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The Silent Ones
The murder of an innocent shakes Ireland to its core. One cold January morning in 1980, on a beach in Kerry, the body of a newborn baby is found in its most sheltered sand dune. Local Garda Mary Shea is first on the scene.
Such a case calls for more than small town policing, and the Dublin major crimes team are brought in to take charge. But there’s a way of doing things in Kerry, one which Mary understands well. And when she is able to get crucial, female witnesses to cooperate, lead detective Matt Foley takes her under his wing. This is the biggest case of his career and he needs all the help he can get.
Mary finds more questions than answers and it becomes clear many locals conduct secret lives – but who would do such a thing?
A dark and gripping Irish crime debut from an international bestseller. Perfect for fans of Olivia Kiernan, Tana French and John Banville.
Praise for The Silent Ones 'Harrowing, suspenseful and authentic... a writer at the top of her game' Jo Spain
Such a case calls for more than small town policing, and the Dublin major crimes team are brought in to take charge. But there’s a way of doing things in Kerry, one which Mary understands well. And when she is able to get crucial, female witnesses to cooperate, lead detective Matt Foley takes her under his wing. This is the biggest case of his career and he needs all the help he can get.
Mary finds more questions than answers and it becomes clear many locals conduct secret lives – but who would do such a thing?
A dark and gripping Irish crime debut from an international bestseller. Perfect for fans of Olivia Kiernan, Tana French and John Banville.
Praise for The Silent Ones 'Harrowing, suspenseful and authentic... a writer at the top of her game' Jo Spain
368 pages, Paperback
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Anna McPartlin
26 books607 followersAnna McPartlin is an international best selling author, currently published in 15 languages across 18 countries. Pack Up The Moon and The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes were nominated for Irish book awards. Rabbit Hayes also won a silver readers book award in Germany. In the UK it was a Simon Mayo and Richard and Judy book club pick and in the USA it was a Barnes & Nobel Book of the Month.
In the last few years Anna has been honing her TV scriptwriting skills working on medical drama ‘Holby City’ for the BBC (UK), legal drama ‘Striking Out,’ for RTE (IRE) and historical adaptation Jesus His Life for History Channel (USA).
Anna was nominated for an Irish Film & Television Academy award for her one off bi-lingual drama ‘School Run,’ and is currently in development with Hot Drop Films / Treasure Entertainment and funded by Screen Ireland for the film adaptation of ‘Rabbit Hayes.’ She is also in development for a crime series ‘Serious Crimes,’ with Blinder Productions (Virgin Media) in IRE. A historical crime drama with Noho Film & TV (UK) and ‘Richter,’ an RTE/NZ TV co-production crime drama with Blinder Productions.
Anna’s first children’s book the ‘Fearless Five’ came out May 2019. Her next fiction novel ‘Below The Big Blue Sky,’ is on shelves in UK and IRE in April 2020 and she is currently working on her ninth commercial fiction title.
Anna started out briefly as an actress and stand-up comedian but although her heart wasn’t in performance, she revels in storytelling and shining a light in dark places. Anna’s USP is in tackling difficult subjects with understanding, empathy and humour that spills onto every page.
In the last few years Anna has been honing her TV scriptwriting skills working on medical drama ‘Holby City’ for the BBC (UK), legal drama ‘Striking Out,’ for RTE (IRE) and historical adaptation Jesus His Life for History Channel (USA).
Anna was nominated for an Irish Film & Television Academy award for her one off bi-lingual drama ‘School Run,’ and is currently in development with Hot Drop Films / Treasure Entertainment and funded by Screen Ireland for the film adaptation of ‘Rabbit Hayes.’ She is also in development for a crime series ‘Serious Crimes,’ with Blinder Productions (Virgin Media) in IRE. A historical crime drama with Noho Film & TV (UK) and ‘Richter,’ an RTE/NZ TV co-production crime drama with Blinder Productions.
Anna’s first children’s book the ‘Fearless Five’ came out May 2019. Her next fiction novel ‘Below The Big Blue Sky,’ is on shelves in UK and IRE in April 2020 and she is currently working on her ninth commercial fiction title.
Anna started out briefly as an actress and stand-up comedian but although her heart wasn’t in performance, she revels in storytelling and shining a light in dark places. Anna’s USP is in tackling difficult subjects with understanding, empathy and humour that spills onto every page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 21, 2025
I think we are being spoiled with very good starters to procedural series this year, and I know for sure that Mary Shea is a detective I'll continue to follow book after book.
The setting is rural Ireland in the 1980's, and I had to doublecheck if it wasn't 1950, because the way Mary has to fight for her rights didn't resonate with my own experience and I'm only 10 years younger. After doing some online sleuthing myself, I understood I was just very lucky having been born a decade later and 1.000 km futher to have all the priviliges of a free life. As it turns out, Ireland in the 80's was having a setback in women's rights and this is very prominent in this book. It was hard to read at times, seeing how men treated women as little more than cattle.
And then we have Mary, flawed and all, but pushing her elbows out to claim her spot. Sometimes with succes, sometimes with setbacks. The case she has to solve is gruesome and involves the death of a newborn, so consider this the biggest trigger warning amongst other violent acts against minorities.
In short: a great setting, multilayered characters, a slow build and a good mystery. I know I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Thank you NetGalley, Canelo Crime, and the author for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.
The setting is rural Ireland in the 1980's, and I had to doublecheck if it wasn't 1950, because the way Mary has to fight for her rights didn't resonate with my own experience and I'm only 10 years younger. After doing some online sleuthing myself, I understood I was just very lucky having been born a decade later and 1.000 km futher to have all the priviliges of a free life. As it turns out, Ireland in the 80's was having a setback in women's rights and this is very prominent in this book. It was hard to read at times, seeing how men treated women as little more than cattle.
And then we have Mary, flawed and all, but pushing her elbows out to claim her spot. Sometimes with succes, sometimes with setbacks. The case she has to solve is gruesome and involves the death of a newborn, so consider this the biggest trigger warning amongst other violent acts against minorities.
In short: a great setting, multilayered characters, a slow build and a good mystery. I know I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Thank you NetGalley, Canelo Crime, and the author for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.
June 7, 2026
I listened to the audiobook version of this one and loved it. Aoife McMahon is one of my favourite narrators, and she did a fantastic job bringing the characters and the small Irish community to life.
I do enjoy a good small-town Irish whodunit, and this one did not disappoint. Set in 1980, and inspired by the social climate surrounding the real-life Kerry Babies case, it was a reminder of just how different life was for women not all that long ago.
I'll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.
I do enjoy a good small-town Irish whodunit, and this one did not disappoint. Set in 1980, and inspired by the social climate surrounding the real-life Kerry Babies case, it was a reminder of just how different life was for women not all that long ago.
I'll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.
August 9, 2025
Thank you Canelo, the author and Netgalley.com for the eBook to review, the following is my review.
Wow—this book absolutely surprised my socks off. It has everything you could want in a crime novel: vivid character descriptions, a rollercoaster of a plot, and twists that keep you guessing right to the final page. I expected the deaths of two babies to be resolved quickly, but no—McPartlin masterfully weaves in unexpected turns that deepen the mystery.
Humour is cleverly dosed throughout, always in context, often aimed at the egits of the Garde police. Our protagonist, Garde Mary Shea, is a lone, strong woman navigating a toxic environment of male chauvinism and pig-headedness. Her colleagues made me so mad I wanted to push them off a cliff! Shea’s resilience and sharp wit make her a standout lead.
If you love crime fiction that’s smart, emotional, and unafraid to tackle dark themes with a touch of humour—read this.
Wow—this book absolutely surprised my socks off. It has everything you could want in a crime novel: vivid character descriptions, a rollercoaster of a plot, and twists that keep you guessing right to the final page. I expected the deaths of two babies to be resolved quickly, but no—McPartlin masterfully weaves in unexpected turns that deepen the mystery.
Humour is cleverly dosed throughout, always in context, often aimed at the egits of the Garde police. Our protagonist, Garde Mary Shea, is a lone, strong woman navigating a toxic environment of male chauvinism and pig-headedness. Her colleagues made me so mad I wanted to push them off a cliff! Shea’s resilience and sharp wit make her a standout lead.
If you love crime fiction that’s smart, emotional, and unafraid to tackle dark themes with a touch of humour—read this.
September 14, 2025
This is a superb Irish police procedural. Even better it’s the start of a series. And even better it’s set in 1980 giving strong nostalgia vibes with a fierce feminist streak. Highly recommend.
March 22, 2026
This novel surprised me. At first I wasn’t sure if I would like it but I found myself getting very involved in the story and the horrific treatment of women in certain institutions as recently as the 1980s. Although a police procedural novel, it was in many ways about choices and lack of choices available to certain people in rural Ireland only a few decades ago.
August 27, 2025
Advanced Reader Copy!
This was sooo good. Crime/murder in a small town is up there as one of my most favourite genres. I really enjoyed the main character Mary Shea, all the characters really, except the Dublin boys. The story was fast paced and kept me guessing, there were some sad moments and some that made me want to throw my kindle across the room. 4.5 stars, I smashed through this over two nights it was just so damn bingeable.
This was sooo good. Crime/murder in a small town is up there as one of my most favourite genres. I really enjoyed the main character Mary Shea, all the characters really, except the Dublin boys. The story was fast paced and kept me guessing, there were some sad moments and some that made me want to throw my kindle across the room. 4.5 stars, I smashed through this over two nights it was just so damn bingeable.
August 9, 2025
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it is the start of a new series. It is set in 1980 on the west coast of Ireland. A new born baby is found murdered on the beach and local Garda Mary Shea is first on the scene. Soon the case is handed to detectives from Dublin and Mary is asked to help by Foley, the detective leading the case. This does not go down well with the other Gardai who believe that there’s no place for women in the police force except for making the tea and doing the mundane admin jobs! It is a step back in time showing attitudes to women, unmarried mothers and same sex relationships. There are a lot of twists and turns in the book as Shea and Foley try to discover who the mother of the baby is and how the events lead up to the baby being murdered. A thought provoking first novel in the series and I’m looking forward to the next one.
June 13, 2026
J’ai rencontré Anna McPartlin il y a presque dix ans avec « Les derniers jours de Rabbit Hayes ». Que d’émotions lors de cette lecture ! Depuis, je suis ses publications et, quand « Les Silencieuses » a été annoncé, il était clair qu’il ferait partie de mes achats du mois d’avril. Ce roman met en scène une héroïne dotée d’une détermination à toute épreuve. Nous sommes en 1980, dans l’Ouest de l’Irlande, où Mary Shea exerce la fonction de garda au sein de la police locale. C’est la seule femme dans un milieu très masculin où la testostérone règne en maître.
Le récit commence sur une plage, dans une dune que les gens du coin appelleront ensuite « le berceau ». On y a trouvé un nouveau-né mort, enveloppé dans une serviette bleue rêche. Il sera baptisé Crónán par le père Cunningham, appelé en urgence pour accomplir les derniers rituels. Crónán veut dire « petit brun », et c’est un prénom irlandais ancien. La première à arriver sur les lieux est Mary Shea. Vingt-huit ans, grande et blonde, seule femme du commissariat de Nead Mara, Mary Shea va devoir s’imposer pour avoir le droit d’enquêter sur cette affaire.
Pour comprendre « Les Silencieuses », il faut comprendre l’Irlande de 1980. Anna McPartlin la dépeint en une page juste avant le prologue.
« Jusqu’à un passé très récent, notre belle Irlande, si culturellement riche et illustre fût-elle, était glaciale pour les femmes. Les adolescentes des années 1980 y étaient soumises à une société patriarcale dévote, terrifiée par la sexualité féminine et résolue à la contrôler. À cette époque, des événements réels, terribles, mirent en lumière les extrémités auxquelles en étaient arrivés les Irlandais, à quel point la vie était difficile pour les femmes et les jeunes filles, et jusqu’où allait se nicher la cruauté au coeur de l’Église et de l’État irlandais. »
Ainsi, une femme ne pouvait pas exercer un métier si elle se mariait. Mary a donc volontairement renoncé à cet aspect de sa vie pour travailler. Autant dire qu’avoir un enfant hors mariage était impensable : une honte pour sa famille, une pécheresse pour l’Église, une criminelle potentielle pour la justice.
La découverte du bébé Crónán laisse très vite supposer qu’une fille-mère a accouché dans le plus grand des secrets, a tué son enfant et l’a déposé sur la plage. Charge à la police de retrouver la responsable pour la pendre haut et court.
« Les Silencieuses », met en lumière cette Irlande qui se croyait bienveillante et qui était, en réalité, glaciale pour ses femmes.
Il faut dire qu’Anna McPartlin s’est inspirée d’un fait réel pour écrire ce roman. Je ne vous dirai pas lequel parce que ce n’est pas le sujet du texte. La seule chose à savoir est que l’État irlandais s’est alors trompé dans la désignation de la coupable, et que, des années plus tard, grâce à des preuves ADN, la vérité a pu éclater au grand jour. En inventant le personnage de Mary, l’autrice explore ce qui aurait pu changer ou être évité si l’enquête avait été effectuée par une femme.
En effet, très rapidement, le lecteur se rend compte de la différence de traitement de l’affaire entre les hommes et cette femme. Lorsque l’inspecteur Foley arrive de Dublin, ses certitudes sont déjà faites. Son enquête ne consistera qu’à trouver les preuves qui confirment ce qu’il sait. Peu importe si les scénarios sont abracadabrants et dignes d’un film de science-fiction, il a déjà décidé qui est coupable.
La mécanique de l’enquête est fort bien décrite. D’abord, la photo choisie pour la presse, qui représente la suspecte sous son jour le plus défavorable… Puis, des aveux « arrachés » par des policiers violents prêts à tout. Le tout est articulé autour d’incohérences plus énormes les unes que les autres, qui nous font, nous lecteur, lever les yeux au ciel tant elles sont saugrenues.
Anna McPartlin s’attache à décortiquer la façon dont un système décidé à conclure peut ignorer toutes les preuves contraires, fabriquer une coupable idéale et la livrer à l’opinion publique dans les délais les plus brefs.
Pendant que les chiens aboient, la caravane passe. La caravane, c’est Mary Shea. Elle ne fait pas de coup d’éclat. Elle ne confronte pas Foley frontalement. Elle cherche des preuves consciencieusement. Elle refait les trajets, chronomètre les durées, cherche la précision. Car dans « Les Silencieuses », Mary a développé une véritable capacité d’observation et une patience à toute épreuve. Ce n’est pas parce qu’elle se tait qu’elle est passive. Bien au contraire. Sa force à elle est l’obstination, la discrétion et les résultats. Une main de fer dans un gant de velours, puisqu’à terme, elle devra convaincre.
« Les Silencieuses » est avant tout un roman féministe, au sens le plus concret du terme. Anna McPartlin pose une question simple : qu’est-ce qui change quand c’est une femme qui enquête ? La réponse tient en peu de mots : le regard porté sur la victime. Là où Foley voit une suspecte à confondre, Mary voit une jeune fille qui a accouché seule dans le noir et qui souffre. Ces « silencieuses » du titre désignent toutes celles qui se sont tues, par peur, par honte, par calcul de survie et par peur, dans une société qui punissait celles qui ne marchaient pas droit.
