Blood Tide

Paula Maguire #5

by Claire McGowan

Forensic psychologist Paula Maguire returns in BLOOD TIDE, the fifth novel in Claire McGowan's acclaimed series.

Called in to investigate the disappearance of a young couple during a violent storm, Paula Maguire, forensic psychologist, has mixed feelings about going back to Bone Island. Her last family holiday as a child was spent on its beautiful, remote beaches and returning brings back haunting memories of her long-lost mother.

It soon becomes clear that outsiders aren't welcome on the island, and with no choice but to investigate the local community, Paula soon suspects foul play, realising that the islanders are hiding secrets from her, and each other.

With another storm fast approaching, Paula is faced with a choice. Leave alive or risk being trapped with a killer on an inescapable island, as the blood tide rushes in...

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Ireland, Fiction, Procedural, Mystery Thriller

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2017

About the author

Claire McGowan grew up in a small village in Northern Ireland. After a degree in English and French from Oxford University she moved to London and worked in the charity sector. THE FALL is her first novel, which is followed by a series starring forensic psychologist Paula Maguire. She also writes as Eva Woods.

Reviews

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its probably not a surprise to many people that I am a HUGE fan of this series from Claire McGowan, I've always thought it was one of the top UK crime series and with Blood Tide that has just pretty much been confirmed for me.

The beauty is in the mix of personal and professional - each separate mystery for Forensic Psychologist Paula Maguire is entirely compelling and complete but each novel takes Paula further on a very personal journey, searching for her missing mother and trying to sort out a tangled set of relationships. Now here she is with a young child, a partner in jail and about to be thrown into a bit of a horror story - yes folks, Claire McGowan is channelling Stephen King and doing it with a touch of genius.

A couple have gone missing on an island - the islanders are used to being cut off from civilisation - Paula not so much. When things take a turn for the macabre she is stuck, without back up, a storm brewing and a killer watching her every move...

Blood Tide was both thrilling, chilling and utterly immersive - interspersing scenes on the island with little gems of information on what is going on elsewhere in Paula's life - you are thrown from one to the other, both strands totally gripping, leading to a spot on edge of the seat finale that had me pulling clumps of hair out. Then of course this author is STILL not done with you as she sets Paula up for the next stage of this journey..

Once again Claire McGowan speaks to the history, the troubles, in a way that genuinely educates readers like me who remember those times but in a vague I was young then sort of way - really bringing the aftermath and the effects of it to stunning brutal life - from the very first novel Paula has had this in her past, with a need to understand how it has affected her family. As ever this layer is incredibly emotive.

It is so beautifully done, you are in it all the way, Paula is still one of the most compelling female protagonists in Crime Fiction and is surrounded by a stellar supporting cast all of whom have you chasing the next part of their story. The Blood Tide is coming and the Island scenes are SCARY truly creepy insidious stuff, the parts of this novel I read when it was dark outside had me glancing around nervously - WHY DOES THE BOILER ALWAYS MAKE THAT NOISE WHEN I'M ALREADY JUMPY - one of life's little mysteries. *Dives under duvet in case it is actually an axe murderer*

Genuinely clever, beautifully written and best of all not at all predictable when it comes to what might happen to our beloved crew, I will miss the Paula when her story is done. One can hope for happy endings but folks this ain't no fairy tale...

Highly Recommended. The entire series.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the front cover of the sea, rocks and the lighthouse, that are all in this story. Readers can always count on Claire McGowan to write page turning thrillers. Margaret Maguire , mother of Paula, daughter of Kathleen, wife of PJ, but she wasn't she was someone else now. Paula had come home from school to find her mother gone. Paula's mother went missing in 1993 and had left a note for Paula explaining that bad people are after her and that she had to leave. The question is where did she go? Her father had remarried. Pat was now PJ's wife. During a violent storm Paula Maguire, forensic psychologist is called out to investigate the disappearance of a young couple in Bone Island. The questions that have been asked, had the couple fallen into the sea? Or had they been pushed? Paula has mixed feelings about going to Bone Island as she went there for a day trip with her parents.

