standalones. With the exception of a few characters that are introduced in previous installments, the crime is totally new and do not warrant an absolute need for their backstory. If you are interested in mysteries, crime fiction, and police procedure, this may be a perfect fit. Fair warning, once you plunge into this novel, you may find yourself picking up the rest of the series soon after.
A paperback copy of this book was provided to Turning Another Page by the author and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a five-star rating for The Coven Murders by Brian O'Hare.
January 27, 2019
Mix of a Police Procedural and the Occult (Seriously – and Seriously Scary)
If you are prone to check a book’s genre, as I do when seeking a new read, you may do a doubletake when you view The Coven Murders. It’s listed in the occult and the police procedural genres, the latter having a focus on investigative processes. Are we talking about arresting demons? Actually, that guess is not far off, as author Brian O’Hare has penned a unique and intriguing mix of detailed detective work in pursuit of some bad guys, not all of whom may be human. And if you’re thinking that could be amusing, you’re at the wrong end of the spectrum. It’s bone chilling, truly scary, without resorting to graphic details of ritualistic murders or grotesque beasts. Not many authors can do that.
One of the first things you’ll notice about the book is the author’s writing style; it’s elegant, evocative. Consider this description from the first chapter. “An atavistic dread paralyses the coven members, shocking them into a silent, transfixed tableau,” as opposed to, ‘they were so scared they couldn’t move.’ The book is so eloquently written that literary fiction could be added to the list of genres, giving further pause to the potential reader. I will admit, however, that in a few places the flowery prose and the gruesome story seemed in discord and some ‘plain talk’ might have worked better, but that was an extremely minor concern.
The method O’Hare uses to manage the plot’s mystery is nothing short of outstanding. From the start, the reader knows more than the protagonist, Chief Inspector Sheehan, about a 21-year-old cold case – the bones of a young woman found in a shallow grave near the ruins of an abandoned church. All the time, we’re wondering, when will he and his team get the break they need? But at the same time, we as readers know there is more to the mystery because now, coven members are dying. It’s this constant, mental dissonance between willing the police forward and realizing that their path is littered with dark, evil unknowns that make the pages turn themselves long into the night.
Overall, my advice to the reader interested in crime mysteries and/or books involving the occult is, don’t be baffled by the somewhat incongruent genres of The Coven Murders. The story is, in fact, a great mix of the two and not to be missed.
If you are prone to check a book’s genre, as I do when seeking a new read, you may do a doubletake when you view The Coven Murders. It’s listed in the occult and the police procedural genres, the latter having a focus on investigative processes. Are we talking about arresting demons? Actually, that guess is not far off, as author Brian O’Hare has penned a unique and intriguing mix of detailed detective work in pursuit of some bad guys, not all of whom may be human. And if you’re thinking that could be amusing, you’re at the wrong end of the spectrum. It’s bone chilling, truly scary, without resorting to graphic details of ritualistic murders or grotesque beasts. Not many authors can do that.
One of the first things you’ll notice about the book is the author’s writing style; it’s elegant, evocative. Consider this description from the first chapter. “An atavistic dread paralyses the coven members, shocking them into a silent, transfixed tableau,” as opposed to, ‘they were so scared they couldn’t move.’ The book is so eloquently written that literary fiction could be added to the list of genres, giving further pause to the potential reader. I will admit, however, that in a few places the flowery prose and the gruesome story seemed in discord and some ‘plain talk’ might have worked better, but that was an extremely minor concern.
The method O’Hare uses to manage the plot’s mystery is nothing short of outstanding. From the start, the reader knows more than the protagonist, Chief Inspector Sheehan, about a 21-year-old cold case – the bones of a young woman found in a shallow grave near the ruins of an abandoned church. All the time, we’re wondering, when will he and his team get the break they need? But at the same time, we as readers know there is more to the mystery because now, coven members are dying. It’s this constant, mental dissonance between willing the police forward and realizing that their path is littered with dark, evil unknowns that make the pages turn themselves long into the night.
Overall, my advice to the reader interested in crime mysteries and/or books involving the occult is, don’t be baffled by the somewhat incongruent genres of The Coven Murders. The story is, in fact, a great mix of the two and not to be missed.
March 8, 2019
The Coven Murders is a dark, detective thriller that opens with a shocking and graphic murder. I’m not one who typically enjoys books that lean on shock value, but I’m not too proud to admit I honestly enjoyed the opening sequence of this novel. I think my favorite part was the fact that the setting of the prologue was in the 90’s while the rest of the book took place in modern time (2016). For some reason, horror books (and films) always seem to work best when they’re set in an era before year 2000—so I was a little disappointed to see the jump in time, but it did not take away from the integrity of the story.
Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of mysteries, detective novels, or whodunnit books, but I can’t say I regret taking a chance on this one. I found the mystery to be intriguing, fully developed, and entertaining from beginning to end. The writing was strong and full of well-worded and well-placed details that helped build the dark setting of the novel. There were times I felt there was a bit too much detail—I simply didn’t care about everyone’s clothes and every time someone loosened a tie, but hey, that’s just me—but the writing was done well enough that I never became annoyed with it.
I could definitely see this book leading into a series of mysteries and murder novels. I kind of hope there will be books that are simply horror without the mystery but then there wouldn’t be that added layer of anticipation and wonder to it. Plus, I actually enjoyed the Inspector and his team; at times it felt like I was watching a much better and much darker version of Criminal Minds.
If I had to pick a complaint, I’d say I wish the foundation of this novel was not rooted in a crazy church killing. Religion is such an easy element to twist into a horror novel, it almost feels like a copout. That doesn’t mean it didn’t work in this story, but I wish the root of evil here had not been some nut trying to make sacrifices to the devil.
Other than my one complaint, I’d say this is a solid, well-written and well-developed story with strong characters and a great pace. While it is not exactly scary, it is entertaining and dark. If you like detective stories and murder mysteries, I would certainly recommend this book to you, fans of horror might enjoy it too.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of mysteries, detective novels, or whodunnit books, but I can’t say I regret taking a chance on this one. I found the mystery to be intriguing, fully developed, and entertaining from beginning to end. The writing was strong and full of well-worded and well-placed details that helped build the dark setting of the novel. There were times I felt there was a bit too much detail—I simply didn’t care about everyone’s clothes and every time someone loosened a tie, but hey, that’s just me—but the writing was done well enough that I never became annoyed with it.
I could definitely see this book leading into a series of mysteries and murder novels. I kind of hope there will be books that are simply horror without the mystery but then there wouldn’t be that added layer of anticipation and wonder to it. Plus, I actually enjoyed the Inspector and his team; at times it felt like I was watching a much better and much darker version of Criminal Minds.
If I had to pick a complaint, I’d say I wish the foundation of this novel was not rooted in a crazy church killing. Religion is such an easy element to twist into a horror novel, it almost feels like a copout. That doesn’t mean it didn’t work in this story, but I wish the root of evil here had not been some nut trying to make sacrifices to the devil.
Other than my one complaint, I’d say this is a solid, well-written and well-developed story with strong characters and a great pace. While it is not exactly scary, it is entertaining and dark. If you like detective stories and murder mysteries, I would certainly recommend this book to you, fans of horror might enjoy it too.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
February 14, 2018
What gives Brian O’Hare’s Inspector Sheehan mysteries their added frisson for me is the pervasive influence of a rigorously traditional, fundamentalist Roman Catholic viewpoint dominating the thoughts and actions of one or more of the main characters in the context of a rigorously tradition-bound, fundamentally troubled ‘Norn Iron’ (Northern Ireland). I imagine that in such a place, it is as easy to believe in the Devil as it is to believe in God.
In this story, the devils and their minions are very real. It opens with a prologue containing a vivid description of the depraved actions of a Satanic cult, leaving the reader in no doubt what the current case will focus on. We see a human sacrifice committed, twenty-one years before a couple of hikers find skeletal remains in a dingly dell and Inspector Sheehan embarks on the unravelling of the case. What is far less clear, however, is who is committing a whole string of murders with an apparently identical MO, twenty-one years later. As each of the murders is committed, it seems increasingly likely that someone is targeting the cult ...
Professor O’Hare is nothing if not thorough. He has done his research, and there is plenty of convincing detail to lend credence to the tale. The clues are there, there are no red herrings, and the perpetrator/s can eventually be identified by the reader, provided s/he is paying close attention to everything the characters do and say throughout.
It is on record that Martin Luther once threw his inkhorn at the devil. When I was growing up, the spilling of salt always occasioned the throwing of some of it over your left shoulder. I learned later that this practice was based on the belief that the devil stands behind your left shoulder and the salt is intended for his eyes. Inspector Sheehan and his team need more than inkhorns and an occasional pinch of salt to deal with the demons in this particular case.
Another one for connoisseurs of the genre, especially those willing at least for a while to see the world and our existence in it through the eyes of those who believe that the devil is an ever-present, supernatural force of evil only kept at bay through the power of Christ. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
In this story, the devils and their minions are very real. It opens with a prologue containing a vivid description of the depraved actions of a Satanic cult, leaving the reader in no doubt what the current case will focus on. We see a human sacrifice committed, twenty-one years before a couple of hikers find skeletal remains in a dingly dell and Inspector Sheehan embarks on the unravelling of the case. What is far less clear, however, is who is committing a whole string of murders with an apparently identical MO, twenty-one years later. As each of the murders is committed, it seems increasingly likely that someone is targeting the cult ...
Professor O’Hare is nothing if not thorough. He has done his research, and there is plenty of convincing detail to lend credence to the tale. The clues are there, there are no red herrings, and the perpetrator/s can eventually be identified by the reader, provided s/he is paying close attention to everything the characters do and say throughout.
It is on record that Martin Luther once threw his inkhorn at the devil. When I was growing up, the spilling of salt always occasioned the throwing of some of it over your left shoulder. I learned later that this practice was based on the belief that the devil stands behind your left shoulder and the salt is intended for his eyes. Inspector Sheehan and his team need more than inkhorns and an occasional pinch of salt to deal with the demons in this particular case.
Another one for connoisseurs of the genre, especially those willing at least for a while to see the world and our existence in it through the eyes of those who believe that the devil is an ever-present, supernatural force of evil only kept at bay through the power of Christ. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
December 19, 2020
Ok, I loved it. I read the most recent book in this series in a free-in-exchange-for-an-honest-review situation, and I liked it enough to check the rest out. I'm glad I did!
First, I want to acknowledge that this won't be for
everyone. Moral relativists would hate it, no question, and people who practice Satanism would probably roll their eyes at how they are depicted. So maybe skip it if you're not comfortable with the devil being portrayed as a bad guy. It sounds so stupid when I say it, but you know what I mean.
This was, I think I can safely say, written from a Catholic perspective. As a Catholic myself, and a lover of crime and horror fiction, I was delighted. Yeah, a few bits did make me cringe because I knew how some folks might react (back to the moral relativism versus absolutism thing, and also the bit about cults growing in numbers was a tiny bit over-the-top and alarmist and reminded me of the creepy newsletters my Dad accidentally subscribed to when I was a child, haha), but darn it, it was a nice change of pace for me. It's nice to have some positive representation. And, honestly, it is a real treat to read something set in my cultural framework. Or, maybe I should say something set in my cultural framework that isn't aggressively stupid, because wow, there is a lot of bad religious fiction out there. Like, insultingly bad. Preachy and patronizing and awful. This was not that! There was no preaching. It was literally just set in a world where demons are real and exorcists get rid of them and bishops pack a mean right hook. The cops find it crazy at first, but come to terms with it, and move on with their lives. Like, "ok, we just fended off a spiritual attack and destroyed a human sacrificing cult, but we're not going to dwell on it, because we have more cases to solve." No one converted, haha, they just updated their mental inventories of bad stuff they have to deal with on the job and got on with their lives. Except McCullough, who did get scared into being less of a jerk. Which was character development.
The writing was good, the characters were just developed enough, not overwritten, and the story, though admittedly kind if silly, was well plotted, entertaining, and came to a satisfying conclusion.
First, I want to acknowledge that this won't be for
everyone. Moral relativists would hate it, no question, and people who practice Satanism would probably roll their eyes at how they are depicted. So maybe skip it if you're not comfortable with the devil being portrayed as a bad guy. It sounds so stupid when I say it, but you know what I mean.
This was, I think I can safely say, written from a Catholic perspective. As a Catholic myself, and a lover of crime and horror fiction, I was delighted. Yeah, a few bits did make me cringe because I knew how some folks might react (back to the moral relativism versus absolutism thing, and also the bit about cults growing in numbers was a tiny bit over-the-top and alarmist and reminded me of the creepy newsletters my Dad accidentally subscribed to when I was a child, haha), but darn it, it was a nice change of pace for me. It's nice to have some positive representation. And, honestly, it is a real treat to read something set in my cultural framework. Or, maybe I should say something set in my cultural framework that isn't aggressively stupid, because wow, there is a lot of bad religious fiction out there. Like, insultingly bad. Preachy and patronizing and awful. This was not that! There was no preaching. It was literally just set in a world where demons are real and exorcists get rid of them and bishops pack a mean right hook. The cops find it crazy at first, but come to terms with it, and move on with their lives. Like, "ok, we just fended off a spiritual attack and destroyed a human sacrificing cult, but we're not going to dwell on it, because we have more cases to solve." No one converted, haha, they just updated their mental inventories of bad stuff they have to deal with on the job and got on with their lives. Except McCullough, who did get scared into being less of a jerk. Which was character development.
The writing was good, the characters were just developed enough, not overwritten, and the story, though admittedly kind if silly, was well plotted, entertaining, and came to a satisfying conclusion.
June 23, 2018
After having read and enjoyed the second novel (The 11:05 Murders) in the Inspector Sheehan Mystery series, I thought I knew what to expect as far as the type of novel The Coven Murders would be. Boy, was I wrong! The Coven Murders is an amazing combination of crime novel and horror novel.
The novel begins with a frightening scene involving a human sacrifice over twenty years before the bulk of the story starts. The way it’s described leaves the reader wondering if there’s really something supernatural going on or if it’s just a bunch of homicidal crazies acting out their sick fantasy. Fast forward in the second chapter to the current time and the discovery of a skeleton in a grave. It’s obvious to the reader that it’s the skeleton of the victim who was sacrificed in the first chapter, but it takes the cops a little longer to come to the same conclusion.
Soon after the skeleton is found, other victims begin showing up, each with a single stab wound to the abdomen, a stab wound that eerily matches the stab wound that killed the victim from over twenty years before. The reader follows along as Inspector Sheehan and his crew do their investigation, an investigation that soon takes an unexpected turn into a very dark place.
The author has created a cast of characters that are believable and who stand apart from each other as distinct individuals. He has also done an amazing job of describing truly horrific scenes. This book is perfect for a movie, or maybe the entire Inspector Sheehan series would be perfect for a TV series. I love BBC crime series, and I was reminded of those when I read this. I loved the supernatural element, and I hope it shows up again in a future Inspector Sheehan novel.
All in all, I cannot recommend this book enough. If you enjoy detective novels, get it. If you enjoy horror novels, get it. If you enjoy both—well, you’re in for a very pleasant read.
The novel begins with a frightening scene involving a human sacrifice over twenty years before the bulk of the story starts. The way it’s described leaves the reader wondering if there’s really something supernatural going on or if it’s just a bunch of homicidal crazies acting out their sick fantasy. Fast forward in the second chapter to the current time and the discovery of a skeleton in a grave. It’s obvious to the reader that it’s the skeleton of the victim who was sacrificed in the first chapter, but it takes the cops a little longer to come to the same conclusion.
Soon after the skeleton is found, other victims begin showing up, each with a single stab wound to the abdomen, a stab wound that eerily matches the stab wound that killed the victim from over twenty years before. The reader follows along as Inspector Sheehan and his crew do their investigation, an investigation that soon takes an unexpected turn into a very dark place.
The author has created a cast of characters that are believable and who stand apart from each other as distinct individuals. He has also done an amazing job of describing truly horrific scenes. This book is perfect for a movie, or maybe the entire Inspector Sheehan series would be perfect for a TV series. I love BBC crime series, and I was reminded of those when I read this. I loved the supernatural element, and I hope it shows up again in a future Inspector Sheehan novel.
All in all, I cannot recommend this book enough. If you enjoy detective novels, get it. If you enjoy horror novels, get it. If you enjoy both—well, you’re in for a very pleasant read.
February 19, 2018
Lucinda E Clarke's review for Reader's Favorite
The Coven Murders by Brian O’Hare is another murder mystery with a twist in the DCI Sheehan series set in Northern Ireland. The bodies begin to pile up and all of them are connected although no one is admitting anything. The book opens with the description of a ritual killing some 25 years earlier when the skeletal remains of a young woman who’d recently given birth are discovered. But this is only the first case and both the police and the pathology lab are hard put to keep up with the deaths, all killed in the same way and all high-profile members of the Belfast community.
I really enjoyed The Coven murders by Brian O’Hare, not the first book I’ve read in this series so I knew I was in for a treat. From the first page I was hooked and read it in one day eager to find out ‘who done it’ and how DCI Sheehan solves the case. I like learning about the city of Belfast and environs, and as before, the subject of religion comes into the equation, the simmering differences between Catholic and Protestant which you can only understand if you have lived in Ireland. However, O’Hare handles this with tact and wry humour, unlikely to offend anyone. Despite the gruesome murders, he does not resort to blood and gore and the use of swear words. His characters are real people, the ambient descriptions of places are so vivid you feel you are in the squad room, or out on patrol with the police. I particularly enjoy Jim Sheehan’s Shakespearean quotes and use of literary epithets which leave most of his team bemused. The later parts of the book reminded me of the Denis Wheatley novels where the good take on Satan in a life or death battle. A really good read, a well-deserved 5 stars and I hope there will be more books in the series.
The Coven Murders by Brian O’Hare is another murder mystery with a twist in the DCI Sheehan series set in Northern Ireland. The bodies begin to pile up and all of them are connected although no one is admitting anything. The book opens with the description of a ritual killing some 25 years earlier when the skeletal remains of a young woman who’d recently given birth are discovered. But this is only the first case and both the police and the pathology lab are hard put to keep up with the deaths, all killed in the same way and all high-profile members of the Belfast community.
I really enjoyed The Coven murders by Brian O’Hare, not the first book I’ve read in this series so I knew I was in for a treat. From the first page I was hooked and read it in one day eager to find out ‘who done it’ and how DCI Sheehan solves the case. I like learning about the city of Belfast and environs, and as before, the subject of religion comes into the equation, the simmering differences between Catholic and Protestant which you can only understand if you have lived in Ireland. However, O’Hare handles this with tact and wry humour, unlikely to offend anyone. Despite the gruesome murders, he does not resort to blood and gore and the use of swear words. His characters are real people, the ambient descriptions of places are so vivid you feel you are in the squad room, or out on patrol with the police. I particularly enjoy Jim Sheehan’s Shakespearean quotes and use of literary epithets which leave most of his team bemused. The later parts of the book reminded me of the Denis Wheatley novels where the good take on Satan in a life or death battle. A really good read, a well-deserved 5 stars and I hope there will be more books in the series.
October 21, 2018
This book starts out as a standard murder mystery, involving, as you might expect, the ritual slayings of members of a coven. The police team assigned to the task of solving the murders is a pretty standard bunch, complete with the usual fake antipathy leading to comedic banter between the chief detective and the pathologist.
It’s a good plotline, with lots of suspense and a great deal of sympathy for the detectives, because they seem to be up against an exceptionally clever murderer who never leaves any evidence, even to the sharp eyes of the modern Scene of Crime Squad. Relationships between the various members of the team are well outlined and interesting, and everything is rolling along as we expect…
…until about halfway through, when a book that started out as a standard slightly lighthearted murder mystery takes an abrupt turn into the paranormal. The comic relief fades. In fact, Doctor Campbell himself disappears from the story, only reporting in by telephone.
From this point on it’s full-scale Church-vs.-Devil, with the detectives taking the back seat to a bishop and an exorcist, who commandeer the battle between good and evil.
I really enjoyed the first half of the novel. The plot was intriguing and believable, the characters empathetic, and the conflict tense. The second half: not so much. Once the magic started flying, all the carefully built structure of the first half lost its importance, and the final scene, while exciting and well described, did not draw me in as much as it could have, because the main protagonists were two relative strangers and the characters I had grown attached to were merely collateral damage.
Two good books rather mashed together into one. Great for fans of both Detective Novels and the Paranormal.
It’s a good plotline, with lots of suspense and a great deal of sympathy for the detectives, because they seem to be up against an exceptionally clever murderer who never leaves any evidence, even to the sharp eyes of the modern Scene of Crime Squad. Relationships between the various members of the team are well outlined and interesting, and everything is rolling along as we expect…
…until about halfway through, when a book that started out as a standard slightly lighthearted murder mystery takes an abrupt turn into the paranormal. The comic relief fades. In fact, Doctor Campbell himself disappears from the story, only reporting in by telephone.
From this point on it’s full-scale Church-vs.-Devil, with the detectives taking the back seat to a bishop and an exorcist, who commandeer the battle between good and evil.
I really enjoyed the first half of the novel. The plot was intriguing and believable, the characters empathetic, and the conflict tense. The second half: not so much. Once the magic started flying, all the carefully built structure of the first half lost its importance, and the final scene, while exciting and well described, did not draw me in as much as it could have, because the main protagonists were two relative strangers and the characters I had grown attached to were merely collateral damage.
Two good books rather mashed together into one. Great for fans of both Detective Novels and the Paranormal.
June 2, 2019
The story starts with police discovering a skeleton near the old church ruins. When the main detective Sheehan and his team start investigating this, they find out that the dead body is of a pregnant lady who was stabbed to death 21 years ago.
In the next few days, six murders happen in the same way without any clue or motive putting more pressure on their investigation. The remaining story is about the team's deductions and the details about a coven, human sacrificing ritual which is linked to all these murders and finding the culprit.
I am not really a big fan of crime series/ murder investigations. But, this story is very interesting with a twist of satanic cult, rituals and other unbelievable facts. Initially, I felt that the story is not progressing fast enough, but it picks up pretty quick at the end.
The narration is gripping and the suspense is maintained till the last page. I enjoyed the part where the Bishop explains about different covens, the symbols, and rituals. The team of inspectors doesn't look smart but they are easy going and good at their job. Even though the team couldn't find out who might be the culprit till the end and though they are clueless without any evidence, they form a great strategy to attack the enemy at the right time.
I loved Sheehan, Stewart, Allen, Serena and Mc Bride. All characters are near to real life and the conversations are casual. I enjoyed the mystery in the story. The book cover is a plus.
I didn't like the initial few pages as I felt bored that there is not much progress in the story.
My Rating: 4.5/5
PS: I have received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.
In the next few days, six murders happen in the same way without any clue or motive putting more pressure on their investigation. The remaining story is about the team's deductions and the details about a coven, human sacrificing ritual which is linked to all these murders and finding the culprit.
I am not really a big fan of crime series/ murder investigations. But, this story is very interesting with a twist of satanic cult, rituals and other unbelievable facts. Initially, I felt that the story is not progressing fast enough, but it picks up pretty quick at the end.
The narration is gripping and the suspense is maintained till the last page. I enjoyed the part where the Bishop explains about different covens, the symbols, and rituals. The team of inspectors doesn't look smart but they are easy going and good at their job. Even though the team couldn't find out who might be the culprit till the end and though they are clueless without any evidence, they form a great strategy to attack the enemy at the right time.
