Black Sheep

QuicK Investigations #2

by Arlene Hunt

The brutally murdered body of a young girl is discovered in the Wicklow mountains. Her identity is unknown. One month later David Reid, a successful designer, is found dead in a Dublin canal. Close to his body is a broken silver key ring with the words Meridian Club on it. The police are eager to chalk it up to death by misadventure, but his brother refuses to accept their findings, and enlists the help of rookie detectives John Quigley and Sarah Kenny of Quick Investigations. As the investigation progresses, Sarah and John begin to learn that there was more to David Reid than his brother knew. And in no time at all, the body count is rising and everyone is lying to protect their own. What happened to David Reid that night? Is he connected to the young dead girl? What is the Meridian Club? As John and Sarah struggle to find the answers to those questions, little do they realize their investigation is starting to ruffle the feathers of one very dangerous man.

Genres: Mystery

350 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My introduction to Arlene Hunt QuicK Investigations. I can't say that I felt enamoured with this novel, it lacked the mystery element that a lot of good crime novels possess. It doesn't fit the mold of a police procedural for the obvious reason of the main characters being private detectives. It's a middling crime novel saturated in drama.

The main thing I think this lacked was creating a detailed backdrop. It seemed that the author wanted to transport the reader to what I assume is a working-class town or part of a large city, but I couldn't be sure. Some of the characters fit the bill, but then there are other characters that were very well off financially. I with I'd finished this novel with a more detailed picture of the setting.

I enjoyed this novel for what it was, a crime drama that tries a little too hard to be gritty. At times the darker scenes felt a little forced. Overall, I didn't dislike this novel, but I'm not convinced enough to race out to read more in the series.

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black Sheep is the second in the QuicK Investigations series. In many respects, there’s no great mystery to the story - an astute reader will have a fair idea as to how the story is going to unfold and who the killer is from near the start - but that doesn’t really matter. It’s the telling and unfolding of the story and the characters that make the book work. The plot is nicely constructed and hangs together well, and the procedural elements of the private investigation are credible, even if the police seem fairly incompetent (though that might be a fair assessment). The first third was a little slow, but then it picks up and the latter third rattles along with no flab. What I particularly liked was the characterisation of the suite of secondary characters - Big Jack, the Quinn Brothers, the golfing buddies, JJ, Jimmy and Billy, Sarah’s sisters and mother, etc are all well penned and come alive on the page. Somewhat oddly, it was the two leads - Sarah and John - that felt a little lifeless and distant to me; for some reason I couldn’t really get a handle on them or their relationship. Sarah seemed all unnecessary hard angles and John somewhat bland, and their back stories were a little thin. I’m wondering if that’s because I’ve come into the QuicK series at the second book. Regardless, this was a good, solid, enjoyable read set in the context of Ireland at the height of its excesses, just prior to the crash.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a favourite Brit crime novel of mine. I didn't care for many of the characters and as much as swearing doesn't bother me it seemed forced and contrived by some of the mobster type folks. The PI's seemed one dimensional; their relationship eludes to love lost or unrequited. Halfway through I felt it could have been wrapped up in less than 20 pages. I don't think I'll look for any more in this series. Like the first one or any subsequent novels.