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DS Lucy Black #2
Someone You Know
An unforgettable and moving thriller for fans of Tana French and Dennis Lehane, from the author of the New York Times bestseller Little Girl Lost
Just before Christmas, the body of a sixteen-year-old girl is found along the train tracks on the outskirts of a small town. As Detective Lucy Black investigates the teenager's tragic last hours in search of clues to her death, she realizes that some of the victim's friends may have been her most dangerous enemies--and that whoever killed her is ready to kill again. Haunted by the memory of a case gone wrong, and taunted by a killer on the loose, Lucy finds herself pitted against a lethal opponent hiding in plain sight.
From an author described by John Connolly as "a major force" in suspense literature, Someone You Know is one of the most atmospheric, powerful thrillers you'll read all year.
Just before Christmas, the body of a sixteen-year-old girl is found along the train tracks on the outskirts of a small town. As Detective Lucy Black investigates the teenager's tragic last hours in search of clues to her death, she realizes that some of the victim's friends may have been her most dangerous enemies--and that whoever killed her is ready to kill again. Haunted by the memory of a case gone wrong, and taunted by a killer on the loose, Lucy finds herself pitted against a lethal opponent hiding in plain sight.
From an author described by John Connolly as "a major force" in suspense literature, Someone You Know is one of the most atmospheric, powerful thrillers you'll read all year.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
246 people are currently reading
1188 people want to read
About the author
Brian McGilloway
43 books369 followersBrian McGilloway is an author hailing from Derry, Northern Ireland. He studied English at Queens University Belfast, where he was very active in student theatre, winning a prestigious national Irish Student Drama Association award for theatrical lighting design in 1996. He is currently Head of English at St. Columb's College, Derry. McGilloway's debut novel was a crime thriller called Borderlands. Borderlands was shortlisted for a Crime Writers' Association Dagger award for a debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
May 13, 2014
3.5 Third book in the series but the first I have read. I can tell I missed some background in the relationship of the characters, but that did not stop my enjoyment of this novel. The character of Lucy Black is a most interesting one. She tends to act every which way in order to solve the case, especially in this one where a young girl she knew is killed and other young girls are at risk. Many dead ends, surprises and twist keep the story line moving, with of course many things going on in the background of the lead characters. Good atmospheric mystery, Will keep watch for the next in the series.
July 2, 2018
I find I'm enjoying this series just as much as I did the author's previous Benedict Devlin books. And for pretty much the same reasons too: a credible and well-drawn cast of central characters - each with their own anxieties and flaws; intricate and original plotlines; all set against the backdrop of a region still deeply scarred by the former "Troubles" ( a harsh euphemism for what was essentially a civil war).
Brian McGilloway certainly pulls no punches when describing the cruelties some humans can inflict upon others, but he does so in a way that is balanced and insightful, rather than prurient and sensationalist.
Brian McGilloway certainly pulls no punches when describing the cruelties some humans can inflict upon others, but he does so in a way that is balanced and insightful, rather than prurient and sensationalist.
November 7, 2015
I had read Brian McGilloway's Borderlands and was so impressed with it that I bought this immediately when it was an advertised daily deal. It didn't have the intensity or the suspense of Borderlands, but I still enjoyed it. I'd put this in the category of books that are good evening reading on days when your concentration has ebbed or you're feeling a little worn from the day. The protagonist, Lucy Black, is suitably complex. She's grappling with regret, the grey areas of morality, and a frayed relationship with her mother. The plot focuses on solving a murder of a teenaged girl and finding another girl who's missing, and McGilloway writes about those crimes with a deft touch. I'll be curious to see how he develops the Lucy Black character in further installments. Overall, an enjoyable read.
June 27, 2018
Did not enjoy this book as much as the first one in the series. Will read more. Hope that the 3rd one will intrigue me more. 3 stars
November 15, 2013
Following the phenomenal success of Little Girl Lost, the first thriller featuring DS Lucy Black, McGilloway returns to her character in his new release Hurt. Despite me being a huge fan if the Inspector Devlin series, I must confess that somehow McGilloway’s alternative series had escaped my radar, so this is my first foray into Lucy Black’s world, and a thoroughly riveting and enjoyable one at that.
There is more than enough reference to the events of the first book for the new reader to be quickly immersed in the harrowing events that Black has experienced, and which have shaped her character, both in a personal and professional sense. What the reader quickly perceives is that Black is an extremely committed and focused police officer, even if she does become slightly too personally involved in her cases at times, but fulfilling the classic edict of all great detective fiction, has a rather unsettled personal life in the wake of a failed relationship. Refreshingly though, she is not aided and abetted by the failings of her personal life by being either sexually promiscuous or befuddled by drink and drugs, but instead immerses herself in an emotive investigation where damaged young girls in the care system are procured for sex, resulting in murder. McGilloway really taps into Black’s increasing bewilderment at the sheer disregard shown for these vulnerable girls, by the men (some of them in positions of trust or power) that use and abuse them, and embarks on a single-minded mission to gain justice on their behalf, drawing Black into extreme personal danger. McGilloway once again demonstrates his superlative skill at pace and plotting, increasing the feeling of danger at a steady pace to a truly nail-biting last few chapters. This, in tandem, with the superb characterisation of both Black herself, and her colleagues, in particular her immediate boss, DI Tom Fleming, who has an interesting story of his own within the plot, and Black’s difficult relationship with his replacement, makes for a powerful and gripping thriller. The reader is immersed throughout in Black’s personal narrative, but in addition McGilloway perfectly conveys the less than pleasant aspects that lurk below respectable society, that powerfully unsettle the reader but which are integral to the overall theme of the book, focusing on the abuse of vulnerable young people in society, and the role of individuals like Black in bringing the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. A striking read with a great female protagonist that kept me hooked throughout.
There is more than enough reference to the events of the first book for the new reader to be quickly immersed in the harrowing events that Black has experienced, and which have shaped her character, both in a personal and professional sense. What the reader quickly perceives is that Black is an extremely committed and focused police officer, even if she does become slightly too personally involved in her cases at times, but fulfilling the classic edict of all great detective fiction, has a rather unsettled personal life in the wake of a failed relationship. Refreshingly though, she is not aided and abetted by the failings of her personal life by being either sexually promiscuous or befuddled by drink and drugs, but instead immerses herself in an emotive investigation where damaged young girls in the care system are procured for sex, resulting in murder. McGilloway really taps into Black’s increasing bewilderment at the sheer disregard shown for these vulnerable girls, by the men (some of them in positions of trust or power) that use and abuse them, and embarks on a single-minded mission to gain justice on their behalf, drawing Black into extreme personal danger. McGilloway once again demonstrates his superlative skill at pace and plotting, increasing the feeling of danger at a steady pace to a truly nail-biting last few chapters. This, in tandem, with the superb characterisation of both Black herself, and her colleagues, in particular her immediate boss, DI Tom Fleming, who has an interesting story of his own within the plot, and Black’s difficult relationship with his replacement, makes for a powerful and gripping thriller. The reader is immersed throughout in Black’s personal narrative, but in addition McGilloway perfectly conveys the less than pleasant aspects that lurk below respectable society, that powerfully unsettle the reader but which are integral to the overall theme of the book, focusing on the abuse of vulnerable young people in society, and the role of individuals like Black in bringing the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. A striking read with a great female protagonist that kept me hooked throughout.
February 21, 2014
This is a wonderful book.
The second outing for DS Lucy Black in the PPU in Derry (Public Protection Unit).
The writing is tight and the plot clever and original; the timeframe is short and Lucy is on hand to follow up each new lead and plot advancement. This make for an exciting read and compelling in terms of its development and outcome.
The author also writes well in terms of plot, character and descriptive prose making for a engaging read you will be reluctant to put down.
I fell in love with McGilloway's writing through the Devlin series but I find myself yet again giving full marks for a Lucy Black novel. Like Litttle Girl Lost I found the writing relevent and challenging exposing worlds we would rather not consider for too long. Yet this is the world of Police enforcement and the blackness of the criminal soul needs to be exposed. The story is not pleasant but the quality of the writing ias that it doesn't dwell on the sensationalism but the reality of its impact on lifes affected by such crimes. No-one is presented as whiter than white and the muddled politics of Northern Ireland in recent days is covered with great balance and insight.
In Lucy Black the author has created a terrific female character, not quite her mother but flawed all the same. She is an intuitive detective, driven to find justice for all even if that includes political shortcuts or practical natural justice. In the process we have a clever murder mystery which rattles along to deliver a terrific read and reveal an author at the height of his powers. McGilloway reflects on a broken society and hints at how it may have survived the troubles but overall it is the strength of the characters he creates that mean his work will live long after the strife has been resolved.