I loved Sheehan, Stewart, Allen, Serena and Mc Bride. All characters are near to real life and the conversations are casual. I enjoyed the mystery in the story. The book cover is a plus.
I didn't like the initial few pages as I felt bored that there is not much progress in the story.
My Rating: 4.5/5
PS: I have received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.
February 28, 2018
I would not normally be a fan of supernatural stories but I have been reading the books of the Sheehan Mysteries series and felt that I would like to read this one too. I have to say it didn’t disappoint, a great mystery thriller with a great twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.
While there is quite a lot of supernatural and occult stuff is this book, O’Hare’s gift of story-telling won me over, and I really enjoyed that part of it, too. I tend to have a thick skin where ghosts and ghouls are concerned but this one, I have to say, had its moments ... and had me going occasionally, as well. I was certainly looking over my shoulder quite a few times before I got to the awesome climax in the crypt.
I think the book succeeds so well because of the characters, not just the detectives, but people like the frightening LeBreton. He is a real piece of work and, as Stewart said, ‘One scary dude.’ She right about that. O’Hare doesn’t spend a lot of time in character description, but in their dialogue and their ways of behaving, they come across as real people, and each different from the other. No two-dimensional cardboard cut-outs here. Even the minor characters have character.
The plot is excellently planned, full of interesting twists and turns, and thus the book flows at a very steady pace. I found it hard to put down, intending to end my session at the end of the next chapter but always being drawn on for a few more chapters, needing to know what would happen.
These reasons, and really great story-telling, give the book a high grade in my opinion. I definitely award it five out of five stars.
While there is quite a lot of supernatural and occult stuff is this book, O’Hare’s gift of story-telling won me over, and I really enjoyed that part of it, too. I tend to have a thick skin where ghosts and ghouls are concerned but this one, I have to say, had its moments ... and had me going occasionally, as well. I was certainly looking over my shoulder quite a few times before I got to the awesome climax in the crypt.
I think the book succeeds so well because of the characters, not just the detectives, but people like the frightening LeBreton. He is a real piece of work and, as Stewart said, ‘One scary dude.’ She right about that. O’Hare doesn’t spend a lot of time in character description, but in their dialogue and their ways of behaving, they come across as real people, and each different from the other. No two-dimensional cardboard cut-outs here. Even the minor characters have character.
The plot is excellently planned, full of interesting twists and turns, and thus the book flows at a very steady pace. I found it hard to put down, intending to end my session at the end of the next chapter but always being drawn on for a few more chapters, needing to know what would happen.
These reasons, and really great story-telling, give the book a high grade in my opinion. I definitely award it five out of five stars.
April 29, 2018
In his masterpiece Brian has raised realistic issue such as Satanism and their rituals, where humans are offered as a sacrifice to an ancient and evil demon. While reading Brian’s book, I was surprised how skillfully he has described the findings of police as well as the details of the work of the two pathologists. It shows that Brian did serious research in the field of criminology.
Paragraph:
The story itself starts with the discovery of a female skeleton that had been buried for 21 years. There is mystery to be solved and an identity to be revealed. More murders occur and have to be investigated. Police work hard to find clues while members of a Satanic group are preparing to kidnap a young woman and offer her to Baphomet as a sacrifice.
From there reader enters into unknown mystery and surprising discoveries. While reading I was so anxious to find out who was killing the members of satanic group that I stayed up late hours reading his book. When the identity of the killer was revealed I could not believe it because I expected someone else to be the killer.
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The plot grabs the reader's attention and, introduces to well developed characters. This book is a good read.
Paragraph:
The story itself starts with the discovery of a female skeleton that had been buried for 21 years. There is mystery to be solved and an identity to be revealed. More murders occur and have to be investigated. Police work hard to find clues while members of a Satanic group are preparing to kidnap a young woman and offer her to Baphomet as a sacrifice.
From there reader enters into unknown mystery and surprising discoveries. While reading I was so anxious to find out who was killing the members of satanic group that I stayed up late hours reading his book. When the identity of the killer was revealed I could not believe it because I expected someone else to be the killer.
.
The plot grabs the reader's attention and, introduces to well developed characters. This book is a good read.
May 17, 2018
The skeleton of a young woman, stabbed to death by a single blow to the abdomen some twenty-plus years earlier, is found in a shallow grave near an old abandoned church in Northern Ireland. Then, assistant pathologist Andrew Jones meets a mysterious young woman in a café, and later her wealthy industrialist father and his wife are found dead in their home, single stab wounds to the abdomen. Can murders more than twenty years apart be related or is it just a coincidence. Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan doesn’t believe in coincidences. He also doesn’t believe in the actual existence of evil spirits, but as the case unfolds, his beliefs are shaken to the core.
