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Detective Kate Bowen #1
The Devil's Luck
Detective Kate Bowen is accustomed to dealing with difficult men as she leads Dublin's Surveillance and Intelligence Unit and in disastrous love life.
But when her team discover ex-IRA stirrings and chatter of an alliance between a rogue group and a Paris-based militant Islamic cell, Kate unearths a tangled conspiracy hiding a vengeful Irish terrorist's plot. Her investigation leads into a warren of France's disenfranchised Muslim youth, a bombing at the BBC Proms, and sniping between intelligence agencies that threaten to derail the case.
And Kate's boyfriend, the seductive Charlie, isn't what he seems either. Not by a long shot.
A police procedural with a gritty female sleuth pitted against an international alliance of the world's worst terrorists, a pompous MI5 Section Chief seeking glory with innocents being tortured and slaughtered along the blood strewn way.
But when her team discover ex-IRA stirrings and chatter of an alliance between a rogue group and a Paris-based militant Islamic cell, Kate unearths a tangled conspiracy hiding a vengeful Irish terrorist's plot. Her investigation leads into a warren of France's disenfranchised Muslim youth, a bombing at the BBC Proms, and sniping between intelligence agencies that threaten to derail the case.
And Kate's boyfriend, the seductive Charlie, isn't what he seems either. Not by a long shot.
A police procedural with a gritty female sleuth pitted against an international alliance of the world's worst terrorists, a pompous MI5 Section Chief seeking glory with innocents being tortured and slaughtered along the blood strewn way.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2016
15 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
T.R. Croke
5 books6 followersBorn in Portlaoise, Ireland, Ray always loved stories. From the ones he heard from his grandfather, to the books he read as a child, borrowed each week from the local library.
A career with Ireland’s National Police Service, An Garda Síochána, mainly as a detective in Dublin, meant he documented real-life villains and events. During his police service, he learned to speak French, did a 15-month tour with the UN civilian police in Cyprus, and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in European Studies with the Open University. From 2005 to 2010 he worked in Paris as Garda Liaison Officer for France and Monaco.
To hone his writing skills he took courses, workshops and attended seminars in Dublin. He collaborated with Lizzie Harwood, his Paris-based editor extraordinaire, on the manuscripts of his first two novels; an experience he described as more enlightening than a dozen writing retreats.
He is married to Eva and lives in County Laois in the Irish midlands.
A career with Ireland’s National Police Service, An Garda Síochána, mainly as a detective in Dublin, meant he documented real-life villains and events. During his police service, he learned to speak French, did a 15-month tour with the UN civilian police in Cyprus, and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in European Studies with the Open University. From 2005 to 2010 he worked in Paris as Garda Liaison Officer for France and Monaco.
To hone his writing skills he took courses, workshops and attended seminars in Dublin. He collaborated with Lizzie Harwood, his Paris-based editor extraordinaire, on the manuscripts of his first two novels; an experience he described as more enlightening than a dozen writing retreats.
He is married to Eva and lives in County Laois in the Irish midlands.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 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.
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.
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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 - 7 of 7 reviews