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Reported Missing
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 9, 2026
Reported Missing by Joseph Birchall just published with Poolbeg Press and is described as ‘a dark and addictive detective crime thriller with shocking twists and hidden truths'. It is the second book in the Detective Darcy Doyle series, following on from Birchall’s brilliant debut In Plain Sight, and it is safe to say it is another cracker.
It is the middle of December when four-year-old Alfie’s father can’t locate him following a local hurling session in the park. Alfie loves to puck a ball but his dad would rather be watching a soccer match. When his attention waivers, he loses track of Alfie amidst all the helmeted little GAA players. After the final whistle blows there is no trace of Alfie. He has vanished.
Detective Sergeant Darcy Doyle and her partner Detective Inspector Mick Kelly are appointed as lead investigators. There is a window of opportunity when a child goes missing and with the clock ticking fast, their chances of finding Alfie alive are getting slimmer by the hour. When an unexpected and very tragic discovery is made in the Dublin mountains, they soon realise that something much more sinister is at play.
As the clock moves forward the pressure is on, with both Doyle and Kelly working the case hard. They follow up every lead, chasing down every possible piece of evidence. In the midst of their missing child case they are informed by their boss of a series of murders that leads them down a very unsettling trail. Frank Kavanagh, a well-known crime boss, seems to be in someway connected to these murders but where is the link and why is Doyle so affected by it?
After a particularly tough start in life, Doyle’s ambition was always to work within the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI). Being partnered with Kelly is risky to her reputation but she also knows that beneath his demons and his tough demeanour is a good cop who seeks justice and the truth. Kelly is old-school with his ear close to the ground. He knows whose buttons to push and how to ask for information. Unfortunately for Darcy, some of his more unsavoury contacts are individuals that she herself knows all too well. Both are professionals but both are also struggling personally causing sleepless nights and cranky heads.
The interweaving of the professional and personal lives of Doyle and Kelly is seamlessly integrated into the plot, with sufficient back-story to allow new readers to the series to keep up. Moving at full-throttle over one week in December, Reported Missing is an action-packed story that never lets up. Like In Plain Sight, it is another riveting police procedural/crime fiction novel. This really is a gem of a series with great characters and stellar plots – do check these books out!!
It is the middle of December when four-year-old Alfie’s father can’t locate him following a local hurling session in the park. Alfie loves to puck a ball but his dad would rather be watching a soccer match. When his attention waivers, he loses track of Alfie amidst all the helmeted little GAA players. After the final whistle blows there is no trace of Alfie. He has vanished.
Detective Sergeant Darcy Doyle and her partner Detective Inspector Mick Kelly are appointed as lead investigators. There is a window of opportunity when a child goes missing and with the clock ticking fast, their chances of finding Alfie alive are getting slimmer by the hour. When an unexpected and very tragic discovery is made in the Dublin mountains, they soon realise that something much more sinister is at play.
As the clock moves forward the pressure is on, with both Doyle and Kelly working the case hard. They follow up every lead, chasing down every possible piece of evidence. In the midst of their missing child case they are informed by their boss of a series of murders that leads them down a very unsettling trail. Frank Kavanagh, a well-known crime boss, seems to be in someway connected to these murders but where is the link and why is Doyle so affected by it?
After a particularly tough start in life, Doyle’s ambition was always to work within the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI). Being partnered with Kelly is risky to her reputation but she also knows that beneath his demons and his tough demeanour is a good cop who seeks justice and the truth. Kelly is old-school with his ear close to the ground. He knows whose buttons to push and how to ask for information. Unfortunately for Darcy, some of his more unsavoury contacts are individuals that she herself knows all too well. Both are professionals but both are also struggling personally causing sleepless nights and cranky heads.
The interweaving of the professional and personal lives of Doyle and Kelly is seamlessly integrated into the plot, with sufficient back-story to allow new readers to the series to keep up. Moving at full-throttle over one week in December, Reported Missing is an action-packed story that never lets up. Like In Plain Sight, it is another riveting police procedural/crime fiction novel. This really is a gem of a series with great characters and stellar plots – do check these books out!!
May 31, 2026
This is the second in the series and it's another gripping read. Darcy and Mick take the lead when a young boy goes missing and things appear even more grim with the discovery of the body of a young boy. When it appears that this is not the missing boy, they find a connection to someone who had a similar child and who seems to be blackmailing multiple people.
It is a complex read and I love the interactions with various local gangsters. The involvement of a killer for hire from Estonia escalates things further and I really enjoyed those scenes. On the home front, Darcy has her estranged mother to contend with as well as her injured boyfriend Sean who is struggling to come to terms with his paralysis. Mick also has some great scenes with his neighbour and also with his son and daughter. I really enjoyed this and it's shaping up to be a brilliant series.
It is a complex read and I love the interactions with various local gangsters. The involvement of a killer for hire from Estonia escalates things further and I really enjoyed those scenes. On the home front, Darcy has her estranged mother to contend with as well as her injured boyfriend Sean who is struggling to come to terms with his paralysis. Mick also has some great scenes with his neighbour and also with his son and daughter. I really enjoyed this and it's shaping up to be a brilliant series.
July 16, 2026
Joseph Birchall has absolutely outdone himself with Reported Missing, a dark, gripping, and emotionally charged thriller that cements the Darcy Doyle series as one of the most compelling crime series around. Following on from his debut crime novel, In Plain Sight, the story of Reported Missing pulls you into a chilling mystery that refuses to let go right from the opening pages.
What begins with the heartbreaking disappearance of a four-year-old boy just days before Christmas quickly unfolds into something far deeper and more disturbing. Birchall expertly layers tension, emotion, and shocking twists, creating a story that constantly keeps you second-guessing. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, another revelation changes everything.
Detectives Darcy Doyle and Mick Kelly are brilliantly written — sharp, believable, and full of depth. Their partnership feels authentic, and the emotional weight they carry throughout the investigation adds a powerful human element to the story. The atmosphere is exceptional too, with the wintry Dublin setting adding an eerie, haunting quality that lingers long after you finish the book.
What truly sets Reported Missing apart is Joseph Birchall’s storytelling. The writing is cinematic, immersive, and incredibly hard to put down. Every chapter builds suspense perfectly, balancing gritty detective work with emotional intensity and genuinely shocking moments.
If you love intelligent crime fiction packed with tension, heart, and unpredictable twists, this book is an absolute must-read. Reported Missing is a standout thriller that delivers on every level, and Joseph Birchall proves once again that he is a crime writer to watch. I already cannot wait for the next Darcy Doyle novel.
What begins with the heartbreaking disappearance of a four-year-old boy just days before Christmas quickly unfolds into something far deeper and more disturbing. Birchall expertly layers tension, emotion, and shocking twists, creating a story that constantly keeps you second-guessing. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, another revelation changes everything.
Detectives Darcy Doyle and Mick Kelly are brilliantly written — sharp, believable, and full of depth. Their partnership feels authentic, and the emotional weight they carry throughout the investigation adds a powerful human element to the story. The atmosphere is exceptional too, with the wintry Dublin setting adding an eerie, haunting quality that lingers long after you finish the book.
What truly sets Reported Missing apart is Joseph Birchall’s storytelling. The writing is cinematic, immersive, and incredibly hard to put down. Every chapter builds suspense perfectly, balancing gritty detective work with emotional intensity and genuinely shocking moments.
If you love intelligent crime fiction packed with tension, heart, and unpredictable twists, this book is an absolute must-read. Reported Missing is a standout thriller that delivers on every level, and Joseph Birchall proves once again that he is a crime writer to watch. I already cannot wait for the next Darcy Doyle novel.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews