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La noche del mirlo
Heather Graham es una excelente narradora, y maneja el suspense con tal maestría que sus historias tienen el poder de dejar al lector atrapado entre sus páginas. Prueba de su talento son las más de diez millones de copias de sus libros vendidas en todo el mundo. Antes de escribir, su sueño era ser actriz de teatro pero, afortunadamente, el destino intervino y ahora está en la lista de autoras más vendidas del New York Times. Moira Kelly había vuelto a Boston para celebrar el día de San Patricio con su familia y sus amigos. Pero lo que no esperaba era que una simple conversación familiar se volviera peligrosa al tocar el tema de la política; en pocos minutos se encontró en un fuego cruzado entre la ira de Dan O'Hara, su amor de juventud y las opiniones de Michael McLean, su nuevo novio. Pronto descubrió que en el barrio de su niñez había mucho odio enterrado que amenazaba con desencadenar una ola de violencia. Aquella comunidad tan unida daba cobijo a un traidor y, a medida que se iban descubriendo las maldades ocultas a su alrededor, Moira tuvo que reconocer que una generación no había sido suficiente para acabar con el odio. Una vez más, el talento de Heather Graham consigue conmover a sus lectores. La emoción y el romance que impregnan sus páginas hacen que se lea la novela con avidez de principio a fin. Romantic Times sobre La noche del mirlo . Publishers Weekly
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2001
205 people are currently reading
993 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
September 17, 2018
Well, this one is rather boring and middling.
There is no proper suspense part in this book. There is an assumption that something mysterious and potentially dangerous happens but it’s mostly just some ethereal feeling in the background. Prostitutes are found murdered to add to the thrill but it really doesn’t because they are not related to the events in the Kelly’s pub. There are also some gossips and general feeling of something bad being organized but it’s not enough to make worry about the heroine.
And, to be totally honest, it’s not easy to worry about Moira, since it’s so hard to get attached to her. She is paper-thin unfortunately. There is nothing really interesting or distinctive about her. Her indecisiveness regarding her love life drive me mad.
Then we have Danny, oh boy! He is a serious asshole. He thinks he loves Moira but they can’t be together because they won’t be happy (I can totally understand that, beside the passion, there is nothing between them). Still, he does everything in his power to destroy Moira’s happy relationship with Michael. A dog in the manger to say at least.
Well, I hate love triangles and here we obviously have one. And I’m sorry to say that this is the only plot-line that is even a bit developed, the suspense being minor and insignificant. As a result, the whole book is rather dull and boring. With so many books out there it’s not worth your time.
September 26, 2007
I honestly think I've found a new favorite author, and I've only read her older books. Only a few. Wow, I'll be in things to read for a long time to come.
Ahem.
Moira Kelly produces and hosts a travel show on a cable network. She's a busy woman trying to maintain a life, so when her family--Irish to the core--asks her to come home to Boston for Saint Patrick's Day, she's not entirely sure she wants to go. Of course it's tradition. Of course she caves in. She can do a piece on the day from her father's pub and get the whole family involved. Her crew, including the new man in her life, are only too willing to help.
It's never that simple, though. First, there's Danny, an old flame and close enough to a family member that he's been invited for the celebration as well. Though he and Moira have broken it off, feelings and tensions still run high. Then there's the fact that Moira's brother, Patrick, is off doing mysterious things. And there are strangers scoping out Kelly's Pub. Danger's afoot and Moira's never quite sure where it's coming from.
But ignorance won't keep her safe.
As I've said before, I'm not good at figuring out most mysteries or romantic suspense plots. I didn't have a clue where this story was going or who the bad guy was. I had my opinions and theories, of course, but I was wrong, in the end, and really, that's fine. I'm not sure I want to be able to figure things out easily.
I was completely drawn in by the characters and the atmosphere of Kelly's Pub and Moira's huge family. Also, I feel it's important to note that there have been several books lately that made me feel like the ending was too tidy, this one worked and worked well for me. Another success for Ms. Graham.
Also note: If you are interested in Irish politics, the Irish in America, or Irish anything, you may enjoy this book a little more, like I did.
