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Inspector Devlin #6
Blood Ties
How can a dead woman avenge herself on her killer twenty years after her murder?
This is the puzzle facing Ben Devlin in his latest case. He is called to the scene of a murder - a man has been stabbed to death in his rented room and when his identity is discovered Devlin feels a ghost walk over his grave as he knows the name Brooklyn Harris well. As a teenager, Harris beat his then-girlfriend Hannah Row to death, and then spent twelve years in prison for the murder.
As Devlin investigates the dead man's movements since his release it becomes apparent Harris has been grooming teenage girls online and then arranging to meet them. But his activities have been discovered by others, notably a vigilante, who goes straight to the top of Devlin's list of suspects... until he uncovers that Harris was killed on the anniversary of Hannah's death - just too big a coincidence in Devlin's books. So Hannah's family join the ever-growing list of suspects being interviewed by his team. And then forensics contact Devlin with the astounding news that blood found on Harris's body is a perfect match to that of Hannah Row's. Yet how can this be; the girl was murdered many years ago - and Devlin doesn't believe in ghosts.
This is the puzzle facing Ben Devlin in his latest case. He is called to the scene of a murder - a man has been stabbed to death in his rented room and when his identity is discovered Devlin feels a ghost walk over his grave as he knows the name Brooklyn Harris well. As a teenager, Harris beat his then-girlfriend Hannah Row to death, and then spent twelve years in prison for the murder.
As Devlin investigates the dead man's movements since his release it becomes apparent Harris has been grooming teenage girls online and then arranging to meet them. But his activities have been discovered by others, notably a vigilante, who goes straight to the top of Devlin's list of suspects... until he uncovers that Harris was killed on the anniversary of Hannah's death - just too big a coincidence in Devlin's books. So Hannah's family join the ever-growing list of suspects being interviewed by his team. And then forensics contact Devlin with the astounding news that blood found on Harris's body is a perfect match to that of Hannah Row's. Yet how can this be; the girl was murdered many years ago - and Devlin doesn't believe in ghosts.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2021
64 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Brian McGilloway
44 books371 followersBrian McGilloway is an author hailing from Derry, Northern Ireland. He studied English at Queens University Belfast, where he was very active in student theatre, winning a prestigious national Irish Student Drama Association award for theatrical lighting design in 1996. He is currently Head of English at St. Columb's College, Derry. McGilloway's debut novel was a crime thriller called Borderlands. Borderlands was shortlisted for a Crime Writers' Association Dagger award for a debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 14, 2021
Brian McGilloway is a author who uses crime fiction to explore how past and current events have shaped his homeland — the border community of Derry, Northern Ireland. His first series of books featured Garda Inspector Ben Devlin, an Republic of Ireland police officer based just across the border from Derry. As crimes straddled the boundary between the two countries, Devin frequently collaborated with his counterpart in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). I discovered these books at my local library a few years ago and loved McGilloway’s simple-yet-elegant writing style as well as the way he embedded historical and current incidents into his story lines. His Inspector Devlin series was only a minor success, and, in 2011, McGilloway started another series featuring PSNI Inspector Lucy Black. His publication output has been sporadic since then, possibly because his primary job is college teaching. Fiction writing has never produced enough funds to support his growing family.
I don’t normally provide the author’s background in my reviews, but I felt it was needed here because what, for me, was going to be a five-star rating suddenly became a four-star one. In BLOOD TIES, McGilloway returns to Inspector Devlin, now nine years older with his family situation changing — his children are transitioning into adults and his father is dying. Also, the world around him is suddenly changing: Brexit has made the soft border harder to navigate; the pandemic is beginning, bringing new rules into everyday living situations. It is within this context that Devlin throws himself into a murder investigation that no one really wants.
A man who normally lives in Derry is stabbed to death in a Airbnb house he had rented for two days on the Republic side of the border. Devlin soon discovers that this man, Brooklyn Harris, was hated by many. Twenty years earlier, while still a teenager, he raped and murdered a girl when both were part of a group excursion returning home from a nightclub located on the Republic side of the border. The group was from Derry, the murder took place after the group crossed back into Northern Ireland, and so that initial murder investigation was carried out primarily by the Northern Ireland police force with assistance from the Gardai. After serving a 15-year prison sentence, Brooklyn was set free and given a new identity; his new identity was “outed” a year prior to his murder by a vigilante group. Furthermore, since his release, Brooklyn had become a pedophile, targeting teenage girls through the internet, and that was why he was in the Airbnb house — to meet a teenage girl from the south. In addition to all this, there were hints that in the rape/murder 20 years earlier, he had not acted alone — that facts were covered up to protect someone who might have assisted him. So, there were plenty of suspects, but no one wanted Devlin to solve this murder given the repulsive nature of the murdered man’s criminal past, not to mention the possibility that the police investigation 20 years earlier may have deliberately concealed facts that could have implicated a second person.
A complex plot, interwoven with descriptions of Devlin’s anxiety about his family problems and the major changes taking place in the world around him, and interspersed with additional insights into the borderlands area. I loved it. Kept me reading well into the night.
Then McGilloway drops the ball. Yes, Devlin solves the mystery of who killed Brooklyn — in his head. The tale isn’t carried forward to a natural conclusion by charging the person who carried out the stabbing, and thus concluding the case. It’s as if Devlin agrees with the general consensus that Brooklyn “got what he deserved”. Furthermore, the coverup that occurred 20 years earlier is also dropped. The person who most likely helped Brooklyn in that rape/murder is charged with a much lesser offence. Full stop. The two murder cases are dropped before they are wrapped up. At least we have the scenario describing how the Brooklyn stabbing took place, even if the actual murderer is never charged. We never know precisely what occurred during the rape/murder of the young girl 20 years earlier — whether Brooklyn was the main perpetrator or was set up to take the fall for a crime where two perpetrators were equally guilty.
Instead, McGilloway ends the book with a sentimental look at Devlin’s grief as his father dies. The story which began with a bang ends up being a eulogy to a father — titularly Devlin’s father but probably the author’s recently departed father as well. Beautiful writing, but I really would have appreciated a better closure with regards to the criminal activities that occurred within the novel.
I don’t normally provide the author’s background in my reviews, but I felt it was needed here because what, for me, was going to be a five-star rating suddenly became a four-star one. In BLOOD TIES, McGilloway returns to Inspector Devlin, now nine years older with his family situation changing — his children are transitioning into adults and his father is dying. Also, the world around him is suddenly changing: Brexit has made the soft border harder to navigate; the pandemic is beginning, bringing new rules into everyday living situations. It is within this context that Devlin throws himself into a murder investigation that no one really wants.
A man who normally lives in Derry is stabbed to death in a Airbnb house he had rented for two days on the Republic side of the border. Devlin soon discovers that this man, Brooklyn Harris, was hated by many. Twenty years earlier, while still a teenager, he raped and murdered a girl when both were part of a group excursion returning home from a nightclub located on the Republic side of the border. The group was from Derry, the murder took place after the group crossed back into Northern Ireland, and so that initial murder investigation was carried out primarily by the Northern Ireland police force with assistance from the Gardai. After serving a 15-year prison sentence, Brooklyn was set free and given a new identity; his new identity was “outed” a year prior to his murder by a vigilante group. Furthermore, since his release, Brooklyn had become a pedophile, targeting teenage girls through the internet, and that was why he was in the Airbnb house — to meet a teenage girl from the south. In addition to all this, there were hints that in the rape/murder 20 years earlier, he had not acted alone — that facts were covered up to protect someone who might have assisted him. So, there were plenty of suspects, but no one wanted Devlin to solve this murder given the repulsive nature of the murdered man’s criminal past, not to mention the possibility that the police investigation 20 years earlier may have deliberately concealed facts that could have implicated a second person.
A complex plot, interwoven with descriptions of Devlin’s anxiety about his family problems and the major changes taking place in the world around him, and interspersed with additional insights into the borderlands area. I loved it. Kept me reading well into the night.
Then McGilloway drops the ball. Yes, Devlin solves the mystery of who killed Brooklyn — in his head. The tale isn’t carried forward to a natural conclusion by charging the person who carried out the stabbing, and thus concluding the case. It’s as if Devlin agrees with the general consensus that Brooklyn “got what he deserved”. Furthermore, the coverup that occurred 20 years earlier is also dropped. The person who most likely helped Brooklyn in that rape/murder is charged with a much lesser offence. Full stop. The two murder cases are dropped before they are wrapped up. At least we have the scenario describing how the Brooklyn stabbing took place, even if the actual murderer is never charged. We never know precisely what occurred during the rape/murder of the young girl 20 years earlier — whether Brooklyn was the main perpetrator or was set up to take the fall for a crime where two perpetrators were equally guilty.
Instead, McGilloway ends the book with a sentimental look at Devlin’s grief as his father dies. The story which began with a bang ends up being a eulogy to a father — titularly Devlin’s father but probably the author’s recently departed father as well. Beautiful writing, but I really would have appreciated a better closure with regards to the criminal activities that occurred within the novel.
November 8, 2021
After a nine year absence, this book marks a very welcome return for Detective Inspector Ben Devlin. He is called to investigate a murder by stabbing and discovers the victim is a convicted killer and rapist, Brooklyn Harris. Also, according to forensics, the DNA from blood found on Harris’s body is a perfect match for that of his first victim.
As well as being an excellent police procedural and whodunnit, this novel is also a wonderful study of a man, Devlin, going through a mid-life crisis, where many old certainties no longer hold true and he’s trapped in a life which seems to disintegrate. His father is dying and his beloved daughter has left home.
As in the previous novels, Blood Ties also deals with the continuing problems of a divided Ireland where sectarianism is still rife and cross border co-operation becomes increasing difficult after the Brexit deal and false promises of the British government.
An elegantly understated novel which works perfectly on several levels.
As well as being an excellent police procedural and whodunnit, this novel is also a wonderful study of a man, Devlin, going through a mid-life crisis, where many old certainties no longer hold true and he’s trapped in a life which seems to disintegrate. His father is dying and his beloved daughter has left home.
As in the previous novels, Blood Ties also deals with the continuing problems of a divided Ireland where sectarianism is still rife and cross border co-operation becomes increasing difficult after the Brexit deal and false promises of the British government.
An elegantly understated novel which works perfectly on several levels.
April 6, 2021
It’s been nine years since the last outing for Detective Inspector Ben Devlin, and he’s been sorely missed. In this new procedural, he’s investigating the murder of a convicted killer and rapist, with the evidence suggesting the man was killed by his own victim, twenty years after her death. The part to unravelling this mystery lies in reopening that older case, and pulling up grief for everyone involved. In the process, a mess of online child exploitation and vigilante justice via social media plays out. The grief spills and spreads. And, as has been the case in all the Devlin mysteries, no small portion of that grief is piled directly onto Devlin himself.
This is a book about grief, and transition, and the sanctity of family. Devlin’s stories have always impacted on his own family, and so it is again. Devlin finds himself having to look at his place in the world as a middle-man: being both father and son; being both a senior officer and yet not the boss; investigating crimes in the middle of the borderlands. All these ‘middle’ spaces in his life are shifting, the positions above and below fading in ways he didn’t expect and can’t handle. His father is dying, his superiors and contemporaries are moving on from their roles, those beneath him are changing the way policing is done. His children don’t need him like they did. They parent him. His soft border is growing harder to navigate and he’s forced to recognise which side he actually has power on. This sense of middle-space was always the focus of these books, and it’s a testament to McGilloway’s command of his world that he can dismantle this space so deftly and viscerally. Devlin has always been a character with only tenuous control, and he’s shown no mercy in this latest book, as those few remaining constants are taken from him.
The loss in this book isn’t handled archly; if anything, this is a genuinely sentimental book, but it loses nothing for being so. It’s a sentimental book for McGilloway too, being part eulogy to his own departed father, and imbued with all the love that opportunity affords. It’s also raw, which is appropriate to the crime it describes, and to the time it’s published in. Set at the beginning of the pandemic, it’s peppered with those first experiences of distancing and unrecognised sickness, of our coming apart from one another and the monumental amount of death that was to come. There’s a focus on the touching we no longer indulge in, the shared spaces we can’t have any more, the barriers we now reckon on living with indefinitely seen as they’re just going up. There’s mention in the book of Hamlet: how it’s a play where corruption touches everyone and no one survives it. You see that play out for the characters here, only to realise that it then plays out over you as well.
This is a formidable crime story, with a great plot that handles its twin investigations with masterful economy. But it’s also a brilliant human story, a wise treatise on family, and a powerful release of grief. Timely, compelling, and sure to delight fans of both McGilloway’s series, this is the best book in the Devlin series, and that’s no mean feat.
I cannot recommend this enough.
This is a book about grief, and transition, and the sanctity of family. Devlin’s stories have always impacted on his own family, and so it is again. Devlin finds himself having to look at his place in the world as a middle-man: being both father and son; being both a senior officer and yet not the boss; investigating crimes in the middle of the borderlands. All these ‘middle’ spaces in his life are shifting, the positions above and below fading in ways he didn’t expect and can’t handle. His father is dying, his superiors and contemporaries are moving on from their roles, those beneath him are changing the way policing is done. His children don’t need him like they did. They parent him. His soft border is growing harder to navigate and he’s forced to recognise which side he actually has power on. This sense of middle-space was always the focus of these books, and it’s a testament to McGilloway’s command of his world that he can dismantle this space so deftly and viscerally. Devlin has always been a character with only tenuous control, and he’s shown no mercy in this latest book, as those few remaining constants are taken from him.
The loss in this book isn’t handled archly; if anything, this is a genuinely sentimental book, but it loses nothing for being so. It’s a sentimental book for McGilloway too, being part eulogy to his own departed father, and imbued with all the love that opportunity affords. It’s also raw, which is appropriate to the crime it describes, and to the time it’s published in. Set at the beginning of the pandemic, it’s peppered with those first experiences of distancing and unrecognised sickness, of our coming apart from one another and the monumental amount of death that was to come. There’s a focus on the touching we no longer indulge in, the shared spaces we can’t have any more, the barriers we now reckon on living with indefinitely seen as they’re just going up. There’s mention in the book of Hamlet: how it’s a play where corruption touches everyone and no one survives it. You see that play out for the characters here, only to realise that it then plays out over you as well.
This is a formidable crime story, with a great plot that handles its twin investigations with masterful economy. But it’s also a brilliant human story, a wise treatise on family, and a powerful release of grief. Timely, compelling, and sure to delight fans of both McGilloway’s series, this is the best book in the Devlin series, and that’s no mean feat.
I cannot recommend this enough.
September 30, 2021
It’s the paperback publication day for Blood Ties and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to tell you a wee bit about it. Brian McGilloway is a lovely, understated writer and this very welcome return to the Ben Devlin series is so much more than a police procedural. Set in 2020, just before the beginning of lockdown and when Covid was just starting to bite, this book deals with a range of complex issues from cross border co-operation in the wake of Brexit, to the barely concealed sectarianism that still lurks under the surface of Northern Ireland’s politics.
Easily read as a stand-alone, this book concerns Detective Inspector Ben Devlin of the Garda Siochana. Sent to investigate after the body of a man has been found stabbed in a local AirBnB, Devlin discovers that the dead man is an ex-convict, released after serving his sentence for the rape and murder of a teenage girl. Blood Ties is centred on the borderlands area of Lifford in the South and Strabane in the North, where Devlin must work with his counterpart Jim Hendry to get to the truth.
McGilloway gently explores the nature of victimhood as he introduces a vigilante group – barely concealed thugs – who have been tracking the dead man and baiting him. No -one feels sorry for the dead man, and quite a few think he got what was coming to him. The situation is complicated by blood found at the scene which seems to tie this murder back to the original crime for which he was incarcerated. This story features child exploitation and social media alongside historic crimes.
To solve this man’s murder means going back to the original crime and stirring up a world of hurt and bad memories for the girl’s family and friends who were with her on the night she was murdered.
Devlin also has to come to terms with the fact that his father’s health is failing. He’s no longer able to take care of himself and as Devlin struggles with the new ‘soft’ border arrangements between the Republic and Northern Ireland, he’s also making his own transition from father and loving son to carer – and that in itself is very difficult, setting him more on edge than usual as the reality of beginning to lose his father hits home.
It’s a gently told story and the more powerful because of that. Everything is changing and as far as Devlin can see, none of that change is for the better. McGilloway explores themes of loss, of dealing with shifting sands and uncertainty, of family and of grief in a novel that is both touching and emotional while also dealing with hateful crimes and social media vigilantes.
Verdict: As with his last book, The Last Crossing, McGilloway is able to blend together so many personal and political strands to create a work that has depth and meaning beyond the obvious. This feels like a personal tribute to fatherhood, too and as such is unashamedly emotional. Brian McGilloway is a class act who deserves to be widely read. If you haven’t read the Devlin series, you have such a treat awaiting you!
Easily read as a stand-alone, this book concerns Detective Inspector Ben Devlin of the Garda Siochana. Sent to investigate after the body of a man has been found stabbed in a local AirBnB, Devlin discovers that the dead man is an ex-convict, released after serving his sentence for the rape and murder of a teenage girl. Blood Ties is centred on the borderlands area of Lifford in the South and Strabane in the North, where Devlin must work with his counterpart Jim Hendry to get to the truth.
McGilloway gently explores the nature of victimhood as he introduces a vigilante group – barely concealed thugs – who have been tracking the dead man and baiting him. No -one feels sorry for the dead man, and quite a few think he got what was coming to him. The situation is complicated by blood found at the scene which seems to tie this murder back to the original crime for which he was incarcerated. This story features child exploitation and social media alongside historic crimes.
To solve this man’s murder means going back to the original crime and stirring up a world of hurt and bad memories for the girl’s family and friends who were with her on the night she was murdered.
Devlin also has to come to terms with the fact that his father’s health is failing. He’s no longer able to take care of himself and as Devlin struggles with the new ‘soft’ border arrangements between the Republic and Northern Ireland, he’s also making his own transition from father and loving son to carer – and that in itself is very difficult, setting him more on edge than usual as the reality of beginning to lose his father hits home.
It’s a gently told story and the more powerful because of that. Everything is changing and as far as Devlin can see, none of that change is for the better. McGilloway explores themes of loss, of dealing with shifting sands and uncertainty, of family and of grief in a novel that is both touching and emotional while also dealing with hateful crimes and social media vigilantes.
Verdict: As with his last book, The Last Crossing, McGilloway is able to blend together so many personal and political strands to create a work that has depth and meaning beyond the obvious. This feels like a personal tribute to fatherhood, too and as such is unashamedly emotional. Brian McGilloway is a class act who deserves to be widely read. If you haven’t read the Devlin series, you have such a treat awaiting you!
March 7, 2021
This series just got a whole lot better - a good mystery and a monumental tribute to Brian McGilloway's late father. A must read.
April 4, 2021
This is a writer in reflective mood and on top form.
Ben Devlin is thinking about relationships - how they define us and how they change over time.
It is the spring of 2020 and it is looking increasingly as though the Republic of Ireland will be going into lockdown as the Covid pandemic tightens its grip.
Ben, once just a son and brother, now has other responsibilities - husband; father; provider. His daughter, Penny is away at College and his father is in a care home. He wants them both safely under his roof where he can look after them.
When a body is found stabbed to death in an Airbnb, Devlin is assigned to investigate. The body is soon identified as the person sent to prison two decades ago for the rape and murder of a popular teenage girl. It is a difficult case - especially as many of his neighbours and colleagues seem to think the victim ‘got what he deserved’. And, blood found at the scene of the crime, points to the murderer being none other than the dead girl!
This is an excellent ’whodunnit’ and police procedural which involves paeodophile hunters, social media, and investigations on both sides of the border. There is also a pleasing casual encounter between Devlin and the author’s other detective Lucy Black!
As usual, the story, characters and investigations are first class. The dialogue and actions, believable and the conclusions both heart-breaking and satisfying. This is Brian McGilloway in reflective mood, and on top form as a writer.
As Devlin feels the tide of change around him, with the passing of a family member and old colleagues, will this be his final outing? Or, will it be the beginning of a new alliance between Ben Devlin and Lucy Black?
I know which I am hoping for!
Ben Devlin is thinking about relationships - how they define us and how they change over time.
It is the spring of 2020 and it is looking increasingly as though the Republic of Ireland will be going into lockdown as the Covid pandemic tightens its grip.
Ben, once just a son and brother, now has other responsibilities - husband; father; provider. His daughter, Penny is away at College and his father is in a care home. He wants them both safely under his roof where he can look after them.
When a body is found stabbed to death in an Airbnb, Devlin is assigned to investigate. The body is soon identified as the person sent to prison two decades ago for the rape and murder of a popular teenage girl. It is a difficult case - especially as many of his neighbours and colleagues seem to think the victim ‘got what he deserved’. And, blood found at the scene of the crime, points to the murderer being none other than the dead girl!
This is an excellent ’whodunnit’ and police procedural which involves paeodophile hunters, social media, and investigations on both sides of the border. There is also a pleasing casual encounter between Devlin and the author’s other detective Lucy Black!
As usual, the story, characters and investigations are first class. The dialogue and actions, believable and the conclusions both heart-breaking and satisfying. This is Brian McGilloway in reflective mood, and on top form as a writer.
As Devlin feels the tide of change around him, with the passing of a family member and old colleagues, will this be his final outing? Or, will it be the beginning of a new alliance between Ben Devlin and Lucy Black?
I know which I am hoping for!
May 8, 2021
Grounded in the person & personal struggles of Devlin, the 6th in the series is terrific. Emotional and realistic, the somber mystery unwraps perfectly paced and in a satisfying way. If there was a Devlin TV show it would surely leave all other procedurals in its wake.
December 10, 2021
Blood Ties by Brian McGilloway was published March 25th 2021 with Constable. It is the sixth book in this crime fiction series featuring Inspector Ben Devlin and is described as ‘a gripping Irish police procedural’. I have a habit of jumping into a crime series long after it has started for no particular reason other than that I just do not have enough hours in the day to read all the books that cross my radar. I have had Blood Ties for a few months and picked it up this week, not having any idea of the characters or their back stories, and I need not have had any concerns.
Blood Ties, albeit a police procedural, felt quite an emotional exercise for a number of reasons. Yes there is a murder mystery in the centre but wrapped around the story is the beginnings of our pandemic experiences before any of us knew what lay ahead of us. Brian McGilloway has captured the anxiety and the unease that befell us all and set it as the backdrop to a story that really moved along at a great pace. He also very sensitively writes about that very special and poignant time in all our lives when we realise our parents are now older, with the relationship, in many cases, shifting between parent and adult-child to one of dependence. The three strands of the onset of Coronavirus, a brutal murder and the parent/adult-child relationship are all brilliantly interwoven and set against the political landscape of Northern Ireland, the border between North and South and Brexit.
Blood Ties takes place over the week following the discovery of a body of a man in his thirties in an Airbnb. Inspector Ben Devlin is called to the scene and, on initial inspection, he senses a familiarity with the victim but he just can’t place him. Having been brutally stabbed, the forensic team have plenty to work with while Devlin and his team try to identify the name of the victim. Devlin is shocked when he hears the name Brooklyn Harris, as he remembers well the story of how as a teenager Harris had been convicted of the murder of his classmate Hannah Row. After his release from prison, Harris had been given a new identity but Brooklyn Harris had developed a weakness for young girls and, when the trail is investigated, more sordid details are revealed.
There are many who are glad to hear that Harris is dead but something just doesn’t sit right with Devlin as he delves further into the case and the archives surrounding Hannah Row’s death. Devlin is told by peers and acquaintances to let it go, not to dig any deeper and to just clear up the case at speed, but Ben Devlin doesn’t work like that. He questions suspects on both sides of the border, on occasion stepping outside and beyond his jurisdiction as a member of An Garda Síochána (Irish Police Force) treading on the toes of the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland). Some of his interference and investigative work is accepted but it soon becomes clear that Devlin has opened a Pandora’s Box.
In the midst of his interrogation of old casework, he gets a very unexpected and shocking call from his forensic team. They have found Hannah Row’s blood at the scene. How is this possible? Devlin realises the insanity of this discovery but, never one to give up, he starts to join a few dots….
Meanwhile Ben Devlin’s father is unwell and, with possible impending lockdown, he decides it best that his father move in with them. A proud man who wishes not to inconvenience anyone, the relationship between father and son is extremely affecting and beautifully depicted by Brian McGilloway. Devlin is distracted and feels his life is imploding, changing beyond recognition. He needs to feel in control of some part of his life, so his determination drives him on in this troubling case in the hope of finally uncovering the truth behind such a vicious murder and the sinister history that has remained hidden in the shadows.
Blood Ties is an extremely atmospheric book, capturing the zeitgeist of 2020 in all its mayhem, while also providing the reader with a tight and engaging police procedural. Ben Devlin has a very authentic personality, a compassionate and passionate individual who just wants to do what’s right for his family and his community. An engrossing story with an intriguing plotline, Blood Ties is quite simply a great read. Thoroughly enjoyable, a real page-turner and one I am very happy to recommend.
Blood Ties, albeit a police procedural, felt quite an emotional exercise for a number of reasons. Yes there is a murder mystery in the centre but wrapped around the story is the beginnings of our pandemic experiences before any of us knew what lay ahead of us. Brian McGilloway has captured the anxiety and the unease that befell us all and set it as the backdrop to a story that really moved along at a great pace. He also very sensitively writes about that very special and poignant time in all our lives when we realise our parents are now older, with the relationship, in many cases, shifting between parent and adult-child to one of dependence. The three strands of the onset of Coronavirus, a brutal murder and the parent/adult-child relationship are all brilliantly interwoven and set against the political landscape of Northern Ireland, the border between North and South and Brexit.
Blood Ties takes place over the week following the discovery of a body of a man in his thirties in an Airbnb. Inspector Ben Devlin is called to the scene and, on initial inspection, he senses a familiarity with the victim but he just can’t place him. Having been brutally stabbed, the forensic team have plenty to work with while Devlin and his team try to identify the name of the victim. Devlin is shocked when he hears the name Brooklyn Harris, as he remembers well the story of how as a teenager Harris had been convicted of the murder of his classmate Hannah Row. After his release from prison, Harris had been given a new identity but Brooklyn Harris had developed a weakness for young girls and, when the trail is investigated, more sordid details are revealed.
There are many who are glad to hear that Harris is dead but something just doesn’t sit right with Devlin as he delves further into the case and the archives surrounding Hannah Row’s death. Devlin is told by peers and acquaintances to let it go, not to dig any deeper and to just clear up the case at speed, but Ben Devlin doesn’t work like that. He questions suspects on both sides of the border, on occasion stepping outside and beyond his jurisdiction as a member of An Garda Síochána (Irish Police Force) treading on the toes of the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland). Some of his interference and investigative work is accepted but it soon becomes clear that Devlin has opened a Pandora’s Box.
In the midst of his interrogation of old casework, he gets a very unexpected and shocking call from his forensic team. They have found Hannah Row’s blood at the scene. How is this possible? Devlin realises the insanity of this discovery but, never one to give up, he starts to join a few dots….
Meanwhile Ben Devlin’s father is unwell and, with possible impending lockdown, he decides it best that his father move in with them. A proud man who wishes not to inconvenience anyone, the relationship between father and son is extremely affecting and beautifully depicted by Brian McGilloway. Devlin is distracted and feels his life is imploding, changing beyond recognition. He needs to feel in control of some part of his life, so his determination drives him on in this troubling case in the hope of finally uncovering the truth behind such a vicious murder and the sinister history that has remained hidden in the shadows.
Blood Ties is an extremely atmospheric book, capturing the zeitgeist of 2020 in all its mayhem, while also providing the reader with a tight and engaging police procedural. Ben Devlin has a very authentic personality, a compassionate and passionate individual who just wants to do what’s right for his family and his community. An engrossing story with an intriguing plotline, Blood Ties is quite simply a great read. Thoroughly enjoyable, a real page-turner and one I am very happy to recommend.
November 27, 2022
Is this the last outing for Ben Devlin?
The entire book seemed to me to encapsulate closure on all levels unless I should have interpreted it as political changes whilst still living with the ripples of sectarian violence remain. A historic case re-emerges, the nature of policing is changing post Brexit, the zeitgeist of 2020 and the shifting sands of family. Whilst there are the usual multi layers of plot, I found the investigation involving brutal killings/vigilante groups by a more obviously rounded holistic detective a fascinating change in the telling of the story. Blood Ties indeed!
The entire book seemed to me to encapsulate closure on all levels unless I should have interpreted it as political changes whilst still living with the ripples of sectarian violence remain. A historic case re-emerges, the nature of policing is changing post Brexit, the zeitgeist of 2020 and the shifting sands of family. Whilst there are the usual multi layers of plot, I found the investigation involving brutal killings/vigilante groups by a more obviously rounded holistic detective a fascinating change in the telling of the story. Blood Ties indeed!
September 18, 2023
I enjoyed this book about a crime, but how could a person's blood be found at another murder years later?
June 15, 2024
A very good book! It has a strong history and I didn’t find out who was Harris’ killer until the end. It got me hooked until the end
February 5, 2026
3.5⭐️ enjoyed will have to read more of his books
November 17, 2021
My first book from this author and a great read. It is set at the beginning of the pandemic and peppered with references to the early rules of social distancing and restrictions in hospitals and care homes. A very well written police procedural crime thriller but with more than a nod to families and the grief of loss.
Briefly, DI Ben Devlin is investigating the murder of Brooklyn Harris. A name Devlin knows from his past, as a teenager Harris was convicted of killing Hannah Row, and since his release, after 12 years, has been living under a new identity. As his investigations continue it is clear Harris has been grooming up young girls and a vigilante group have been following him. When new information comes to light about Hannah’s murder Devlin starts to look into that case as well. It is clear to him that the two cases are connected. With the list of suspects growing the shocking news is received that blood from Hannah has been found at the scene. How can that be?
As good as the crime element of this book was what really touched me was the personal element. Not only the dreadful grief suffered by Hannah’s family but Devlin’s own family. Having to deal with children growing up and finding their own way in life and the sadness of a parent growing old and the role reversal of parent and child. A fabulous book and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Briefly, DI Ben Devlin is investigating the murder of Brooklyn Harris. A name Devlin knows from his past, as a teenager Harris was convicted of killing Hannah Row, and since his release, after 12 years, has been living under a new identity. As his investigations continue it is clear Harris has been grooming up young girls and a vigilante group have been following him. When new information comes to light about Hannah’s murder Devlin starts to look into that case as well. It is clear to him that the two cases are connected. With the list of suspects growing the shocking news is received that blood from Hannah has been found at the scene. How can that be?
As good as the crime element of this book was what really touched me was the personal element. Not only the dreadful grief suffered by Hannah’s family but Devlin’s own family. Having to deal with children growing up and finding their own way in life and the sadness of a parent growing old and the role reversal of parent and child. A fabulous book and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 28, 2021
I’m a huge fan of Brian McGilloway and I loved BLOOD TIES. This is the first fiction book I’ve read that is set in March 2020 and the beginning of what would become global lockdowns resulting from Covid19. It’s also the first fiction book I’ve read that addresses Brexit and the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border issues. Such a timely book.
The murder investigation led by Ben Devlin was intriguing and a good pace. Devlin’s crisscrossing the Brexit border was very interesting and bought many questions about how the border will be handled post-Brexit.
I must say that I was genuinely worried about Devlin’s dad. The dad is in a care home, Devlin wants to bring him to his home as rumors of a lockdown circulate. I could really relate to the uncertainty and fear of the early days of Covid19.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
The murder investigation led by Ben Devlin was intriguing and a good pace. Devlin’s crisscrossing the Brexit border was very interesting and bought many questions about how the border will be handled post-Brexit.
I must say that I was genuinely worried about Devlin’s dad. The dad is in a care home, Devlin wants to bring him to his home as rumors of a lockdown circulate. I could really relate to the uncertainty and fear of the early days of Covid19.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
September 30, 2021
Blood Ties is Brian McGilloway's latest intense thriller featuring the edgy, Irish border-straddling detective Ben Devlin. It is excellent!
In this story, Devlin investigates the killing of a man, Gerard Dawson who recently completed a sentence for a crime which attracts little sympathy among the police and the general public. Devlin however is determined to identify the killer and finds himself coming up against a number of obstacles as he needs to revisit an investigation from long ago.
McGilloway's characters are so realistically created that the reader feels a strong emotional bond; additionally the many layers to the narrative keeps the reader engaged and interested - now the norm for this excellent author. Blood Ties is the first book that I have read where the author is comfortable using the pandemic setting without allowing it to overtake the main story. A great read!
In this story, Devlin investigates the killing of a man, Gerard Dawson who recently completed a sentence for a crime which attracts little sympathy among the police and the general public. Devlin however is determined to identify the killer and finds himself coming up against a number of obstacles as he needs to revisit an investigation from long ago.
McGilloway's characters are so realistically created that the reader feels a strong emotional bond; additionally the many layers to the narrative keeps the reader engaged and interested - now the norm for this excellent author. Blood Ties is the first book that I have read where the author is comfortable using the pandemic setting without allowing it to overtake the main story. A great read!
March 1, 2026
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I followed the debut Ben Devlin thriller Borderlands with Blood Ties, the sixth and final of the series. I found this the better read—the scene already set, the pace smooth and exciting. Eighteen years have passed, but echoes of the first case linger.
The dead man's puncture wounds left an especially vicious trail of blood. This murder was personal and targeted. The population growth of Lifford on the border of North and South Ireland meant strangers no longer stood out, and this transient Airbnb bungalow guest went unnoticed. Inspector Ben Devlin works with Inspector Hendry of the Police Service of Northern Ireland across the border in Strabane to discover the victim calling himself Geoff Dallas or Gerard Dawson was actually Brooklyn Harris, an ex-con recently out of prison for murder. Fifteen years ago, he pleaded guilty to the assault and murder of a young girl. No one is going to miss him, but he was not as guilty as he thought. The activist group Northern Justice was harassing him since he was released, entrapping and exposing him as a pedophile online. Not without cause, as he was grooming underage girls in chat rooms online and was intending to meet one when he was killed. The strongest clue to the killer is a strange one: fresh traces of blood found at the scene were not of the victim, but a positive match for the girl he killed fifteen years ago.
Taking place over a few days in March 2020, the town is shutting down over COVID. The station has moved to Letterkenny, and Devlin has a new superintendent. At the PSNI office in Strabane, he works with Sergeant Lucy Black, who features in the next series of four novels from McGilloway. Three-quarters of the way through, it was pretty late to be surprised, but I was, as this plot enjoyably twists several times before the satisfying finale.
for over 1000 book reviews in all genres
I followed the debut Ben Devlin thriller Borderlands with Blood Ties, the sixth and final of the series. I found this the better read—the scene already set, the pace smooth and exciting. Eighteen years have passed, but echoes of the first case linger.
The dead man's puncture wounds left an especially vicious trail of blood. This murder was personal and targeted. The population growth of Lifford on the border of North and South Ireland meant strangers no longer stood out, and this transient Airbnb bungalow guest went unnoticed. Inspector Ben Devlin works with Inspector Hendry of the Police Service of Northern Ireland across the border in Strabane to discover the victim calling himself Geoff Dallas or Gerard Dawson was actually Brooklyn Harris, an ex-con recently out of prison for murder. Fifteen years ago, he pleaded guilty to the assault and murder of a young girl. No one is going to miss him, but he was not as guilty as he thought. The activist group Northern Justice was harassing him since he was released, entrapping and exposing him as a pedophile online. Not without cause, as he was grooming underage girls in chat rooms online and was intending to meet one when he was killed. The strongest clue to the killer is a strange one: fresh traces of blood found at the scene were not of the victim, but a positive match for the girl he killed fifteen years ago.
Taking place over a few days in March 2020, the town is shutting down over COVID. The station has moved to Letterkenny, and Devlin has a new superintendent. At the PSNI office in Strabane, he works with Sergeant Lucy Black, who features in the next series of four novels from McGilloway. Three-quarters of the way through, it was pretty late to be surprised, but I was, as this plot enjoyably twists several times before the satisfying finale.
April 22, 2022
It’s been a decade in the life if DI Benedict Devlin since his last case was “novelized”. Some things have changed and others remain the same. The kids have grown up — Daughter Penny is away at uni and son Shane is soon to follow. Devlin still works out of the same district, under the direction of the same Superintendent. And crimes still occur: in this case the murder of a young man with a checkered past and unpleasant present as a paedophilial internet groomer of teen girls. His murder is a crime no one on either side of the border is keen to solve: except for Devlin, who believes every victim is entitled to some form of justice. In the larger world, covid threatens and Brexit breeds uncertainties especially for those along the border. And aging and the declining health of his own father complicate life for Devlin.
This is by far the best novel of this series. The characters, the writing, the dialogue and the descriptive passages all have shown marks of high refinement. More importantly, the story reflects a seriousness of purpose and a mature philosophical tone which is the hallmark of a writer at the height of his creative arc. My recommendations on the earlier works of this author were take-it-or-leave-it. This one is a taker — and a keeper.
This is by far the best novel of this series. The characters, the writing, the dialogue and the descriptive passages all have shown marks of high refinement. More importantly, the story reflects a seriousness of purpose and a mature philosophical tone which is the hallmark of a writer at the height of his creative arc. My recommendations on the earlier works of this author were take-it-or-leave-it. This one is a taker — and a keeper.
November 9, 2024
Garda Inspector Devlin #6. I haven't read any of the others, probably it doesn't matter too much. The first strike is the first person narrative, against which I have a long-held prejudice.
The second strike is the silliness of the hero. He just makes a lot of judgement errors. Some of it may be due to the situation with his father, who is dying and in hospital - this weighs heavily on him. He has other relationship problems too.
However, there are also pluses, including some aspects of the story. The setting in COVID and Brexit comes up throughout, and is well handled. The relationship between northern Ireland and southern Ireland in relation to policing could have been explained better, but perhaps it has been done in earlier books.
The overall plot was okay, but there is a grittiness about the violence that put me off. I read some of the book, then put it down for nearly two weeks - normally that'll be a DNF. This time I picked it up and pushed through to the end.
I don't know if I will search for any more of this series - if so I'd want to get #1. For all my doubts I've given this a rating of 3.4.
The second strike is the silliness of the hero. He just makes a lot of judgement errors. Some of it may be due to the situation with his father, who is dying and in hospital - this weighs heavily on him. He has other relationship problems too.
However, there are also pluses, including some aspects of the story. The setting in COVID and Brexit comes up throughout, and is well handled. The relationship between northern Ireland and southern Ireland in relation to policing could have been explained better, but perhaps it has been done in earlier books.
The overall plot was okay, but there is a grittiness about the violence that put me off. I read some of the book, then put it down for nearly two weeks - normally that'll be a DNF. This time I picked it up and pushed through to the end.
I don't know if I will search for any more of this series - if so I'd want to get #1. For all my doubts I've given this a rating of 3.4.
May 16, 2022
Written beautifully and clearly. And more than that, the plot, the characters and everything that happens in the story before us seems completely real. And perhaps precisely because of this, in most of the plot there is no tension or anxiety, and certainly not nerve-wracking, but on the contrary, things are conducted at a calm and relaxed pace.
Indeed, starting from chapter 34 things start to move at a faster pace, and there is some acceleration in occurrences. It should be noted - that there are no cracks and crevices in the plot, no improbable occurrences, or distant coincidences, but the whole plot conveys seriousness and credibility. Also, the story leaves the reader with questions and concerns not about the story - but about life - about the pain and suffering that human beings experience and which human beings cause each other and about the nature of the reaction and reference - both to the suffering itself and to the human beings who cause it.
Indeed, starting from chapter 34 things start to move at a faster pace, and there is some acceleration in occurrences. It should be noted - that there are no cracks and crevices in the plot, no improbable occurrences, or distant coincidences, but the whole plot conveys seriousness and credibility. Also, the story leaves the reader with questions and concerns not about the story - but about life - about the pain and suffering that human beings experience and which human beings cause each other and about the nature of the reaction and reference - both to the suffering itself and to the human beings who cause it.
September 26, 2021
This is one of those books that kept me reading till late in the night as I couldn't stop reading.
It's the first i read in this series and I think it's brilliant.
It's a complex mystery that deals with serious issues like justice for all the victims, vigilantes, child abuse and grief.
It's a police procedural but it's also a story about life on the Irish border and the impacts of history on the life of common people.
The characters are complex and well developed, you can feel the empathy of the author towards all the victims.
It talks about murder but also about the passing of time, the changes in life and how grief affects our life.
It's heartbreaking at times, tense and full of twists.
I found it poignant, gripping and intense.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's the first i read in this series and I think it's brilliant.
It's a complex mystery that deals with serious issues like justice for all the victims, vigilantes, child abuse and grief.
It's a police procedural but it's also a story about life on the Irish border and the impacts of history on the life of common people.
The characters are complex and well developed, you can feel the empathy of the author towards all the victims.
It talks about murder but also about the passing of time, the changes in life and how grief affects our life.
It's heartbreaking at times, tense and full of twists.
I found it poignant, gripping and intense.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
December 14, 2024
A police procedural set in the borderlands of Eire and Northern Ireland. It’s book 6 in a series featuring Inspector Ben Devlin and concerns the murder of a man had been staying in a holiday cottage. Devlin knows of the victim, because as a teenager the man had been convicted of murdering his then-girlfriend. Now, twelve years later, he was out of prison with a new name and identity, but it looks as if he’s been grooming teenage girls online and had arrived in the area to meet one of them. Devlin’s investigation must uncover what the victim has been up to recently, while also delving back into the original crime and its investigation, which seems to have been more than a little lightweight. I'd never read anything by this author before and found this an enjoyable to read which has a pretty good twist at the end.
Review by: Cornish Eskimo, Oundle Crime
Review by: Cornish Eskimo, Oundle Crime
December 31, 2021
I enjoyed the book set on Lifford/ Strabane border of NI. It has strong themes of family ties whilst integrating complex issues of covid, Brexit and NI history. It was well written and kept me reading into the night as I wanted to know the ending.
Good characters portrayed in book and Ben Devlin is a likeable Guard, the plot was well paced, well written and engaging. It is easy to read and can be read as a stand alone as I had not previously read anything by Brian McGilloway before. I will seek out his other books to read in the future.
My only criticism would be that there was too much reference to his political views which slightly took away from the reading at times.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an Arc in exchange for an honest opinion
Good characters portrayed in book and Ben Devlin is a likeable Guard, the plot was well paced, well written and engaging. It is easy to read and can be read as a stand alone as I had not previously read anything by Brian McGilloway before. I will seek out his other books to read in the future.
My only criticism would be that there was too much reference to his political views which slightly took away from the reading at times.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an Arc in exchange for an honest opinion
August 20, 2022
4.5 stars. This is one of the best of the Ben Devlin series—and that’s saying something. This one had fewer killings (despite having plenty of violent crimes and general darkness). But I appreciated a change from his typical 6-or-7-Irish-men-are-shot books. In this one, I guess there were “only” two murders, one suicide, and a sexual assault—which makes this less violent than the previous books in the series.
It was interesting to me how the author included the death of Ben Devlin’s father and Ben’s reflection about what matters in life. (Answer: family) The way Ben interpreted that was pretty traditional, and I found I couldn’t relate to it really well. Or perhaps another way to put it is that Ben’s interpretation of what matters in life seemed to me to only accommodate people who live in very traditional nuclear families.
It was interesting to me how the author included the death of Ben Devlin’s father and Ben’s reflection about what matters in life. (Answer: family) The way Ben interpreted that was pretty traditional, and I found I couldn’t relate to it really well. Or perhaps another way to put it is that Ben’s interpretation of what matters in life seemed to me to only accommodate people who live in very traditional nuclear families.
August 30, 2021
Another excellent book in the Inspector Devlin series. This one examines several issues:
- the nature of victimhood (very topical in Northern Ireland), in this instance whether a murder victim who is a convicted rapist and active paedophile deserves to be treated as a victim.
- vigilantism.
- the politicisation of crime during the Northern Ireland Troubles.
- the nature of loss within families (to which Brian brings his own experience of grief for the recent loss of his father).
What appears to be a straightforward Police procedural becomes something much deeper, as Ben Devlin faces conflicting attitudes towards his investigation.
I really enjoyed this. 4.5 stars.
- the nature of victimhood (very topical in Northern Ireland), in this instance whether a murder victim who is a convicted rapist and active paedophile deserves to be treated as a victim.
- vigilantism.
- the politicisation of crime during the Northern Ireland Troubles.
- the nature of loss within families (to which Brian brings his own experience of grief for the recent loss of his father).
What appears to be a straightforward Police procedural becomes something much deeper, as Ben Devlin faces conflicting attitudes towards his investigation.
I really enjoyed this. 4.5 stars.
November 16, 2021
Blood ties is a very competent and well written police procedural. It's well written, gripping, a well-told story.
But a month or two after reading it, I had to check it out to remember if I had even read it yet. Couldn't remember anything without a reminder. Then saw that oh yes, I remember, that was good. Reading the first few pages again, I'm thinking, 'this is good!'
So I'd call this a good airplane book. Perfectly does what it says on the tin. To read, enjoy, forget.
4 stars, because it's a decent read. I take off only one star because it didn't make a lasting impression, but I can hardly blame the author because I've the memory of a goldfish.
But a month or two after reading it, I had to check it out to remember if I had even read it yet. Couldn't remember anything without a reminder. Then saw that oh yes, I remember, that was good. Reading the first few pages again, I'm thinking, 'this is good!'
So I'd call this a good airplane book. Perfectly does what it says on the tin. To read, enjoy, forget.
4 stars, because it's a decent read. I take off only one star because it didn't make a lasting impression, but I can hardly blame the author because I've the memory of a goldfish.
April 3, 2022
Re-reading my reviews of earlier Ben Devlin novels before I began reading this, I was surprised at how often I expressed disappointment at what I saw as his colourlessness, his lack of depth (even though I remember enjoying each and every one of the previous five.) Reading this sixth, I am embarrassed at my criticism, because he has very much grown in stature and therefore in interest. 'Blood ties' is a thoughtful, thought-provoking musing on who deserves justice, on the effects on the victim's family of pursuing it; on the way loyalties distort truth and the ever-running background of Devlin's family life.
Compassionate, absorbing and well constructed
Compassionate, absorbing and well constructed
November 30, 2022
The Irish have a way with words and song. I like well-honed mysteries and this one doesn't disappoint. It takes place during the pandemic which normally I would avoid reading about, but Brian McGilloway does such a skillful job with Covid's effects on his family and life, I found his prose up lifting, especially his relationships with him, his son and his father. The mystery deals with the ambiguity of good and evil. The author gives humanity to the one accused of murder and humility to the arrogance of the lead detective. A humane, insightful, and good read.
Lynne Brookfield
Charlotteville, VA
Lynne Brookfield
Charlotteville, VA
January 21, 2025
How enjoyable it is to read a police procedural without serial killers, stalkers, or improbable twists and turns. Ben Devlin digs into an investigation that many people would like to ignore. Who cares if a pedophile and rapist is killed? Besides, there are new tensions brewing as Brexit looms, which might mean new border tensions between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Covid is lurking in the background, affecting everyone's life more and more. Ben's father is dying. Despite all these complications and distractions, Ben forges ahead. Are some victims more "worthy" than others? A lot to think about with various priorities in personal and professional life.
April 25, 2025
I really liked the idea for this series, but I haven’t been all that impressed with it in reality. It didn’t feel like it was living up to its potential. I almost didn’t bother with this one, even though I’d come this far and my library had the audiobook. lol. But I’m glad I did.
The overall theme was woven into the different storylines well, the case was unique and layered, and the detective actually did decently unraveling it! Also the characters were more sympathetic than they have been, rather than being more varying degrees of irritating or off-putting. Considerable improvements. I’m pleased.
The overall theme was woven into the different storylines well, the case was unique and layered, and the detective actually did decently unraveling it! Also the characters were more sympathetic than they have been, rather than being more varying degrees of irritating or off-putting. Considerable improvements. I’m pleased.
September 19, 2021
Oh gosh. This book just brought back so many memories of my late father. DI Devlin is investigating the murder of a convicted murderer. A well written crime thriller but also a personal account by the author of family love, relationships and parents growing old. It really touched me and I shed a tear for my own father, who died suddenly at aged 53. We never got to say goodbye. I highly recommend this read, just have the tissues at the ready. Thanks to Net Galley for this very emotional read by Brian McGilloway.
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