The Coven Murders by Brian O’Hare is a chilling mystery/thriller, featuring good solid police work, exciting confrontations, and a bit of the supernatural that will keep you flipping pages until the stunning surprise ending. I’ve read other Inspector Sheehan mysteries, and enjoyed them, but this one leaves its predecessors in the dust.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Loved it. I give it four and a half stars.
The Coven Murders by Brian O’Hare is a chilling mystery/thriller, featuring good solid police work, exciting confrontations, and a bit of the supernatural that will keep you flipping pages until the stunning surprise ending. I’ve read other Inspector Sheehan mysteries, and enjoyed them, but this one leaves its predecessors in the dust.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Loved it. I give it four and a half stars.
April 11, 2018
The body of a murdered woman lies undiscovered for more than twenty years, leaving Inspector Sheehan and his team struggling to find clues that will bring the victim justice. But the cold case turns hot when a series of new, copycat murders take out rich and powerful persons, all connected to an evil man who uses supernatural forces to thwart the investigation.
Great stuff! Not only do we get the urgency of pending murders to push the team to extreme speed, but we also get overshadowing of the team members in their personal and professional lives. Normally cooperative, nice people turn nasty—ready to throw away deep relationships for frivolous reasons. When Inspector Sheehan invokes the power of faith and the Church, the epic fight between good and evil is on.
Brian O’Hare writes well. His characters are fully formed and believable. The Northern Irish setting is beautifully and lovingly portrayed. The plot? Well, there’s lots of it. This story grabs the reader and won’t let go.
I highly recommend The Coven Murders.
Great stuff! Not only do we get the urgency of pending murders to push the team to extreme speed, but we also get overshadowing of the team members in their personal and professional lives. Normally cooperative, nice people turn nasty—ready to throw away deep relationships for frivolous reasons. When Inspector Sheehan invokes the power of faith and the Church, the epic fight between good and evil is on.
Brian O’Hare writes well. His characters are fully formed and believable. The Northern Irish setting is beautifully and lovingly portrayed. The plot? Well, there’s lots of it. This story grabs the reader and won’t let go.
I highly recommend The Coven Murders.
August 16, 2024
Great Read!
The body of a murdered woman lies undiscovered for more than twenty years, leaving Inspector Sheehan and his team struggling to find clues that will bring the victim justice. But the cold case turns hot when a series of new, copycat murders take out rich and powerful persons, all connected to an evil man who uses supernatural forces to thwart the investigation.
Great stuff! Not only do we get the urgency of pending murders to push the team to extreme speed, but we also get overshadowing of the team members in their personal and professional lives. Normally cooperative, nice people turn nasty—ready to throw away deep relationships for frivolous reasons. When Inspector Sheehan invokes the power of faith and the Church, the epic fight between good and evil is on.
Brian O’Hare writes well. His characters are fully formed and believable. The Northern Irish setting is beautifully and lovingly portrayed. The plot? Well, there’s lots of it. This story grabs the reader and won’t let go.
I highly recommend Killer of Souls.
The body of a murdered woman lies undiscovered for more than twenty years, leaving Inspector Sheehan and his team struggling to find clues that will bring the victim justice. But the cold case turns hot when a series of new, copycat murders take out rich and powerful persons, all connected to an evil man who uses supernatural forces to thwart the investigation.
Great stuff! Not only do we get the urgency of pending murders to push the team to extreme speed, but we also get overshadowing of the team members in their personal and professional lives. Normally cooperative, nice people turn nasty—ready to throw away deep relationships for frivolous reasons. When Inspector Sheehan invokes the power of faith and the Church, the epic fight between good and evil is on.
Brian O’Hare writes well. His characters are fully formed and believable. The Northern Irish setting is beautifully and lovingly portrayed. The plot? Well, there’s lots of it. This story grabs the reader and won’t let go.
I highly recommend Killer of Souls.
March 15, 2018
This was one scary book!
I greatly enjoyed the first two Detective Sheehan mysteries by Brian O’Hare, but the Coven Murders takes everything to a whole new level! The wry humor and camaraderie of the detective team, the settings described so well I could see them, and the interesting details O’Hare imparts with creativity and fun, and the who-done-it is all present in the Coven Murders, but it is cast against the backdrop of a spiritual battle between the demons of Satan and the followers of Jesus that literally made the hair on the back of my neck stand multiple times (while I was reading as well as hours after I put the book down).
The Coven Murders has everything--Good vs. Evil, humor, well-developed characters, the pain and joy of romance and friendships, and a mystery to solve. I highly recommend it!
I greatly enjoyed the first two Detective Sheehan mysteries by Brian O’Hare, but the Coven Murders takes everything to a whole new level! The wry humor and camaraderie of the detective team, the settings described so well I could see them, and the interesting details O’Hare imparts with creativity and fun, and the who-done-it is all present in the Coven Murders, but it is cast against the backdrop of a spiritual battle between the demons of Satan and the followers of Jesus that literally made the hair on the back of my neck stand multiple times (while I was reading as well as hours after I put the book down).