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

No doubt about it, five stars and more! Claire McGowan is getting better and better. This time Paula Maguire has to find two people on an island off the Irish coast, Bone Island. She nearly loses her life doing so. Her personal life gets more complicated as well. I was afraid this might be the last book in the series, but there's room for a no. 6. Claire McGowan is at the top of my list, together with Peter May, Tara French and Harry Bingham (and many others :))

[Roman Clodia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always had a slightly qualified relationship with this series: I find Paula herself often irritating to the point of wanting to reach into the book and slap her but the complications of her life and relationships intrigue me. Here the unresolved storylines of the previous books don't move on at all which is somewhat irritating, and Paula leaves behind her almost-husband for a case on a remote island. That a forensic psychologist should be left to investigate a police case feels extraordinarily lax, but the story itself is a gripping one - even if the plot outcome is pretty clear by about 30% in. That Guy Brooking should be sent over to help Paula seems massively unlikely but, again, nothing moves on in their complicated relationship.

The story itself has a Wicker Man feel as the strange, insular island community closes ranks against the outsiders, and one of the strengths of the series - the nuanced inheritance of The Troubles - is largely missing. This is a page-turner of a read but the long-time narrative arc seems to have stalled. I'm not sure about continuing with this series unless some of those long-term issues are resolved rather than subsiding into a state of stasis.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forensic psychologist Paula Maguire is called from her town in Northern Ireland to help investigate the case of a missing English couple from an island in Cork. She is met by her friend, Garda Fiachra Quinn, and they make their way to Bone Island by ferry. This small island, 3 miles long, has a new industry names Envirocore, which is harvesting seaweed for nutrition products. The couple who has disappeared, Fiona, a doctor and Matt, a naturalist, live in the local lighthouse. Matt had gone to accept a job keeping track of local wildlife etc. for the new corporation, and the island needs a doctor, as theirs died the year before.

A storm arrives which complicates the investigation. Storms on offshore islands can cut them off for days, and this is what happens. There is no cell phone service on the island, and in the course of the investigation, Fiachra suffers an injury and Paula is left on her own with the local Guarda, Rory McIlhone. Something is seriously wrong on the island. And Paula, who continuously pushes the envelope, again earns the animosity of the locals. Reinforcements do come - only one officer, but they are soon overwhelmed by the circumstances, and unable to get either help or leave.

Throughout this series, Paula Macguire has been searching for her mother who disappeared in 1993. The search continues through this book. To avoid spoilers, I will not describe Paula's current situation in detail. There are times I want to shake her and tell her to get her ---- together. Because of the ongoing drama of her life, it is best to read the series in order This is the first crime series set in Northern Ireland, focused on a female protagonist, and I am a big fan.

About the narration (I used whispersync and went back and forth between the e-book and audiobook) was uneven. When Paula was on the island, the narrator was very uneven. She seemed to confuse the various accents she was using - English, Irish (Cork, but not really), and Northern Irish. I ended up getting confused. Maybe the producers didn't notice or think it mattered.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to in audio format.

The Blood Tide is the fifth book in the Paula Maguire series and the best so far.

The end of Claire's fourth book Savage Hunger ended with a cliff hanger when Paula found a letter from her mother Margaret hidden behind her cooker. In Blood Tide Margaret's letter explains that bad people were after her and she had to disappear. Paula father's PJ is now married to Kathleen. Reluctant to tell him that Margaret maybe alive, Paula secretly hires a private investigator to see search.


Meanwhile Paula is asked to investigate the disappearance of GP Fiona Watts and boyfriend Matt Andrew, a Marine Biologist. Fiona and Matt recently moved to Bone Island after Matt got a job at Envirocore a processing plant.

When Paula and former colleague Fiacra visit Bone Island they find the place and locals sinister, rather like The Wicker Man or The Ice Twins. The local Gardai think that Matthew and Fiona are lost at sea after a violent storm.

Paula finds out the Islanders thought Fiona was an outsider when she missed the symptoms of postnatal psychosis leading to the injury of a baby. Bone Island has a population of 300 people, when Matt and other islanders start to exhibit violent behaviour and paranoia she suspects Envirocore may be involved. Fiona informed the relevant authorities but they did not believe her.