The second outing for DS Lucy Black in the PPU in Derry (Public Protection Unit).
The writing is tight and the plot clever and original; the timeframe is short and Lucy is on hand to follow up each new lead and plot advancement. This make for an exciting read and compelling in terms of its development and outcome.
The author also writes well in terms of plot, character and descriptive prose making for a engaging read you will be reluctant to put down.
I fell in love with McGilloway's writing through the Devlin series but I find myself yet again giving full marks for a Lucy Black novel. Like Litttle Girl Lost I found the writing relevent and challenging exposing worlds we would rather not consider for too long. Yet this is the world of Police enforcement and the blackness of the criminal soul needs to be exposed. The story is not pleasant but the quality of the writing ias that it doesn't dwell on the sensationalism but the reality of its impact on lifes affected by such crimes. No-one is presented as whiter than white and the muddled politics of Northern Ireland in recent days is covered with great balance and insight.
In Lucy Black the author has created a terrific female character, not quite her mother but flawed all the same. She is an intuitive detective, driven to find justice for all even if that includes political shortcuts or practical natural justice. In the process we have a clever murder mystery which rattles along to deliver a terrific read and reveal an author at the height of his powers. McGilloway reflects on a broken society and hints at how it may have survived the troubles but overall it is the strength of the characters he creates that mean his work will live long after the strife has been resolved.
July 11, 2018
Late Sunday 16th December
Harry a railway line worker in Derry finds a young sixteen-year old girl laying face down on the train line track with a gapping wound.
The only way to find out Karen Hughes last movements was to inspect her mobile phone and on the social media. Forensics examine all of Karen;s clothes to see if any traces of something will help them arrest who killed Karen Hughes.
It appears that four girls under the of eighteen had gone missing and never been found. With twenty-two missing across the North.
Another fifteen year old girl missing and a grim discovery of a very young girl is found buried in quicklime.
Hurt by Brian McGilloway keeps the action tight and gripping for the full 406 pages.
It appears that four girls under the of eighteen had gone missing and never been found. With twenty-two missing across the North.
Harry a railway line worker in Derry finds a young sixteen-year old girl laying face down on the train line track with a gapping wound.
The only way to find out Karen Hughes last movements was to inspect her mobile phone and on the social media. Forensics examine all of Karen;s clothes to see if any traces of something will help them arrest who killed Karen Hughes.
It appears that four girls under the of eighteen had gone missing and never been found. With twenty-two missing across the North.
Another fifteen year old girl missing and a grim discovery of a very young girl is found buried in quicklime.
Hurt by Brian McGilloway keeps the action tight and gripping for the full 406 pages.
It appears that four girls under the of eighteen had gone missing and never been found. With twenty-two missing across the North.
March 18, 2017
A young girl goes missing from care and is found 3 days later with her throat cut on a railway line. Unfortunately for the murderer the train didn't run her over and make it look like suicide because someone had stolen the electric cable and halted the train. Then another girl goes missing. This is an extremely well plotted novel with circles within circles and ripples going out the way but it is all very logical and easy to follow. It gives a very clear picture of policing in Northern Ireland where sectarianism adds a whole new dimension to criminality and policing but it also gives you an idea of normal policing as well because they have to find the cable thieves as well as a murderer and the missing girl. The characterisation is also very good. Lucy is perhaps too much of a lone gun to be entirely realistic in a police setting but her brooding personality and single mindedness are well done. I have enjoyed all Mr McGilloway's books and this is a fine addition to his catalogue.
April 30, 2018
I really liked the ending of this one. Some problems solved but some unresolved for later books in the series.
July 2, 2020
Una vicenda intricata che si snoda tra il dark web, insabbiamenti e pedofilia. Non proprio il mio genere, ma credo che darò un'altra chance alla detective Lucy Black, leggendo il terzo romanzo.
July 29, 2014
Highly disappointing.........this author has gone from hero to almost-zero for me. I made special mention in my review of his prior Lucy Black outing that there were no mistakes and what a reading pleasure it was.....not so with this one. I was glad to get it finished and if it wasn't part of the series I'd have jacked it in. Don't get me wrong, the story was great again but the editing in this one's a real mess. There are way too many sloppy mistakes that Little Girl Lost didn't have. I don't know if he changed editors or what's happened but if I were him I'd revert back sharpish !!