The Coven Murders has everything--Good vs. Evil, humor, well-developed characters, the pain and joy of romance and friendships, and a mystery to solve. I highly recommend it!
May 19, 2018
3.5 stars
This book is beautifully crafted and it was obvious to me on reading that the author is a seasoned writer. I found the dialogue authentic and the characters well fleshed out, particularly the protagonist, Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan.
However, I did find the pace moved a bit too slow for me. There was a lot of analysis and investigation from the Inspector, and not enough action, in terms of who'd committed the murders, so whilst I felt like I was there turning over stones with him and his team, I would have preferred to have had a pov from the person who'd committed the crime, and discover the way their mind worked.
But many people who love stories that revolve around investigations and black magic will love it!
This book is beautifully crafted and it was obvious to me on reading that the author is a seasoned writer. I found the dialogue authentic and the characters well fleshed out, particularly the protagonist, Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan.
However, I did find the pace moved a bit too slow for me. There was a lot of analysis and investigation from the Inspector, and not enough action, in terms of who'd committed the murders, so whilst I felt like I was there turning over stones with him and his team, I would have preferred to have had a pov from the person who'd committed the crime, and discover the way their mind worked.
But many people who love stories that revolve around investigations and black magic will love it!
October 9, 2018
Somebody is murdering the murderers.
The Coven Murders presents three intertwined murder plots. One involves human slavery of the most despicable nature imaginable. Another involves the ritualistic murder of wealthy, influential individuals who all turn out to be Satanists.
The story begins as a fascinating, vividly detailed police procedural, describing the work of the Serious Crimes Unit of the Police Service for Northern Ireland in Belfast. But it also offers an intriguing look at a group of Satanist and a Catholic exorcist tasked with battling demons.
Meticulously researched and expertly crafted, with colorful characters and authentic settings, The Coven Murders is an engaging read.
The Coven Murders presents three intertwined murder plots. One involves human slavery of the most despicable nature imaginable. Another involves the ritualistic murder of wealthy, influential individuals who all turn out to be Satanists.
The story begins as a fascinating, vividly detailed police procedural, describing the work of the Serious Crimes Unit of the Police Service for Northern Ireland in Belfast. But it also offers an intriguing look at a group of Satanist and a Catholic exorcist tasked with battling demons.
Meticulously researched and expertly crafted, with colorful characters and authentic settings, The Coven Murders is an engaging read.
February 16, 2018
The Coven Murders is a brilliantly crafted mystery that left me on the edge of my seat right up to the last page.
DCI Sheehan and his team are brought in to investigate what happened when a skeleton is discovered near a dilapidated church in the countryside. During this investigation, another series of murders begins, which the team must simultaneously investigate. As the investigations move forward, really strange things begin to happen. It's impossible to get into without some serious spoilers, so I'll leave you with this: It will make the hairs on your arms and neck stand up straight.
If you like a great mystery that's hard to figure out, you gotta read The Coven Murders!
DCI Sheehan and his team are brought in to investigate what happened when a skeleton is discovered near a dilapidated church in the countryside. During this investigation, another series of murders begins, which the team must simultaneously investigate. As the investigations move forward, really strange things begin to happen. It's impossible to get into without some serious spoilers, so I'll leave you with this: It will make the hairs on your arms and neck stand up straight.
If you like a great mystery that's hard to figure out, you gotta read The Coven Murders!
March 13, 2018
What a ride! The reader is immediately swept into a tale that is both intellectually and emotionally riveting. Brian O'Hare does an excellent job of describing the geographical, cultural, and political aspects that influence the story. This was really important since many of us have never been to Ireland! Having so many characters in a novel can be quite a challenge, but the author does an excellent job of creating characters who are so distinct from one another. It was a constant challenge to try and figure out who dunnit! My only regret was that the book ended.
March 5, 2019
Another great mystery
O'Hare brings another great mystery to the series of Inspector Sheehan. O'Hare's The Coven Murders brings Sheehan on the hunt for a new killer, one that follows human sacrifice, with a religious or devilish twist to it. Sheehan has grown as a character, and continues to follow his instincts and evidence to solve the murders. He pens another great whodunnit mystery, giving the reader the details and sense of his location and culture. I look forward to reading more by this new author.
O'Hare brings another great mystery to the series of Inspector Sheehan. O'Hare's The Coven Murders brings Sheehan on the hunt for a new killer, one that follows human sacrifice, with a religious or devilish twist to it. Sheehan has grown as a character, and continues to follow his instincts and evidence to solve the murders. He pens another great whodunnit mystery, giving the reader the details and sense of his location and culture. I look forward to reading more by this new author.
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