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A priest in stabbed and set on fire in a small church outside Belfast. DCI Ian Wilson and his colleagues in the Belfast Murder Squad suspect a sectarian motive. Whilst investigating this gruesome murder Wilson finds himself trapped in a labyrinth of lies and deceit. The Catholic Church and his own hierarchy conspire to impede his investigation at every turn. But Wilson has other problems. An internal investigation threatens to put his career as a PSNI officer at risk.

Another priest is murdered, seemingly without motive, and it looks like Wilson is dealing with the work of a psychopathic serial killer who is working to a plan. Wilson needs all his focus to find him before he completes it.

335 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 2014

93 people are currently reading
353 people want to read

About the author

Derek Fee

48 books43 followers
I was born in Ireland and after graduating in engineering and business I decided that I wanted to see the world. With Shell International Petroeum and the National Iranian Oil Company I worked in England, Holland and Iran. As an international diplomat I lived in Belgium, Malta, Kenya and Zambia. I had the great good fortune to have a career which fulfilled all my travel desires. Since retiring in 2011, I have been living on the West Coast of Ireland and I've been writing full time. I love reading and concentrate on thrillers and history.

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5 stars
245 (52%)
4 stars
170 (36%)
3 stars
46 (9%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Gary Van Cott.
1,446 reviews8 followers
December 12, 2015
Overall I thought this was a good book. The characters are excellent. However, the plot is too similar to the first book and it has a lot of typos.
Profile Image for P..
1,486 reviews10 followers
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August 23, 2017
Not rating it. It's just a bit of a heads-up for those who like procedure in a procedural.

After a longish intro settling Wilson into a new life, we advance on the scene of the crime where Wilson is examining the body wearing a bunny suit, and a hard hat. Really who needs gloves? Or booties? Or any of that stuff? Like an ME, or a pathologist, or even a mere Doc, any of whom should have dibs on the corpse at the scene, then send it to the lab. The SIO is supposed to check for signs of life, not ransack the evidence.

Then he sends his DC [a temp ] to the victim's residence [which hasn't been searched] to look for some DNA, he suggests a hair or 'something' since 'the forensics are bugger all use'. Which can surprise no one.

It might get better, probably couldn't get worse, but I stopped reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Carolyn Kisler.
16 reviews
November 1, 2022
second book in a great series

Ian Wilson stands tall literally among many police detectives in novels. A former rugby hero, he has found his calling as chief investigator of the Murder Squad in Belfast. His boss is his worst enemy, determined to end his career, but Ian forges on. Add his recovered love, once lost, Kate and a spunky, tenacious colleague named Moira—his respect for women’s abilities shines. A dead, burned priest in a burned church and church leaders working to cover up sins of the past. And a killer who is spiraling out and you have a book full of suspense and surprise.
36 reviews
May 10, 2017
A good read

If you like UK crime dramas, you'll like this book. The characters are believable and well-developed. The pace was much better in this book than the first in the series. There were also fewer typos and no egregious errors -- not that there were egregious errors in the first in the series, but there are in many indie books. I like to support indie authors, and I will continue to buy books by this author.
1,181 reviews6 followers
January 11, 2023
AN Excellent Story.

This is the second book that I have read by Derek and it is every bit as good as the first. A story that I could not out down and was only interrupted when my kindle ran out of power. It was charged within hours to enable me to finish it. Good strong characters and an intriguing story line. I have already purchased the next book in the series and look forward to reading many more.
7,776 reviews50 followers
March 15, 2019
D C Wilson working a case in Belfast, a priest has been killed within the Catholic Church. Then another, the author gave us the depth of the killer, he seemed tortured by sins. Felt only way to redeemed himself was by doing this, His story flows, beginning with the first in this series. The characters are good, human, convincing in what they do. A good series.
11 reviews
January 4, 2025
Another clinker!

Unfortunately when you live in Northern Ireland the motif was fairly obvious. The identity of the killer and how many other victims there would be, less so. It was interesting to see how much the top brass wanted rid of Wilson, and very satisfying to see how they got their come uppance! As was expected the slippery auld bishop turned everything around!
Profile Image for Robert.
1,342 reviews3 followers
June 11, 2018
Another ok mystery in Dublin. Not as gritty as some detective stories from there, but an ok level of complexity. Fee, so far, has a fixation on the evils of Catholic hierarchy and he lets characters live past this book, to potentially be players in future installments.
Profile Image for Tina.
1,298 reviews9 followers
November 27, 2018
I just can't get enough of DCI wilson.
This book was executed brilliantly. Solving a.series of murders involving priests. In a game to catch the killer before they murder again and to find the reasoning behind the murders uncovers a horrible truth.
Couldn't put the book down 🙂
323 reviews1 follower
July 19, 2021
OK

A good read,settling down to some well formed characters,and no serial killers so far.Ireland doesn't sound like a place I want to visit but interesting to hear the history of it.
Profile Image for Leona Mccarthy.
28 reviews2 followers
July 15, 2017
Excellent book. Good writing. Maintained my interest from start to finish.
Profile Image for Nick Wilson.
154 reviews
September 29, 2019
Great follow up, love the northern Irish polotics and story, can't wait to read the next installment of the series
Profile Image for Lynn.
45 reviews2 followers
January 20, 2020
Couldn’t put it down! Another great book.
Profile Image for alice Tileston.
741 reviews5 followers
March 9, 2020
Recieved free for review:
Well written, fast paced and grabbed my interest right away!
Hope to read more by this author♡
Profile Image for Gary Blair.
5 reviews
October 25, 2020
Another brilliant book by Derek Fee - his characters are outstanding and the plot fascinating.
Profile Image for Jack.
2,892 reviews26 followers
December 19, 2021
Interesting Belfast based crime thriller that begins with the burning of a church.
4 reviews
August 19, 2023
GOOD READ

Authors plotting is always solid. Conflict with hierarchy and Church made sense. Characters were well-done. He is a master of the storyline.
4 reviews
March 15, 2017
Another great read.

Couldn't put the book down read it all in one go
Derek has a great way of getting things across
Love Ian Wilson and his young female Catholic detective
Look forward to reading more of his works






Profile Image for Marissa.
3,592 reviews48 followers
March 26, 2015
Goodreads Win Signed Copy

DCI Ian Wilson and the rest of his colleagues of Belfast Murder Squad find themselves investigating the murder of a local Catholic parish priest and the burning of the church. As he tries to investigate the murder, he finds himself in a middle of a cover up by the higher ups in the Catholic diocese and that of his own PSNI which wants to destroy his own career.

We watch as he tries to seek the truth behind the mysterious priest whose past is semi missing and what the Catholic Church is trying to hide and does not want the media to know. Thrown in their hiring his live in girlfriend Kate as an expensive attorney trying to cause possible breach of interesting.

But when another priest is murder, he wonders if there is a serial killer on hand as he tries to find the tie between these murders or was it just randomness. Can he figured out who the killer is before another priest is murdered?

A riveting read the readers will enjoy from page to page in this second book in the series.
Profile Image for Rich Turner.
9 reviews8 followers
March 22, 2016
I've read all of Catriona King's books on the murder squad of the Ulster Constabulary and Fee's novel on this group is their equal. What is fascinating is that both the Hierarchy of the police and the Catholic Church are equally nasty and disgusting. The men at the top have no concern for justice or for men's souls. Pure political power is what they all crave. I'm sure that Cardinal Mahoney, here in LA, and the Ulster bishop both believed covering up the rapes by priests of children was just part of the job and felt no guilt
In moving priests around who were pedophiles. DCI Wilson is a man of integrity who survives in the hierarchy and does a fine job despite the corruption around him. This novel brings to mind the movie Spotlight and the unbelievable behavior of people who had power over innocent children. The only hope is that Pope Francis can start to clean up a church that desperately needs his guidance.
147 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2015
Corruption

DCI Wilson is a man with problems. A senior member of the police is desperate to get him off the force and now a priest has been murdered and the Catholic Church wants Wilson gone. This is an "open mystery" and we know perpetrator very early on and his motive is not difficult to guess. The only suspense is what will happen to who and how Wilson will fend off his enemies. The investigation itself is believable and fairly interesting. On the other hand, Wilson's perfect love interest is not. Having every woman become instantly infatuated with the inspector is the stuff juvenile fantasies are made of.
11 reviews
November 29, 2016
So Happy I Found This Series

Derek Fee's Wilson series has become one of my favorites. His protagonist is very likable, despite his flaws. I enjoy novels more when I learn about other countries or history. I began knowing nothing much about the legal system in Ireland or anything about the troubles. I take the time to look things up when I don't understand a reference or term, so I feel I now have a foundation in those subjects after reading his books. The stories are quite interesting, and diverse. The characters are well written and convincing; their relationships realistic and believable. I highly recommend this series to anyone who values a good read.
Profile Image for Nicola.
180 reviews28 followers
January 8, 2015
Really enjoyed it. Found it difficult to set down.

There were a few issues though. I felt that the story was perhaps a little bit too similar to 'Nothing but Memories' in some ways. I also had some difficulty placing what time it was set. Having read book 1 I thought it was set quite soon after the Peace Process in Northern Ireland, but this book talks about using iPhone etc. which weren't around at the time - little details like that distracted me a bit.

Otherwise I thought it was great. I hope there will be more books in the series.
Profile Image for Angelia Turner.
14 reviews7 followers
February 27, 2016
DCI Wilson comes out on top again!

Shadow Sins is the second book in the DCI Wilson series. Mr. Fee is on a roll! These are intense and exciting crime novels. I encourage you to read them.
That said, I must comment on the mistakes, by Kindle translation (I'm sure). I don't know the process that occurs when a book is set up for Kindle but it is SO frustrating to read through the extra words (the the man said...) And grammatical errors abound. Any author deserves better. Come on, Amazon!
Profile Image for Marie Shirley Griffin.
808 reviews10 followers
March 17, 2016
Interesting

I am giving it 4 stars because I enjoyed most of it. Like most people, especially those of us who are not Catholic, but know a victim of the Church's abuse, this book puts things into sad perspective.
28 reviews
October 26, 2016
Great boom

I loved this book! I have recently been reading this particular genre and I love Derek Fee's books and cannot wait to start the next one.
I read 3-5 books per week and am always looking for new authors.
1 review
April 20, 2016
Love Ian Wilson!

Character development improves w/ each book. Good plot lines. I love it when the author makes me care about the characters.
Profile Image for Betsy.
1,133 reviews144 followers
April 28, 2016
Okay but too predictable in motive for murder and Wilson's personal life.
171 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2016
Shadow sins

Another well rewritten book. Belfast has a troubled past but it also has one of the best local police forces.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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