Firstly we meet a girl who relates telling her mother in September four months ago something but that part of the story is set in November. Any idiot can tell you that doesn't stack up !!
He's also gone all Americanised for some reason with his spellings-realize/pedestrianized/recognized/hospitalized, etc, etc.
I didn't understand this line-perhaps it's Irish-"The dead motivated her as much as the quick". I also have no idea what a tiger kidnapping is. There were also a lot of missing words in sentences-up/a/when/to/me-irritating. Then we lost speechmarks at one point and jousts was used instead of joists.This sentence-"It just also is used for all kinds.."..... is awful English and so was "That'll need stitched". I don't know WHAT happened but I hope he sorts it out before the next instalment in this series or it'll be my last for sure !!
The story was very good indeed yet again but just so horribly ruined by the amount of carelessness.
Firstly we meet a girl who relates telling her mother in September four months ago something but that part of the story is set in November. Any idiot can tell you that doesn't stack up !!
He's also gone all Americanised for some reason with his spellings-realize/pedestrianized/recognized/hospitalized, etc, etc.
I didn't understand this line-perhaps it's Irish-"The dead motivated her as much as the quick". I also have no idea what a tiger kidnapping is. There were also a lot of missing words in sentences-up/a/when/to/me-irritating. Then we lost speechmarks at one point and jousts was used instead of joists.This sentence-"It just also is used for all kinds.."..... is awful English and so was "That'll need stitched". I don't know WHAT happened but I hope he sorts it out before the next instalment in this series or it'll be my last for sure !!
The story was very good indeed yet again but just so horribly ruined by the amount of carelessness.
May 1, 2016
Another great story in the DS Lucy Black series! I love the cover, but not sure how it relates to the story. Looking forward to reading the next in the series, The Forgotten Ones.
May 16, 2019
Non all'altezza del precedente ma pur sempre una buona lettura. Sta caratterizzandosi troppo con una realtà criminale fortemente localizzata, quella nord-irlandese, evidente habitat naturale dell'autore. Comunque bravo, continuerò a leggerlo.
November 21, 2013
Time taken to read - 6 days
Publisher - C& R Crime
Blurb from Goodreads
Lucy Black must protect the young and vulnerable . . . but can she protect herself?
Late December. A sixteen-year-old girl is found dead on a train line. Detective Sergeant Lucy Black is called to identify the body. The only clues to the dead teenager's last movements are stored in her mobile phone and on social media - and it soon becomes clear that her 'friends' were not as trustworthy as she thought. Lucy is no stranger to death: she is still haunted by the memory of the child she failed to save, and the killer she failed to put behind bars. And with a new boss scrutinizing her every move, she is determined that - this time - she will leave no margin for error.
My Review
Detective Sergeant Lucy Black is our main character, a young girls body is found on railway tracks and Lucy must identify it. Lucy is haunted from a past case and won't let this one go. When another body turns up Lucy knows she is on the right track and like a dog with a bone she won't let it go.
This story covers some dark areas, murder, paedophilia, vengeance and some built up rage. Lucy seems to be the kind of cop who acts like you, the reader, would want to act. Punish the bad guy, ignore the strict rules of the law, do what it takes to punish the bad guys. Her actions as a police officer as questionable to say the least however I imagine most readers will be rooting for her.
I have never read this author before and to be honest I think if I knew more of the back story I would have enjoyed it much better. It is clear she has major issues with her mother, who is also the assistant chief constable. There are some clues as the why she behaves like the bad behaved teenager in almost every interaction with her mother but in the place of work I felt this should have been reprimanded. Maybe knowing more of the back story it is understandable but for me it did annoy me at times as she is an officer and this is her boss.
There is a fair amount of action within the book and the story, whilst dark doesn't go into too many horrific details although there is enough for you to know exactly what is going on. This was a good introduction to a new author, to me, and I think I would pursue more of his work but maybe start from the beginning and work my way through. 3/5 for me this time, thanks so much to Lucy Zilberkweit at C & R Crime for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is available to buy now, from all good retailers in e copy & print.
Publisher - C& R Crime
Blurb from Goodreads
Lucy Black must protect the young and vulnerable . . . but can she protect herself?
Late December. A sixteen-year-old girl is found dead on a train line. Detective Sergeant Lucy Black is called to identify the body. The only clues to the dead teenager's last movements are stored in her mobile phone and on social media - and it soon becomes clear that her 'friends' were not as trustworthy as she thought. Lucy is no stranger to death: she is still haunted by the memory of the child she failed to save, and the killer she failed to put behind bars. And with a new boss scrutinizing her every move, she is determined that - this time - she will leave no margin for error.
My Review
Detective Sergeant Lucy Black is our main character, a young girls body is found on railway tracks and Lucy must identify it. Lucy is haunted from a past case and won't let this one go. When another body turns up Lucy knows she is on the right track and like a dog with a bone she won't let it go.
This story covers some dark areas, murder, paedophilia, vengeance and some built up rage. Lucy seems to be the kind of cop who acts like you, the reader, would want to act. Punish the bad guy, ignore the strict rules of the law, do what it takes to punish the bad guys. Her actions as a police officer as questionable to say the least however I imagine most readers will be rooting for her.
I have never read this author before and to be honest I think if I knew more of the back story I would have enjoyed it much better. It is clear she has major issues with her mother, who is also the assistant chief constable. There are some clues as the why she behaves like the bad behaved teenager in almost every interaction with her mother but in the place of work I felt this should have been reprimanded. Maybe knowing more of the back story it is understandable but for me it did annoy me at times as she is an officer and this is her boss.
There is a fair amount of action within the book and the story, whilst dark doesn't go into too many horrific details although there is enough for you to know exactly what is going on. This was a good introduction to a new author, to me, and I think I would pursue more of his work but maybe start from the beginning and work my way through. 3/5 for me this time, thanks so much to Lucy Zilberkweit at C & R Crime for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is available to buy now, from all good retailers in e copy & print.
January 21, 2014
The second book to feature DS Lucy Black by Brian McGilloway, Hurt begins with the discovery of a body, quickly identified as that of a missing teenage girl. In and out of care due to her mother's alcoholism and her her father's incarceration, Karen Hughes has had her throat cut before being discarded on the train tracks. With little more than the information stored in Karen's phone and on social media to guide them, Lucy and her colleagues begin to trace her last movements, uncovering a predator hiding behind sock puppet Facebook accounts. And then another young girl goes missing...
Hurt is a tense police procedural with a well crafted main plot which explores the way in which predators exploit social media to groom vulnerable girls, manipulating them for their own ends, and the difficulties law enforcement can face in tracing them. The story twists and turns as the investigation unfolds, unveiling a grim tale of perversion and murder, exposing the corruption of power and the abuse of trust.
Lucy is a young, dedicated police officer who tends to become personally involved in her work and this puts her at risk during the investigation as she closes in on Karen's killer. McGilloway's characterisation is well rounded and believable, I found I really liked Lucy, admiring her passion, her drive and her sense of justice. Partnered with an old timer who is struggling with his own demons, Lucy demonstrates loyalty and Lucy's professional life is further complicated by her mother, who is in effect her boss, and with whom she has a strained relationship.
A second subplot involves a former case of Lucy's in which she failed to prevent the murders of a young woman and her mother. The perpetrator is known but has managed to elude law enforcement, in part because of his connections with the less savoury elements of the area. The case eats away at Lucy and is in part the impetus for her relentless pursuit of Karen's killer.
Hurt is a gripping crime thriller, well written with an appealing protagonist, interesting characters and an absorbing plot. I hope to read the introduction to DS Lucy Black in Little Girl Lost before the release of the third book in the series.
*Australian release Jan 1st 2014
September 7, 2014
I won this book via Goodreads First Reads, many thanks for my copy.
Hurt is the second novel by Brian McGilloway featuring Detective Sergeant Lucy Black. The novel is set in Northern Ireland and starts with the dead body of a sixteen year old girl found on train tracks.
I found the first half of the book a little disjointed and slow to get into, there were a lot of different names introduced and at times I had to stop to recall who was who.
From the halfway point onwards the book picks up pace and the storyline seems to flow together much better. With some twists and turns the book kept me guessing until near the end on who the bad guys were, that's always a good thing, nothing worse than working it out too early.
I found the female protagonist to be some shades of dark and light, on one hand ages the determined gritty detective, then you see her colder side cropping up from time to time, moving on to a compassionate softer element to her personality and back again. I found the working relationship and subsequent interactions with her mother, more senior than her in the police force a touch unrealistic and perhaps not needed in the book at all.