August 6, 2017
I am torn in my review of this book. I am third generation Irish and was raised in a strict Irish Catholic household on the East Coast. I still remember my Irish grandparents, their Irish brogues and their stories. While it was interesting to read about the history of the strife of Ireland (of which I was most aware), I thought it went on a bit too much. I also thought our heroine was quite a piece of work, sleeping with her old "love" while still with her current "love." I did, however, enjoy the murder/mystery part.
May 17, 2023
A good mystery
May 21, 2018
Stars: 3 / 5
Recommendation: A good book to pick on those sunny days when your mind wants some interesting mystery to solve and at the same have the feeling of romance whirling through it.
Night of the Blackbird is a stand-alone novel by Heather Graham published in October of 2001. The central plot revolves around Moira Kelly who has come home to Boston to be with her family for St. Patrick's Day and her tug of war with her heart between her old flame - Daniel "Dan" O'Hara - and current love - Michael McLean.
I have read several books by Heather Graham that were part of a series. So when I found this stand-alone book at a book sale, I couldn’t resist to pick it up. I wanted to see how her stand-alone books would fare against her series. I was not disappointed at all.
Moira Kelly comes home to Boston to her family and to their family pub - Kelly's Pub. She brings her current love Michael McLean and her work to Boston as well. And then she is faced with her past in her home, her once love interest and childhood / family friend Dan O'Hara. Now while her heart is pulled in both ways - her old flame and current love - she finds hidden undercurrents of sinister moves in the pub. And nothing seems to be the same for her including her family. In all this tryst will she succumb to Dan's charms and trust him all the way, or keep stead with Michael's love? What are those sinister waves that she feels moving across the pub and her family?
Heather Graham bases her plot filled with political conspiracy, murder and mayhem alongside romance - all centering around Moira Kelly and Dan O'Hara. There is a lot of historical reference to Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the struggles in Ireland as whole from the 70s and the political reference to what was happening in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland in 2001.
Having read Nora Roberts books that are filled with Irish lore and Scotland stories and myths from both the countries, the Irish theme was not new for me in Heather Graham's book. However, what was new was the political unrest and historical wars in Ireland, their impacts to Irish people all over the world. Along with the Irish history, Heather Graham also adds a bit of American history, role of US in the war that Ireland was facing to unify it and the impacts.
Heather Graham also weaves in stories from Irish folk lore along the way - story about Saint Patrick, tales of Banshee, Lir aka Ler - Irish sea god.
Although the plot is strong with excellent placement of characters, there is a lot of repeating para phrasing; more of repeat conversations to keep explaining the same again and again as a new character enters the scene. Perhaps that is what happens when there are many people involved. It was getting tiring to read that repeat stuff but all in all the plot is strong and keeps the reader interested.
A good book to pick on those sunny days when your mind wants some interesting mystery to solve and at the same have the feeling of romance whirling through it. Definitely I will be picking up a few more stand-alone books for Heather Graham after this.
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Plot Reveals:
a. Moira Kelly's family consists of her father - Eamon Kelly, mother - Katy Kelly, siblings - Colleen and Patrick, Patrick's wife Siobhan and their three kids - Brian, Molly and Shannon - and her grandmother Granny Jo.
b. Moira's production company - Whalen and Kelly - includes Josh Walen - her partner in the company - and Michael McLean - their location assistant and her current love interest.
c. The band that plays at Kelly's Pub is called as Blackbird.
d. The house specialty drink of Kelly's Pub is Blackbird in the book. However the recipe I found online is quite different to what Heather Graham mentioned here. In the book it is made of Coffee, two parts Irish Cream, one part Irish Whiskey and a dollop of Whipped Cream. Wonder where Heather got this recipe though.
2) As opposed to hard inserts that used to come with books until recently where you could write and get two books for one book price, etc, this book has one of the page at the end of the book that allows readers to fill a form and mail it to get two books and a surprising gift. I really miss these kind of inserts although its easier to buy books online now.
3) Heather Graham mentions that the band Blackbird that plays at Kelly's Pub playing different numbers.
a. A song from the 1958 play The Hostage, adapted from one act Irish play An Giall. Adapted by Brendan Behan. More about the play here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hos....
4) Grammatical / Historical / Geographical / Character / Mythological / Plot Errors:
a. On Pg. 19, line 7, the whole line seems grammatically incorrect.
Recommendation: A good book to pick on those sunny days when your mind wants some interesting mystery to solve and at the same have the feeling of romance whirling through it.
Night of the Blackbird is a stand-alone novel by Heather Graham published in October of 2001. The central plot revolves around Moira Kelly who has come home to Boston to be with her family for St. Patrick's Day and her tug of war with her heart between her old flame - Daniel "Dan" O'Hara - and current love - Michael McLean.
I have read several books by Heather Graham that were part of a series. So when I found this stand-alone book at a book sale, I couldn’t resist to pick it up. I wanted to see how her stand-alone books would fare against her series. I was not disappointed at all.
Moira Kelly comes home to Boston to her family and to their family pub - Kelly's Pub. She brings her current love Michael McLean and her work to Boston as well. And then she is faced with her past in her home, her once love interest and childhood / family friend Dan O'Hara. Now while her heart is pulled in both ways - her old flame and current love - she finds hidden undercurrents of sinister moves in the pub. And nothing seems to be the same for her including her family. In all this tryst will she succumb to Dan's charms and trust him all the way, or keep stead with Michael's love? What are those sinister waves that she feels moving across the pub and her family?
Heather Graham bases her plot filled with political conspiracy, murder and mayhem alongside romance - all centering around Moira Kelly and Dan O'Hara. There is a lot of historical reference to Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the struggles in Ireland as whole from the 70s and the political reference to what was happening in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland in 2001.
Having read Nora Roberts books that are filled with Irish lore and Scotland stories and myths from both the countries, the Irish theme was not new for me in Heather Graham's book. However, what was new was the political unrest and historical wars in Ireland, their impacts to Irish people all over the world. Along with the Irish history, Heather Graham also adds a bit of American history, role of US in the war that Ireland was facing to unify it and the impacts.
Heather Graham also weaves in stories from Irish folk lore along the way - story about Saint Patrick, tales of Banshee, Lir aka Ler - Irish sea god.
Although the plot is strong with excellent placement of characters, there is a lot of repeating para phrasing; more of repeat conversations to keep explaining the same again and again as a new character enters the scene. Perhaps that is what happens when there are many people involved. It was getting tiring to read that repeat stuff but all in all the plot is strong and keeps the reader interested.
A good book to pick on those sunny days when your mind wants some interesting mystery to solve and at the same have the feeling of romance whirling through it. Definitely I will be picking up a few more stand-alone books for Heather Graham after this.
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Plot Reveals:
a. Moira Kelly's family consists of her father - Eamon Kelly, mother - Katy Kelly, siblings - Colleen and Patrick, Patrick's wife Siobhan and their three kids - Brian, Molly and Shannon - and her grandmother Granny Jo.
b. Moira's production company - Whalen and Kelly - includes Josh Walen - her partner in the company - and Michael McLean - their location assistant and her current love interest.
c. The band that plays at Kelly's Pub is called as Blackbird.
d. The house specialty drink of Kelly's Pub is Blackbird in the book. However the recipe I found online is quite different to what Heather Graham mentioned here. In the book it is made of Coffee, two parts Irish Cream, one part Irish Whiskey and a dollop of Whipped Cream. Wonder where Heather got this recipe though.
2) As opposed to hard inserts that used to come with books until recently where you could write and get two books for one book price, etc, this book has one of the page at the end of the book that allows readers to fill a form and mail it to get two books and a surprising gift. I really miss these kind of inserts although its easier to buy books online now.
3) Heather Graham mentions that the band Blackbird that plays at Kelly's Pub playing different numbers.
a. A song from the 1958 play The Hostage, adapted from one act Irish play An Giall. Adapted by Brendan Behan. More about the play here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hos....