J’ai aimé « Les Silencieuses », car c’est un roman sur le prix de l’honnêteté face à des institutions fermement décidées à se protéger elles-mêmes. Un peu comme en France actuellement… Car l’Irlande catholique de 1980 n’est pas si loin de nous. Ces dernières années, la France a eu ses propres miroirs déplaisants à regarder en face. Des affaires qui ont surtout servi de combustible politique plutôt que de leçon sur les failles du système. Des plaintes déposées pour des faits graves sans que personne ne bouge. Des figures nationales vénérées pendant des décennies dont les actions ont été dénoncées sans aucune conséquence…
Pourtant, Anna McPartlin se garde bien de juger les choix faits, elle se contente de les énoncer et d’en montrer les ambiguïtés. À chacun de se faire sa propre idée. Mentir par omission, enfreindre les règles, jouer le jeu des institutions pour mieux les contourner… La fin justifie-t-elle les moyens ? Car, finalement, dans « Les Silencieuses », Mary ne fait que reproduire ce que les hommes font et de jouer avec leurs armes. La grande différence réside dans la finalité de son entreprise : la recherche de la vérité.
Je ne vais pas vous mentir : c’est certainement le roman d’Anna McPartlin que j’ai le moins aimé. Par rapport aux autres, il m’a manqué un peu d’émotions et de chair. L’ancrage historique est rigoureux, l’intrigue est bien construite, mais je n’ai pas retrouvé ce que j’aime chez cette autrice, des personnages forts dont on se souvient, des sentiments qui viennent vous bousculer. « Les Silencieuses » manque aussi parfois de cette densité sensorielle qui fait les grands romans irlandais.
Cela dit, le roman reste une lecture agréable, Mary Shea est d’une compagnie plaisante, et je n’ai pas senti le fait divers derrière l’histoire. (Reprendre des faits divers dans un roman n’est pas forcément ma tasse de thé.) Le tout est mené avec intelligence et cohérence. C’est déjà pas si mal.
Le récit commence sur une plage, dans une dune que les gens du coin appelleront ensuite « le berceau ». On y a trouvé un nouveau-né mort, enveloppé dans une serviette bleue rêche. Il sera baptisé Crónán par le père Cunningham, appelé en urgence pour accomplir les derniers rituels. Crónán veut dire « petit brun », et c’est un prénom irlandais ancien. La première à arriver sur les lieux est Mary Shea. Vingt-huit ans, grande et blonde, seule femme du commissariat de Nead Mara, Mary Shea va devoir s’imposer pour avoir le droit d’enquêter sur cette affaire.
Pour comprendre « Les Silencieuses », il faut comprendre l’Irlande de 1980. Anna McPartlin la dépeint en une page juste avant le prologue.
« Jusqu’à un passé très récent, notre belle Irlande, si culturellement riche et illustre fût-elle, était glaciale pour les femmes. Les adolescentes des années 1980 y étaient soumises à une société patriarcale dévote, terrifiée par la sexualité féminine et résolue à la contrôler. À cette époque, des événements réels, terribles, mirent en lumière les extrémités auxquelles en étaient arrivés les Irlandais, à quel point la vie était difficile pour les femmes et les jeunes filles, et jusqu’où allait se nicher la cruauté au coeur de l’Église et de l’État irlandais. »
Ainsi, une femme ne pouvait pas exercer un métier si elle se mariait. Mary a donc volontairement renoncé à cet aspect de sa vie pour travailler. Autant dire qu’avoir un enfant hors mariage était impensable : une honte pour sa famille, une pécheresse pour l’Église, une criminelle potentielle pour la justice.
La découverte du bébé Crónán laisse très vite supposer qu’une fille-mère a accouché dans le plus grand des secrets, a tué son enfant et l’a déposé sur la plage. Charge à la police de retrouver la responsable pour la pendre haut et court.
« Les Silencieuses », met en lumière cette Irlande qui se croyait bienveillante et qui était, en réalité, glaciale pour ses femmes.
Il faut dire qu’Anna McPartlin s’est inspirée d’un fait réel pour écrire ce roman. Je ne vous dirai pas lequel parce que ce n’est pas le sujet du texte. La seule chose à savoir est que l’État irlandais s’est alors trompé dans la désignation de la coupable, et que, des années plus tard, grâce à des preuves ADN, la vérité a pu éclater au grand jour. En inventant le personnage de Mary, l’autrice explore ce qui aurait pu changer ou être évité si l’enquête avait été effectuée par une femme.
En effet, très rapidement, le lecteur se rend compte de la différence de traitement de l’affaire entre les hommes et cette femme. Lorsque l’inspecteur Foley arrive de Dublin, ses certitudes sont déjà faites. Son enquête ne consistera qu’à trouver les preuves qui confirment ce qu’il sait. Peu importe si les scénarios sont abracadabrants et dignes d’un film de science-fiction, il a déjà décidé qui est coupable.
La mécanique de l’enquête est fort bien décrite. D’abord, la photo choisie pour la presse, qui représente la suspecte sous son jour le plus défavorable… Puis, des aveux « arrachés » par des policiers violents prêts à tout. Le tout est articulé autour d’incohérences plus énormes les unes que les autres, qui nous font, nous lecteur, lever les yeux au ciel tant elles sont saugrenues.
Anna McPartlin s’attache à décortiquer la façon dont un système décidé à conclure peut ignorer toutes les preuves contraires, fabriquer une coupable idéale et la livrer à l’opinion publique dans les délais les plus brefs.
Pendant que les chiens aboient, la caravane passe. La caravane, c’est Mary Shea. Elle ne fait pas de coup d’éclat. Elle ne confronte pas Foley frontalement. Elle cherche des preuves consciencieusement. Elle refait les trajets, chronomètre les durées, cherche la précision. Car dans « Les Silencieuses », Mary a développé une véritable capacité d’observation et une patience à toute épreuve. Ce n’est pas parce qu’elle se tait qu’elle est passive. Bien au contraire. Sa force à elle est l’obstination, la discrétion et les résultats. Une main de fer dans un gant de velours, puisqu’à terme, elle devra convaincre.
« Les Silencieuses » est avant tout un roman féministe, au sens le plus concret du terme. Anna McPartlin pose une question simple : qu’est-ce qui change quand c’est une femme qui enquête ? La réponse tient en peu de mots : le regard porté sur la victime. Là où Foley voit une suspecte à confondre, Mary voit une jeune fille qui a accouché seule dans le noir et qui souffre. Ces « silencieuses » du titre désignent toutes celles qui se sont tues, par peur, par honte, par calcul de survie et par peur, dans une société qui punissait celles qui ne marchaient pas droit.
J’ai aimé « Les Silencieuses », car c’est un roman sur le prix de l’honnêteté face à des institutions fermement décidées à se protéger elles-mêmes. Un peu comme en France actuellement… Car l’Irlande catholique de 1980 n’est pas si loin de nous. Ces dernières années, la France a eu ses propres miroirs déplaisants à regarder en face. Des affaires qui ont surtout servi de combustible politique plutôt que de leçon sur les failles du système. Des plaintes déposées pour des faits graves sans que personne ne bouge. Des figures nationales vénérées pendant des décennies dont les actions ont été dénoncées sans aucune conséquence…
Pourtant, Anna McPartlin se garde bien de juger les choix faits, elle se contente de les énoncer et d’en montrer les ambiguïtés. À chacun de se faire sa propre idée. Mentir par omission, enfreindre les règles, jouer le jeu des institutions pour mieux les contourner… La fin justifie-t-elle les moyens ? Car, finalement, dans « Les Silencieuses », Mary ne fait que reproduire ce que les hommes font et de jouer avec leurs armes. La grande différence réside dans la finalité de son entreprise : la recherche de la vérité.
Je ne vais pas vous mentir : c’est certainement le roman d’Anna McPartlin que j’ai le moins aimé. Par rapport aux autres, il m’a manqué un peu d’émotions et de chair. L’ancrage historique est rigoureux, l’intrigue est bien construite, mais je n’ai pas retrouvé ce que j’aime chez cette autrice, des personnages forts dont on se souvient, des sentiments qui viennent vous bousculer. « Les Silencieuses » manque aussi parfois de cette densité sensorielle qui fait les grands romans irlandais.
Cela dit, le roman reste une lecture agréable, Mary Shea est d’une compagnie plaisante, et je n’ai pas senti le fait divers derrière l’histoire. (Reprendre des faits divers dans un roman n’est pas forcément ma tasse de thé.) Le tout est mené avec intelligence et cohérence. C’est déjà pas si mal.
April 8, 2026
Un roman policier hyper prenant qui va bien au-delà de l’enquête.
Dans une Irlande encore étouffée par les non-dits, Anna McPartlin met en lumière la place des femmes avec beaucoup de justesse.
C’est fluide, révoltant et profondément humain, porté par un personnage féminin fort que j’ai adoré suivre.
Et honnêtement, j’espère vraiment que ce n’est que le début des aventures de Mary.
Dans une Irlande encore étouffée par les non-dits, Anna McPartlin met en lumière la place des femmes avec beaucoup de justesse.
C’est fluide, révoltant et profondément humain, porté par un personnage féminin fort que j’ai adoré suivre.
Et honnêtement, j’espère vraiment que ce n’est que le début des aventures de Mary.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks to Canelo for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review. I was lucky enough to receive a proof of this at the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Festival 2025.
Oh how this book angered me. Not in terms of the writing or the book itself as if it was a bad book, but at the unfairness in the story. I know it's based 40+ years ago and that was a different time, but the casual sexism and sexual misconduct, homophobia, domestic violence, political unrest - it was so full on that I found myself getting pissed off with it (in the best way).
For me, Mary is the star of this book. She's a female police officer, which in 1980s Ireland was very rare, and unfortunately she is seen as nothing more than a glorified ta maker. But she is good at her job, she wants to help, and she trusts her gut, even if it means standing up to those with more power. She is a star, one of the best written characters I've read.
I was really worried this would be a very sad book. I mean, a dead newborn baby is not exactly ripe for a comedy. It is sad but it doesn't get too uncomfortable, I never felt I had to look away, but I won't pretend, this is a hard book to read. But I think she's balanced it well.
Now I am not a night owl, instead I am a permanently exhausted pigeon who likes to be tucked up in be by 9, and yet I read this into the early hours it was so addictive.
It is full of twists and turns but none feel too much. It keeps you on your toes, and you're not sure who to trust or what to believe.
Whilst this isn't her debut novel, I believe it is her debut thriller, and what an achievement it is. I think she should definitely pursue this more in her future books.
Yes it's about a dead child, that's the heart of the story and we shouldn't forget that. But it's more than that. It's about community, family, friendship, finding your place, standing up for yourself, proving yourself, trusting your instant. Just fabulous.
Oh how this book angered me. Not in terms of the writing or the book itself as if it was a bad book, but at the unfairness in the story. I know it's based 40+ years ago and that was a different time, but the casual sexism and sexual misconduct, homophobia, domestic violence, political unrest - it was so full on that I found myself getting pissed off with it (in the best way).
For me, Mary is the star of this book. She's a female police officer, which in 1980s Ireland was very rare, and unfortunately she is seen as nothing more than a glorified ta maker. But she is good at her job, she wants to help, and she trusts her gut, even if it means standing up to those with more power. She is a star, one of the best written characters I've read.
I was really worried this would be a very sad book. I mean, a dead newborn baby is not exactly ripe for a comedy. It is sad but it doesn't get too uncomfortable, I never felt I had to look away, but I won't pretend, this is a hard book to read. But I think she's balanced it well.
Now I am not a night owl, instead I am a permanently exhausted pigeon who likes to be tucked up in be by 9, and yet I read this into the early hours it was so addictive.
It is full of twists and turns but none feel too much. It keeps you on your toes, and you're not sure who to trust or what to believe.
Whilst this isn't her debut novel, I believe it is her debut thriller, and what an achievement it is. I think she should definitely pursue this more in her future books.
Yes it's about a dead child, that's the heart of the story and we shouldn't forget that. But it's more than that. It's about community, family, friendship, finding your place, standing up for yourself, proving yourself, trusting your instant. Just fabulous.
March 2, 2026
An outstanding story set in 1980's Ireland featuring the very likeable Garda Mary Shea. This multi layered plot involves the shocking murder of a baby whilst depicting the role of a woman police officer coping with the misogynist views of her fellow male colleagues. The raw emotion portrayed by Anna McPartlin is sublime and this harrowing and haunting story has nigh on perfect pacing. Based on a true story, the shockwaves surrounding the crime are poignantly written. There are parts of this story that are heartbreaking and times it will make you angry but above all it's a compelling read and an absolute masterclass from the author
August 19, 2025
Wow. A truly unique story with depth.
August 21, 2025
‘The Silent Ones’, whilst being a fictional story in itself, is based on the real event of 1984 where Baby John, murdered, washed up on a beach in Kerry.
Following Garda Mary Shea’s perspective, this murder mystery and police procedural sees the case of a baby left in a sand dune after being murdered, and the tribulations that follow her and the team she’s working alongside.
A phenomenal read, Anna McPartlin injected raw feeling into this storyline, whilst weaving a clever plot that kept me as a reader gripped and on the edge of my seat throughout.
The impact behind the crime at the heart of the story, intermingled with the importance in continuing to highlight the persecution and suppression of women in 1980s Ireland and beyond made this novel extraordinary. Misogyny and homophobia are also important topics covered throughout, making this a think piece you’ll remember long after turning the last page.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟♾️
Easily a six star read for me, thank you so much to Canelo for my proof copy in exchange for my honest review.
Following Garda Mary Shea’s perspective, this murder mystery and police procedural sees the case of a baby left in a sand dune after being murdered, and the tribulations that follow her and the team she’s working alongside.
A phenomenal read, Anna McPartlin injected raw feeling into this storyline, whilst weaving a clever plot that kept me as a reader gripped and on the edge of my seat throughout.
The impact behind the crime at the heart of the story, intermingled with the importance in continuing to highlight the persecution and suppression of women in 1980s Ireland and beyond made this novel extraordinary. Misogyny and homophobia are also important topics covered throughout, making this a think piece you’ll remember long after turning the last page.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟♾️
Easily a six star read for me, thank you so much to Canelo for my proof copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 4, 2026
Dans une Irlande patriarcale et religieuse à une époque pas si lointaine, un nourrisson est retrouvé mort sur la plage ! Un évènement horrible qui lance la chasse aux sorcières... La policière Mary Shea, seule femme de son équipe, mène l'enquête avec humanité et empathie face au dédain facile et au jugement hâtif des hommes et de l'église... Une histoire bouleversante qui met en lumière la détresse et la culpabilité des femmes et le détachement des hommes ... Les personnages féminins sont attachants, émouvants et j'ai aimé suivre le cheminement de cette enquêtrice déterminée, compréhensive et fondamentalement humaine que j'espère suivre à nouveau dans un prochain roman !
August 30, 2025
An excellent start to a new series - full of emotion and raising some important points - at times it did feel a little like a vehicle to convey a message but it is still a tightly woven emotional read that sets up an intriguing series idea. 4.5* from me
October 6, 2025
I “met” Anna McPartlin over a decade ago when the bookstore I worked at had her books on a display table. I immediately fell in love with her style and prose in Pack up the Moon.
And the location. Yes Yes Yes
But her genre, a label I don't like to use but for easy understanding, chick-lit.
Then in the following years I discovered UK-Ireland police procedurals.
For reasons I can’t fathom or abide by, American publishers change names of UK novels making it difficult, if not impossible to figure out which UK titles we’ve read vs title changes. I admit I sadly gave up because in an email or social media post to the author herself, she wasn’t sure. (Not a diss on the author but on the practice that thinks Americans are too dumb to understand a UK/Ireland title.) So I stopped reading her books.
Years go by. I followed Perez in Shetland, Logan in The Highlands. Grimm in Yorkshire. Walsh in the City of London. And dozens of others when I see McPartlin has switched genres. So here I am. Let’s see what the woman who wrote some of my favorite (using ironically) chick-lit/easy reads that were so very needed and important in that particular time of my life could write about murder and mayhem.