The ending was good and the bits and pieces all started to fit together. This is not a gory, violent or shocking crime novel like many I've read (and I read a lot of crime) so it focuses more on the detective work itself.
I am pleased to see more books set in a Northern Ireland, a truly beautiful country.
Hurt is the second novel by Brian McGilloway featuring Detective Sergeant Lucy Black. The novel is set in Northern Ireland and starts with the dead body of a sixteen year old girl found on train tracks.
I found the first half of the book a little disjointed and slow to get into, there were a lot of different names introduced and at times I had to stop to recall who was who.
From the halfway point onwards the book picks up pace and the storyline seems to flow together much better. With some twists and turns the book kept me guessing until near the end on who the bad guys were, that's always a good thing, nothing worse than working it out too early.
I found the female protagonist to be some shades of dark and light, on one hand ages the determined gritty detective, then you see her colder side cropping up from time to time, moving on to a compassionate softer element to her personality and back again. I found the working relationship and subsequent interactions with her mother, more senior than her in the police force a touch unrealistic and perhaps not needed in the book at all.
The ending was good and the bits and pieces all started to fit together. This is not a gory, violent or shocking crime novel like many I've read (and I read a lot of crime) so it focuses more on the detective work itself.
I am pleased to see more books set in a Northern Ireland, a truly beautiful country.
April 26, 2015
I have read several McGilloway novels that feature Inspector Devlin. I prefer Devlin to DS Lucy Black. Black lacks the characteristics I usually look for in a female police protagonist. This is a story that focuses on exploitation of teenage girls. I found the scenario somewhat outlandish, but perhaps such rings exist. I won't reveal more as I don't want spoilers. There are some details of the Derry context, but I prefer the Devlin series as the context is explored in more depth and vividly related to each story. I am not sure why McGilloway developed a female character. It may have been an agent's idea or his own.
July 22, 2017
Since I have been reading this series in order, I am getting use to the wording and that makes it a lot easier to get into. So I can do a completely honest review now that I wasn't struggling with the format and what not.
This one didn't have as many twists and turns that the first book had, not so much of a surprise villain because we didn't really know him like we did in the first book. This book was a little difficult for me to get into because it was about children and, now that I'm a mother, that's one thing that really hits home to me. But that doesn't take away from the story at all.
The story line was great, the characters developed and very complex. It was an interesting book, but not one that I would read a second time. It had a couple of those 'OH!' moments but not so many 'OH MY GOD!' moments. If that makes any sense at all. I am definitely going to continue reading the series but it's not a HAVE to read the next book type of deal.
3 out of 5 stars. Good read :)
This one didn't have as many twists and turns that the first book had, not so much of a surprise villain because we didn't really know him like we did in the first book. This book was a little difficult for me to get into because it was about children and, now that I'm a mother, that's one thing that really hits home to me. But that doesn't take away from the story at all.
The story line was great, the characters developed and very complex. It was an interesting book, but not one that I would read a second time. It had a couple of those 'OH!' moments but not so many 'OH MY GOD!' moments. If that makes any sense at all. I am definitely going to continue reading the series but it's not a HAVE to read the next book type of deal.
3 out of 5 stars. Good read :)
March 28, 2018
A fairly good mystery about an Irish policewoman who works primarily with the at risk people such as children, women and those society abandons.
There isn't much I want to say about the book as nothing stands out particularly. The story deals with young people whose parents are drug users, alcoholics and criminals for the most part. The kids are tough street wise and form their own culture or gangs to survive in the lower-class neighborhoods where they live. Sargeant Lucy Black, who is part of the Public Protection Unit, was appointed to that position by her mother who happens to be the ACC (Commander of Police I guess - it's never really clear in the book). Lucy is estranged from her mother and her father has Alzheimers and is mostly out of the picture.
It's a depressing book in many ways - strangely as Irish mysteries seem to be. In reality, I was torn between a 1-1/2 rating and a 3.
There isn't much I want to say about the book as nothing stands out particularly. The story deals with young people whose parents are drug users, alcoholics and criminals for the most part. The kids are tough street wise and form their own culture or gangs to survive in the lower-class neighborhoods where they live. Sargeant Lucy Black, who is part of the Public Protection Unit, was appointed to that position by her mother who happens to be the ACC (Commander of Police I guess - it's never really clear in the book). Lucy is estranged from her mother and her father has Alzheimers and is mostly out of the picture.
It's a depressing book in many ways - strangely as Irish mysteries seem to be. In reality, I was torn between a 1-1/2 rating and a 3.
June 26, 2025
Sometimes you just need to ask yourself what brings you joy the most in life and my answer is - reading Brian McGilloway and untangling the mystery of different murder cases.
The only thing I found unpleasant while reading is the amount of characters you have to remember til the very end, there were so many of them, my brain broke couple of times🤣
And no matter what typa shit Lucy Black does, I can relate to her 100% - she's empathetic, fierce and unapologetic - she became my 2nd favorite detective in no time (after Myron Bolitar ofc), it will be my pleasure to continue reading her series🙈
The only thing I found unpleasant while reading is the amount of characters you have to remember til the very end, there were so many of them, my brain broke couple of times🤣
And no matter what typa shit Lucy Black does, I can relate to her 100% - she's empathetic, fierce and unapologetic - she became my 2nd favorite detective in no time (after Myron Bolitar ofc), it will be my pleasure to continue reading her series🙈
August 7, 2017
An excellent follow up to Little Girl Lost. Lucy Black is still haunted by her failure to save a young girl and the revelations about her fathers past but now another young girl has been found, left to die on a railway line. Soon another girl is missing and Lucy must break through the teenage silences to uncover what's going on. Pacey, well written and with enough loose ends to ensure I'll read the next one.
September 3, 2022
Second outing for DS Lucy Black, of the PSNI. A solid Police procedural, with Lucy and her colleagues investigating a series of abductions and murders of young girls by a paedophile ring. As well as the investigation, we get a good measure of office politics. Lucy is an engaging protagonist, with problems in her family and personal life. She is resolute and strong-willed, sometimes doing a lot more than bending the rules in pursuit of her vision of justice.
January 23, 2025
Sergeant Lucy investigated the murder of one girl dumped on the railroad tracks, another missing 2 girls. It’s a sex trafficking ring, and the head is a young man who is the son of a respected community leader. Lucy is able to rescue the 2 girls and crashes the culprit through a swamp. Also a bomb is set on her car, but her friend was in the car when it exploded. Luckily he survived, but was badly injured.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2019
Erg. Not as good as the Inspector Devlin series. Lucy is starting to annoy me. She has a major chip on her shoulder, and seems to feel rules don't apply to her. Now if she was a more talented detective, I might forgive her that, but her refusal to follow those rules just makes things worse all the way round.
March 18, 2020
This was an exciting and fast paced book. Lucy is a realistic character, with her anger and other flaws. There were some loose ends that weren't explained so neatly at the end. Also there was a clue with a red car which Lucy missed, which was significant later on. Otherwise, I would have given the book 5 stars.
May 4, 2021
Lucy Black is still the brilliant, imperfect, impetuous detective assigned to social service crimes, but alas, finding herself in the midst of a murder investigation. She drags her unwieldy history with her, confronting it occasionally, but like the investigative artist she is, she's unable to unlock her own mysteries. On to the next.
January 28, 2023
4 stars, wow this book was better than I expected, I was randomly picking out my tbr and this is one of the books I had been putting off, I’m glad I finally got around to reading it as it is not my usual genre, it was really good and very fast which is ironic because it book me so long. I recommend this highly to any crime lover!!
December 27, 2017
Marvellous book. I really like Lucy Black and care about what happens to her.
All storylines culminating in a most satisfying conclusion without any disappointments.
A re-read of the prologue after finishing the story explained the descriptive passages subtlety described within it.
All storylines culminating in a most satisfying conclusion without any disappointments.
A re-read of the prologue after finishing the story explained the descriptive passages subtlety described within it.
February 23, 2018
Excellent
The second book in the lucy black series and just as brilliant and gripping. The story itself a bit harrowing in content but it's just truth as the world unfortunately is a dark place. Can't wait to read number three
The second book in the lucy black series and just as brilliant and gripping. The story itself a bit harrowing in content but it's just truth as the world unfortunately is a dark place. Can't wait to read number three
June 5, 2018
I find the stories of Lucy Black Fascinating. Lucy takes some bumps and bruises with her catching the bad guys which makes these stories that much more exciting. I have to wonder what role Cooper will play in future books....
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