4) Grammatical / Historical / Geographical / Character / Mythological / Plot Errors:
a. On Pg. 19, line 7, the whole line seems grammatically incorrect.
March 29, 2021
I fell in love with Heather Graham's writing in the early 90s after reading "One Wore Blue". I know what the lady is capable of, writing-wise.
Night of the Blackbird was a big disappointment. The first 140 pages were just plain boring. I struggled to stay with it. Later, when the story finally got started, things were just too convenient, and, for such a supposedly smart woman, Moira was pretty clueless.
Ms Graham seems to have chosen this story as a vehicle for promoting and preaching about the conflict between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and the story itself suffers for it.
Night of the Blackbird was a big disappointment. The first 140 pages were just plain boring. I struggled to stay with it. Later, when the story finally got started, things were just too convenient, and, for such a supposedly smart woman, Moira was pretty clueless.
Ms Graham seems to have chosen this story as a vehicle for promoting and preaching about the conflict between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and the story itself suffers for it.
January 27, 2022
Read as part of the Medical Examiner Mystery Challenge 2022 at Mystillery.
I'm giving this a generous three stars. If I could do half-stars, this would have been 2.5 stars. Usually I really like the author's writing, but this book just plodded along for me. It could have used some judicious editing to move things along. The subplot of the prostitute murders intrigued me more than the main plot though. However, it could be due to this book being published in 2001.
I will say I did enjoy the mentions of Irish history & traditions and Irish Gaelic. Ireland is one of the countries I want to visit.
I'm giving this a generous three stars. If I could do half-stars, this would have been 2.5 stars. Usually I really like the author's writing, but this book just plodded along for me. It could have used some judicious editing to move things along. The subplot of the prostitute murders intrigued me more than the main plot though. However, it could be due to this book being published in 2001.
I will say I did enjoy the mentions of Irish history & traditions and Irish Gaelic. Ireland is one of the countries I want to visit.
May 30, 2019
Random pick but so glad I tried it. Combination of a Thriller, suspense and romance. I was so intrigue and couldn't stop reading. You keep guessing, and it's really intense. I was hooked. I really recommend this story if you need something different and original. I read the paperback so wasn't able to share parts of the book that was so well written. Love the story of family and the different characters that you get to know. Love that the story was centred in a family Irish pub around Saint Patrick's day. It was refreshing.
November 5, 2019
At first i found the story to be slow going for the first half of the story. it seemed to drag to lead up to the mystery. A Irish family in Boston are together at the pub that they own , to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Past and present lovers are together and they tangle their love life together. A very important Irish leader from Ireland comes to speak to the Irish people. But someone wants him dead. But who and why. If i were to place this book in a list i would put it more into the romance list then a mystery .
November 12, 2019
A different view
This was a story of the Irish in America, and their roots in the old country. Ireland still draws fervent clashes between the factions, who sometimes use violence and intimidation to preserve their own ideology. This was a also a love story on several different levels, and a mystery with deadly ends. Heather Graham blends them all with ease, while educating us in the Irish history and current problems. While this was a very different story from her usual, it was well written and held my interest.
This was a story of the Irish in America, and their roots in the old country. Ireland still draws fervent clashes between the factions, who sometimes use violence and intimidation to preserve their own ideology. This was a also a love story on several different levels, and a mystery with deadly ends. Heather Graham blends them all with ease, while educating us in the Irish history and current problems. While this was a very different story from her usual, it was well written and held my interest.
October 31, 2018
Decades ago I read books by this author. Now her books are less relational and more murder based. Buy I stopped at page 151 out of 376. I realized I wanted romance police and this was more information on the Irish politics. The storyline never got to who this mysterious person was. Maybe it would of gotten better but I gave up.
June 2, 2024
exciting all the way to the end
Loved the setting of this book! Would love to visit Kelly’s Pub! Such nice family moments and the main characters are very interesting. You don’t guess the killer until the last few pages. Very well written and moves right along. Heather Graham never disappoints!