Wowsers! A female lead, in Ireland. In the early 80’s. No DNA, no cell phones, hell, women in the male -dominate workplace are is still a challenge many women couldn’t endure. Kudos. Add in the inspired by true events...wow again.
Then I got angry. I kept reminding myself I was only 5 or 6 when this novel takes place; in a place I didn’t grow up in (me: Southern California), I had to set my “knowledge” aside and endure the anguish Mary Shea had to endure just to be seen competent much less good at her job. F**k, I wanted to punch them all in the face, some more than others.
The case is a hard one and without DNA testing being a thing yet, made the case even more frustrating. I hate how much they just wanted to tidy up the case and move on. Who cares that they're destroying a mostly innocent girl's life, violating the rights of soooooo many. Maybe people didn't have the same rights as they do now, but marching a girl off to the doctor for a physical exam without her consent with not a shred evidence against her is appalling at best and illegal, inhumane, and a violation of her rights are the worst.
Again, I had to keep telling myself that 1. I was a kid when this takes place and don't actually know what my own country was truly like for women then 2. this takes place in Ireland, not the US, so of course there are different laws/procedures, this is still the case today, 3. And from what I can tell, a really small town in Ireland and small towns are always different to big cities and how things are done...but still, I wanted to pull my hair out so many times.
Oh and the whole gay storyline was just fire to the flame of my rage at times in the book, but again, time and place Michelle, time and place.
I got frustrated with Mary so many times. Speak up, fight back, don't compromise, but then I asked myself, what would I be doing in her actual situation, same place, same time, everything, and the answer is, I don't really know.
That's what make this book wonderful. It forced me to think on a whole new level than I normally do in this genre....this is escapist reading and pure entertainment for me but McPartlin not only gave me everything I require in novels of this sort, she made me really think. Looking forward to what's next from McPartlin and Mary Shea.
And the location. Yes Yes Yes
But her genre, a label I don't like to use but for easy understanding, chick-lit.
Then in the following years I discovered UK-Ireland police procedurals.
For reasons I can’t fathom or abide by, American publishers change names of UK novels making it difficult, if not impossible to figure out which UK titles we’ve read vs title changes. I admit I sadly gave up because in an email or social media post to the author herself, she wasn’t sure. (Not a diss on the author but on the practice that thinks Americans are too dumb to understand a UK/Ireland title.) So I stopped reading her books.
Years go by. I followed Perez in Shetland, Logan in The Highlands. Grimm in Yorkshire. Walsh in the City of London. And dozens of others when I see McPartlin has switched genres. So here I am. Let’s see what the woman who wrote some of my favorite (using ironically) chick-lit/easy reads that were so very needed and important in that particular time of my life could write about murder and mayhem.
Wowsers! A female lead, in Ireland. In the early 80’s. No DNA, no cell phones, hell, women in the male -dominate workplace are is still a challenge many women couldn’t endure. Kudos. Add in the inspired by true events...wow again.
Then I got angry. I kept reminding myself I was only 5 or 6 when this novel takes place; in a place I didn’t grow up in (me: Southern California), I had to set my “knowledge” aside and endure the anguish Mary Shea had to endure just to be seen competent much less good at her job. F**k, I wanted to punch them all in the face, some more than others.
The case is a hard one and without DNA testing being a thing yet, made the case even more frustrating. I hate how much they just wanted to tidy up the case and move on. Who cares that they're destroying a mostly innocent girl's life, violating the rights of soooooo many. Maybe people didn't have the same rights as they do now, but marching a girl off to the doctor for a physical exam without her consent with not a shred evidence against her is appalling at best and illegal, inhumane, and a violation of her rights are the worst.
Again, I had to keep telling myself that 1. I was a kid when this takes place and don't actually know what my own country was truly like for women then 2. this takes place in Ireland, not the US, so of course there are different laws/procedures, this is still the case today, 3. And from what I can tell, a really small town in Ireland and small towns are always different to big cities and how things are done...but still, I wanted to pull my hair out so many times.
Oh and the whole gay storyline was just fire to the flame of my rage at times in the book, but again, time and place Michelle, time and place.
I got frustrated with Mary so many times. Speak up, fight back, don't compromise, but then I asked myself, what would I be doing in her actual situation, same place, same time, everything, and the answer is, I don't really know.
That's what make this book wonderful. It forced me to think on a whole new level than I normally do in this genre....this is escapist reading and pure entertainment for me but McPartlin not only gave me everything I require in novels of this sort, she made me really think. Looking forward to what's next from McPartlin and Mary Shea.
August 17, 2025
There were not many women in the Garda in the 80s and the treatment of women was another reason why my parents chose to move to England on top of the economic situation at the time. Heavy on misogyny and Catholic rules in Ireland, we all know this story will not end well for many involved. Pregnant teens were often sent off to 'the laundries' to have their babies and shunned for bringing shame on the family while nuns sold their babies and made them work ridiculous hours for their room and board. Or married off to later pretend the baby was a full size preemie - whether to the father or an arrangement that often ended badly. You couldn't buy contraception over the counter, so you can guess how often this happened too.
As Mary explains early in the book, if she marries, she will have to give up her job so she stays single and makes the tea, types the reports and tries to work her way up to doing anything useful. That is, until one day that one of the other Guards is sick and she rides with Dicey when he gets a call about the body of an infant on the beach.
The small local Garda station know they can't handle a case like this and call for investigators from Dublin. They want it closed, and yesterday. They sweep through the town looking for anyone who may be pregnant before finding a teenager who has been off school for a while. After a violent night at the police station, she is charged despite the facts and her story not adding up. Mary tries her best to see the young woman's side and follow the evidence while not being thrown off the case for being too outspoken.
The ongoing misogyny is hard to read. It is accurate for Ireland in those times (and to some extent, even now). Not just Mary, but the treatment of witnesses, where the fathers are 'poor fellas' while the women are subjected to medical tests to ensure they have not given birth just on the word of teenagers who say they have a boyfriend. But I couldn't put this one down, I wanted to know who the mother was, how the baby ended up at the beach and why so violent.
I really enjoyed Mary's character and it sounds like this may be the first in a series, so looking forward to more investigations with her. Thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for the advance copy for review. The Silent Ones is available on Sept 4th.
As Mary explains early in the book, if she marries, she will have to give up her job so she stays single and makes the tea, types the reports and tries to work her way up to doing anything useful. That is, until one day that one of the other Guards is sick and she rides with Dicey when he gets a call about the body of an infant on the beach.
The small local Garda station know they can't handle a case like this and call for investigators from Dublin. They want it closed, and yesterday. They sweep through the town looking for anyone who may be pregnant before finding a teenager who has been off school for a while. After a violent night at the police station, she is charged despite the facts and her story not adding up. Mary tries her best to see the young woman's side and follow the evidence while not being thrown off the case for being too outspoken.
The ongoing misogyny is hard to read. It is accurate for Ireland in those times (and to some extent, even now). Not just Mary, but the treatment of witnesses, where the fathers are 'poor fellas' while the women are subjected to medical tests to ensure they have not given birth just on the word of teenagers who say they have a boyfriend. But I couldn't put this one down, I wanted to know who the mother was, how the baby ended up at the beach and why so violent.
I really enjoyed Mary's character and it sounds like this may be the first in a series, so looking forward to more investigations with her. Thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for the advance copy for review. The Silent Ones is available on Sept 4th.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
4.5 stars rounded up for a tragic story based on an actual case that happened in 1984 Kerry Ireland.
A quote from the author: "In 1984, the body of a murdered baby boy, Baby John, was washed up on a beach in Kerry. What happened afterwards was tantamount to a witch hunt: a young single mother was erroneously charged with the child's murder, and although the charges were later dropped, the events that followed caused great harm to her and her family. It took the Irish state thirty-six years to formally apologise for the 'appalling hurt and distress caused."