When Fiacra injures in his leg on the mainland. Guy Brooking, Paula's ex boss and father of Maggie comes to Bone Island to help the investigation. When Paula and Guy became stranded on Bone Island during a storm the story really picked up pace, and became dark and menacing.

In between chapters Margaret and PJ's colleague give their POV of the events leading up to Margaret's disappearance. Paula's fiancee Aidan is still on remand for murder and does not want to see Paula or Maggie.

I thoroughly recommend this book. If you are new to the series I advise you to start with book one to understand the characters history.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always good to see Paula Maguire again.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of Blood Tide, the fifth novel to feature forensic psychologist and missing persons expert, Dr Paula Maguire.

Paula's personal life is in turmoil. Her fiancé, Aidan, is on remand for murder and refusing to let her visit and she has recently found a letter from her mother written on the day she disappeared in 1993. Refusing to give up on either she has employed a private detective to try and find proof of Aidan's innocence and her mother's fate. In the midst of this she is asked to travel to the remote Bone Island in the Republic to help the Gardai hunt for a missing couple who have mysteriously vanished from the lighthouse they are living in.

Well, what a read! I was glued to the pages from start to finish and read it in one sitting. Ms McGowan is fairly even handed, running the professional and personal stories side by side with both having plenty of developments. Obviously the events on Bone Island, being current, have more action but there are a few interesting twists on the personal side as well.

The hunt for the couple, Matt Andrew and Dr Fiona Watts, takes place on the insular Bone Island during a very bad storm so it assumed some kind of accident took place but Paula isn't so sure. She senses something off about the island and when she gets trapped there it becomes dangerous. Told from Paula's point of view, supplemented by Fiona's take on past events, it is an exciting read with lots of twists and turns and a great, surprise ending. The plot may seem a bit fantastical but, unfortunately, the cause and effect are all too plausible.

Paula may have employed a private detective to help her and Aidan but it is an old colleague of her father, ex-sergeant Bob Hamilton, pulling the strings. This works well as we see the impact of the discoveries on Paula but we get the history from Bob's point of view and there was much more going on than 13 year old Paula could know or imagine. I am totally hooked on this plotline and am desperate to know how it will pan out.

Blood Tide is a masterfully plotted and executed novel. The pace never lets up with new developments in every chapter. The events on Bone Island are initially puzzling then tense as the full story starts to emerge so I have no hesitation in recommending it as an excellent read.

[Noel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok. Really think the series would benefit from some resolution to the personal life of the main character. Doesn't need everything sorted but stretching more or less the same issues out over what is now 5 books is getting a bit much to be honest. Also the coincidences of how some of the recurring characters are thrown back together are becoming a bit too thin.

As for the plot of this book, well sort of revealed itself a little too early on and doesn't really surprise at all.

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most thrilling novel, so far, in this excellent series. In some ways it functions as a "locked room mystery", when Dr. Paula Maguire is sent to a remote island off the west coast of Ireland to locate a missing English couple. To add to the suspense, a storm is taking place and Paula finds herself cut off from the mainland. To add to the intrigue, this is the same island where Paula spent her last holiday with her long-lost mother.
As is often the case with isolated communities, few of the residents take kindly to outsiders meddling in their affairs and Paula finds her investigation into finding the missing couple thwarted at every turn. To add to the tension, the main plot is interspersed with snippets from what is happening elsewhere in Paula's life, such as the imprisonment of her former husband to be, Aidan O'Hara, plus of course, the continuing 25 year-old search for her lost mother.
According to the author's blog, there will be only one more book in this series. Hopefully, in the 6th book, Aidan will be found not guilty and released and we will eventually learn what happened to Margaret Maguire.

[Alan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from one short story, this is the first time I have read Claire McGowan (courtesy of Headline and NetGalley) and, despite it being the fifth book in the Paula Maguire series, I had no difficulty in picking up the story. Maguire, a Forensic Psychologist and missing persons expert, is sent to a remote island off the west coast of Ireland to aid in the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of an English husband and wife. Bone Island resonates with Paula as this was the last place she holidayed with her parents before her mother's equally mysterious disappearance over 20 years before. Wife of a Roman Catholic RUC officer in Northern Ireland, Margaret Maguire was assumed to be among 'the disappeared', victims of IRA killings, presumed 'touts', buried in secret, but Paula has recently discovered a note left by her mother which suggests that she may have left voluntarily.

The two threads run in parallel as Paula discovers that the couple's disappearance is only the latest in a series of strange occurrences on the island while we also discover in flashback that an ex-colleague of her father's may have more knowledge of Margaret's fate than he has ever revealed. Some of the missing couple's life on the island, including some suspicions about the local seaweed processing plant, are revealed through the words of the wife, Fiona, the local GP of whom many of the islanders appear wary.

Claire McGowan is excellent at creating suspense and generating a feeling of unease. What appears initially to be a police procedural takes a left turn into almost gothic horror but never becomes unbelievable. She is also good at dialogue, realistically capturing the differences between the Northern and Southern Irish voices. My only criticism is that one or twice things are revealed to the main character and artificially withheld slightly longer from the reader to try and increase the tension - the story does not need this. Paula's messy personal life and her mother's arc are obviously series storylines and I look forward to both going back to the start of the series and finding out what happens next....

[Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood Tide is the fifth book in the Paula Maguire series, however it is entirely possible to read as a standalone as I did. McGowan provides enough information on previous events to keep new readers up to date to the back stories as well as staying engaged with the current one.

Paula is a forensic psychologist and is called away to Bone Island, a remote island off the coast of Ireland, to investigate the disappearance of an English couple who have moved to the island and live in the lighthouse. It appears that they have gone into the sea but all may not be what it seems considering the lighthouse was locked from the inside – did they jump together, was it murder/suicide or something else?

Aside from the chilling investigation, Blood Tide also shares with the reader Paula’s personal battles and guilt she carries; Paula is adjusting to life without Aiden, her fiancé (well, very nearly her husband) who is in prison facing a murder following a fight during a drunken night out. She is also being eaten up by the guilt of not telling her colleague, Guy Brooking, that he is indeed her daughter’s father. And, as if this isn’t enough, Paula is also investigating the disappearance of her mother – this storyline adds an extra dimension as its also dealing with the politics of a troubled Ireland as it was presumed that her mother was killed by the IRA however a note that she has since found has shown that Margaret actually left of her own accord.

Now I love a gothic novel and this one ticks all the boxes – the cover gives a glimpse into how atmospheric this book is. Bone Island is extremely remote with only circa 260 residents, it faces off to the Atlantic therefore when there is a storm it means that no one is getting onto, or off, the island. The claustrophobia of the island really comes through McGowan’s descriptions of both the landscape and the storm. Also, everyone knowing everyone in an extremely tight-knit community is completely unnerving in this scenario!

I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I’m planning on going back to the start with this series to catch up on the back story, and I’m also looking forward to book 6!

[Jacob Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve become a huge fan of the Paula Maguire series and I have loved every single book. For me I think it’s the characters and their own personal lives that really stand out in Claire’s novels. Paula’s history is very traumatic and this book takes her on a much more personal journey as she attempts to find answers. She is also still coming to terms with the imprisonment of her partner Aiden and is desperately trying to prove his innocence.

Paula is still searching for her mother who disappeared in the early nineties and it is suspected that she was a victim of the IRA. Paula now has a young child of her own, three year old Maggie, and this makes it even more important to her to find out the truth behind her mother’s disappearance.

In Blood Tide, Paula is sent to Bone Island, the last piece of land before the vast stretch of the Atlantic Ocean. A small community live on the island and it becomes apparent to Paula that there are some who are very hostile to outsiders. Paula is sent to investigate the disappearance of a couple from London who live and work on the island. She is hoping not to be away from her daughter for long, the main theory is that the couple were killed in an accident and drowned at sea. But as she begins to strip back the layers of the islands inhabitants she discovers a grisly set of events leading up the disappearance and she knows that she has to stay to see the investigation through.

Blood Tide was a seriously scary book. If I was anywhere near this island I would want to run a mile and when it becomes clear to the inhabitants that Paula is staying, it becomes very claustrophobic. Claire’s writing is taut and full of tension. The island setting was very atmospheric. Someone is keeping secrets on this island. Someone wants to make sure that those secrets remain secrets.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as with all the Paula Maguire novels, Claire leaves us wanting to know more, Paula’s character and past becomes ever more intriguing. When I first discovered the series I bought each book at once and read them back to back, I don’t know what I’m going to do now that I have to wait a bit longer for the next one, I can’t wait to read it.

A massive five stars from me. Thank you to Millie Seaward at Headline for sending me a copy to review.

[Eadie Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5 of the Paula Maguire Series gives more information about Paula's missing mom. Looking forward to Paula finally coming to terms with her mom and the reason she went missing. These books have to be read in order as each book builds upon the last. Paula is working on Bone Island in this book investigating the disappearance of a young couple. I found the book very well written, well plotted and paced with lots of suspense and surprise. I'm looking forward to the next installment in March in order to find out how Paula's life issues are worked out. Excellent series and love finding out about the history of Northern Ireland's troubles.

[Mary Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiona and her partner move to Bone Island off the Kerry coast to start a new life. It is their disappearance that results in Paula heading to the island where she had her last family holiday before her mother disappeared. Paula's personal life is as complicated as ever but we seem to be very slowly moving to finding out what happened to her mother. The strange events happening on the island added a much more horror story than is usual in this series. Not sure how well it worked but can't wait for the final book in this series that reveals at least what happened to Margaret.

[Ria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this a little more...but as much as I liked this 5th Maguire book, I didn't love it. Paula has lost some of her depth and I found her part in the Bone Island debacle very unconvincing. Her character in this tale did not ring true, and yes I know characters are allowed to evolve, but in this case I felt she didn't grow but seemed almost to fade away....I miss who she was and have hope McGowan brings her back fighting in book #6.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another awsome read in the Paula McGuire series. I found the plot of this one fast paced but a wee bit far fetched ? Loved the twist at the end , but did feel there were some loose ends in there too ? As to the main story that continues all through the series .I would have liked it to get a little further than it did.. but that's just me ! Another year till the next one ....

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood tide by Claire McGowan
This is book 5 of the Paula Maguire series.
A very good read. Great story. Paula was my favourite character. I hope there is more to come. 4*.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Paula, what kind of pickle have you got yourself into now...?
This is book five of a really excellent series and one which, in my opinion, is best read start to finish in order as the characters' backstories are a little... shall we just say interesting and convoluted. So, although like others, the main story in this book is complete, there is quite a bit of continuing series thread development happening along side.
Paula answers the call to go to the remote Bone Island to help them investigate the disappearance of a young couple during a storm. Although initially feared swept away in a tragic accident, it soon transpires that foul play may have occurred and so the local cop has called in the troops so to speak. Originally teamed up with old colleague Fiacra, together they travel over to the island where, early on they realise early on that outsiders are not welcome and that beneath the surface, strange things are occurring. If this wasn't enough, Paula has her own misgivings about the island as it features clearly in one of her last memories of her mother, another thing she is trying to uncover the truth of with the help of a private investigator. And to top it all off, Fiacra is injured and replaced by someone she doesn't relish working with. As things get weirder on the island, as everyone starts acting strange, can Paula get to the bottom of things before tragedy strikes again?
It's all go in this book. Aiden is still in jail, Paula is demanding answers about her mother's disappearance as well as trying to establish her fiance's innocence. And then there's Maggie, sweet little innocent Maggie, and the fall out from the revelation from the last book. So the last thing Paula needs is to be sent to a remote island, populated by people acting strange and very reluctant to her presence. Hindering her at every turn, and with a storm brewing that cuts power and communication to the island leaving her and the person she is trying to avoid cut off together, just them against everyone else cos, quite frankly, how do they choose which liar to trust.
It sounds quite over the top and far too convoluted for just one book but believe me, it just flies off the page. It is so very well plotted and paced perfectly. As the action ramps up to fever pitch on the island, we cut back to cover some of the other topics as a bit of well needed respite. The book takes a strange turn part way through as we switch genre away from a thriller crime novel and more towards horror as it starts to feel a bit like The Wicker Man in places. I felt quite claustrophobic at times when I was reading it, especially as it was hammering it down with rain here too! I lost count of the number of times I caught myself holding my breath as I followed the characters avidly.
This is definitely the series that keeps on giving and keeps on getting better. Not usually a fan of too much personal stuff taking over my crime fix, Paula's life blasts that requirement away as I am transfixed by the story of her mother and avidly following both Aiden and Maggie's threads. It really does all come as one big job lot and I am happy to accept and embrace it all. In fact, I really can't wait to see what twists or stings the author has in store for Paula next time.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of these books read and far too much back history shared so won't read the earlier ones now.

A relatively enjoyable read but not a page turner nor a must read more in the series.

Was not that interested in Paula as main character and there were really two stories that never interconnected. The back story of Northern Island in the 80's was more interesting and believable than the murder investigation.

Guessed early on the cause and reason for Rory's strange behaviour but not how twisted Fiona was......

Several difficult to believe moments like re-appearance of Guy also marked rating down to a solid but no more 3.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is utterly fantastic, a great page turner. To start the front cover is amazing, one the reasons I picked it up. but the story within is perfect from the characters of Fiona, Paula and Matt etc to the compelling and atmospheric plot. I love the setting of bone island, so different and unique and the great detail Claire McGowan goes into allows us readers to know the island really well to the fact if the island was real I’d be able to circumnavigate it with ease. I will definitely read another book from this gifted author. Also the twist at the end like damn, it definitely crossed my mind but I brushed it off.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know how some series feel like they don't hit their stride until the fourth or fifth book? Sadly, this isn't one of them.

The main mystery plot is, as usual, smartly thought out, well written and compelling. But the series long arc feels deeply stuck in neutral - all of the questions and dilemmas that were fascinating in the first few books just feel like they're being pulled out again, and even the things that are meant to be surprising don't feel it.

It's still an enjoyable read, but I'd hoped for more.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a young couple disappear on the ominously named Bone Island, forensic psychologist, Paula Maguire braves the treacherous weather to investigate. The case is bittersweet for Paula as it stirs up memories of the last family holiday she had with her long-lost mother. It is soon obvious that ‘outsiders’ are not welcome, with people reluctant to share information about the fate of the couple. With the storm not abating, Paula has a decision to make – should she return back to her daughter on the mainland and leave the case unsolved or risk being trapped on an island with a killer on the loose?

One of my favourite films is The Wicker Man where an ‘outsider’ is lured to a bizarre island in order to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. It was the similarity to this plot that first attracted me to Blood Tide and, after reading it, there are definitely parallels!

One of the things I enjoyed most about Blood Tide was the description of the island – indeed, the island became more of a character than a setting. The author has created an incredibly atmospheric backdrop to the story and it is easy to imagine the desolate landscape that is being terrorised by the unforgiving storm. At times, I felt like screaming at Paula to get off the island, such is the sense of foreboding. Of course, she doesn’t though, and what follows is the discovery of a conspiracy of silence that threatens the life of the forensic psychologist herself.

I would not describe Blood Tide as a fast-paced read, but more of a slow burner that really gets inside your head. Throughout the book, I developed many theories as to what had happened to the missing couple and I was pleased that some of them were correct. I liked the leading character and could really empathise with her plight as she tried to uncover the truth regardless of her own personal safety.

The only problem I had with this book was that I hadn’t realised that it was the fifth in a series. This meant that I had to try to figure out Paula’s backstory in addition to following the missing people story line. This is by no means a criticism – just a slight disappointment that I’ve missed out on the other books and that I have inevitably come across quite a few spoilers!

With thanks to Headline and Net Galley for the ARC.

[StefanieFrei · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil

2014, Ballyterrin, Northern Ireland. On an island out in the Atlantic off the Irish coast, a couple have gone missing. So forensic psychologist Paula Maguire and colleague Fiacra Quinn are sent over to the lonely place, inhabited only by some hundred persons, mostly islanders since generations and a close-knit community. The islanders are not welcoming about outsiders, evidence disappears, witnesses seem evasive, the seaweed company is everywhere. Being on Bone Island to investigate is like a backdrop in time: away from ubiquitous WLAN, hardly a connection for mobile phones, only one shop and one pub. And it is the same island that then 13-year-old Paula had spent her last holidays upon with her parents, when she, of course, did not yet know her mother would soon after disappear. Paula is trying to investigate about her private life, too: she has new information concerning Aidan and the disappearance of her mother that both keep her wondering. And when a storm comes up, Paula finds herself all alone on the island with her colleague, with no contact to the main land, phone, mobile, mail or carrier pigeon, and something definitely going on.

"Did you not feel it? Like - I don't know, we were just the thicko outsiders, and nobody was telling us the whole story?" Chapter Nine. And then the blood is coming.

This number 5 in the six book - series is definitely the most spooky one. With a lot of it as a "closed-room" setup, the atmosphere is dark and broody, sort of gothic even, danger looming everywhere and behind everything and everybody. Again I am very stunned about how the author is capable to vary the missing-person topic, along with the setup of the story. The "closed room" might have been boring - like how might have been "whodunnit", if no one else can get there; but then, the number of possible suspects is certainly to big to make this an easy guess. Again, Claire McGowan weaves in twists, although I was not that surprised this time which curiously did not dim the suspense. I very much liked that there is progress also about the ghosts from Paula's past and really really need to read the last book next. This time, my favorite character has been Bob Hamilton, what a surprise.

5 stars for the first "closed room" setup since Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express" that kept me glued to the pages (now, is that a hint? Find out....)

[Katherine Sunderland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forensic psychologist Paula Maguire - this is the fifth novel in Claire McGowan's acclaimed series. How do I keep missing all these crime series? How do they keep passing me by? It is not good for my reputation as a bibliomaniac to realise I am four books late to the party! And it is just getting embarrassing to have to keep admitting that I am discovering these great writers for the first time!

Did it matter that I'm joining Paula at book 4?

No. McGowan briefs you with any information you may need and her writing style is so easy and engaging I was absorbed in to the story very quickly and with real ease. I guess the beauty of any long running series is that readers will pick them up at any point and will discover them in the wrong order so there must always be provision for this. But not all authors are able to welcome you so deftly to the party and make sure you're not constantly feeling as if you've missed one piece of the jigsaw.

What did I think of Paula?

As with all multi layered, compelling crime thrillers, it's essential to have a troubled protagonist whose personal life somehow affects the current situation they are dealing with and McGowan manages this effortlessly. I was really intrigued by Paula's back story and the dual plot line about the disappearance of her mother. I haven't read any of McGowan's other books but here she has tackled an emotive and complex theme which I haven't read about in a contemporary novel for a while. At first it seemed very ambitious - a story about disappearances, the IRA and Ireland's troubled history- but again, I was in safe hands. It felt fresh and engaging.

And the other characters?

All as convincing, intriguing, three dimensional and authentic as you could hope for!

Where is the book set and what's with the lighthouse?

Ah, well, I can't give too much away obviously, but any readers of my blog will know my love for SK Tremayne, Du Maurier and all things gothic. You can't beat an island for a chilling story and Bone Island ticked all the boxes and lit all the stars for me!! Set off the wild coast of West Ireland, McGowan shows great skill in conjuring up the setting of a remote island and the characters who decided to move there. Hugely well evoked and very atmospheric!

So, you'd recommend?

Yes I would. There are lots of voices, short chapters, dual story lines and police procedural to keep track of but what I enjoyed most is that it was a really easy book to pick up and get stuck into. I enjoyed the style and I enjoyed the structure. This is an accessible, readable crime thriller.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific book. I have loved all of Claire McGowan’s books but this one was in a class of its own. It was really frightening. Set on Bone Island where two of the inhabitants have mysteriously vanished. One was the island doctor and the other her partner who was a marine biologist working for Enviracorp, a seaweed processing company. Paula accepts the invitation to help with the case but soon finds herself in a nightmare scenario where she finds her life in danger.
The islanders are hostile and the stormy weather means she is trapped there with no means of getting off. The couple had lived in the island’s lighthouse and Flannan Isle style there was signs of a struggle but no signs of the couple. It gradually becomes evident to Paula that the behaviour of the islanders is not only hostile but odd in the extreme.
At the same time she is struggling with her own worries, about the disappearance of her mother many years before and about her relationship with Aidan. She has many personal issues to trouble her and this makes her all the more human and likeable. I like the fact that we learn a bit more of the back story to her mother’s sudden disappearance and about the involvement of Bob Hamilton. I’m coming to rather like Bob.
This s a very clever plot with many shocking moments but I never imagined the ending at all. Scary stuff. The island setting added to the atmosphere as did the ongoing storm. I’m so looking forward to the next instalment featuring Paula Maguire.

[Vera VB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanneer je als auteur een afgezonderd eiland als locatie kiest en je giet er dan nog eens de storm van de eeuw overheen, dan voeg je toch een extra dimensie toe. Aan de andere kant weet je als lezer dat de moordenaar ook vastzit op het eiland, anders is het helemaal niet spannend. De groep waaruit de moordenaar moet komen, is aardig beperkt.
Paula Maguire denkt voor een dag heen en weer naar Bones eiland te gaan om er mee te helpen bij de verdwijning van een koppel. Er is iets vreemds bij de verdwijning, maar toch gaat iedereen ervanuit dat ze verdronken zijn. Paula zou Paula niet zijn indien ze niet iets vreemds ontdekt dat ze dan ook niet kan loslaten. Daardoor is ze langer op het eiland en moet ze de storm er ook uitzitten.
Deze keer niet direct een link met de IRA of de troubles, maar een ander thema dat tot nadenken stemt.
Door de afzondering van het eiland en de storm is er geen telefoonverkeer mogelijk, de ferry vaart niet en een helicopter is al helemaal uitgesloten. Dat maakt dat ik de indruk had dat dit boek zich veel vroeger in de tijd had kunnen afspelen dan in de 21ste eeuw.
Ondertussen gaat het verhaal naar de verdwijning van de moeder van Paula twintig jaar geleden ook nog altijd verder en die verhaallijn is ook wel spannend. Ik kan er verder niets over zeggen om niets weg te geven. Het is wel belangrijk om de boeken in de juiste volgorde te lezen om deze verhaallijn goed te kunnen volgen.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

My 6yo son found this in the library, decided it was something he would like to read (I suspect he thought it might involve a ferocious sea reptile or shark) but isn't allowed to, so he insisted I read it instead. He was so excited to choose a book for me for once, so I read this, for him, with a big heavy sigh. I used to read a lot of this sort of thing in my twenties but I stopped when I finally realised these books are all.the.same. Highly capable psychologist/detective/lawyer (fill in blank) who has an incredibly dysfunctional personal life with seemingly unending, unresolved complications, manages to solve a bizarre crime, almost singlehandedly. This one I felt was particularly formulaic and clunky. And yes, I walked into book #5 not having read the others, but I doubt that makes any difference to be honest. It's all recapped, and I think if I had read the previous four books I may have been ready to slap this character, because she is seriously irritating. So, look, this isn't for me but - having said all that - the setting is great, eerie and mysterious. And I was mostly on board with the central mystery, I wanted to know what was going on which kept me going. It's just all the other nonsense that I found annoying.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When ravaged by storms, remote islands become inaccessible.....and inescapable.....

Called in to investigate the disappearance of a young couple during a violent storm, forensic psychologist Paula Maguire has mixed feelings about going back to Bone Island. Her last family holiday as a child was spent on it's beautiful, remote beaches and returning brings back haunting memories of her long-lost mother.

It soon becomes clear that outsiders aren't welcome on the island. With no choice but to investigate the local community, Paula soon realises that the islanders are hiding secrets from her, and each other.

With another storm approaching, Paula is faced with a choice, leave alive or risk being trapped with a killer on an inescapable island, as the blood tide rushes in........

[Liz Mistry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood Tide by Claire McGowan
I love books that take you back to the main protagonists past. That feeling of unfinished business always leaves a heavy feeling of mounting pressure - it adds another dimension. When Paula Maguire is required to return to Bone island to investigate the disappearance of a young couple during a storm she soon comes to believe that the islanders are hiding something crucial to her investigation. With a brooding darkness throughout the novel this is a compelling read. the added time limitations of the approaching storm just ratchets things up another notch. Loved it!