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Detective Kate Bowen #1
The Devil's Luck
Detective Kate Bowen is out of time—and out of options.
When a surveillance operation on the Irish border goes wrong and her target vanishes, Kate is left red-faced and racing against the clock. She has to work smart to figure out where Sean O'Hare is and what he’s plotting.
British Security services raise the national threat level to critical and prepare to take over the case but Kate discovers a French connection and reaches out to Paris. Unknown to everone, the fugitive has already slipped the net, met vital contacts in the City of Light and travelled halfway around the world.
Now embroiled in an international web of deception, Kate faces a chilling truth: his treacherous deal with a militant Islamic group could trigger a devastating terrorist strike.
Torn from a rare romantic weekend by an urgent French tipoff, Kate is dispatched to assist in covert surveillance. As her helicopter thunders across the English Channel, she wonders if this mission will cost her everything, especially the people she loves most.
The Devil’s Luck is the gripping first book in T. R. Croke’s Detective Kate Bowen Crime Thriller Series—a fast-paced police procedural of deception, retribution, and shocking international twists.
What readers are saying"Lots of intrigue and surprises with a very unexpected ending."
"... I read the whole second half of the book in one sitting."
"A page-turner really enjoyed this fast-paced thriller."
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2016
About the author
T.R. Croke
6 books6 followersI write fast-paced, suspenseful, plot-driven crime thriller novels featuring Detective Kate Bowen and her surveillance squad.
Beyond taut plotlines, each novel explores resonant themes of love, loss, family and redemption.
The series prequel novella, The Trinity Enigma, regularly figures in Amazon's Top 10 International Crime & Mystery, Serial Killer and Irish Crime categories and is a free download on multiple platforms.
I am married to Eva, we live in County Laois in the Irish midlands.
Beyond taut plotlines, each novel explores resonant themes of love, loss, family and redemption.
The series prequel novella, The Trinity Enigma, regularly figures in Amazon's Top 10 International Crime & Mystery, Serial Killer and Irish Crime categories and is a free download on multiple platforms.
I am married to Eva, we live in County Laois in the Irish midlands.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 28, 2016
Gripping, gritty, quick-witted detectives take on ex-IRA thugs who have teamed up with Al-Qaeda nasties.
This debut conspiracy (terrorism) thriller is a truly realistic read - the author is a former detective with the Irish secret services working to stop international terrorism, so he really knows his stuff and it's truly an "inside" look into this sort of world where detectives are pitted against merciless killers with an unknown target in a deadly race against the clock to stop the next attack.
The main character, Detective Kate Bowen is tough yet has her own Achilles heel of an inability to trust her boyfriends or see the signs when they aren't what they seem to be. Her surveillance team is a great cast of real Irish characters - some of the vernacular will puzzle readers but once you catch on to what they mean you quickly love them: Digger, Angie, Zoom and the rest of the crew never give up on their target and go to any lengths to hunt down their foe. The settings of Dublin, London, Paris and the coast of Brittany in France all feel utterly realistic.
Great read!! I highly recommend it. It looks like book 2 will be out soon and I can't wait.
I was able to review so early as I was sent an ARC but I loved this so much I bought my own copy.
This debut conspiracy (terrorism) thriller is a truly realistic read - the author is a former detective with the Irish secret services working to stop international terrorism, so he really knows his stuff and it's truly an "inside" look into this sort of world where detectives are pitted against merciless killers with an unknown target in a deadly race against the clock to stop the next attack.
The main character, Detective Kate Bowen is tough yet has her own Achilles heel of an inability to trust her boyfriends or see the signs when they aren't what they seem to be. Her surveillance team is a great cast of real Irish characters - some of the vernacular will puzzle readers but once you catch on to what they mean you quickly love them: Digger, Angie, Zoom and the rest of the crew never give up on their target and go to any lengths to hunt down their foe. The settings of Dublin, London, Paris and the coast of Brittany in France all feel utterly realistic.
Great read!! I highly recommend it. It looks like book 2 will be out soon and I can't wait.
I was able to review so early as I was sent an ARC but I loved this so much I bought my own copy.
August 3, 2026
Wow, if I had not finished The Devil’s Luck at the start of my day, I’d have reached straight for something strong to settle my nerves. What a remarkable political thriller.
The Devil’s Luck had everything - revenge, terror, corruption, abuse, morals/ethics, the past and a present-day search for justice – to make it such a compelling attention grabber. I do not remember when a book held my focus so completely, and I am an avid reader.
T R Croke has created a master class in the delivery of a gripping and complex story, full of layers of intrigue and incredibly controlled tension that left me desperate to turn to the next page. Yet the writing is straightforward and to the point which is how I feel he so effectively lures you in.
Added to this his characters are so clearly imaginable that I found myself thinking about them during breaks to breathe and take stock of what I was experiencing. There is also wonderful and wicked black, dry humour that helps to ease the tension but is not overplayed.
And that ending. It’s enough to send anyone to the bar for a much-needed relaxing potion, purely for medicinal use obviously.
Thank you to an author that, in my opinion, has what it takes to be one of the greats in crime fiction thrillers.
Highly recommend.
The Devil’s Luck had everything - revenge, terror, corruption, abuse, morals/ethics, the past and a present-day search for justice – to make it such a compelling attention grabber. I do not remember when a book held my focus so completely, and I am an avid reader.
T R Croke has created a master class in the delivery of a gripping and complex story, full of layers of intrigue and incredibly controlled tension that left me desperate to turn to the next page. Yet the writing is straightforward and to the point which is how I feel he so effectively lures you in.
Added to this his characters are so clearly imaginable that I found myself thinking about them during breaks to breathe and take stock of what I was experiencing. There is also wonderful and wicked black, dry humour that helps to ease the tension but is not overplayed.
And that ending. It’s enough to send anyone to the bar for a much-needed relaxing potion, purely for medicinal use obviously.
Thank you to an author that, in my opinion, has what it takes to be one of the greats in crime fiction thrillers.
Highly recommend.
May 4, 2022
This first-in-series thriller is set primarily in Ireland, although the action moves to France and the climax of the story takes place there. Detective Kate Bowen is a feisty female lead and she is supported by some good secondary characters. I found it a bit slow to get in to at first, partly because there are just so many players: SIU, The Garda, MI5, the French police, FBI, CIA...the list just goes on. But once I'd got my head around that, it really flowed and I read the whole second half of the book in one sitting. The series has promise and I look forward to reading more about Kate and her team.
June 21, 2022
Outstanding Story
Kate worked in Ireland, England and France to locate a Irish terrorist with a scheme of Islamic terrorists to a major explosion. The characters are diverse and entertaining, and language is great. I couldn't put it down. Kate is a person with very realistic actions.
Kate worked in Ireland, England and France to locate a Irish terrorist with a scheme of Islamic terrorists to a major explosion. The characters are diverse and entertaining, and language is great. I couldn't put it down. Kate is a person with very realistic actions.
June 28, 2017
A page turner, really enjoyed this fast paced thriller. The story felt very realistic. The short chapters make it very easy to progress quickly to the exciting conclusion. A highly recommended read. I am looking forward to the next outing for Detective Kate Bowen.
May 10, 2022
Excellent Read!
Lots of action with international flair, characters, and locations; from London, to Paris, to Dublin, to The Netherlands, to Afghanistan and America. Lots of intrigue and surprises with a very unexpected ending.
Lots of action with international flair, characters, and locations; from London, to Paris, to Dublin, to The Netherlands, to Afghanistan and America. Lots of intrigue and surprises with a very unexpected ending.
Read
June 1, 2023At times I thought it could have moved faster. I did keep going and it ended well. More twists and turns would have kept my interest longer.
I finish every book I start as I think there will be a great ending and it will be worth it.
I finish every book I start as I think there will be a great ending and it will be worth it.
November 14, 2016
Kate Bowen is a senior detective with the Irish police and she is in a desperate race to stop Islamic terrorists from carrying out an attack with the help of ex-IRA members. A fast moving thriller that is set in different locations across Europe and involves Kate and her European colleagues in a race against time. An interesting mix of characters interact with Kate and she must deal with the pressures of her professional and love life. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it as a good read for the Christmas period or summer vacation.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews