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Detective Iris Locke #2
Why She Ran
Yesterday they were a family like any other…
Twenty-year-old Rachel McDermott was your typical girl-next-door. She loved her job as a nurse, was close to her family in the small Irish town of Corbally and seemed to have no enemies. So when she is brutally murdered, the local community reels in horror and Detective Iris Locke is put on the case.
The main suspect is her close friend, sixteen-year-old Eleanor Marshall, a tearaway teenager with addiction problems whose parents have long since turned their backs on her. Eleanor was last seen fleeing the scene where Rachel’s body was found and is now missing in the woods near the Comeragh mountains.
Eleanor’s sister Karena insists Eleanor wouldn’t have hurt her best friend, but a day later, when Karena is found dead in the area Eleanor is hiding, Iris knows things don’t look good for the runaway teen. She doesn’t want to believe that Eleanor is her sister’s killer, but all the evidence seems to point that way.
But Iris can’t let go of the elements of the case she doesn’t have answers for. The fact that Rachel’s father died in suspicious circumstances. The strange company that Rachel was keeping the night before she died. Was it guilt or fear that made Eleanor run? And can Iris find her before it is too late?
This gripping mystery thriller is perfect for fans of Carol Wyer, Robert Dugoni and LJ Ross.
Readers are utterly gripped by Geraldine Hogan:
‘A nail-biting chiller that will make your heart race and send shivers up and down your spine. Her Sister’s Bones is a spellbinding and sensational crime novel that is impossible to put down.’ Bookish Jottings, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh this book was so good... I read this in 3 sittings simply because life got in the way! I was engrossed in the plot and that ending! Wow I didn't see that coming.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘What a FANTASTIC book. BRILLIANT characters with strong storylines, excellent plot I did not guess at all, took me by total surprise. I can highly recommend this OUTSTANDING book.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘What a fantastic debut... enthralling, heart wrenching, an overall wonderful read, definitely have you feeling all the feels. I am still shaken by the outcome of the case.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I couldn't read it fast enough... The ending is mind-blowing and totally unexpected. I loved it’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved Her Sister's Bones! Can't wait for the next one!' Patricia Gibney
Twenty-year-old Rachel McDermott was your typical girl-next-door. She loved her job as a nurse, was close to her family in the small Irish town of Corbally and seemed to have no enemies. So when she is brutally murdered, the local community reels in horror and Detective Iris Locke is put on the case.
The main suspect is her close friend, sixteen-year-old Eleanor Marshall, a tearaway teenager with addiction problems whose parents have long since turned their backs on her. Eleanor was last seen fleeing the scene where Rachel’s body was found and is now missing in the woods near the Comeragh mountains.
Eleanor’s sister Karena insists Eleanor wouldn’t have hurt her best friend, but a day later, when Karena is found dead in the area Eleanor is hiding, Iris knows things don’t look good for the runaway teen. She doesn’t want to believe that Eleanor is her sister’s killer, but all the evidence seems to point that way.
But Iris can’t let go of the elements of the case she doesn’t have answers for. The fact that Rachel’s father died in suspicious circumstances. The strange company that Rachel was keeping the night before she died. Was it guilt or fear that made Eleanor run? And can Iris find her before it is too late?
This gripping mystery thriller is perfect for fans of Carol Wyer, Robert Dugoni and LJ Ross.
Readers are utterly gripped by Geraldine Hogan:
‘A nail-biting chiller that will make your heart race and send shivers up and down your spine. Her Sister’s Bones is a spellbinding and sensational crime novel that is impossible to put down.’ Bookish Jottings, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh this book was so good... I read this in 3 sittings simply because life got in the way! I was engrossed in the plot and that ending! Wow I didn't see that coming.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘What a FANTASTIC book. BRILLIANT characters with strong storylines, excellent plot I did not guess at all, took me by total surprise. I can highly recommend this OUTSTANDING book.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘What a fantastic debut... enthralling, heart wrenching, an overall wonderful read, definitely have you feeling all the feels. I am still shaken by the outcome of the case.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I couldn't read it fast enough... The ending is mind-blowing and totally unexpected. I loved it’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved Her Sister's Bones! Can't wait for the next one!' Patricia Gibney
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2019
150 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
Geraldine Hogan
2 books76 followersGeraldine Hogan was born in Ireland. She gained an Honors Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate Degree in Training and Management from University College, Galway. She is an Irish award-winning and bestselling author of four contemporary fiction novels under the pen name Faith Hogan.
HER SISTER'S BONES is her first crime novel, her second WHY SHE RAN is due out in December 2019.
She is currently working on her next novel. She lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children and a very busy Labrador named Penny. She's a writer, reader, enthusiastic dog walker and reluctant jogger - except of course when it is raining!
You can find out more about Geraldine here:
www.Facebook/GeraldineHoganAuthor.com
Twitter @gerhogan
https://www.instagram.com/faithhogana...
HER SISTER'S BONES is her first crime novel, her second WHY SHE RAN is due out in December 2019.
She is currently working on her next novel. She lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children and a very busy Labrador named Penny. She's a writer, reader, enthusiastic dog walker and reluctant jogger - except of course when it is raining!
You can find out more about Geraldine here:
www.Facebook/GeraldineHoganAuthor.com
Twitter @gerhogan
https://www.instagram.com/faithhogana...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
December 20, 2019
This was an addictive slow burning crime thriller. Geraldine Hogan’s vivid writing painted a descriptive picture of this small Irish town and these characters. This is the second book in this series (something I did not realize going in) and I think I would have appreciated the story more had I read the first book. There was a lot of backstory that I was not privy to. Nevertheless I found the Mystery absorbine and the detective’s relationships compelling. A tent mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.
Rachel was a caring nurse with a loving family. Who could possibly want her dead? Everyone is shocked when Rachel‘s bloody body is discovered at the elite rehab Center where she works. The main suspect is Eleanor a 15-year-old girl who is both troubled and entitled. Iris The detective on the case who is still reeling from past events is not so certain that Eleanor is guilty, but where is she? As Iris hunts down Eleanor the layers of the case start to peel away. As invested as I was in this mystery, I have to admit there were times I was slightly confused. There were some things going on in this book that I had a hard time puzzling in. All in all this was a well done crime thriller with a vivid setting.
*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
Rachel was a caring nurse with a loving family. Who could possibly want her dead? Everyone is shocked when Rachel‘s bloody body is discovered at the elite rehab Center where she works. The main suspect is Eleanor a 15-year-old girl who is both troubled and entitled. Iris The detective on the case who is still reeling from past events is not so certain that Eleanor is guilty, but where is she? As Iris hunts down Eleanor the layers of the case start to peel away. As invested as I was in this mystery, I have to admit there were times I was slightly confused. There were some things going on in this book that I had a hard time puzzling in. All in all this was a well done crime thriller with a vivid setting.
*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
December 13, 2019
Detective Iris Locke #2
Iris has been called out to the murder of a young woman who had been a support worker. But Eleanor, one of her charges, has disappeared.
I like DS Locke and her partner DS Slattery. They work well together. They are with good characters and the banter between them just makes them more realistic. The pace is quite slow ut the plotline is quite good. Eleanor come from a dysfunctional family. Her father is an influential man. There are a few twists to put you off the trail. It's well written and complex. Even with it's slow pace, I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Geraldine Hogan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Iris has been called out to the murder of a young woman who had been a support worker. But Eleanor, one of her charges, has disappeared.
I like DS Locke and her partner DS Slattery. They work well together. They are with good characters and the banter between them just makes them more realistic. The pace is quite slow ut the plotline is quite good. Eleanor come from a dysfunctional family. Her father is an influential man. There are a few twists to put you off the trail. It's well written and complex. Even with it's slow pace, I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Geraldine Hogan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
Even the way Pardy pecked her way around her food got right under Iris’s skin. Never trust a woman who doesn’t enjoy her food, or a woman who wants sergeant stripes so badly she’d walk over anyone to get them. Jo Pardy ate like a mouse, rationing it out in tiny bites, a speck here, a crumb there; at times almost bovine-like back chewing went on, and sometimes it was all Iris could do to stop herself force-feeding the girl a half a dozen biscuits at once just to get it over with.
He’d only searched for it half-heartedly, after all, where Slattery came from, real men didn’t wear jewellery –apart from the Bishop, but then since he wore robes that resembled an old woman’s dress, he was hardly the most obvious male role model.
I think Kit Marshall would sell his granny for a bunch of hydrangeas so he could come up smelling of flowers, that’s all.’
The words floated for a second or two in the air between them, like soft bubbles, perfect, honest. They’d never fit back in their box again.
Maureen was just sixty, but she was an old-fashioned sixty, with tweed skirts and a fondness for headscarves, knotted into submission between her first and second chin.
She’s as mad as a bag of weasels.
My Review:
I was once again in awe not only of her Ms. Hogan’s oddly compelling plot and storylines but also of her wily character development and captivating storytelling. Her evocative word choices and unique, keenly honed, and striking arrangements of words and ancillary details sparked sharp and smoothly calibrated visuals to scroll through my gray matter. The little pea in my brain must have been smoking and was definitely singed while working through this well-crafted, multi-layered, and complex tale that slowly and slyly unraveled with an unpredictable ending I never saw coming.
I admire and covet Ms. Hogan's word skills and craftiness as much as I adore her oddly enticing, deeply flawed, strong, complicated, peculiarly intriguing and irresistible characters - who were so well developed and vividly described they virtually leapt from the page. I eagerly anticipate delving into more engaging and suspenseful tales from this talented scribe.
Even the way Pardy pecked her way around her food got right under Iris’s skin. Never trust a woman who doesn’t enjoy her food, or a woman who wants sergeant stripes so badly she’d walk over anyone to get them. Jo Pardy ate like a mouse, rationing it out in tiny bites, a speck here, a crumb there; at times almost bovine-like back chewing went on, and sometimes it was all Iris could do to stop herself force-feeding the girl a half a dozen biscuits at once just to get it over with.
He’d only searched for it half-heartedly, after all, where Slattery came from, real men didn’t wear jewellery –apart from the Bishop, but then since he wore robes that resembled an old woman’s dress, he was hardly the most obvious male role model.
I think Kit Marshall would sell his granny for a bunch of hydrangeas so he could come up smelling of flowers, that’s all.’
The words floated for a second or two in the air between them, like soft bubbles, perfect, honest. They’d never fit back in their box again.
Maureen was just sixty, but she was an old-fashioned sixty, with tweed skirts and a fondness for headscarves, knotted into submission between her first and second chin.
She’s as mad as a bag of weasels.
My Review:
I was once again in awe not only of her Ms. Hogan’s oddly compelling plot and storylines but also of her wily character development and captivating storytelling. Her evocative word choices and unique, keenly honed, and striking arrangements of words and ancillary details sparked sharp and smoothly calibrated visuals to scroll through my gray matter. The little pea in my brain must have been smoking and was definitely singed while working through this well-crafted, multi-layered, and complex tale that slowly and slyly unraveled with an unpredictable ending I never saw coming.
I admire and covet Ms. Hogan's word skills and craftiness as much as I adore her oddly enticing, deeply flawed, strong, complicated, peculiarly intriguing and irresistible characters - who were so well developed and vividly described they virtually leapt from the page. I eagerly anticipate delving into more engaging and suspenseful tales from this talented scribe.
December 19, 2019
Rachel McDermott is killed by a brutal hit to the head. She was young, a caring nurse working at a rehab center for those who could afford to pay for their services. She was in charge of only one 'resident'.
Eleanor Marshall is missing. She's 16 years old, suffers from epilepsy, and was seen running from the kitchen where Rachel was killed. Did Eleanor witness the murder and is running for her life? Or is she the one who wielded the murder weapon?
Detective Iris Locke is called in to investigate ...and what she finds does not bode well for Eleanor.
At the heart of this story is an extremely secretive and dysfunctional family. And then another family member's body is found dead in the forest ... and eerily looks like the same killer.
Iris takes a closer look into Rachel’s background and discovers that she was keeping strange, shadowy company the night before she died. But who ... and why?
At the heart of this story is a family harboring dark secrets ... and someone wants Iris to stop investigating. The closer to the truth that Iris gets ... the more danger she faces.
This is a well written crime fiction, suspenseful from the very first page. Although 2nd in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone; however, if you want to know more about Iris, I would highly recommend starting with the first book. The characters are intriguing and the ending was unpredictable.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Eleanor Marshall is missing. She's 16 years old, suffers from epilepsy, and was seen running from the kitchen where Rachel was killed. Did Eleanor witness the murder and is running for her life? Or is she the one who wielded the murder weapon?
Detective Iris Locke is called in to investigate ...and what she finds does not bode well for Eleanor.
At the heart of this story is an extremely secretive and dysfunctional family. And then another family member's body is found dead in the forest ... and eerily looks like the same killer.
Iris takes a closer look into Rachel’s background and discovers that she was keeping strange, shadowy company the night before she died. But who ... and why?
At the heart of this story is a family harboring dark secrets ... and someone wants Iris to stop investigating. The closer to the truth that Iris gets ... the more danger she faces.
This is a well written crime fiction, suspenseful from the very first page. Although 2nd in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone; however, if you want to know more about Iris, I would highly recommend starting with the first book. The characters are intriguing and the ending was unpredictable.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 20, 2019
Why She Ran is the second crime thriller/police procedural in the Detective Iris Locke and Ben Slattery series based in Limerick, Ireland. The Corbally murder investigation team are called in to investigate a rather grisly slaying of twenty-year-old nurse Rachel McDermott and to search for a teenage runaway Eleanor Marshall who is a drug addict and cannot seem to be located. The two of them recently became friends but witnesses said they saw Eleanor in the area where Rachel's body was dumped so it's all a tad suspicious. As they are unable to find Eleanor they go to speak to her sister, Karena, who states that she is not the type of person to do this sort of thing despite being troubled. Then Karena turns up dead too. The team suspect the two cases are linked but no one can get their heads around or comprehend these incidents as the small Irish town and the townsfolk have never experienced such a horrendous force for evil in their midst before; it really is a shock to everyone's system.
I thoroughly enjoyed this gritty, twisty murder mystery and felt it had more twists and turns than the first book and was more exciting. From the opening chapter right through to the conclusion it held my attention and I wanted to finish in a single sitting it was that compulsively readable. The Irish countryside was described vividly and it was superbly plotted with a cast of engaging characters all of whom were believable and realistic. We didn't get a great deal of character development in the previous/first book as Ms Hogan needed to set the scene but here we get some solid background on both Iris and Ben. The dynamic between them is an interesting one and I particularly enjoyed the humour and banter they shared. This is a well written and entertaining work of crime fiction and comes highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
I thoroughly enjoyed this gritty, twisty murder mystery and felt it had more twists and turns than the first book and was more exciting. From the opening chapter right through to the conclusion it held my attention and I wanted to finish in a single sitting it was that compulsively readable. The Irish countryside was described vividly and it was superbly plotted with a cast of engaging characters all of whom were believable and realistic. We didn't get a great deal of character development in the previous/first book as Ms Hogan needed to set the scene but here we get some solid background on both Iris and Ben. The dynamic between them is an interesting one and I particularly enjoyed the humour and banter they shared. This is a well written and entertaining work of crime fiction and comes highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
December 27, 2019
Why She Ran by Geraldine Hogan is the second in the Detective Iris Locke series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Detective Iris Locke is on The Murder Team, a group specializing in handling homicides. The team consists of Inspector Coleman Grady, Sergeant Ben Slattery, a rather cantankerous man, but who Iris somehow bonded with; Detective Jo Pardy who is willing to walk over anyone to get her sergeant stripes; and their boss, Chief Superintendent Byrne. Iris has recently discovered that the family she grew up with was not really hers.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Iris has been renting a room in a boarding house while her own apartment was being handled by the crime scene technicians. She's not sure she is ready to go back yet. Too much has happened. The man she thought of as her father is now dead, burned in the fire that he had set. The woman she thought of as her mother is alive, but Iris can't quite face her.
Grady has been transferred, hopefully temporarily, to another city, and Iris is given the opportunity to take lead on the case of Rachel McDermott, whose dead body was found at Curlew Hall, a detox center for the children of the wealthy. Rachel was working there. Resident Eleanor Marshall, the daughter of a very wealthy man who owns half the city, is missing.
Finding Eleanor is the main priority, as she has epilepsy, and without her medication, she could die. So...why did she run away? Is she guilty of killing Rachel? Did she see something?
Iris is saddled with another officer, Tony Ahearn, who is itching for a promotion, and does not want to be under Iris's command. But she needs all the help she can get.
Meanwhile, Iris is still trying to come to grips with the fact that her "parents", hid her true identity from her. Slattery is trying to cope with a wife who has the beginning stages of dementia.
My Opinions:
First, you really have to read the first book in this series, as Iris's background is really not explained as well as it could be in this book. The author sort of spread her history out throughout the book, and I would have preferred a more concise reminder, and this is really my only complaint.
I am definitely enjoying this new series, which is set in Ireland. I really like Iris, who is a very hard-working and dedicated officer, filled with compassion. I love her relationship with Slattery, who we learned a lot more about in this one. Their conversations are often good-hearted teasing, and it feels very "real".
I like how the story was told from multiple viewpoints, including the missing Eleanor.
It was a great plot with good twists, and the writing is very smooth, although occasionally I found it moved slowly.
Overall, a good series, and I'm looking forward to more.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Detective Iris Locke is on The Murder Team, a group specializing in handling homicides. The team consists of Inspector Coleman Grady, Sergeant Ben Slattery, a rather cantankerous man, but who Iris somehow bonded with; Detective Jo Pardy who is willing to walk over anyone to get her sergeant stripes; and their boss, Chief Superintendent Byrne. Iris has recently discovered that the family she grew up with was not really hers.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Iris has been renting a room in a boarding house while her own apartment was being handled by the crime scene technicians. She's not sure she is ready to go back yet. Too much has happened. The man she thought of as her father is now dead, burned in the fire that he had set. The woman she thought of as her mother is alive, but Iris can't quite face her.
Grady has been transferred, hopefully temporarily, to another city, and Iris is given the opportunity to take lead on the case of Rachel McDermott, whose dead body was found at Curlew Hall, a detox center for the children of the wealthy. Rachel was working there. Resident Eleanor Marshall, the daughter of a very wealthy man who owns half the city, is missing.
Finding Eleanor is the main priority, as she has epilepsy, and without her medication, she could die. So...why did she run away? Is she guilty of killing Rachel? Did she see something?
Iris is saddled with another officer, Tony Ahearn, who is itching for a promotion, and does not want to be under Iris's command. But she needs all the help she can get.
Meanwhile, Iris is still trying to come to grips with the fact that her "parents", hid her true identity from her. Slattery is trying to cope with a wife who has the beginning stages of dementia.
My Opinions:
First, you really have to read the first book in this series, as Iris's background is really not explained as well as it could be in this book. The author sort of spread her history out throughout the book, and I would have preferred a more concise reminder, and this is really my only complaint.
I am definitely enjoying this new series, which is set in Ireland. I really like Iris, who is a very hard-working and dedicated officer, filled with compassion. I love her relationship with Slattery, who we learned a lot more about in this one. Their conversations are often good-hearted teasing, and it feels very "real".
I like how the story was told from multiple viewpoints, including the missing Eleanor.
It was a great plot with good twists, and the writing is very smooth, although occasionally I found it moved slowly.
Overall, a good series, and I'm looking forward to more.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 12, 2019
Rachel McDermott seemed like a happy young woman. She had a great job as a nurse and a wonderful family. Then why is it that she was brutally murdered? Detective Iris Locke is on the case and will do whatever she can to find Rachel's murderer. Iris considers Eleanor Marshall to be the most likely suspect, because although she was Rachel's friend, she is someone dealing with addiction. Eleanor was seen running from the area where Rachel was killed. Even though her sister Karena says that Eleanor would never have harmed Rachel, then Karena is found dead.
While Iris pulls clues together, and searches for Eleanor as she has now gone missing, she has other concerns. For one thing, her coworker DS Slattery has his hands full dealing with his wife's dementia. That situation is dire and takes a fair part of this story. It was interesting to see how this affected Iris and her working relationship with Slattery. In this case, there is a past that is now being reflected by what is happening now. It soon becomes evident that there are other suspects, and Iris must sort it all out.
This well-written story by Geraldine Hogan was a terrific read and a nice addition to the Detective Iris Locke series. I read the first book, Silent Night, and I enjoyed that one as well. Although Why She Ran would do well as a standalone, it is always great to find a new series that has just started. I do look forward to seeing what else is in store for Iris.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
While Iris pulls clues together, and searches for Eleanor as she has now gone missing, she has other concerns. For one thing, her coworker DS Slattery has his hands full dealing with his wife's dementia. That situation is dire and takes a fair part of this story. It was interesting to see how this affected Iris and her working relationship with Slattery. In this case, there is a past that is now being reflected by what is happening now. It soon becomes evident that there are other suspects, and Iris must sort it all out.
This well-written story by Geraldine Hogan was a terrific read and a nice addition to the Detective Iris Locke series. I read the first book, Silent Night, and I enjoyed that one as well. Although Why She Ran would do well as a standalone, it is always great to find a new series that has just started. I do look forward to seeing what else is in store for Iris.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
December 13, 2019
This is the second book in the Detective Iris Locke crime thriller series and I think it's quite important that you have read the first book prior to getting into this one as there are many significant events that occurred that are necessary to know about before delving in.
DS Iris Locke is still reeling from the revelations and loss but she is trying to come to terms and get back into her job -- the one thing she still has left. She's now living in a boarding house but has decided to stay with the Corbally station Murder Team in Limerick. She's done with Dublin but knows she belongs here in the town where she was raised despite everything that happened. Her colleague, DS Ben Slattery calls about a case. Seems that a murder has taken place at Curlew Hall, a residential care center for troubled kids who have rich parents. A young carer, Rachel McDermott has been bludgeoned and left dead on the kitchen floor of one of the bungalows. The patient she was assigned to watch, Eleanor Marshall, the 15-year-old daughter of a prominent local businessman, has disappeared. The full force is called out to do a massive search for Eleanor -- did she kill Rachel and why? Everyone loved Rachel so what happened inside the bungalow and has something happened to Eleanor -- who is a vulnerable girl with severe epilepsy and a checkered history? The investigation begins. NO SPOILERS.
The writing is very good, but the story moved quite slowly with lots of interviews back and forth with same people and the usual difficulty in getting information from them. The setting was well-described and there was a sense of menace that wasn't fully realized. The two main characters, Locke and Slattery, have a decent partnership and proceed diligently in their work going without sleep or food. There were many references to what had recently happened to Iris but a paragraph or two summing it up completed would be really helpful to refresh the Reader's memories with all the details. That would make it easier to relate more to Iris and her current emotional status. I would have to say that this installment didn't grab me as much as the first book but I do plan to catch the next one to see what happens for Iris in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
DS Iris Locke is still reeling from the revelations and loss but she is trying to come to terms and get back into her job -- the one thing she still has left. She's now living in a boarding house but has decided to stay with the Corbally station Murder Team in Limerick. She's done with Dublin but knows she belongs here in the town where she was raised despite everything that happened. Her colleague, DS Ben Slattery calls about a case. Seems that a murder has taken place at Curlew Hall, a residential care center for troubled kids who have rich parents. A young carer, Rachel McDermott has been bludgeoned and left dead on the kitchen floor of one of the bungalows. The patient she was assigned to watch, Eleanor Marshall, the 15-year-old daughter of a prominent local businessman, has disappeared. The full force is called out to do a massive search for Eleanor -- did she kill Rachel and why? Everyone loved Rachel so what happened inside the bungalow and has something happened to Eleanor -- who is a vulnerable girl with severe epilepsy and a checkered history? The investigation begins. NO SPOILERS.
The writing is very good, but the story moved quite slowly with lots of interviews back and forth with same people and the usual difficulty in getting information from them. The setting was well-described and there was a sense of menace that wasn't fully realized. The two main characters, Locke and Slattery, have a decent partnership and proceed diligently in their work going without sleep or food. There were many references to what had recently happened to Iris but a paragraph or two summing it up completed would be really helpful to refresh the Reader's memories with all the details. That would make it easier to relate more to Iris and her current emotional status. I would have to say that this installment didn't grab me as much as the first book but I do plan to catch the next one to see what happens for Iris in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
December 19, 2019
Iris Locke as the lead cop in this murder mystery too has zinged a part of my brain with her tenacity to get to the truth. Due credit to the author Geraldine Hogan for her fine writing. The detailed story telling started when Rebecca was killed and Eleanor ran away from the rehab center. Eleanor's sister's death too raised the suspense and made the story a race against time.
The vividness of the descriptions of the Irish locals made me realize how smooth the author's writing was. The words chosen brought a sense of camaraderie but kept the tension going further. Secrets hidden in the characters' lives were like a hidden bomb waiting to explode. Iris Locke was brilliant in her role, her relationship with her partner was quite intriguing. It was nice to get to see their personal lives.
The book was a bit slow from what I was used to. I have no patience in murder mysteries, and being the end of the year, I needed the killer brought in front of me pronto.
The book was second in the series, but I didn't remember much from book 1. So the story worked as a standalone only because of Iris Locke. Overall, a fun read.
The vividness of the descriptions of the Irish locals made me realize how smooth the author's writing was. The words chosen brought a sense of camaraderie but kept the tension going further. Secrets hidden in the characters' lives were like a hidden bomb waiting to explode. Iris Locke was brilliant in her role, her relationship with her partner was quite intriguing. It was nice to get to see their personal lives.
The book was a bit slow from what I was used to. I have no patience in murder mysteries, and being the end of the year, I needed the killer brought in front of me pronto.
The book was second in the series, but I didn't remember much from book 1. So the story worked as a standalone only because of Iris Locke. Overall, a fun read.
December 19, 2019
This is a great read that had me hooked from the first few pages.
A young woman is murdered and Eleanor hears it happening. She’s in a special facility for her well being and is terrified by the murder of her nurse. Eleanor manages to escape and hides out in the woods.
Detective Iris Locke and her colleague, Slattery are tasked with finding the killer and speaking to Eleanor’s family.
It’s clear the Marshalls have a fair few secrets but what is the link between Rachel’s murder and the family?
Iris has to dig deep into lives of those involved to find out who the killer is, and it definitely took me by surprise.
This is a gripping crime thriller that also had a sense of humour throughout with the banter between Iris and Slattery.
I really like this series and look forward to reading the next book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
A young woman is murdered and Eleanor hears it happening. She’s in a special facility for her well being and is terrified by the murder of her nurse. Eleanor manages to escape and hides out in the woods.
Detective Iris Locke and her colleague, Slattery are tasked with finding the killer and speaking to Eleanor’s family.
It’s clear the Marshalls have a fair few secrets but what is the link between Rachel’s murder and the family?
Iris has to dig deep into lives of those involved to find out who the killer is, and it definitely took me by surprise.
This is a gripping crime thriller that also had a sense of humour throughout with the banter between Iris and Slattery.
I really like this series and look forward to reading the next book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
February 7, 2020
Gripping! Edgy! Modern! Exciting! Addictive! Thrilling! Suspenseful! Keeps you guessing! Everything you could want in a psychological thriller with twist-after-unexpected-twist!
#WhySheRan #NetGalley
#WhySheRan #NetGalley
December 23, 2019
4.5 stars rounded up
Eleanor Marshall, a troubled teenager witnesses a brutal murder and goes on the run to escape from the confines of Curlew Hall, the facility where she resides with other ‘problem’ teens.
The main issue for the police is that not only do they want to find her because she may have witnessed (or perpetrated?) a brutal attack, but she might also be in dire need of medical attention as she suffers from epilepsy. The woods where they believe her to be, is unforgiving.
The problems for Iris and her team are many. Finding young Eleanor safe and sound. Discovering who killed the care worker Rachel McDermott, while all the time being cognizant of the fact that Eleanor’s father is a rich and powerful man who has connections throughout Limerick – Ireland’s most dangerous city.
The Corbally Murder Team:
D.S. Iris Locke – Twenty-nine years old and a born policewoman. Single, she is devoted to her career and has always wanted to follow in her esteemed father’s footsteps. However, events from the first book in the series have turned her life upside down in such a fashion that she can no longer believe anything she once thought to be true…
This time out, still emotionally reeling from her previous case, Iris is put in as temporary Detective Inspector in the murder case of a young woman who worked at a facility that houses troubled teen girls.
D.S. Ben Slatterey – In his late fifties, Slatterey is a cynical, ‘old school’ copper who is devoted to the job in equal measure to his devotion to drink. His two obsessions has alienated him from his wife and daughter. He once got on Iris’s nerves, but she now knows that his curmudgeonly persona hides a keen intellect and a warm regard for her and her welfare. She, on the other hand, is respectful of his work and his connections but more importantly is beginning to think of him as almost like family.
D.C. June Quinn – a diligent officer and a widow in her early fifties. The single mother of two teenage sons, she balances her home and work life quite admirably. She now tries to ‘look out’ for Ben Slatterey, though she tries to do this unobtrusively…
D.S. Tony Ahearn – an ambitious, fast-talking copper whom Iris feels is a ‘smarmy wanker’ who is not to be fully trusted.
D.I. Coleman Grady – has been seconded to Dublin for a case. Iris Locke is stepping in as his temporary replacement.
MY THOUGHTS
The second installment in the DS Iris Locke series was a more than worthy follow-up to the first. It was an example of the type of police procedural novel that I like most. An interesting ‘case’ for the police to work on and a lot of back story about the police officers themselves. I like getting to know the police team and becoming invested in their lives both at work and at home.
Characterization is key in this series, and I thoroughly enjoyed the added tidbits I learned about the characters in this second book.
I enjoyed the writing and the descriptions of the characters. “His voice had dipped further, his eyes as near puppy dog as any wolf can go.”
The title fits the book perfectly. The whole premise of the novel is for the reader to discover “Why She Ran“.
A novel whose main themes are the many permutations of ‘family’ and what avarice can cause some people to do, it is a police procedural that I can confidently recommend.
I now eagerly anticipate the third book in the series which just might find Iris at a new stage of her life.
Eleanor Marshall, a troubled teenager witnesses a brutal murder and goes on the run to escape from the confines of Curlew Hall, the facility where she resides with other ‘problem’ teens.
The main issue for the police is that not only do they want to find her because she may have witnessed (or perpetrated?) a brutal attack, but she might also be in dire need of medical attention as she suffers from epilepsy. The woods where they believe her to be, is unforgiving.
The problems for Iris and her team are many. Finding young Eleanor safe and sound. Discovering who killed the care worker Rachel McDermott, while all the time being cognizant of the fact that Eleanor’s father is a rich and powerful man who has connections throughout Limerick – Ireland’s most dangerous city.
The Corbally Murder Team:
D.S. Iris Locke – Twenty-nine years old and a born policewoman. Single, she is devoted to her career and has always wanted to follow in her esteemed father’s footsteps. However, events from the first book in the series have turned her life upside down in such a fashion that she can no longer believe anything she once thought to be true…
This time out, still emotionally reeling from her previous case, Iris is put in as temporary Detective Inspector in the murder case of a young woman who worked at a facility that houses troubled teen girls.
D.S. Ben Slatterey – In his late fifties, Slatterey is a cynical, ‘old school’ copper who is devoted to the job in equal measure to his devotion to drink. His two obsessions has alienated him from his wife and daughter. He once got on Iris’s nerves, but she now knows that his curmudgeonly persona hides a keen intellect and a warm regard for her and her welfare. She, on the other hand, is respectful of his work and his connections but more importantly is beginning to think of him as almost like family.
D.C. June Quinn – a diligent officer and a widow in her early fifties. The single mother of two teenage sons, she balances her home and work life quite admirably. She now tries to ‘look out’ for Ben Slatterey, though she tries to do this unobtrusively…
D.S. Tony Ahearn – an ambitious, fast-talking copper whom Iris feels is a ‘smarmy wanker’ who is not to be fully trusted.
D.I. Coleman Grady – has been seconded to Dublin for a case. Iris Locke is stepping in as his temporary replacement.
MY THOUGHTS
The second installment in the DS Iris Locke series was a more than worthy follow-up to the first. It was an example of the type of police procedural novel that I like most. An interesting ‘case’ for the police to work on and a lot of back story about the police officers themselves. I like getting to know the police team and becoming invested in their lives both at work and at home.
Characterization is key in this series, and I thoroughly enjoyed the added tidbits I learned about the characters in this second book.
I enjoyed the writing and the descriptions of the characters. “His voice had dipped further, his eyes as near puppy dog as any wolf can go.”
The title fits the book perfectly. The whole premise of the novel is for the reader to discover “Why She Ran“.
A novel whose main themes are the many permutations of ‘family’ and what avarice can cause some people to do, it is a police procedural that I can confidently recommend.
I now eagerly anticipate the third book in the series which just might find Iris at a new stage of her life.
December 16, 2019
This is one of those books that I find difficult to rate. It is the second book in the series and I think that is one of the problems I have. This is the type of series that you have to read in order because there are references that I don't understand. I liked the writing and found it an easy read although some parts felt unnecessary. Some scenes could also have been more rounded off.
The series is set in Limerick in Ireland. A young woman is found murdered at the rehabilitation centre where she worked and a 15 year old troubled girl is missing. Everyone is wondering if she was involved in the murder but to the reader it is obvious that she found the body and decided to run.
Detective Iris Locke has to figure out what happened and more importantly find the missing girl who has epilepsy. It felt a bit unrealistic that a 15 year old can avoid a whole police force who is out searching for her. There is also a reference to a special place that her sister knew of but it is not explained. Maybe the book would have had more of an impact if I have read the 1st one.
Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The series is set in Limerick in Ireland. A young woman is found murdered at the rehabilitation centre where she worked and a 15 year old troubled girl is missing. Everyone is wondering if she was involved in the murder but to the reader it is obvious that she found the body and decided to run.
Detective Iris Locke has to figure out what happened and more importantly find the missing girl who has epilepsy. It felt a bit unrealistic that a 15 year old can avoid a whole police force who is out searching for her. There is also a reference to a special place that her sister knew of but it is not explained. Maybe the book would have had more of an impact if I have read the 1st one.
Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 21, 2019
I am already a huge fan of Geraldine Hogan, just check my author index and you can see that I have read everything that she has written to date as Faith Hogan, so I was super-excited when I found out that she was venturing into the crime fiction genre. Unfortunately I ended up not reading her first crime novel, My Sister's Bones, due to other reading commitments and missing out on a spot on the blog tour but I was delighted to be invited to take part in the blog tour for book 2, Why She Ran.
Eleanor Marshall has been institutionalised by her rich parents; the rebellious teen has been hidden away and forgotten about whilst her younger sister remains in the impressive and imposing family home. Neither of them are safe from the killer who is roaming Corbally. Eleanor escapes from the hospital one night after her nurse, Rachel, is brutally murdered and Eleanor becomes the prime suspect. Detective Iris Locke and her team are called in to investigate and the hunt for Eleanor kept me on the edge of my seat.
The fantastic Eleanor-hunt story aside, Geraldine Hogan has created a superb cast of characters in Locke and Slattery. Although I do wish I had read My Sister's Bones first, I gained enough information to not only follow their story through but to want to find out more. It's not just Locke who has family secrets to reveal as a huge nugget of intrigue has been planted in regards to Slattery's past and I can't wait to see this grow to fruition.
Having loved every page of Why She Ran, I can definitely say that you can read this if you haven't read My Sister's Bones. What it will do, however, is make you want to rush off and read the first Iris Locke book as soon as you can. To say my curiosity has been piqued is an understatement; I am desperate to find out more of Iris Locke's story, both past and future.
Two words keep springing to mind when I think of this book: shock and awe (to quote George W. Bush but in a more positive capacity). The story shocked and surprised me and I am completely in awe of Geraldine Hogan's writing talent. Why She Ran is a superb, fast-paced, edge of your seat crime thriller; it's a sweaty palms, heart-pounding race against time story that is virtually impossible to put down.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Eleanor Marshall has been institutionalised by her rich parents; the rebellious teen has been hidden away and forgotten about whilst her younger sister remains in the impressive and imposing family home. Neither of them are safe from the killer who is roaming Corbally. Eleanor escapes from the hospital one night after her nurse, Rachel, is brutally murdered and Eleanor becomes the prime suspect. Detective Iris Locke and her team are called in to investigate and the hunt for Eleanor kept me on the edge of my seat.
The fantastic Eleanor-hunt story aside, Geraldine Hogan has created a superb cast of characters in Locke and Slattery. Although I do wish I had read My Sister's Bones first, I gained enough information to not only follow their story through but to want to find out more. It's not just Locke who has family secrets to reveal as a huge nugget of intrigue has been planted in regards to Slattery's past and I can't wait to see this grow to fruition.
Having loved every page of Why She Ran, I can definitely say that you can read this if you haven't read My Sister's Bones. What it will do, however, is make you want to rush off and read the first Iris Locke book as soon as you can. To say my curiosity has been piqued is an understatement; I am desperate to find out more of Iris Locke's story, both past and future.
Two words keep springing to mind when I think of this book: shock and awe (to quote George W. Bush but in a more positive capacity). The story shocked and surprised me and I am completely in awe of Geraldine Hogan's writing talent. Why She Ran is a superb, fast-paced, edge of your seat crime thriller; it's a sweaty palms, heart-pounding race against time story that is virtually impossible to put down.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 28, 2019
4.5 stars. More in my next Good Reads blog at https://www.sandiwallace.com/blog/. Advance review copy received with thanks to publisher and Netgalley.
November 24, 2019
This is book two of the Detective Iris Locke series and it’s it’s a good follow up to book one. Iris has been put in charge of a new case involving the brutal murder of a support worker at rehabilitation centre and the disappearance of of a young girl Eleanor who was one of the patients and is the daughter of a rich and important guy in the local community. What follows is a complex story with some good characters, the writing was excellent and we had more of the back story from the previous book. Once again I really liked DS Slattery he is a great character and he and Iris make a great team. It’s a good read and I really enjoyed it although I felt it fell a bit flat towards the end but I will still be on the look out for the next in the series.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 15, 2020
It's been a long time since I've read two books from the same series one after the other. So when WHY SHE RAN came up as next on my TBR list, and I hadn't yet read the first one, something told me I had to read the first one before the second one. And I am glad that I did. Because had I dived into this one first, I would have been disappointed to have comes across the spoilers from the first book peppered throughout. So trust me....read
"Silent Night"
aka
"Her Sister's Bones"
first!!!
DS Iris Locke is still reeling from grief and coming to terms with the revelations that have left her life in turmoil. Unable to return to her flat after the events culminating towards the end of the last book, Iris has taken a room at boarding house for the interim but has thankfully stayed on at Corbally and the Murder Team in Limerick. Despite the ghosts of the past surrounding her in the town, Iris knows this is where she belongs.
When her partner DS Ben Slattery calls her with a new case, Iris leaps at the chance to push her thoughts to the back of her mind and focus on the investigation at hand. A young woman has been found murdered at Curlew Hall, a residential care facility for troubled teens with rich parents. Rachel McDermott was bludgeoned to death on the kitchen floor and the patient in her care, 15 year old Eleanor Marshall, has disappeared.
As the daughter of a prominent local businessman, Eleanor has been deemed troubled for years. With reports of arson, violence and aggression leading to her being placed in the care facility and now the fact that she is missing, leads detectives to suspect that Eleanor is responsible for Rachel's death. But Iris is finding it difficult to connect a 15 year old to such a violent crime...and yet the evidence appears to point in her direction. But if she's innocent, then why did she run?
Eleanor's father calls a press conference pleading for the safe return of his daughter and yet he supplies a photo that is at least 4 years out of date. What is he hiding? And why is he trying to control the information being conveyed to the press?
A massive search is underway as both the Gardai and the public comb the woods surrounding Curlew Hall for the missing teenager. But the woods are endless and the area massive...and Eleanor is a vulnerable girl suffering from epilepsy. What if she has a grand mal seizure? And if she does, what if, with no help at hand, she dies as a result? The race is on to find Eleanor before it's too late. Too long in those woods and they could be looking for a body.
When a body of a young girl is found in the woods near Curlew Cross, Iris and Ben immediately feel they have failed Eleanor by not finding her time. But upon arrival at the crime scene are surprised to find the victim is not Eleanor but her younger sister Karena. The mystery deepens as the team then try to figure out who would want to kill Karena and why?
Returning to the care facility, Iris and Ben question staff and residents once again. Someone is lying. Where is Rachel's laptop? Why did she have over twenty thousand euro and where did it come from? And what possible motive did someone have for killing her? Rachel was well-liked by everyone. And Karena? Where did she fit into all this?
Although I didn't pick the villain in this one, it didn't shock me. I'm not sure why that is...maybe coming out of the first book with a twist that was both brilliant and shocking, I may have felt this one was a bit of a let down. If Iris is still reeling from the shock of those revelations in "Silent Night" , I'm still reeling as well!
I enjoyed meeting up with the same old characters and the camaraderie between them all, particularly that of Iris and Ben who work extremely well together. Despite being so vastly different from one another, they seem to get each other perfectly. It was also somewhat bittersweet watching Ben with his estranged wife Maureen, in light of her recent diagnosis of dementia. The one character that was sorely missed from this installment was DI Coleman Grady. I especially wanted to delve into his past and uncover his secret tragedy. I hope his secondment was temporary because he was incredibly missed!
WHY SHE RAN is well-written but again, the story moved a little slowly in parts, going back and forth between the same people over and over. I don't have a lot of patience with overt descriptions and slow pacing in crime fiction. I enjoy the fast pace with pieces of a confusing puzzle coming together in an attempt to solve a baffling crime. But although it didn't have the same breakneck speed race to the end as the first one, but it is still enjoyable just the same.
Whilst I heartily recommend WHY SHE RAN, I do advise you to read "Silent Night" aka "Her Sister's Bones" first. This is one series you can't do standalones with.
I would like to thank #GeraldineHogan, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WhySheRan in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
DS Iris Locke is still reeling from grief and coming to terms with the revelations that have left her life in turmoil. Unable to return to her flat after the events culminating towards the end of the last book, Iris has taken a room at boarding house for the interim but has thankfully stayed on at Corbally and the Murder Team in Limerick. Despite the ghosts of the past surrounding her in the town, Iris knows this is where she belongs.
When her partner DS Ben Slattery calls her with a new case, Iris leaps at the chance to push her thoughts to the back of her mind and focus on the investigation at hand. A young woman has been found murdered at Curlew Hall, a residential care facility for troubled teens with rich parents. Rachel McDermott was bludgeoned to death on the kitchen floor and the patient in her care, 15 year old Eleanor Marshall, has disappeared.
As the daughter of a prominent local businessman, Eleanor has been deemed troubled for years. With reports of arson, violence and aggression leading to her being placed in the care facility and now the fact that she is missing, leads detectives to suspect that Eleanor is responsible for Rachel's death. But Iris is finding it difficult to connect a 15 year old to such a violent crime...and yet the evidence appears to point in her direction. But if she's innocent, then why did she run?
Eleanor's father calls a press conference pleading for the safe return of his daughter and yet he supplies a photo that is at least 4 years out of date. What is he hiding? And why is he trying to control the information being conveyed to the press?
A massive search is underway as both the Gardai and the public comb the woods surrounding Curlew Hall for the missing teenager. But the woods are endless and the area massive...and Eleanor is a vulnerable girl suffering from epilepsy. What if she has a grand mal seizure? And if she does, what if, with no help at hand, she dies as a result? The race is on to find Eleanor before it's too late. Too long in those woods and they could be looking for a body.
When a body of a young girl is found in the woods near Curlew Cross, Iris and Ben immediately feel they have failed Eleanor by not finding her time. But upon arrival at the crime scene are surprised to find the victim is not Eleanor but her younger sister Karena. The mystery deepens as the team then try to figure out who would want to kill Karena and why?
Returning to the care facility, Iris and Ben question staff and residents once again. Someone is lying. Where is Rachel's laptop? Why did she have over twenty thousand euro and where did it come from? And what possible motive did someone have for killing her? Rachel was well-liked by everyone. And Karena? Where did she fit into all this?
Although I didn't pick the villain in this one, it didn't shock me. I'm not sure why that is...maybe coming out of the first book with a twist that was both brilliant and shocking, I may have felt this one was a bit of a let down. If Iris is still reeling from the shock of those revelations in "Silent Night" , I'm still reeling as well!
I enjoyed meeting up with the same old characters and the camaraderie between them all, particularly that of Iris and Ben who work extremely well together. Despite being so vastly different from one another, they seem to get each other perfectly. It was also somewhat bittersweet watching Ben with his estranged wife Maureen, in light of her recent diagnosis of dementia. The one character that was sorely missed from this installment was DI Coleman Grady. I especially wanted to delve into his past and uncover his secret tragedy. I hope his secondment was temporary because he was incredibly missed!
WHY SHE RAN is well-written but again, the story moved a little slowly in parts, going back and forth between the same people over and over. I don't have a lot of patience with overt descriptions and slow pacing in crime fiction. I enjoy the fast pace with pieces of a confusing puzzle coming together in an attempt to solve a baffling crime. But although it didn't have the same breakneck speed race to the end as the first one, but it is still enjoyable just the same.
Whilst I heartily recommend WHY SHE RAN, I do advise you to read "Silent Night" aka "Her Sister's Bones" first. This is one series you can't do standalones with.
I would like to thank #GeraldineHogan, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WhySheRan in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
March 8, 2020
More than a police procedural, the Detective Iris Locke series, gives the reader an insight into a darker side of Ireland. The rural landscape, the importance of community and family, are often portrayed as defining themes of Ireland. This series explores them from a different perspective, which is thought-provoking.
'Why She Ran', is a self-contained mystery and crime story, but Detective Iris Locke, the main protagonist, is recovering from a tragedy that makes her question everything about her life before it.
There is enough detail is in this second book, for the reader to form an opinion of Iris, and understand her motivations, but reading the first book in this series is the preferred option.
Irish is tasked with solving a particularly brutal murder. The prime suspect is on the run, but as Locke and her partner Slatterley investigate, they wonder if the obvious answer, is really what happened.
The plot is gently paced, there are twists and a surprising final twist. The clues are there for this solution but it is cleverly written. Character-driven, this story has complex authentic characters, who are relatable and in keeping with the setting. The story has a definite voice, which makes it unique in a popular genre. I look forward to the next book in this engagingly, dark crime series.
I received a copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
'Why She Ran', is a self-contained mystery and crime story, but Detective Iris Locke, the main protagonist, is recovering from a tragedy that makes her question everything about her life before it.
There is enough detail is in this second book, for the reader to form an opinion of Iris, and understand her motivations, but reading the first book in this series is the preferred option.
Irish is tasked with solving a particularly brutal murder. The prime suspect is on the run, but as Locke and her partner Slatterley investigate, they wonder if the obvious answer, is really what happened.
The plot is gently paced, there are twists and a surprising final twist. The clues are there for this solution but it is cleverly written. Character-driven, this story has complex authentic characters, who are relatable and in keeping with the setting. The story has a definite voice, which makes it unique in a popular genre. I look forward to the next book in this engagingly, dark crime series.
I received a copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
December 19, 2019
Rachel was a cheerful girl who enjoyed her job as a carer in the institution to help youngsters with drug/drink/psychological issues. She looked forward to quiet night as her only charge was Elinor, a teen with severe epilepsy. Elinor also history of violence, but it was a side Rachel had never seen. When Detective Iris Locke first sees Rachel she has been bludgeoned to death. The door is open & Elinor has disappeared. Has she escaped from the murderer- or is there a more sinister reason behind her absence?
Iris is still reeling from things she has recently found out about herself. (It is really a good idea to read the first one of the series!) Her 'sidekick' Ben Slattery continues to support her in his own idiosyncratic way (a character I really like!) Elinor is the daughter of one of the most influential business men in the area. A man who seems to be quite happy to believe his daughter may be a murderer; whose wife seems determined to join in the search & whose other daughter is convinced their is nothing dangerous about her sister.
This was a good read with surprises & blind alleys. I am already looking forward to the next in the series, where I hope Iris may be able to put her past behind her & truest she has friends!
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
Iris is still reeling from things she has recently found out about herself. (It is really a good idea to read the first one of the series!) Her 'sidekick' Ben Slattery continues to support her in his own idiosyncratic way (a character I really like!) Elinor is the daughter of one of the most influential business men in the area. A man who seems to be quite happy to believe his daughter may be a murderer; whose wife seems determined to join in the search & whose other daughter is convinced their is nothing dangerous about her sister.
This was a good read with surprises & blind alleys. I am already looking forward to the next in the series, where I hope Iris may be able to put her past behind her & truest she has friends!
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
February 29, 2020
Review for 'Why she ran' by Geraldine Hogan.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley
This book was the second book in the Detective Iris Locke series. I didn't quite realise this when I first chose to read and review this. I believe this DOES need to be read in order (this book after the first one to get the most of it). Although this was the first in the series that I read there was quite alot of reference to events from the first book that I knew nothing about so everytime they spoke of those previous events I felt like a late passenger on a train, sitting there not knowing what was going on, which I do think spoilt it quite a bit for me.
The storyline itself was quite interesting although parts of it being quite unrealistic
(spoiler alert: how could a young girl stay hidden from the police for so long?).
I don't think I expected the ending but I can't say it was HUGE shock at the same time, a good little twist though.
THE setting was in Ireland which was nice and well described although it took me a while to realise what it meant when they kept saying 'so' at the end of the sentences.
THE characters were strong and I did like their personalities . Whether I would like to read more from this author would depend on how much she included in her next book from her previous 2, I would probably have to read the first book first (which I would probably only read if I happened upon it now). I couldn't say whether I would have preferred this book if I'd read the first one prior but I'm leaning towards yes.... Its just a shame I didn't and my views may be tainted by this now. However, an honest review was promised so that it what I must provide.
I would recommend this book to fans of crime, murder and mystery IF they have read the first book in the series first
Rated 3/5 on Goodreads and Amazon (It was OK)
£1.99 to purchase on Kindle
Feel free to add me on Goodreads for more reviews
#NetGalley #WhySheRan
Read and reviewed via NetGalley
This book was the second book in the Detective Iris Locke series. I didn't quite realise this when I first chose to read and review this. I believe this DOES need to be read in order (this book after the first one to get the most of it). Although this was the first in the series that I read there was quite alot of reference to events from the first book that I knew nothing about so everytime they spoke of those previous events I felt like a late passenger on a train, sitting there not knowing what was going on, which I do think spoilt it quite a bit for me.
The storyline itself was quite interesting although parts of it being quite unrealistic
(spoiler alert: how could a young girl stay hidden from the police for so long?).
I don't think I expected the ending but I can't say it was HUGE shock at the same time, a good little twist though.
THE setting was in Ireland which was nice and well described although it took me a while to realise what it meant when they kept saying 'so' at the end of the sentences.
THE characters were strong and I did like their personalities . Whether I would like to read more from this author would depend on how much she included in her next book from her previous 2, I would probably have to read the first book first (which I would probably only read if I happened upon it now). I couldn't say whether I would have preferred this book if I'd read the first one prior but I'm leaning towards yes.... Its just a shame I didn't and my views may be tainted by this now. However, an honest review was promised so that it what I must provide.
I would recommend this book to fans of crime, murder and mystery IF they have read the first book in the series first
Rated 3/5 on Goodreads and Amazon (It was OK)
£1.99 to purchase on Kindle
Feel free to add me on Goodreads for more reviews
#NetGalley #WhySheRan
November 11, 2019
Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
2nd book I've read in the corbally series and it is utterly impossible to put down.
Totally captivating from beginning to end
The plot was so well executed and once again great strong characters
I did near the end think I know who it was and I was right but nothing has been left to chance in this utterly Fantastically entertaining book.
2nd book I've read in the corbally series and it is utterly impossible to put down.
Totally captivating from beginning to end
The plot was so well executed and once again great strong characters
I did near the end think I know who it was and I was right but nothing has been left to chance in this utterly Fantastically entertaining book.
December 17, 2019
Why She Ran is the second in the series of Detective Iris Locke/Corbally series.
Iris is continuing to struggle with her past and all the fallout ; she has little time to think as she is put in charge of finding out who murdered Rachel McDermott at the group home and why did Eleanor run.
Slattery is there to bring his years of experience as they both struggle with the team to solve the case as they are running out of time.
Why She Ran had twists and turns, the pages turn quickly and the author leaves you wanting to read the third in the series. I can't wait to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read Why She Ran; a new favourite series of mine.
Merged review:
Why She Ran is the second in the series of Detective Iris Locke/Corbally series.
Iris is continuing to struggle with her past and all the fallout ; she has little time to think as she is put in charge of finding out who murdered Rachel McDermott at the group home and why did Eleanor run.
Slattery is there to bring his years of experience as they both struggle with the team to solve the case as they are running out of time.
Why She Ran had twists and turns, the pages turn quickly and the author leaves you wanting to read the third in the series. I can't wait to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read Why She Ran; a new favourite series of mine.
Iris is continuing to struggle with her past and all the fallout ; she has little time to think as she is put in charge of finding out who murdered Rachel McDermott at the group home and why did Eleanor run.
Slattery is there to bring his years of experience as they both struggle with the team to solve the case as they are running out of time.
Why She Ran had twists and turns, the pages turn quickly and the author leaves you wanting to read the third in the series. I can't wait to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read Why She Ran; a new favourite series of mine.
Merged review:
Why She Ran is the second in the series of Detective Iris Locke/Corbally series.
Iris is continuing to struggle with her past and all the fallout ; she has little time to think as she is put in charge of finding out who murdered Rachel McDermott at the group home and why did Eleanor run.
Slattery is there to bring his years of experience as they both struggle with the team to solve the case as they are running out of time.
Why She Ran had twists and turns, the pages turn quickly and the author leaves you wanting to read the third in the series. I can't wait to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read Why She Ran; a new favourite series of mine.
May 18, 2021
"She was drowning. Her eyes were open to the darkness, bulging from their sockets. The water stung at first, but now the filmy softness of it was like a balm and maybe if she stared hard into it, there might be some reprieve. Of course, she knew the only way it would really stop was when she was dead."
Eleanor Marshall, a troubled teenager, witnesses a murder and goes on the run, heading into the woods. The cops do everything in their power to find her because they don't know if she is the murderer or just an innocent bystander. On top of that, she is extremely vulnerable and may need medical attention as she has epilepsy and ran with a limited supply of pills.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series but I feel this one fell a little flat. There was so much build up but the ending was rather abrupt and anti climactic.
Eleanor Marshall, a troubled teenager, witnesses a murder and goes on the run, heading into the woods. The cops do everything in their power to find her because they don't know if she is the murderer or just an innocent bystander. On top of that, she is extremely vulnerable and may need medical attention as she has epilepsy and ran with a limited supply of pills.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series but I feel this one fell a little flat. There was so much build up but the ending was rather abrupt and anti climactic.
January 26, 2020
Second in the Iris Locke series. This follows on after revelations from the end of the first book and Iris is still trying to come to terms with learning about her past and her parents not being who she thought they were.
Lots of twists and turns in this story, never boring. I particularly like the partnership between Iris, a young ambitious detective and Ben Slattery, a much older and cynical old school detective. Although they’ll never be best buddies, they work well together and there is a good mutual respect.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.
Lots of twists and turns in this story, never boring. I particularly like the partnership between Iris, a young ambitious detective and Ben Slattery, a much older and cynical old school detective. Although they’ll never be best buddies, they work well together and there is a good mutual respect.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.
November 22, 2019
After such a dramatic ending of the first book, I was expecting more from this series. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver. I found this second book so boring, extremely slow paced and predictable. I skimmed a lot of the book and it was a struggle to finish. A lot of the book was written in way too much detail which made me switch off. I do like Iris and Slattery's characters but there personal lives kind of took over the story. The ending was a bit ridiculous as well. The first book was definitely better.
I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 27, 2019
This is my first book in the series, so the references to the previous book was beyond my understanding. This story is well written with a good plot. Some more focus on the character Eleanor would have made the narrative better. The personal life of the detective could have been shorter. Overall a good book. Definitely recommended.
December 22, 2019
The title of “Why She Ran” is so intriguing, the “She” is a young girl from influential and moneyed parents. Why she ran is gradually unveiled as the story unfolds.
She is Eleanor who is currently staying in a treatment facility and is estranged from her parents. She has escaped and Detective Iris Locke is desperate to find her, and for more than the reason of being a suspect in the murder of Rachel McDermott, one of the nurses at the treatment centre.
This is the second book in the Detective Iris Locke series, and even though it can be read as a stand-alone, as I did, I would advise reading the first book. I say this because there is a story from the first that carries into this second book. The author does a cracking job of filling in the basics of what you need to know, but I felt that I would have a better understanding of Locke’s character if I had read in order.
Locke has gone through a hell of a time and is still coming to terms with changes in her personal life. She is thrown in at the deep-end to a certain extent as she is asked to lead this investigation into Rachel’s death and also Eleanor’s disappearance. There is some in-house rivalry that simmers through the story and it adds good snarky moments for Locke to deal with. It is something she doesn’t really need a the moment as she has enough on her plate because Eleanor’s father has a lot of influence and she has to tread carefully.
This is a good story that moves along at a slightly slower pace, but this sort of mirrors the pace the investigation flows at. It is quite a complex case as there are so many unknowns, but it is at the same time easy to follow. As well as the main focus of the case, Locke’s background, as I have mentioned, is touched upon. Also her second in command has a few of his own problems. I like this inclusion of personal details into a story like this, it humanises the characters and also grounds them.
The story took some surprising routes and concludes in a quicker paced finale. The quick step-up in pace gives a sense of urgency and comes at just the right point of the investigation and adds another level of tension.
I really enjoyed this crime thriller and I will try my very best to read the first one as I really want to know more about Locke, she intrigues me as the author hints at a how Locke was in the previous book compared to how she is now, almost like a before and after comparison.
This is a really intriguing read that threw some surprising twists that I didn’t see coming. A police procedural that has a different feel as it, not just a murder investigation, but also the search for a girl who has disappeared. Why She Ran is a book I would definitively recommend.
She is Eleanor who is currently staying in a treatment facility and is estranged from her parents. She has escaped and Detective Iris Locke is desperate to find her, and for more than the reason of being a suspect in the murder of Rachel McDermott, one of the nurses at the treatment centre.
This is the second book in the Detective Iris Locke series, and even though it can be read as a stand-alone, as I did, I would advise reading the first book. I say this because there is a story from the first that carries into this second book. The author does a cracking job of filling in the basics of what you need to know, but I felt that I would have a better understanding of Locke’s character if I had read in order.
Locke has gone through a hell of a time and is still coming to terms with changes in her personal life. She is thrown in at the deep-end to a certain extent as she is asked to lead this investigation into Rachel’s death and also Eleanor’s disappearance. There is some in-house rivalry that simmers through the story and it adds good snarky moments for Locke to deal with. It is something she doesn’t really need a the moment as she has enough on her plate because Eleanor’s father has a lot of influence and she has to tread carefully.
This is a good story that moves along at a slightly slower pace, but this sort of mirrors the pace the investigation flows at. It is quite a complex case as there are so many unknowns, but it is at the same time easy to follow. As well as the main focus of the case, Locke’s background, as I have mentioned, is touched upon. Also her second in command has a few of his own problems. I like this inclusion of personal details into a story like this, it humanises the characters and also grounds them.
The story took some surprising routes and concludes in a quicker paced finale. The quick step-up in pace gives a sense of urgency and comes at just the right point of the investigation and adds another level of tension.
I really enjoyed this crime thriller and I will try my very best to read the first one as I really want to know more about Locke, she intrigues me as the author hints at a how Locke was in the previous book compared to how she is now, almost like a before and after comparison.
This is a really intriguing read that threw some surprising twists that I didn’t see coming. A police procedural that has a different feel as it, not just a murder investigation, but also the search for a girl who has disappeared. Why She Ran is a book I would definitively recommend.
December 18, 2019
Why else would someone run, if not to escape unspeakable horrors? Is it fear or guilt that drives sixteen-year-old Eleanor Marshall away from her room at Curlew Hall? DS Locke and Slattery are called to the scene when the gruesome remains of one of the hall's carers, Rachel McDermott, are found; soon after, it's discovered that Eleanor has gone missing. It doesn't take long for those involved to draw conclusions and paint the troubled patient, Eleanor, as a suspect, especially once her younger sister turns up dead in a similar, gruesome fashion. Stick around, and you'll find out why she ran...
The story's synopsis and prologue were enough to pique my curiosity, I was interested in finding out what was really going on behind the scenes with Eleanor. Surely she was more than just a troubled teenager? The banter and feeling of ease within DS Locke and DS Slattery's professional relationship was quite enjoyable as well. I looked forward to their interactions and the sense of understanding they shared with one another. Four stars!
While I liked Why She Ran, I must admit, it was a bit of a slow-burn for me. Usually, when I read a thriller, I expect and look forward to a fast-paced, edge of your seat adventure. I found myself wishing there were more excerpts from Eleanor; I was rooting for a girl that I knew hardly anything about. Perhaps that's the mom in me, though. Along these lines, DS Iris Locke's dark past was hinted and referenced throughout the story without ever being fully acknowledged. There's an assumed understanding of the character's history. I decided not to dwell on this too much as I reminded myself that this is book two in a series. I would, however, have very much enjoyed a short paragraph or two summarizing Iris's background. Luckily this did not deter from the storyline much as, towards the end, I found myself breezing through Kindle swipe after swipe because I just had to know what happened to Eleanor. The killer's identity was another biggie, I thought I had a pretty good guess as to who the culprit was... turned out I was wrong and was in for a series of twists that I did not see coming!
This was my first time reading Geraldine Hogan, but I fully intend to make my way back to read the first Detective Iris Locke book, Her Sister's Bones. I would recommend this book to fans of book one and those looking to dive into an intriguing Irish police procedural. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and the author Geraldine Hogan for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I just reviewed Why She Ran by Geraldine Hogan. #WhySheRan #GeraldineHogan #NetGalley #Bookouture #MistysCornerReviews #CrimeThriller #SerialKiller #PolicieProcedural
The story's synopsis and prologue were enough to pique my curiosity, I was interested in finding out what was really going on behind the scenes with Eleanor. Surely she was more than just a troubled teenager? The banter and feeling of ease within DS Locke and DS Slattery's professional relationship was quite enjoyable as well. I looked forward to their interactions and the sense of understanding they shared with one another. Four stars!
While I liked Why She Ran, I must admit, it was a bit of a slow-burn for me. Usually, when I read a thriller, I expect and look forward to a fast-paced, edge of your seat adventure. I found myself wishing there were more excerpts from Eleanor; I was rooting for a girl that I knew hardly anything about. Perhaps that's the mom in me, though. Along these lines, DS Iris Locke's dark past was hinted and referenced throughout the story without ever being fully acknowledged. There's an assumed understanding of the character's history. I decided not to dwell on this too much as I reminded myself that this is book two in a series. I would, however, have very much enjoyed a short paragraph or two summarizing Iris's background. Luckily this did not deter from the storyline much as, towards the end, I found myself breezing through Kindle swipe after swipe because I just had to know what happened to Eleanor. The killer's identity was another biggie, I thought I had a pretty good guess as to who the culprit was... turned out I was wrong and was in for a series of twists that I did not see coming!
This was my first time reading Geraldine Hogan, but I fully intend to make my way back to read the first Detective Iris Locke book, Her Sister's Bones. I would recommend this book to fans of book one and those looking to dive into an intriguing Irish police procedural. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and the author Geraldine Hogan for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I just reviewed Why She Ran by Geraldine Hogan. #WhySheRan #GeraldineHogan #NetGalley #Bookouture #MistysCornerReviews #CrimeThriller #SerialKiller #PolicieProcedural
December 19, 2019
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I read the first book in this series earlier this year and fell in love with Iris Locke so I knew I just had to read the next instalment. I would say you most likely need to read book one to understand a lot of the references in this one plus it was SUCH a good book!
Iris Locke's life fell apart in the first book and we are now seeing her try to make sense of her life. While she's doing that there's a new case and someone needs to take the lead for the Murder Team. Iris is volunteered/steps up. Iris may be finding her way but she is still a great main character. She is full of empathy and concern for our missing girl and cannot rest until the case is over.
I also love Slattery. He's very old school and seems to be (for now at least) getting away with it. He has a good heart and while he might bend the rules he only has one focus and that is finding the killer.
The story itself, I raced through it when I did read it. (I've had a stinking cold and struggle to read with a headache) Geraldine's writing is addictive. I was turning page after page with such tension especially the last few chapters. I was so on edge I didn't know what was going to happen.
A thrilling and excitable read. I honestly can't wait to go back!
Iris Locke's life fell apart in the first book and we are now seeing her try to make sense of her life. While she's doing that there's a new case and someone needs to take the lead for the Murder Team. Iris is volunteered/steps up. Iris may be finding her way but she is still a great main character. She is full of empathy and concern for our missing girl and cannot rest until the case is over.
I also love Slattery. He's very old school and seems to be (for now at least) getting away with it. He has a good heart and while he might bend the rules he only has one focus and that is finding the killer.
The story itself, I raced through it when I did read it. (I've had a stinking cold and struggle to read with a headache) Geraldine's writing is addictive. I was turning page after page with such tension especially the last few chapters. I was so on edge I didn't know what was going to happen.
A thrilling and excitable read. I honestly can't wait to go back!
December 19, 2019
It’s funny in my last review I was saying that I hadn’t really read any police procedurals set in Ireland but now I’ve read two in a row! Funny how that happens.
So this is actually the second in the Iris Locke series, having not read the first I would probably recommend you start there as Iris’ backstory carries over. Although if, like me, you’re too impatient to do that the story works well as a standalone but I still feel like I could go back and read the previous book without worrying too much about spoilers.
Iris and her partner DS Slattery are called out to Curlew Hall, a place for troubled youngsters, where a young woman Rachel McDermott has been found brutally murdered and her young charge Eleanor has disappeared.
Could this vulnerable young woman be capable of murder? If not why did she run?
Why She Ran is a well written, intense and realistic police procedural.
The story was told from several points of view, mostly Iris and Slattery who I really warmed to. They are both damaged in their own ways but work well together as a team. I also like the way the author managed to weave in the character’s back story seamlessly along with the main storyline.
The pace was steady, maybe a little slow at times, but it really built up the tension until I couldn’t stop turning those pages desperate to know what happens to the characters.
Why She Ran is a solid police procedural with compelling characters that really draws you in and doesn’t let you go.
So this is actually the second in the Iris Locke series, having not read the first I would probably recommend you start there as Iris’ backstory carries over. Although if, like me, you’re too impatient to do that the story works well as a standalone but I still feel like I could go back and read the previous book without worrying too much about spoilers.
Iris and her partner DS Slattery are called out to Curlew Hall, a place for troubled youngsters, where a young woman Rachel McDermott has been found brutally murdered and her young charge Eleanor has disappeared.
Could this vulnerable young woman be capable of murder? If not why did she run?
Why She Ran is a well written, intense and realistic police procedural.
The story was told from several points of view, mostly Iris and Slattery who I really warmed to. They are both damaged in their own ways but work well together as a team. I also like the way the author managed to weave in the character’s back story seamlessly along with the main storyline.
The pace was steady, maybe a little slow at times, but it really built up the tension until I couldn’t stop turning those pages desperate to know what happens to the characters.
Why She Ran is a solid police procedural with compelling characters that really draws you in and doesn’t let you go.
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