This book has Garda constable Mary Shea and constable Dicey responding to a call of a baby found on a beach. When they arrive, not only is the baby dead, but they realize that the baby was stabbed to death. They call to the office to arrange for a pathologist and detectives from Dublin, about 4 hours away. Mary is able to get a statement from the women who found the baby, after calming her down from a hysterical state.
Foley, the lead detective from Dublin, quickly realizes her ability to coax women into cooperation and decides to take her with him on witness interviews, including possible suspects. This is a departure for the patriarchal viewpoint prevalent in the Garda.
One quote "Aside from the cleaner, who was pushing sixty and came in twice a week, I was the only woman in the station. Women were as welcome in the Irish police force as a fart in a space suit but I had managed to slip in by sheer force of will, sneakiness and the fact that my father was a a high ranking assistant commissioner."
The book has a young woman arrested and charged for murder. Mary is convinced that she is innocent and keeps digging until she puts it together and persuades Foley to work with her. Most of the rest of the station are hostile towards her. There are many twists and false leads, which keep the reader guessing who the killer is.
There is one instance of torture, described after the fact. There are no sex scenes. There is some profanity. If you like a mystery with a strong woman character battling for the truth in a rigid, patriarchal society, then this book is for you!
Thank You Canelo Crime for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss+.
Publication date Mar 17, 2026
A quote from the author: "In 1984, the body of a murdered baby boy, Baby John, was washed up on a beach in Kerry. What happened afterwards was tantamount to a witch hunt: a young single mother was erroneously charged with the child's murder, and although the charges were later dropped, the events that followed caused great harm to her and her family. It took the Irish state thirty-six years to formally apologise for the 'appalling hurt and distress caused."
This book has Garda constable Mary Shea and constable Dicey responding to a call of a baby found on a beach. When they arrive, not only is the baby dead, but they realize that the baby was stabbed to death. They call to the office to arrange for a pathologist and detectives from Dublin, about 4 hours away. Mary is able to get a statement from the women who found the baby, after calming her down from a hysterical state.
Foley, the lead detective from Dublin, quickly realizes her ability to coax women into cooperation and decides to take her with him on witness interviews, including possible suspects. This is a departure for the patriarchal viewpoint prevalent in the Garda.
One quote "Aside from the cleaner, who was pushing sixty and came in twice a week, I was the only woman in the station. Women were as welcome in the Irish police force as a fart in a space suit but I had managed to slip in by sheer force of will, sneakiness and the fact that my father was a a high ranking assistant commissioner."
The book has a young woman arrested and charged for murder. Mary is convinced that she is innocent and keeps digging until she puts it together and persuades Foley to work with her. Most of the rest of the station are hostile towards her. There are many twists and false leads, which keep the reader guessing who the killer is.
There is one instance of torture, described after the fact. There are no sex scenes. There is some profanity. If you like a mystery with a strong woman character battling for the truth in a rigid, patriarchal society, then this book is for you!
Thank You Canelo Crime for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss+.
Publication date Mar 17, 2026
August 1, 2025
My Review –
Huge thanks to Kate at Canelo for so kindly sending me a proof copy of The Silent Ones.
All I can say to this book is WOW! Anna McPartlin is an author I’ve not heard of before; however, when I saw the blurb for The Silent Ones, I just KNEW I would love it, and I was spot on!
Set in a small Irish town in 1980, we follow Garda Mary Shea after she gets called to the body of a baby lying on a beach. What she finds shocks her, her colleagues and the community to its core – a newborn baby stabbed to death.
What follows then is a sharply written and clearly deeply researched novel following Mary as she is brought into the investigation ( as the only female Garda in the station this causes a few issues!), and how she fights every step of the way to keep hers and the victims around her, safe from the rife mysongny that is prevelant amongst her male colleagues. The way Anna has written what Mary endures on a daily basis from her male colleagues is frankly amazing and had me getting really blooming angry and shouting at some of the male characters in the book! Having been a Traffic Warden in the UK in 1990 for 12 years, I can tell you that what Mary experiences is only half of what females were subjected to. Even 10 years late,r it was still rife in the UK, and there was the ever-present “Old Boys Club” in every station!
This is a story that is based on truth, and you can feel the shock waves erupting off the page when you reach the frankly gripping conclusion! I really enjoyed The Silent Ones, it kept me gripped from the opening pages, the cast of characters was fairly large but all were superbly described and there is a real sense of darkness and light in this novel, and amongst other things it has a heart.
This will be a series, I believe, and I can’t wait to read the second book and find out where Mary Shea goes next. A fantastically gripping 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read.
Huge thanks to Kate at Canelo for so kindly sending me a proof copy of The Silent Ones.
All I can say to this book is WOW! Anna McPartlin is an author I’ve not heard of before; however, when I saw the blurb for The Silent Ones, I just KNEW I would love it, and I was spot on!
Set in a small Irish town in 1980, we follow Garda Mary Shea after she gets called to the body of a baby lying on a beach. What she finds shocks her, her colleagues and the community to its core – a newborn baby stabbed to death.
What follows then is a sharply written and clearly deeply researched novel following Mary as she is brought into the investigation ( as the only female Garda in the station this causes a few issues!), and how she fights every step of the way to keep hers and the victims around her, safe from the rife mysongny that is prevelant amongst her male colleagues. The way Anna has written what Mary endures on a daily basis from her male colleagues is frankly amazing and had me getting really blooming angry and shouting at some of the male characters in the book! Having been a Traffic Warden in the UK in 1990 for 12 years, I can tell you that what Mary experiences is only half of what females were subjected to. Even 10 years late,r it was still rife in the UK, and there was the ever-present “Old Boys Club” in every station!
This is a story that is based on truth, and you can feel the shock waves erupting off the page when you reach the frankly gripping conclusion! I really enjoyed The Silent Ones, it kept me gripped from the opening pages, the cast of characters was fairly large but all were superbly described and there is a real sense of darkness and light in this novel, and amongst other things it has a heart.
This will be a series, I believe, and I can’t wait to read the second book and find out where Mary Shea goes next. A fantastically gripping 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read.
July 6, 2026
THE SILENT ONES is a heavy book. How can it not be when the story is centered around the brutal murder of an infant? If you can get beyond that, the novel is a riveting read. The 1980s rural Ireland setting is so atmospheric that you can feel its suffocating weight, especially when it comes to its most vulnerable population: females. McPartlin brings their plight to the fore, making for a very thought-provoking tale that examines sexism in the workplace, unwed motherhood, domestic violence, and more. As Garda Mary O'Shea fights to be seen in a male-dominated career field while also battling to protect those in her town who need it most, she represents all the women who have fought—and are still fighting—to be taken seriously. She's an admirable heroine as well as a likable and relatable one. It's easy to root for her success. As far as plot goes, there is plenty of tension and conflict going on in THE SILENT ONES. The story is engrossing. Even though I saw the killer coming, I still buzzed through this book in a day because I was so invested in the story, always wanting to know what was going to happen next. While this novel is not an easy read or a happy one, there are moments of both levity and triumph to balance out the darker, more depressing bits. In spite of the book's heavy content, I found this book to be absorbing, evocative, and thought-provoking. I will 100% be reading the next book in the series when it comes out in 2027.
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder invectives), violence, sexual innuendo, and disturbing subject matter
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder invectives), violence, sexual innuendo, and disturbing subject matter
August 25, 2025
Generally readable, sometimes infuriating and about a time when things were different!
In full
This is the story of the murder of a newborn baby, stabbed many times and left on a beach, and the Garda Mary Shea who is first on the scene. She is very much the lone female in a very male world of the Garda. The story is inspired by a real event in 1984 when Baby John is washed up on a beach in Kerry and I was aware of this true story before I read this book. This story is set in 1984 and, as always, "times were different then". The treatment of almost everyone by the Garda varies from bad to appalling in my mind (you have been warned!). The story follows the Garda attempts to find the murderer and Mary's point to and look at all the evidence.
As the local Garda are not well staffed nor have any real detectives the "Dublin Boys" are called in to deal with this investigation which is getting a lot of coverage in a shocked nation. Detective Matt Foley leads the investigation (a "tricky fecker"!) and Mary does her best to stay involved. The local Garda are looked down on by the Dublin Boys (And Mary is looked down on by the local Garda…) so there are tensions from the start. There are twists and turns, some more possible than others. I do realise that this was a "different time" (and that the real Baby John case was badly mishandled) however some of the things said/done are simply crazy and often offensive.
I spent quite a bit of my time reading this frustrated. There is a good story here. However the appalling behaviour of some of the characters really annoyed me even if it might be the way it was. Mary herself seemed to flip from time to time. At times she was a clear headed thoughtful Garda; at times she seemed determined to play the stereotypical woman that the men assumed she had to be. There is homophobia here too; something some may be concerned about - again extremely different attitudes in the era in Ireland.
I would never have stopped reading this and - in the main - I really liked Mary as a character. Probably the only other good character for me would have been Matt Foley in that he wasn't as bad as the others and did sometime listen and think. I've read a previous book by this author and I did enjoy that more I think although it was some time ago. I would almost certainly read another one of McPartlin's books too. I found the first half of this rather slow however it certainly got better. 3.5/5
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
This is the story of the murder of a newborn baby, stabbed many times and left on a beach, and the Garda Mary Shea who is first on the scene. She is very much the lone female in a very male world of the Garda. The story is inspired by a real event in 1984 when Baby John is washed up on a beach in Kerry and I was aware of this true story before I read this book. This story is set in 1984 and, as always, "times were different then". The treatment of almost everyone by the Garda varies from bad to appalling in my mind (you have been warned!). The story follows the Garda attempts to find the murderer and Mary's point to and look at all the evidence.
As the local Garda are not well staffed nor have any real detectives the "Dublin Boys" are called in to deal with this investigation which is getting a lot of coverage in a shocked nation. Detective Matt Foley leads the investigation (a "tricky fecker"!) and Mary does her best to stay involved. The local Garda are looked down on by the Dublin Boys (And Mary is looked down on by the local Garda…) so there are tensions from the start. There are twists and turns, some more possible than others. I do realise that this was a "different time" (and that the real Baby John case was badly mishandled) however some of the things said/done are simply crazy and often offensive.
I spent quite a bit of my time reading this frustrated. There is a good story here. However the appalling behaviour of some of the characters really annoyed me even if it might be the way it was. Mary herself seemed to flip from time to time. At times she was a clear headed thoughtful Garda; at times she seemed determined to play the stereotypical woman that the men assumed she had to be. There is homophobia here too; something some may be concerned about - again extremely different attitudes in the era in Ireland.
I would never have stopped reading this and - in the main - I really liked Mary as a character. Probably the only other good character for me would have been Matt Foley in that he wasn't as bad as the others and did sometime listen and think. I've read a previous book by this author and I did enjoy that more I think although it was some time ago. I would almost certainly read another one of McPartlin's books too. I found the first half of this rather slow however it certainly got better. 3.5/5
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
Review of advance copy
I enjoyed "The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes" and it's sequel so as an avid crime fiction fan I was interested to see what the author's first foray into the genre would be like. This did not disappoint. It had the intense characters and emotions I loved in her previous books but with the intrigue of a crime story added.
The setting of early 1980's Ireland was portrayed in all it's "glory". The power of the church, the power men had over women is shown in a very real way. The main character of Garda Mary Shea came across strongly, she felt very strong willed and determined to go against the grain but also deeply emotional & caring, given how she interacted with the women in the town.
This was a very fraught storyline, with it being about the death of a baby, that was found in the sand dunes, so not for the faint hearted, the emotion around the discovery, by the dog walker and Garda Mary Shea, is very detailed and heartbreaking.
I really felt for each female character as they were subjected to suspicion and questioning.
The misogyny that Mary had to deal with from her male colleagues felt very real as it was portrayed There was added emotion around the struggles of Seamus and Tommy's relationship as homosexuality was illegal in Ireland in 1980, Mary showing her support and caring by helping them as much as she could.
This is hopefully a great start to the series and I'm looking forward to more in the future, to see how Mary's career progresses.
The setting of early 1980's Ireland was portrayed in all it's "glory". The power of the church, the power men had over women is shown in a very real way. The main character of Garda Mary Shea came across strongly, she felt very strong willed and determined to go against the grain but also deeply emotional & caring, given how she interacted with the women in the town.
This was a very fraught storyline, with it being about the death of a baby, that was found in the sand dunes, so not for the faint hearted, the emotion around the discovery, by the dog walker and Garda Mary Shea, is very detailed and heartbreaking.
I really felt for each female character as they were subjected to suspicion and questioning.
The misogyny that Mary had to deal with from her male colleagues felt very real as it was portrayed There was added emotion around the struggles of Seamus and Tommy's relationship as homosexuality was illegal in Ireland in 1980, Mary showing her support and caring by helping them as much as she could.
This is hopefully a great start to the series and I'm looking forward to more in the future, to see how Mary's career progresses.
August 13, 2025
Anna McPartlin’s The Silent Ones is the kind of crime novel that doesn’t just grip you—it unsettles you in the best way. Set in 1980s Kerry, it opens with a chilling discovery: the body of a newborn tucked into a sand dune on a cold January morning. From there, the story unfolds with quiet urgency, drawing us into a community steeped in secrets and silence.
Mary Shea, the local Garda first on the scene, is a breath of fresh air in the genre. She’s intuitive, compassionate, and just ahead of her time—exactly the kind of character you want to follow into the darkest corners of a mystery. As she joins forces with Dublin’s major crimes unit, the investigation becomes more than just a hunt for a killer; it’s a reckoning with the hidden lives and unspoken truths of a small town.
McPartlin’s writing is elegant and restrained, letting the emotional weight of the story speak for itself. The atmosphere is rich, the pacing deliberate, and the tension quietly relentless. It’s not flashy—it’s thoughtful, haunting, and deeply human.
If you’re drawn to crime fiction that balances suspense with soul, The Silent Ones is a standout. It’s the beginning of a series, and if Mary Shea is leading the way, I’ll be following.
With thanks to Anna McPartlin, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Mary Shea, the local Garda first on the scene, is a breath of fresh air in the genre. She’s intuitive, compassionate, and just ahead of her time—exactly the kind of character you want to follow into the darkest corners of a mystery. As she joins forces with Dublin’s major crimes unit, the investigation becomes more than just a hunt for a killer; it’s a reckoning with the hidden lives and unspoken truths of a small town.
McPartlin’s writing is elegant and restrained, letting the emotional weight of the story speak for itself. The atmosphere is rich, the pacing deliberate, and the tension quietly relentless. It’s not flashy—it’s thoughtful, haunting, and deeply human.
If you’re drawn to crime fiction that balances suspense with soul, The Silent Ones is a standout. It’s the beginning of a series, and if Mary Shea is leading the way, I’ll be following.
With thanks to Anna McPartlin, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
November 15, 2025
The first in the Mary Shea Murders Series and it is 1980 where on a beach in Kerry a baby boy if found dead; violently stabbed. It is a massive shock to the local community, the local police and indeed the whole of Ireland.
Briefly, 28 year old Garda Mary Shea is first on the scene and she is later taken on as one of the major crimes team run by detective Matt Foley, who have been brought in from Dublin, to manage this horrific crime. Very quickly a suspect is identified and arrested and although Mary is convinced the girl is innocent, she is treated as a joke by the misogynistic major crimes team.
Welcome to a world that it is hard to believe actually existed, particularly in regard to the male attitudes to both women in general and gay people in particular. Mary is a very strong women, resilient when dealing with her stubborn colleagues, using humour as a coping mechanism. She was a lot nicer than I would have been. As Mary struggles to find her way forward the case gets darker and darker with a shocking climax. A sobering read in many ways but what an engaging and compelling story.
Briefly, 28 year old Garda Mary Shea is first on the scene and she is later taken on as one of the major crimes team run by detective Matt Foley, who have been brought in from Dublin, to manage this horrific crime. Very quickly a suspect is identified and arrested and although Mary is convinced the girl is innocent, she is treated as a joke by the misogynistic major crimes team.
Welcome to a world that it is hard to believe actually existed, particularly in regard to the male attitudes to both women in general and gay people in particular. Mary is a very strong women, resilient when dealing with her stubborn colleagues, using humour as a coping mechanism. She was a lot nicer than I would have been. As Mary struggles to find her way forward the case gets darker and darker with a shocking climax. A sobering read in many ways but what an engaging and compelling story.
September 2, 2025
Anna McPartlin is one of my favourite authors, and I was very interested to see she had written a police investigation/murder book.
Set in Ireland in 1980, Mary Shea is a guard with the local force. Her gender means she's constantly judged, and it's assumed she's not capable of the job.
Until a baby is found on a beach, murdered. When the 'Dublin boys' arrive to take over the investigation, Foley, who is in charge, understands how a woman will be key to finding who the mother was.
I have to say I was shocked at the appalling way women were treated back then. Although not surprised. I grew up in the 70s and 80s and know how sexist that time was. some might say we haven't progressed muc, but I hope we have.
I love Mary. She had a gutsy attitude and although at time, doubted hersel, pushed on throug, and stood up for what was right.
The story it's self was a real page turner. I guessed who the mother wa, but there was a twist that I won't give away. I'll be looking forward to the next Mary Shea book.
Set in Ireland in 1980, Mary Shea is a guard with the local force. Her gender means she's constantly judged, and it's assumed she's not capable of the job.
Until a baby is found on a beach, murdered. When the 'Dublin boys' arrive to take over the investigation, Foley, who is in charge, understands how a woman will be key to finding who the mother was.
I have to say I was shocked at the appalling way women were treated back then. Although not surprised. I grew up in the 70s and 80s and know how sexist that time was. some might say we haven't progressed muc, but I hope we have.
I love Mary. She had a gutsy attitude and although at time, doubted hersel, pushed on throug, and stood up for what was right.
The story it's self was a real page turner. I guessed who the mother wa, but there was a twist that I won't give away. I'll be looking forward to the next Mary Shea book.
October 17, 2025
This is my first read by Anna McPartlin but it won't be my last. The Silent Ones is a Irish Crime Thriller, Mystery&Suspense, Small town vibes, emotional & shocking and plot twists
The body of an innocent baby is found at the beach, it shakes Ireland to its core. Local police, Garda Mary Shea is first on the scene. such a crime has the Dublin Major Crimes Team arriving to investigate. Because of the way females cooperate with Mary, lead detective Matt Foley allows her to join him as he navigates this delicate case. As they investigate, more harrowing secrets are revealed. what is really going on and whole could harm an innocent baby?
I was hooked on this book and devoured in two days. I will look for more books by Anna McPartlin.
There were parts of the story that made me sad, it's emotional but such a good read..
Thanks to NetGalley, Canelo Crime Publishers, Author Anna McPartlin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#NetGalley
#TheSilentOnes
#AnnaMcPartlin
#CaneloCrimePublications
The body of an innocent baby is found at the beach, it shakes Ireland to its core. Local police, Garda Mary Shea is first on the scene. such a crime has the Dublin Major Crimes Team arriving to investigate. Because of the way females cooperate with Mary, lead detective Matt Foley allows her to join him as he navigates this delicate case. As they investigate, more harrowing secrets are revealed. what is really going on and whole could harm an innocent baby?
I was hooked on this book and devoured in two days. I will look for more books by Anna McPartlin.
There were parts of the story that made me sad, it's emotional but such a good read..
Thanks to NetGalley, Canelo Crime Publishers, Author Anna McPartlin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#NetGalley
#TheSilentOnes
#AnnaMcPartlin
#CaneloCrimePublications
Review of advance copy
A tough read but well worth it. Many Irish people have heard of the tragic case of the Kerry babies, and the awful treatment of women by the Gardaí involved in investigating the case.I was too young to be aware of the case at the time, but it’s been in the news and on social media many times in the recent past. The details of the investigation are bizarre to anyone in modern Ireland, the insane theories of the investigators are beyond rational belief.
Reading this fictional book gives a very well written, but often unpleasant insight into the way things were, how women were treated professionally and socially, and how few rights they had in so many ways. Mary’s treatment by the other Gardaí, the outright pervert local doctor, the lurid way the press deal with the suspected young girls are all very familiar and ring true.
For me, the author dealt with the issues sympathetically and with great craft in creating a fictional story from such a horrific true happening. Definitely one for any Irish person to read, not just women. I’ll be looking out for the next book in this series.
Reading this fictional book gives a very well written, but often unpleasant insight into the way things were, how women were treated professionally and socially, and how few rights they had in so many ways. Mary’s treatment by the other Gardaí, the outright pervert local doctor, the lurid way the press deal with the suspected young girls are all very familiar and ring true.
For me, the author dealt with the issues sympathetically and with great craft in creating a fictional story from such a horrific true happening. Definitely one for any Irish person to read, not just women. I’ll be looking out for the next book in this series.
October 22, 2025
Set in a small town in County Kerry in the 80s, Mary is a rarity for that time and place, a woman Garda. Her life is plagued by misogyny and she is not really taken seriously in her role by the rest of the team. It makes for shocking reading as a case is pieced together and witnesses abused so that they say what the detectives want to hear. Small town Ireland in the early 80s was full of prejudice, against women trying to make a career, homosexuality and the right to be seen and treated as equals.
I found parts of the book difficult, the baby victims, police brutality and the attitudes to women. The pace is fairly slow to get going, but does pick up later in the book. Characterizations are done well. Shocking that such attitudes prevailed within my adult lifetime. The different threads do come together and although I liked Mary and her attitude, I was frustrated by the limitations posed upon her. I`ll definately look out for more in this series.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
I found parts of the book difficult, the baby victims, police brutality and the attitudes to women. The pace is fairly slow to get going, but does pick up later in the book. Characterizations are done well. Shocking that such attitudes prevailed within my adult lifetime. The different threads do come together and although I liked Mary and her attitude, I was frustrated by the limitations posed upon her. I`ll definately look out for more in this series.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
July 2, 2026
I'm torn about this one. I listened to the audio book and it's narrated by one of my favourite narrators (her voice is perfection), which I think goes a long way to explaining why I enjoyed it. The story felt very moralizing and a bit forced: "look at all the sexism, so bad" — but the book itself feels a little sexist because it's all about showing how the main character, the only female cop, is so caring and emotional. And don't get me started on the amount of times the main character dwells on the death of the baby got pretty tedious, even to the point of feeling very anti-abortion. Overall it was not a bad plot but it was very melodramatic and I disliked the main character. The one thing I liked about her was that she was sometimes shown to be quite flawed, too (being initially judgmental of a teenage girl who had sex; and of her gay friend). But it wasn't enough to keep the yawns away.
September 11, 2025
I believe that this is the first in a series which I will definitely be reading. Set in 1980 we follow Garda Mary Shea who has joined the police force which is predominantly male . The novel follows the case of a baby found dead in a sand dune ,and Mary is on the team to find out what has happened and who has done it. She is constantly up against male bravado and the treatment of women is appalling. She is determined to not let them get to her and all through the book she does not believe the accused is guilty. She is a feisty character and stands her ground most of the time . She has to ignore the police brutality and the sexual innuendos that she encounters . The actual mystery is good and I was left wondering where it was going . Friendships are formed and she tries to make a difference . And a side note this is loosely based on a true event that happened .
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