Loved the setting of this book! Would love to visit Kelly’s Pub! Such nice family moments and the main characters are very interesting. You don’t guess the killer until the last few pages. Very well written and moves right along. Heather Graham never disappoints!
December 2, 2017
I remembered that this was my first paperback, first novel i've read. I was 15 years old. After this book i became hooked on novels. This was really a lovely book. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend this book to readers.
March 18, 2018
Not just a romance
Thrilling, historical and of course a smattering of romance. A great book to keep you wondering who is the good guy, who's the bad guy and what is really going on.
Thrilling, historical and of course a smattering of romance. A great book to keep you wondering who is the good guy, who's the bad guy and what is really going on.
December 4, 2021
Something is happening on the home front. Her Dad's Irish pub in Boston seems to be a meeting place for radical Irishmen. Maybe? Not with her Dad's knowledge, of course. And someone close to her could be involved.
February 14, 2023
Moira Kelly host/ producerand co-founder of a travel show goes home to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. While working on the Irish-American way of life he discovered something going down that is not only a danger to her but also her families pug
June 5, 2017
Good suspense romance. The Irish family part makes it that much better!
September 6, 2017
This was too political for my taste. I also though there was too much backstory. I lost interest, but did finish it.
February 14, 2018
Pretty good, though hard to figure out if it is a novel, suspense or romance until the very end. The writing as usual was exceptional.
January 1, 2020
Sorry to say that this was a book that by a third of the way through I started skipping little bits here and there to speed it up.
January 17, 2020
Light, romantic mystery. Too easy to solve & the heroine’s constant emotional struggle between new love & old flame is somewhat tedious. But overall a nice little read.
November 8, 2020
I needed an escape and Boston it was. Good atmosphere at the pub. Good family values instilled through Irish culture. Mystery was in raveled way too fast.
March 11, 2021
Not one of her best in my opinion but still good. The last couple chapters especially.
April 7, 2023
Good book
Another good reason f2f by Heather Graham, This time I figured out the b ad guy early on. I love a book with murder, mayhem and of course romance.
Another good reason f2f by Heather Graham, This time I figured out the b ad guy early on. I love a book with murder, mayhem and of course romance.
November 3, 2023
Found this at a Thrift Store, I thought I have read all of her books, I guess I haven't. Unexpected treasure.
Read
November 9, 2014 Heather Graham is one of today's most popular authors of contemporary romantic suspense and historical romance.- Picture Me Dead (Mira Books, MMPB 2/04) reached #16 on the New York Times extended list.- Haunted (Mira Books, 9/03) spent four weeks on the New York Times extended list, reaching #26, and was a USA Today bestseller.- Hurricane Bay (Mira Books, 4/02) spent three weeks on the New York Times extended hardcover bestseller list, reaching # 20, and achieved a 57% NSR.- Night of The Blackbird (Mira Books, 10/01) spent three weeks on the extended New York Times bestseller list, reaching #21, and hit # 14 on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list.- These four repackaged titles will be released in conjunction with the MMPB release of Dead On The Dance Floor (hardcover available March 2004).- Heather's next hardcover, Killing Kelly, will be released in March 2005.- As Heather Graham, Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake, she has published more than 90 bestselling novels and short stories. HQN Books recently signed Shannon Drake to a four-book deal to publish her historical romance editorial.- There are more than 20 million copies of her books in print. (less)
Blackbird is the code name for an assassination of an Irish politician working for peace. Moira Kelly, a filmmaker and daughter of Kelly's Pub in Boston, has come home for St Pat's Day. Danny, her long time Irish friend and former lover, is at the pub with her family. Michael McLean, Moira's current boyfriend come home with her. Michael turns out to be an assassin who is trying to blame Danny for the assassination. Danny gets Michael, and Moria and Danny get together.
Ebook OCounty Library
Blackbird is the code name for an assassination of an Irish politician working for peace. Moira Kelly, a filmmaker and daughter of Kelly's Pub in Boston, has come home for St Pat's Day. Danny, her long time Irish friend and former lover, is at the pub with her family. Michael McLean, Moira's current boyfriend come home with her. Michael turns out to be an assassin who is trying to blame Danny for the assassination. Danny gets Michael, and Moria and Danny get together.
Ebook OCounty Library
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2016
This book took me literally years to finish. I started this book in November of 2012, and have just finished it. It isn't super thick or boring, and I love Heather Graham's writing style. I put it down for years to read other books mainly because I just wasn't in the mood to read it. I did enjoy the story, but there were some aspects to it that I didn't care for.
The biggest part of this book that I had an issue with is that I just didn't connect with or even particularly like any of the characters in it. There is a love triangle, and I honestly didn't care who the main character ended up with because I thought that both of them were odd and suspicious (in regards to the plot of the novel).
The plot of the book overall, in a broad sense, isn't bad. This may be because I read this over a course of four years that it may seem this way, but the plot felt all over the place. Between the murders of prostitutes, secrets, and Saint Patrick's Day, I wasn't sure exactly what to concentrate on. The ending tied it all up nicely, but almost too nicely. I did still enjoy the storyline, and after I picked this book up again last week, I've been wanting to finish it to see how it ends. I wasn't disappointed with the ending, but it wasn't much more than I had expected it to be.
I did still like this book, but I definitely love Heather Graham's paranormal books much, much more. If you enjoy books with twists and everyone is a suspect, you would want to pick this one up.
The biggest part of this book that I had an issue with is that I just didn't connect with or even particularly like any of the characters in it. There is a love triangle, and I honestly didn't care who the main character ended up with because I thought that both of them were odd and suspicious (in regards to the plot of the novel).
The plot of the book overall, in a broad sense, isn't bad. This may be because I read this over a course of four years that it may seem this way, but the plot felt all over the place. Between the murders of prostitutes, secrets, and Saint Patrick's Day, I wasn't sure exactly what to concentrate on. The ending tied it all up nicely, but almost too nicely. I did still enjoy the storyline, and after I picked this book up again last week, I've been wanting to finish it to see how it ends. I wasn't disappointed with the ending, but it wasn't much more than I had expected it to be.
I did still like this book, but I definitely love Heather Graham's paranormal books much, much more. If you enjoy books with twists and everyone is a suspect, you would want to pick this one up.
July 21, 2016
Night of the Blackbird by Heather Graham
I wasn't to keen on this novel. Maybe I'm just used to her paranormal stories and this did take a different turn. It was about the IRA the politics in Northern Ireland and the skirmeshes at that time period in the early 1970's.
Back to the present Moira Kelly is a host for her tv program the Leisure channel. She decides to take her film crew home to Boston and film what its like growing up in an Irish family. Little does she realize there is a killer on the loose. Someone has been stalking the patron's at Kelly's pub. Moira is in danger for she is trusting the wrong person in her life. Will she find the truth before its too late?
I wasn't to keen on this novel. Maybe I'm just used to her paranormal stories and this did take a different turn. It was about the IRA the politics in Northern Ireland and the skirmeshes at that time period in the early 1970's.
Back to the present Moira Kelly is a host for her tv program the Leisure channel. She decides to take her film crew home to Boston and film what its like growing up in an Irish family. Little does she realize there is a killer on the loose. Someone has been stalking the patron's at Kelly's pub. Moira is in danger for she is trusting the wrong person in her life. Will she find the truth before its too late?
January 30, 2012
This was a good book but a cheating protagonist just doesn't sit well with me. OK, sure. The so-called guy, Micheal, which was getting cheat on was the killer but it doesn't mean it meant the cheating half bad. Sure, you didn't become a slut. But cheating is cheating. Simple as that. Seriously, you have no idea how well I squirmed just to finished the book and the only part that I was OK was like for the last 5-10 pages of the book because we see Micheal's true nature. But other than that, the book was good, great as usual for Heather Graham.
She had always the flair of making you fall in love in other cultures on the same level she gives you a head on why a culture is like today, what makes it tick, and the danger of it all.
She had always the flair of making you fall in love in other cultures on the same level she gives you a head on why a culture is like today, what makes it tick, and the danger of it all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews