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Maggie D'arcy #2
A Distant Grave
In the follow up to the critically acclaimed The Mountains Wild, Detective Maggie D'arcy tackles another intricate case that bridges Long Island and Ireland.
Long Island homicide detective Maggie D'arcy and her teenage daughter, Lilly, are still recovering from the events of last fall when a strange new case demands Maggie's attention. The body of an unidentified Irish national turns up in a wealthy Long Island beach community and with little to go on but the scars on his back, Maggie once again teams up with Garda detectives in Ireland to find out who the man was and what he was doing on Long Island. As the strands of the mystery lead Maggie to a quiet village in rural County Clare and back to her home turf, they also lead her in range of a dangerous and determined killer who will do anything to keep the victim's story hidden forever.
With the lyrical prose, deeply drawn characters, and atmospheric setting that made The Mountains Wild one of 2020's most anticipated summer reads, Sarah Stewart Taylor delivers another gripping mystery novel about family, survival, and the meaning of home.
Running Time => 10hrs. and 30mins.
©2021 Sarah Stewart Taylor (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
Long Island homicide detective Maggie D'arcy and her teenage daughter, Lilly, are still recovering from the events of last fall when a strange new case demands Maggie's attention. The body of an unidentified Irish national turns up in a wealthy Long Island beach community and with little to go on but the scars on his back, Maggie once again teams up with Garda detectives in Ireland to find out who the man was and what he was doing on Long Island. As the strands of the mystery lead Maggie to a quiet village in rural County Clare and back to her home turf, they also lead her in range of a dangerous and determined killer who will do anything to keep the victim's story hidden forever.
With the lyrical prose, deeply drawn characters, and atmospheric setting that made The Mountains Wild one of 2020's most anticipated summer reads, Sarah Stewart Taylor delivers another gripping mystery novel about family, survival, and the meaning of home.
Running Time => 10hrs. and 30mins.
©2021 Sarah Stewart Taylor (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
Audible Audio
First published June 22, 2021
229 people are currently reading
4014 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Stewart Taylor
19 books753 followersSarah Stewart Taylor lives with her husband and three children on a farm in Vermont where they raise sheep and grow blueberries.
Sarah is the author of the Sweeney St. George series and the Maggie D'arcy series. The first Maggie D'arcy mystery, THE MOUNTAINS WILD, was nominated for the Dashiell Hammett Prize and was on numerous Best of 2020 lists. The new Maggie D'arcy novel, A STOLEN CHILD, is out now. AGONY HILL, the first installment in her new series set in Vermont in 1965, will be out in 2024.
Sarah is the author of the Sweeney St. George series and the Maggie D'arcy series. The first Maggie D'arcy mystery, THE MOUNTAINS WILD, was nominated for the Dashiell Hammett Prize and was on numerous Best of 2020 lists. The new Maggie D'arcy novel, A STOLEN CHILD, is out now. AGONY HILL, the first installment in her new series set in Vermont in 1965, will be out in 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
June 9, 2021
I enjoyed The Mountains Wild, the first in the Maggie D’Arcy series. But this one never engaged me. In truth, it was a bit of a drag and could have benefitted from a better editing job. Maggie is lead detective on a case of an unidentified man found with a gunshot to the head on a beach in her Long Island community. A man who turns out to be an Irish native. What was meant to be a vacation in Ireland turns into a continuation of the murder investigation. There are way too many moving parts to this story and it was hard to keep everything straight. Maybe that was just me. Or maybe reading this would have worked better than listening. Taylor does tie all the moving parts up at the end, but it was not a satisfying book. I’ll give her one more chance since I really enjoyed the first book in the series.
This story wasn’t helped by the lackluster narration by Marisa Calvin. Her Irish accents were positively cringeworthy and at times, sounded like she was talking with marbles in her mouth.
This story wasn’t helped by the lackluster narration by Marisa Calvin. Her Irish accents were positively cringeworthy and at times, sounded like she was talking with marbles in her mouth.
July 8, 2021
4.5 Stars
The story opens with Maggie dealing with some of the repercussions from the last story, and it’s not good. There seems to be a DA gunning for her, hampering her efforts to bring “someone” to justice. I’m being vague because of spoilers for the last book.
Maggie’s about to leave on vacation with Lilly, her fifteen-year-old daughter, and meet up with Conor back in Ireland when a man is found murdered on a beach in Long Island. When it’s discovered that he’s from Ireland, Maggie’s vacation turns into a bit of a work assignment. Why the man was in Long Island and who killed him? The connections are surprising and twisty!
There’s a lot going on, from the murder to Maggie’s problems with the DA, her issues with Lilly and her continuing relationship with Conor. I was fully invested in this “page turning” mystery and I didn’t want to stop listening so I could get to the bottom of so many things!
Ms. Stewart’s writing was beautiful, breathing life into her characters making it easy to relate and root for Maggie, Connor, Lilly and even Gabriel. The settings were vividly described, giving the story an eerie and atmospheric feel! I could almost feel the biting cold of Long Islands shores and see the rugged beauty of County Clare while listening.
A Silent Grave is a pleasing mix of police procedural/mystery/thriller and Maggie’s personal life. It’s a series best read in order. Even though the previous main mystery is solved, there are quite a few plot points unresolved and continued in A Silent Grave. Also, the romance started in the first book is ongoing and like most real-life relationships it’s not all smooth sailing. I’m 100% rooting for them! I believe they’re a couple that can go the distance. I’m happy with how things are left at this point.
I think there will be more Maggie D’arcy mysteries coming, and I couldn’t be more thrilled!
I listened to the audio version of The Mountains Wild and A Silent Grave with Marisa Calin narrating. I was impressed with her expertly performed Long Island and Irish accents! She switched back and forth effortlessly and they sounded authentic to me. I listened at 1.25x the normal speed.
A copy was kindly provided by MacMillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens with Maggie dealing with some of the repercussions from the last story, and it’s not good. There seems to be a DA gunning for her, hampering her efforts to bring “someone” to justice. I’m being vague because of spoilers for the last book.
Maggie’s about to leave on vacation with Lilly, her fifteen-year-old daughter, and meet up with Conor back in Ireland when a man is found murdered on a beach in Long Island. When it’s discovered that he’s from Ireland, Maggie’s vacation turns into a bit of a work assignment. Why the man was in Long Island and who killed him? The connections are surprising and twisty!
There’s a lot going on, from the murder to Maggie’s problems with the DA, her issues with Lilly and her continuing relationship with Conor. I was fully invested in this “page turning” mystery and I didn’t want to stop listening so I could get to the bottom of so many things!
Ms. Stewart’s writing was beautiful, breathing life into her characters making it easy to relate and root for Maggie, Connor, Lilly and even Gabriel. The settings were vividly described, giving the story an eerie and atmospheric feel! I could almost feel the biting cold of Long Islands shores and see the rugged beauty of County Clare while listening.
A Silent Grave is a pleasing mix of police procedural/mystery/thriller and Maggie’s personal life. It’s a series best read in order. Even though the previous main mystery is solved, there are quite a few plot points unresolved and continued in A Silent Grave. Also, the romance started in the first book is ongoing and like most real-life relationships it’s not all smooth sailing. I’m 100% rooting for them! I believe they’re a couple that can go the distance. I’m happy with how things are left at this point.
I think there will be more Maggie D’arcy mysteries coming, and I couldn’t be more thrilled!
I listened to the audio version of The Mountains Wild and A Silent Grave with Marisa Calin narrating. I was impressed with her expertly performed Long Island and Irish accents! She switched back and forth effortlessly and they sounded authentic to me. I listened at 1.25x the normal speed.
A copy was kindly provided by MacMillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2021
Sarah Stewart Taylor’s A Distant Grave starts like a thunderstorm and ends like a hurricane, building throughout the book. The book opens in Gabriel Traecy’s point of view as he explores the rocky beach of Bay Shore, Long Island. He senses he is being observed and as he anticipates, he is murdered by a single shot. Detective Maggie D’Arcy is called to the scene and starts her investigation, hoping she can solve it before her scheduled trip to Ireland..
The investigation starts in New York and continues in Ireland as Maggie begins her vacation, then returns to New York as Maggie is forced to return by the DA, who has a grudge against her. Gabriel is an Irish national and Maggie is able to get some investigation done while on vacation, including uncovering an unexplained link between Gabriel and the DA who orders Maggie home.
The story of the investigation is peppered with passages told from Gabriel’s point of view, remembering a time he was held hostage in Afghanistan. While the investigation turns up information about the hostage event and with a growing indication this is connected somehow with the murder, Maggie and her team are constantly frustrated as someone seems to always be one step ahead, resulting in the death of several people connected with Gabriel’s past.
The plot is intricate and well designed. Gabriel has spent his life working with non-government aid organizations in a lifetime of service to others. What connects him with the DA on Long Island and why would a murderer lurk in the shadows intent on killing him? Maggie feels as if she and Lilly, her daughter, are both being watched. Is Lilly in danger? Maggie is constantly torn between trying to do her job and insuring the safety of her daughter.
The pace builds steadily to a crescendo and has the reader fully engaged from start to finish. In the final few chapters, the book becomes so compelling many readers will likely push to finish it, even if it means staying up well into the night.
There is a resolution to Gabriel’s murder with the end leaving the reader with thoughts about what is next for Maggie, for the department, and for secondary characters such as Maggie’s grandfather, her partner Dave, her boyfriend Conor, and her daughter Lilly. Many readers will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to learn where everyone goes from here.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an advanced digital copy for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
The investigation starts in New York and continues in Ireland as Maggie begins her vacation, then returns to New York as Maggie is forced to return by the DA, who has a grudge against her. Gabriel is an Irish national and Maggie is able to get some investigation done while on vacation, including uncovering an unexplained link between Gabriel and the DA who orders Maggie home.
The story of the investigation is peppered with passages told from Gabriel’s point of view, remembering a time he was held hostage in Afghanistan. While the investigation turns up information about the hostage event and with a growing indication this is connected somehow with the murder, Maggie and her team are constantly frustrated as someone seems to always be one step ahead, resulting in the death of several people connected with Gabriel’s past.
The plot is intricate and well designed. Gabriel has spent his life working with non-government aid organizations in a lifetime of service to others. What connects him with the DA on Long Island and why would a murderer lurk in the shadows intent on killing him? Maggie feels as if she and Lilly, her daughter, are both being watched. Is Lilly in danger? Maggie is constantly torn between trying to do her job and insuring the safety of her daughter.
The pace builds steadily to a crescendo and has the reader fully engaged from start to finish. In the final few chapters, the book becomes so compelling many readers will likely push to finish it, even if it means staying up well into the night.
There is a resolution to Gabriel’s murder with the end leaving the reader with thoughts about what is next for Maggie, for the department, and for secondary characters such as Maggie’s grandfather, her partner Dave, her boyfriend Conor, and her daughter Lilly. Many readers will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to learn where everyone goes from here.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an advanced digital copy for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
June 23, 2021
Maggie D’arcy’ latest case as a homicide detective on Long Island involves a man on one of the beaches. He’s been shot and robbed, making identifying him the first priority. It is looking like a random homicide, which are always difficult to solve, when Maggie gets an ID. The man is an Irish national. Maggie begins to wonder why the victim was on Long Island in the middle of February. With a trip to Ireland already planned to visit her boyfriend, Conor, Maggie decides to do a little digging. Will she uncover a motive for murder across the Atlantic?
After the first book, I’d wondered how Maggie would once again find herself in a case involving Long Island and Ireland, and the set up for this book was perfect. The plot unravels wonderfully, with Maggie following a logical trail of clues until she reaches the satisfying climax. The book does spoil the events of the first in the series, so be aware of that before you pick this one up. We need that information since some of the character growth in this book flows out of what happened in before. It was wonderful to catch up with Maggie and the other returning characters, and the new characters were just as strong. This book is definitely darker than the cozies I typically read, but it wasn’t overly dark for me, and I didn’t find the violence or language excessive. The writing is wonderful, bringing Maggie’s world to full atmospheric life without slowing down the story. The book is mostly written from Maggie’s first-person present tense point of view, but we do get occasional third-person past tense passages. It’s always easy to see them apart. I got so engrossed in the story that I finished the book faster than I expected to, and I loved every page of it. This is a strong second book, and I’m looking forward to visiting Maggie again soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
After the first book, I’d wondered how Maggie would once again find herself in a case involving Long Island and Ireland, and the set up for this book was perfect. The plot unravels wonderfully, with Maggie following a logical trail of clues until she reaches the satisfying climax. The book does spoil the events of the first in the series, so be aware of that before you pick this one up. We need that information since some of the character growth in this book flows out of what happened in before. It was wonderful to catch up with Maggie and the other returning characters, and the new characters were just as strong. This book is definitely darker than the cozies I typically read, but it wasn’t overly dark for me, and I didn’t find the violence or language excessive. The writing is wonderful, bringing Maggie’s world to full atmospheric life without slowing down the story. The book is mostly written from Maggie’s first-person present tense point of view, but we do get occasional third-person past tense passages. It’s always easy to see them apart. I got so engrossed in the story that I finished the book faster than I expected to, and I loved every page of it. This is a strong second book, and I’m looking forward to visiting Maggie again soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
June 16, 2021
Sarah Stewart Taylor's latest mystery series featuring Detective Maggie D'Arcy with the Suffolk County P.D. continues with this second installment that kept me enthralled from the get-go.
A man is found shot to death on the beach in Bay Shore, Long Island, and Maggie's team is called in to investigate. Was it a mugging? A gang shooting? They learn the victim was a visitor from Ireland named Gabriel Treacy, who worked for an international aid organization. His body bears terrible scars. What is his story? Why was he in NY? They need to interview his friends and coworkers back in Ireland to find out more. Maggie just happens to have plans to visit her friend and lover, Conor, in Ireland, so she's given the go-ahead to fly there to make further inquiries.
This is a very intriguing police procedural with international overtones. The plot is well paced with interesting characters and well-described settings. Interspersed among the details of the current investigation are italicized sections relating the past story of the victim. Fleshing out the plot are relationship and family problems and tensions at work.
I will definitely look forward to reading more in this series to see in which direction the author takes this character and series. If Maggie's relationship with Conor is serious, decisions will have to be made about where to live and work.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
A man is found shot to death on the beach in Bay Shore, Long Island, and Maggie's team is called in to investigate. Was it a mugging? A gang shooting? They learn the victim was a visitor from Ireland named Gabriel Treacy, who worked for an international aid organization. His body bears terrible scars. What is his story? Why was he in NY? They need to interview his friends and coworkers back in Ireland to find out more. Maggie just happens to have plans to visit her friend and lover, Conor, in Ireland, so she's given the go-ahead to fly there to make further inquiries.
This is a very intriguing police procedural with international overtones. The plot is well paced with interesting characters and well-described settings. Interspersed among the details of the current investigation are italicized sections relating the past story of the victim. Fleshing out the plot are relationship and family problems and tensions at work.
I will definitely look forward to reading more in this series to see in which direction the author takes this character and series. If Maggie's relationship with Conor is serious, decisions will have to be made about where to live and work.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
November 25, 2020
This book is absolutely BANANAS. Much like the first Maggie D’Arcy book, A Distant Grave is beautifully written, super atmospheric, creepy and evocative, and a fantastic read. These books make me want to go to Ireland so badly! I hadn’t read The Mountains Wild since last year, so before starting #2, I went and reread the last 50 pages, and WOW. I really love this series a lot, and I am so here for a badass female protagonist like Maggie.
The twists and turns in this book were so wild. It took me a while to get into it; the whole first half of the book I was trying to fit the puzzle pieces together and pull together all the different strands and people and parts of the investigations. It was frustrating when the book zigged when I thought it was going to zag, or something. I had figured out some of the twists (okay, well honestly only ONE lol) but wow, the rest of this book was wild.
I really loved Maggie’s adventures in Ireland, and would LOVE to see more of Conor’s parents and the farm (and Lilly in Ireland warmed my heart!). It was a bit jarring (and disappointing) to go back to Long Island, but the action picked back up right away, and I just had to stay up and finish it.
I found myself having to reread parts that I had skimmed too quickly in my excitement, and then upon rereading, I was like ASDFGHJKL WHAT. It was fascinating (and so delightfully satisfying) to see all the pieces click together at the end, and I hope there will be more Maggie books in the future!
The twists and turns in this book were so wild. It took me a while to get into it; the whole first half of the book I was trying to fit the puzzle pieces together and pull together all the different strands and people and parts of the investigations. It was frustrating when the book zigged when I thought it was going to zag, or something. I had figured out some of the twists (okay, well honestly only ONE lol) but wow, the rest of this book was wild.
I really loved Maggie’s adventures in Ireland, and would LOVE to see more of Conor’s parents and the farm (and Lilly in Ireland warmed my heart!). It was a bit jarring (and disappointing) to go back to Long Island, but the action picked back up right away, and I just had to stay up and finish it.
I found myself having to reread parts that I had skimmed too quickly in my excitement, and then upon rereading, I was like ASDFGHJKL WHAT. It was fascinating (and so delightfully satisfying) to see all the pieces click together at the end, and I hope there will be more Maggie books in the future!
June 22, 2021
Det. Maggie D'arcy is planning a two week vacation to Ireland with daughter Lilly to visit boyfriend Conor when she catches a murder case in Long Island. An Irish National (later identified as Gabriel Traecy) is shot on the beach leading to a mysterious, convoluted case that will have Maggie working with Garda Detectives in Ireland during her vacation. The deeper the investigation goes, the more frustrated they become. While readers are privy to Gabriel's point of view through snippets of past episodes in his life, Maggie is left with random tidbits of information to try to piece together. When the investigation draws her into the bullseye of a killer, Maggie finds herself trying to juggle both her professional and personal life in a complex, highly entertaining story. The clock is ticking and time is running out for Maggie in both her professional and personal lives. If she can't solve the case soon, she may not have a job to go home to.
A Distant Grave is a complex, highly atmospheric story delivered through lyrical prose that intricately weaves several plot lines together leading to an explosive ending. Taylor's characterizations lend an air of authenticity to a cast from two cultures, two countries with detailed characters who keep you guessing. She excels at setting an ominous tone through setting, characters and multiple plots driving the pace forward with increasing speed and urgency. While plot lines and characters can seem murky at times, Taylor spins and pulls all threads together by the end. A Distant Grave is a well-written, intimate story that links past, present and future together in a story that fans of mystery and suspense will enjoy. It's a fantastic follow-up to book one which I highly recommend.
*Special thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this book
**Reviewed at: Cross My Heart Reviews
A Distant Grave is a complex, highly atmospheric story delivered through lyrical prose that intricately weaves several plot lines together leading to an explosive ending. Taylor's characterizations lend an air of authenticity to a cast from two cultures, two countries with detailed characters who keep you guessing. She excels at setting an ominous tone through setting, characters and multiple plots driving the pace forward with increasing speed and urgency. While plot lines and characters can seem murky at times, Taylor spins and pulls all threads together by the end. A Distant Grave is a well-written, intimate story that links past, present and future together in a story that fans of mystery and suspense will enjoy. It's a fantastic follow-up to book one which I highly recommend.
*Special thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this book
**Reviewed at: Cross My Heart Reviews
June 8, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
I listened to “A Distant Grave” is book two of this series. It can totally be read as a stand-alone. The narrator was Marisa Calin. I’ll be honest by saying that I really didn’t enjoy her doing this. She was ok but I felt like she wasn’t a good fit for this book.
If you haven’t read the first book I highly recommend it. Book two picks up much later with all of the main characters. Not being predictable you have to read to the very end for everything to come out. An enjoyable read for mystery-thrillers.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via Netgalley.
I listened to “A Distant Grave” is book two of this series. It can totally be read as a stand-alone. The narrator was Marisa Calin. I’ll be honest by saying that I really didn’t enjoy her doing this. She was ok but I felt like she wasn’t a good fit for this book.
If you haven’t read the first book I highly recommend it. Book two picks up much later with all of the main characters. Not being predictable you have to read to the very end for everything to come out. An enjoyable read for mystery-thrillers.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via Netgalley.
June 6, 2021
Some books are helped by the narration, others aren't. Sadly in this case, the narrator did not add to this story for me. I found the accent and cadence of her speech irritating. I did get through the book but found myself tuning out so I know I missed parts of the book. With that in mind, I wasn't really drawn into the storyline either. This also isn't the first in the series and perhaps reading the previous book would have helped me to connect with the characters more. I'll never know. There were parts that just didn't seem believable to me. In the end, this is another I won't be recommending to friends.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 28, 2021
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
The uninspired and angst ridden narration by Marisa Calvin made this book a very painful experience. If this had not been an ARC Audio, I would have DNFed it, but when I take an ARC I do everything in my power to finish and review the work. This book is definitely not my cup of tea. The angst level is off the charts and that is just about the worst thing a book can have, as far as I am concerned. If the first 80% of this book were as good as the last 20%, it would be a great book. The plot is intriguing, but not enough to overcome the deficiencies of the execution.
When Maggie D'arcy, a Long Island homicide detective, catches a case less than a week before he is scheduled for a trip to Ireland she is concerned that she can't wrap the case before she leaves. As the case unfolds, the victim turns out to be an Irish national and the circumstances are most unusual. So, off to Ireland Maggie and her daughter, Lily, go and what Maggie uncovers there makes the trip more than worth it, even if she has to split her focus between the the case and her boyfriend.
There are several layers to Gabriel Tracey and peeling them away is the only way Maggie is going to find the killer. The trail leads Maggie to a small village in County Clare and the secrets that a killer will do anything to keep hidden. When Maggie is ordered to return she knows that this case is not a simple mugging or a gang initiation.
3 1/2-Stars
The uninspired and angst ridden narration by Marisa Calvin made this book a very painful experience. If this had not been an ARC Audio, I would have DNFed it, but when I take an ARC I do everything in my power to finish and review the work. This book is definitely not my cup of tea. The angst level is off the charts and that is just about the worst thing a book can have, as far as I am concerned. If the first 80% of this book were as good as the last 20%, it would be a great book. The plot is intriguing, but not enough to overcome the deficiencies of the execution.
When Maggie D'arcy, a Long Island homicide detective, catches a case less than a week before he is scheduled for a trip to Ireland she is concerned that she can't wrap the case before she leaves. As the case unfolds, the victim turns out to be an Irish national and the circumstances are most unusual. So, off to Ireland Maggie and her daughter, Lily, go and what Maggie uncovers there makes the trip more than worth it, even if she has to split her focus between the the case and her boyfriend.
There are several layers to Gabriel Tracey and peeling them away is the only way Maggie is going to find the killer. The trail leads Maggie to a small village in County Clare and the secrets that a killer will do anything to keep hidden. When Maggie is ordered to return she knows that this case is not a simple mugging or a gang initiation.
3 1/2-Stars
June 22, 2021
I was very excited to receive „A Distant Grave“ as both an ARC and an ALC. I enjoyed the first Maggy D’Arcy mystery „The Mountains Wild“ in 2020 a lot- and this one is a fabulous follow up, that can be enjoyed on ist own. Reading the first one after the second may be a tad less enjoyable since the final twist in the first book has of course already happened in book 2 and is referenced back to. I highly recommend just reading both and reading them in order.
Stewart Taylor’s books are thoughtful slow burns, and they are also expertly plotted. She combines a police procedural with a very real sense of place (in both books Long Island and Ireland and the connections between the two are explored) and a deep dive into the characters.
In this book her dive takes her into Maggie’s personal life as she struggles with the balance of raising a teenager as a single mother after a traumatic event and hoping for some kind of (maybe long distance) relationship in Ireland with her old/new flame. These issues are complex and they are told in a real and relatable way – they do not just dissolve into thin air because that just does not tend to happen.
As for the case, this time the murder happens almost right on Maggy’s doorstep in Long Island but the victim is an Irish national, Gabriel Tracy, a foreign aid worker who had, it turned out, spent time in different troubled areas all over the world. Maggy gets to investigate in Ireland because a possibly related murder happens there and back on Long Island with her colleagues as well.
Stewart Taylor manages to balance Maggie’s struggles as a career mom invested in her job and a sense of purpose in her job as a police detective with a possible new life in Ireland.
The characters in the book, from Maggie herself, to the dead man, to Maggie’s fellow police officers, to Maggie’s daughter, uncle and boyfriend, are all vividly drawn, and they determine the story. The mystery elements exist because of the characters and the choices they’ve made in life.
The prose is lovely and as the plot begins to accelerate towards the end of the book, when all the plot threads come together, it really explodes – it’s hard to put down. This is another spectacular read from an extremely gifted writer.
Stewart Taylor’s books are thoughtful slow burns, and they are also expertly plotted. She combines a police procedural with a very real sense of place (in both books Long Island and Ireland and the connections between the two are explored) and a deep dive into the characters.
In this book her dive takes her into Maggie’s personal life as she struggles with the balance of raising a teenager as a single mother after a traumatic event and hoping for some kind of (maybe long distance) relationship in Ireland with her old/new flame. These issues are complex and they are told in a real and relatable way – they do not just dissolve into thin air because that just does not tend to happen.
As for the case, this time the murder happens almost right on Maggy’s doorstep in Long Island but the victim is an Irish national, Gabriel Tracy, a foreign aid worker who had, it turned out, spent time in different troubled areas all over the world. Maggy gets to investigate in Ireland because a possibly related murder happens there and back on Long Island with her colleagues as well.
Stewart Taylor manages to balance Maggie’s struggles as a career mom invested in her job and a sense of purpose in her job as a police detective with a possible new life in Ireland.
The characters in the book, from Maggie herself, to the dead man, to Maggie’s fellow police officers, to Maggie’s daughter, uncle and boyfriend, are all vividly drawn, and they determine the story. The mystery elements exist because of the characters and the choices they’ve made in life.
The prose is lovely and as the plot begins to accelerate towards the end of the book, when all the plot threads come together, it really explodes – it’s hard to put down. This is another spectacular read from an extremely gifted writer.
September 19, 2021
I really liked the first book in this series The Mountains Wild, and I feel like I have been waiting forever for A Distant Grave! Luckily it is here now, and I really enjoyed this one too. We get to know Maggie a little better as she tackles a new case that takes her from Long Island back to Ireland. While the last book focused on the mystery surrounding Maggie's sister, this focused a lot more on war and humanitarian workers. It is a slow burn just like the last book, but the setting is rich and vivid, and I loved being back in Ireland with Maggie and her daughter. It would probably be okay as a standalone, but I think this series is much better read in order so you can get more of Maggie's backstory and know what happened in book 1 since it is important to her character and where she's at in this installment. Sarah Stewart Taylor really only briefly touches on what happened in the last book, and it definitely makes more sense to read them in succession. I wouldn't have minded doing a reread of The Mountains Wild beforehand, but you definitely don't have to since this focuses more on the case at hand.
I really liked the way everything tied together in A Distant Grave, and I thoroughly enjoyed the different viewpoints. I decided to listen to the audiobook this time around and it is narrated by Marisa Calin who I haven't listened to before. She did narrate book 1 so I like that they are keeping things consistent, and overall, I enjoyed her narration of the novel. She got a little overzealous with her accents at some points, but for the most part, she was really easy and fun to listen to. I was interested in the investigation although I did like the parts about Maggie's life outside of work the best. This is a police procedural at heart, so there is a lot of detective work and things like that. Read this if you like detective fiction with strong police procedural elements, as well as slow-burn mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I really liked the way everything tied together in A Distant Grave, and I thoroughly enjoyed the different viewpoints. I decided to listen to the audiobook this time around and it is narrated by Marisa Calin who I haven't listened to before. She did narrate book 1 so I like that they are keeping things consistent, and overall, I enjoyed her narration of the novel. She got a little overzealous with her accents at some points, but for the most part, she was really easy and fun to listen to. I was interested in the investigation although I did like the parts about Maggie's life outside of work the best. This is a police procedural at heart, so there is a lot of detective work and things like that. Read this if you like detective fiction with strong police procedural elements, as well as slow-burn mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 9, 2021
This was an entertaining second book in the gripping mystery series by Sarah Stewart Taylor.
I have loved both books in this series because they are well written and have interesting characters. Speaking of characters, I am hoping Maggie’s relationship with Connor will feature more prominently in future books of this series.
Sarah Stewart Taylor writes her mystery plots so well that it is impossible to figure out the murderer. I also enjoyed the way she conveyed the sense of silent menace/being watched throughout the book.
As a finishing touch to this gripping mystery, the book culminated in an exciting finish. I can’t wait to read the next installment in this mystery series!
I have loved both books in this series because they are well written and have interesting characters. Speaking of characters, I am hoping Maggie’s relationship with Connor will feature more prominently in future books of this series.
Sarah Stewart Taylor writes her mystery plots so well that it is impossible to figure out the murderer. I also enjoyed the way she conveyed the sense of silent menace/being watched throughout the book.
As a finishing touch to this gripping mystery, the book culminated in an exciting finish. I can’t wait to read the next installment in this mystery series!
September 9, 2022
This excellent second series installment features New York detective Maggie D'Arcy. Right before she is to visit her boyfriend in Ireland, she responds to the homicide of an Irish man. The man's body showed signs of a severe beating in the past. Maggie's doubts about the long-distance relationship seem compounded when she must use part of her vacation time seeking leads on the case. An angry prosecutor calls her back to New York before her vacation time is up. Readers see the detectives sifting through every piece of evidence, even finding a connection between the prosecutor and the victim. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but this one drew me in and kept me wanting to listen. While in Ireland, Maggie ponders what moving to Ireland might look like, but she knows her experience would not get her a position in the garda and that she would need to go through their training program. I look forward to the next installment.
August 4, 2021
I think this book is better to read than to listen to it. I don't think that Marisa Calin did a good job. Maybe it is just me, but I am glad that I switched to a kindle edition the half way through.
I am not sure that I enjoyed the second book more than the first one - I preferred the Irland setting in The Mountains Wild to those of Long Island from A Distant Grave - but, as a whole, I found the mystery in the second book of the series more convincing and the ending more satisfying comparing to the first book.
June 21, 2021
Without the dual timeline present in the first book which I found confusing at times, this second installment of the Maggie D’arcy series flowed much better for me. Each chapter is told primarily from Maggie’s point of view in present time with a short blurb between occasional chapters from the point of view of the homicide victim, telling snippets of his story leading up to his murder.
After catching a case involving the murder of an Irish national on Long Island, Maggie and her daughter, Lilly travel to Ireland to meet up with her boyfriend and his son for a much needed vacation. Unfortunately for her family, the case distracts Maggie while in Ireland as she looks into her victim, and then another possibly related murder occurs while they are visiting. Are the cases connected? If so, how? And how did her murder victim acquire the strange scars on his back?
While there is a short atmospheric foray to Ireland and it covers a different region from the first story, over half of this book takes place in Long Island. Recommended for fans of police procedurals and suspenseful mysteries. I also recommend that you read The Mountains Wild before trying this one as Maggie and her family are dealing with the fallout from the resolution of her cousin’s disappearance in Book 1 of this series and you will be spoiled for the mystery in book 1.
Thank you to Goodreads and Minotaur Books for the free copy provided for an honest review.
After catching a case involving the murder of an Irish national on Long Island, Maggie and her daughter, Lilly travel to Ireland to meet up with her boyfriend and his son for a much needed vacation. Unfortunately for her family, the case distracts Maggie while in Ireland as she looks into her victim, and then another possibly related murder occurs while they are visiting. Are the cases connected? If so, how? And how did her murder victim acquire the strange scars on his back?
While there is a short atmospheric foray to Ireland and it covers a different region from the first story, over half of this book takes place in Long Island. Recommended for fans of police procedurals and suspenseful mysteries. I also recommend that you read The Mountains Wild before trying this one as Maggie and her family are dealing with the fallout from the resolution of her cousin’s disappearance in Book 1 of this series and you will be spoiled for the mystery in book 1.
Thank you to Goodreads and Minotaur Books for the free copy provided for an honest review.
June 19, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a fabulous read. I just love finding new and addictive detective series, particularly those with a strong female protagonist. And the icing on the cake, - the dual setting of this book, with the story - alternating between Long Island, NY and in and around County Clare, Ireland - ticks off even more boxes on my “must-read-o-meter”.
For doesn’t absolutely everything read better under “an Irish sky, blue-black,smudged with stars, salt water on the air”?
Lieutenant Maggie D’Arcy is one of that rare breed of perfectly cast female cops - tough, smart, compassionate and at the same time, deeply in touch with, and completely respectful of her “feelings” and the role they play in teaching her what to pay attention to.
Maggie, - as a cop, a mother, a lover, and as the narrator of our story - is one of the best drawn and interesting female protagonists I’ve come upon in a long while. (In my mind, Maggie’s multi-layered backstory, along with the unfolding of her current romantic situation and the challenges she and her daughter are battling, would count as compelling enough to make the book well worth reading, even on its own).
And yet, delightfully, we also have a crime to solve.
“Every crime scene has an immediate atmosphere, visual details you take in unconsciously that your brain uses to create a theory of what happened. My brain is telling me it’s more methodical than it looks.”.
As Maggie, and her partner Dave Milich work to find the identity of a Long Island killer, ties to Ireland quickly arise. First, for Maggie in her personal life, as her current love, Conor, resides there, along with her heart and her need to be with him. Secondly, links from the murder victim also lead back to Ireland, providing a plot segue that allows us to shadow Maggie in action (personally and professionally) on both sides of the globe.
And what a wonderful trip it is. As the author so cleverly points out, Maggie knows her job to be all about observing people, “what they do and why they do it”, whether or not all the pieces observed end up tying into the crime at play.
In a setting where “the air is cool and smells faintly sweet, like new grass and gin and honey”, as Maggie gets her “feel for the place”, we learn along with Maggie.
“These small towns never fail to surprise me. It’s all intrigue and secrets, isn’t it?”
The plot dazzles with twists and turns; mysteries hinted at; friends, family, colleagues and suspects to be coaxed into providing their revelations.
And so Maggie and her team have their hands full, right up to the very satisfying ending of this terrific read. The second in the “Maggie D’Arcy” series by this author, I’m happy to know I have another earlier Maggie book to look forward to.
A great big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance review copy of this book in return for an honest review. All thoughts presented are my own.
What a fabulous read. I just love finding new and addictive detective series, particularly those with a strong female protagonist. And the icing on the cake, - the dual setting of this book, with the story - alternating between Long Island, NY and in and around County Clare, Ireland - ticks off even more boxes on my “must-read-o-meter”.
For doesn’t absolutely everything read better under “an Irish sky, blue-black,smudged with stars, salt water on the air”?
Lieutenant Maggie D’Arcy is one of that rare breed of perfectly cast female cops - tough, smart, compassionate and at the same time, deeply in touch with, and completely respectful of her “feelings” and the role they play in teaching her what to pay attention to.
Maggie, - as a cop, a mother, a lover, and as the narrator of our story - is one of the best drawn and interesting female protagonists I’ve come upon in a long while. (In my mind, Maggie’s multi-layered backstory, along with the unfolding of her current romantic situation and the challenges she and her daughter are battling, would count as compelling enough to make the book well worth reading, even on its own).
And yet, delightfully, we also have a crime to solve.
“Every crime scene has an immediate atmosphere, visual details you take in unconsciously that your brain uses to create a theory of what happened. My brain is telling me it’s more methodical than it looks.”.
As Maggie, and her partner Dave Milich work to find the identity of a Long Island killer, ties to Ireland quickly arise. First, for Maggie in her personal life, as her current love, Conor, resides there, along with her heart and her need to be with him. Secondly, links from the murder victim also lead back to Ireland, providing a plot segue that allows us to shadow Maggie in action (personally and professionally) on both sides of the globe.
And what a wonderful trip it is. As the author so cleverly points out, Maggie knows her job to be all about observing people, “what they do and why they do it”, whether or not all the pieces observed end up tying into the crime at play.
In a setting where “the air is cool and smells faintly sweet, like new grass and gin and honey”, as Maggie gets her “feel for the place”, we learn along with Maggie.
“These small towns never fail to surprise me. It’s all intrigue and secrets, isn’t it?”
The plot dazzles with twists and turns; mysteries hinted at; friends, family, colleagues and suspects to be coaxed into providing their revelations.
And so Maggie and her team have their hands full, right up to the very satisfying ending of this terrific read. The second in the “Maggie D’Arcy” series by this author, I’m happy to know I have another earlier Maggie book to look forward to.
A great big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance review copy of this book in return for an honest review. All thoughts presented are my own.
June 27, 2021
A Distant Grave picks up right where The Mountains Wild left off. Maggie D'Arcy is back in New York working as a detective with the Suffolk County police department when a man is found shot on the beach. The story takes her back to Ireland. Can she solve the case and patch up her family life at the same time?
I was so happy to be able to dive back into the world of Maggie D'Arcy. She is one of my favorite fictional characters to read! This mystery was riveting and so perfectly planned. It was not what I was expecting at all. In a way, this was great because I was so intrigued by where the mystery took me. On the other hand, it was very outside my usual realm and I found it hard to relate. One thing that I loved most about this story was the emphasis put on storytelling and what it means to tell a story. I loved the emphasis put on others being apart of your story once you share it. It was just amazing and I loved it so much. This was a solid story and I loved the Irish elements included in this one.
I was so happy to be able to dive back into the world of Maggie D'Arcy. She is one of my favorite fictional characters to read! This mystery was riveting and so perfectly planned. It was not what I was expecting at all. In a way, this was great because I was so intrigued by where the mystery took me. On the other hand, it was very outside my usual realm and I found it hard to relate. One thing that I loved most about this story was the emphasis put on storytelling and what it means to tell a story. I loved the emphasis put on others being apart of your story once you share it. It was just amazing and I loved it so much. This was a solid story and I loved the Irish elements included in this one.
June 19, 2021
Some books come alive in the audiobook format. This one did not. The narrator’s depiction of male characters was off, whether the accent was New York or Irish. Some voices even sounded like crime show reporters from the 1950s. Main character/ detective, Maggie D’Arcy, alternated between a pleasant female voice (higher range) and I’m-tough-cop voice in the lower range. I felt that Maggie complained/ apologized about the guilt she had working on a case too often.
An Irish national is murdered in New York. Detectives try to figure out why he was in the US. Maggie feels like she is being watched. Other than that, the action is slow. The last 25% of the book is action packed, as all the leads finally come together. There is some mystery-genre violence, but nothing overly graphic.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
An Irish national is murdered in New York. Detectives try to figure out why he was in the US. Maggie feels like she is being watched. Other than that, the action is slow. The last 25% of the book is action packed, as all the leads finally come together. There is some mystery-genre violence, but nothing overly graphic.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2022
Enjoyable! I'm looking forward to reading more about detective Maggie.
June 22, 2021
Thank you Minotaur Books / Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for the gifted copy.
Last year I read, and loved, The Mountains Wild, and have been waiting for the next book in this series. And I was so torn when I had the option of reading or listening to it…so I did both. And I loved it…both the story itself and both formats!
I cannot tell you how much I love this series! I will just say that while this book does stand on it’s own, I strongly urge you to read the first book before picking this one up. You will have a much better appreciation for what Maggie has already been through and her connection with Ireland. Yes, the author does give some backstory, but in my opinion, it’s always better to read the series in order if you can.
Once again, we have another completely atmospheric, engaging read that pulls you in right from the start. This time, the murder mystery starts on Long Island – not too far from where I live, incidentally!!! – and I love that there is such a strong sense of place throughout this entire book, whether it be on Long Island or in Ireland.
While this one starts off slow, it ramps up the pace to as things come to a stunning conclusion and I loved the way this worked because there were a lot of moving parts. I had no idea where this was heading, and the twists and turns were so expertly placed that it really kept me guessing.
I loved the balance of police work and character development. Sarah Stewart Taylor has managed to find the sweet spot with this and I am totally here for it. I was totally immersed in the case of why the murder mystery but I also loved getting that deep dive into our characters. There is a focus on the relationship between Maggie and Lilly that will tug at your heartstrings and of course there is focus on Maggie’s long-distance relationship with Conor and where that is heading.
I love this series and after that ending, I need book 3 right away! There are so many possibilities of what can happen next and I need to know right now! If you haven’t started reading this series, do yourself a favor and pick up these books now…I highly recommend them!
Audio thoughts: As I mentioned, I toggled back and forth with the audio and print for this book. The audio is narrated by Marisa Calin and she’s a new narrator to me. Overall, I thought she did a good job with the audio, though as a Long Islander, I will say she did sometimes over-do the Long Island accent on a few words – coffee in particular. And it wasn’t consistent, but as I’m very conscious of my accent, it’s something I’m aware of. Other than that, it was a good audio to listen to.
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
Last year I read, and loved, The Mountains Wild, and have been waiting for the next book in this series. And I was so torn when I had the option of reading or listening to it…so I did both. And I loved it…both the story itself and both formats!
I cannot tell you how much I love this series! I will just say that while this book does stand on it’s own, I strongly urge you to read the first book before picking this one up. You will have a much better appreciation for what Maggie has already been through and her connection with Ireland. Yes, the author does give some backstory, but in my opinion, it’s always better to read the series in order if you can.
Once again, we have another completely atmospheric, engaging read that pulls you in right from the start. This time, the murder mystery starts on Long Island – not too far from where I live, incidentally!!! – and I love that there is such a strong sense of place throughout this entire book, whether it be on Long Island or in Ireland.
While this one starts off slow, it ramps up the pace to as things come to a stunning conclusion and I loved the way this worked because there were a lot of moving parts. I had no idea where this was heading, and the twists and turns were so expertly placed that it really kept me guessing.
I loved the balance of police work and character development. Sarah Stewart Taylor has managed to find the sweet spot with this and I am totally here for it. I was totally immersed in the case of why the murder mystery but I also loved getting that deep dive into our characters. There is a focus on the relationship between Maggie and Lilly that will tug at your heartstrings and of course there is focus on Maggie’s long-distance relationship with Conor and where that is heading.
I love this series and after that ending, I need book 3 right away! There are so many possibilities of what can happen next and I need to know right now! If you haven’t started reading this series, do yourself a favor and pick up these books now…I highly recommend them!
Audio thoughts: As I mentioned, I toggled back and forth with the audio and print for this book. The audio is narrated by Marisa Calin and she’s a new narrator to me. Overall, I thought she did a good job with the audio, though as a Long Islander, I will say she did sometimes over-do the Long Island accent on a few words – coffee in particular. And it wasn’t consistent, but as I’m very conscious of my accent, it’s something I’m aware of. Other than that, it was a good audio to listen to.
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
Read
July 6, 2021A Distant Grave is a chunky, complex mystery set in Long Island and Ireland.
This book is the second in the Maggie D'arcy crime fiction series. Maggie's latest investigation focuses on a man who was shot and killed while visiting the United States from Ireland. Coincidentally, her boyfriend Conor lives in Ireland and she's had a vacation planned to visit him (in part, to figure out what they're going to do long term now that they've fallen in love, given that they each have a child with roots in their home countries).
The real selling point for A Distant Grave is the plot of the investigation -- seasoned thriller/suspense readers and those newer to the genre both will find a lot to like in how the mystery unfolds.
At the same time, I could have done without a fair amount of the material on Maggie's romantic relationship (please forgive me, but I just don't care what Conor thinks or how he's disappointed). I think I'd have enjoyed this one more had that been edited down a bit, and the book itself been closer to 350 pages in length. (The pacing felt stronger when Conor's presence was limited!)
I alternated between the text and audio; if I had to recommend just one, I'd suggest the text. I liked the narration (and was grateful to have it) but the narrator's accents were sometimes difficult for me to understand. (I'd miss a word or two, even after rewinding and listening to a sentence a second time, and end up looking that part up in the text.) This may have been a consequence of listening at 1.75/2x (I typically don't listen to books more slowly than 2x after a chapter or two of settling in, but did find myself trying a slower speed for segments of this book). It felt like the narrator really leaned into the accents (so you might love the audio if that's your thing, might want to opt for the text if it's not).
The publisher says the series is a fit for "fans of Tana French and Kate Atkinson;" I'd add Mare of Easttown to that (though this book isn't nearly as sad as that limited series!).
Content warnings: references to husband's previous suicide, grief, reference to suicidal ideation (questioning whether a character's experiencing it), murder, gun violence,
Thank you to Minotaur Books for a free arc of this title for review, as well as Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a free ALC.
This book is the second in the Maggie D'arcy crime fiction series. Maggie's latest investigation focuses on a man who was shot and killed while visiting the United States from Ireland. Coincidentally, her boyfriend Conor lives in Ireland and she's had a vacation planned to visit him (in part, to figure out what they're going to do long term now that they've fallen in love, given that they each have a child with roots in their home countries).
The real selling point for A Distant Grave is the plot of the investigation -- seasoned thriller/suspense readers and those newer to the genre both will find a lot to like in how the mystery unfolds.
At the same time, I could have done without a fair amount of the material on Maggie's romantic relationship (please forgive me, but I just don't care what Conor thinks or how he's disappointed). I think I'd have enjoyed this one more had that been edited down a bit, and the book itself been closer to 350 pages in length. (The pacing felt stronger when Conor's presence was limited!)
I alternated between the text and audio; if I had to recommend just one, I'd suggest the text. I liked the narration (and was grateful to have it) but the narrator's accents were sometimes difficult for me to understand. (I'd miss a word or two, even after rewinding and listening to a sentence a second time, and end up looking that part up in the text.) This may have been a consequence of listening at 1.75/2x (I typically don't listen to books more slowly than 2x after a chapter or two of settling in, but did find myself trying a slower speed for segments of this book). It felt like the narrator really leaned into the accents (so you might love the audio if that's your thing, might want to opt for the text if it's not).
The publisher says the series is a fit for "fans of Tana French and Kate Atkinson;" I'd add Mare of Easttown to that (though this book isn't nearly as sad as that limited series!).
Content warnings: references to husband's previous suicide, grief, reference to suicidal ideation (questioning whether a character's experiencing it), murder, gun violence,
Thank you to Minotaur Books for a free arc of this title for review, as well as Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a free ALC.
May 5, 2024
I happen to like Maggie D’arcy’ and her cast of characters. I started and finished another in the series, and this was the earliest I could find on the library shelf.
The plot is layered and very fast-paced and leads the reader down an International path that is quite interesting. I love all things Irish, so this is up my alley. While visiting Conor, her boyfriend she is called back to the States to pick up on an investigation of an Irish national who is killed while walking on the beach. While it might look random, this is far from it and Maggie has to put it together with bits of string and lots of mental power.
I appreciate that Maggie is a critical thinker and the plot really requires it. A bit long, but good and worth the read if you like strong female characters.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
Happy Reading!
The plot is layered and very fast-paced and leads the reader down an International path that is quite interesting. I love all things Irish, so this is up my alley. While visiting Conor, her boyfriend she is called back to the States to pick up on an investigation of an Irish national who is killed while walking on the beach. While it might look random, this is far from it and Maggie has to put it together with bits of string and lots of mental power.
I appreciate that Maggie is a critical thinker and the plot really requires it. A bit long, but good and worth the read if you like strong female characters.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
Happy Reading!
February 5, 2024
I wasn’t sure at first if I would enjoy this one as much as the first in the series, but about halfway through it became very suspenseful! Really like this set of characters across the series, too.
June 18, 2021
Suspenseful writing with a few surprising twists. I didn’t enjoy as much as book one but it was good. If you haven’t read the first book I highly recommend it but it can be read as a stand alone.
Book two picks up much later with all of the main characters. Not predictable you have to wait to the very end for everything to come out. I recommend it for mystery-thrillers.
Thanks Minotaur Books via Netgalley
Book two picks up much later with all of the main characters. Not predictable you have to wait to the very end for everything to come out. I recommend it for mystery-thrillers.
Thanks Minotaur Books via Netgalley
April 26, 2022
I received an ARC of this book a while back, and as with too many books, I was behind on reading it. But I did finally read it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t wowed.
This is a police procedural centering around a murder with ties to New York and Ireland. Detective Maggie D’Arcy solves the murder by peeling away layers of the victim’s life, piece by piece.
Pacing is slow, and we’re bogged down with repetitive details as the case is discussed among the various investigators. We also get a lot of angst from Maggie regarding her long-distance relationship and issues with her daughter, which also tended to be repetitive.
We travel with Maggie to Ireland, where we’re immersed in the setting and its history. This part was the most interesting for me.
This is the second Maggie D’Arcy Mystery. While some of the first book’s plot carries over, the author does a good job of referencing and explaining the content, so I think this one will work fine as a stand alone.
I liked the first book better than this one, though overall I’m just not connecting well with the characters.
*Thanks to Minotaur Books for the ARC.*
This is a police procedural centering around a murder with ties to New York and Ireland. Detective Maggie D’Arcy solves the murder by peeling away layers of the victim’s life, piece by piece.
Pacing is slow, and we’re bogged down with repetitive details as the case is discussed among the various investigators. We also get a lot of angst from Maggie regarding her long-distance relationship and issues with her daughter, which also tended to be repetitive.
We travel with Maggie to Ireland, where we’re immersed in the setting and its history. This part was the most interesting for me.
This is the second Maggie D’Arcy Mystery. While some of the first book’s plot carries over, the author does a good job of referencing and explaining the content, so I think this one will work fine as a stand alone.
I liked the first book better than this one, though overall I’m just not connecting well with the characters.
*Thanks to Minotaur Books for the ARC.*
June 24, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC!
I have a lot of the same thoughts towards this book that I did for the first book in the series. Just like the first book I had a hard time remembering and keeping straight the characters in the story. I think this has to do with a lack of individuality. A lot of the people show up very quickly and then disappear, so when they come up again I completely forget everything surrounding that character.
Not knowing the characters and not caring or becoming attached to the characters made the ending lacking in the needed sock factor. It was like, oh okay, that person did it… so what? So I'm sad to say this made the ending very disappointing because I had no idea who had done the murder. I now know the name but can’t remember what the person was within the story. The ending was not only a letdown from the first book for this reason but because it lacked the suspense you want from an ending. The first book did a lot better at having us on the edge of our seats waiting to see what happens next but this book was a pretty average criminal case ending. There was nothing special or shocking.
The book also takes us on a lot of random leads that end up nowhere. This made it very hard to figure out what really mattered. I know this is used to make it harder to figure out who had done it but in my opinion, it made the book boring and made it drag on because a lot of the book really doesn’t matter and is just them following random clues leading them down rabbit wholes that end in a dead-end.
One thing I did enjoy in this book, actually even more than the investigation, was the story of the continuation of Maggie’s personal life. A lot of this connects with the ending of the first book so people who haven’t read the first one will likely not care one bit and find it confusing. But since I did read the first book I did find myself caring about what happened with Maggie’s daughter and the whole situation that Maggie is internally struggling with. I really enjoyed these parts of the book. These were the parts where I cared what happened and wanted to read. They were written very well to add suspense and having the readers rooting for the characters.
I wouldn’t recommend this book for people who haven’t read the first book. Like I said there are a lot of references to the first book. Don’t expect to read this book and then go back to the first because the ending isn’t kept secret. You might be able to piece information together enough to understand the idea of what is happening in this book but you will miss out on a lot. The information is somewhat explained in this book but for the most part, you are expected to know what happened in the first book.
I liked the narration of this book. She changed her voice so it was easy to differentiate when the chapter would switch to a point of view from the character who died past. There was no other indication of this switch except for the voice. I also liked the narration because it made the character come to life because she used the accent Maggie would have.
Overall the first book was better than this book. But both had similar problems. I found that in both books I had a hard time remembering the characters. Both had so many random leads that the detective follows it was hard to piece together the events. Even when it was explained I still found it hard to follow along with Maggie’s line of thought when solving the case. There were also a lot of useless details. This book did better than the last in emitting random details, like the name of the street they were on (and no this has no relevance to the case) but I still found this book has a lot of these details that just make the book drag-on.
I have a lot of the same thoughts towards this book that I did for the first book in the series. Just like the first book I had a hard time remembering and keeping straight the characters in the story. I think this has to do with a lack of individuality. A lot of the people show up very quickly and then disappear, so when they come up again I completely forget everything surrounding that character.
Not knowing the characters and not caring or becoming attached to the characters made the ending lacking in the needed sock factor. It was like, oh okay, that person did it… so what? So I'm sad to say this made the ending very disappointing because I had no idea who had done the murder. I now know the name but can’t remember what the person was within the story. The ending was not only a letdown from the first book for this reason but because it lacked the suspense you want from an ending. The first book did a lot better at having us on the edge of our seats waiting to see what happens next but this book was a pretty average criminal case ending. There was nothing special or shocking.
The book also takes us on a lot of random leads that end up nowhere. This made it very hard to figure out what really mattered. I know this is used to make it harder to figure out who had done it but in my opinion, it made the book boring and made it drag on because a lot of the book really doesn’t matter and is just them following random clues leading them down rabbit wholes that end in a dead-end.
One thing I did enjoy in this book, actually even more than the investigation, was the story of the continuation of Maggie’s personal life. A lot of this connects with the ending of the first book so people who haven’t read the first one will likely not care one bit and find it confusing. But since I did read the first book I did find myself caring about what happened with Maggie’s daughter and the whole situation that Maggie is internally struggling with. I really enjoyed these parts of the book. These were the parts where I cared what happened and wanted to read. They were written very well to add suspense and having the readers rooting for the characters.
I wouldn’t recommend this book for people who haven’t read the first book. Like I said there are a lot of references to the first book. Don’t expect to read this book and then go back to the first because the ending isn’t kept secret. You might be able to piece information together enough to understand the idea of what is happening in this book but you will miss out on a lot. The information is somewhat explained in this book but for the most part, you are expected to know what happened in the first book.
I liked the narration of this book. She changed her voice so it was easy to differentiate when the chapter would switch to a point of view from the character who died past. There was no other indication of this switch except for the voice. I also liked the narration because it made the character come to life because she used the accent Maggie would have.
Overall the first book was better than this book. But both had similar problems. I found that in both books I had a hard time remembering the characters. Both had so many random leads that the detective follows it was hard to piece together the events. Even when it was explained I still found it hard to follow along with Maggie’s line of thought when solving the case. There were also a lot of useless details. This book did better than the last in emitting random details, like the name of the street they were on (and no this has no relevance to the case) but I still found this book has a lot of these details that just make the book drag-on.
May 12, 2022
This book was kind of a letdown, considering how much I enjoyed the first book.
Partially my irritation was due to Maggie's behavior. She seems obsessed with her job to the point of willful ignorance of what her daughter is going through, and that makes me wonder if the elements of the book just didn't blend well. The reader is supposed to believe what's happening with Lilly is of great concern to Maggie, but it's hard to get that sense when Maggie goes trotting off to investigate her case rather than focus on her daughter.
I also wasn't as invested in the mystery this time, and I wonder if that's because the first case was so personal that shifting to a more impersonal one made it harder for me to connect with it. I found that the memory device in this one didn't work as well either. When the memories were Maggie's in book one, they didn't feel out of place with the rest of the book the way they did here, when we're getting memories from someone who's a complete stranger to Maggie.
The pacing didn't do it for me either. It took a long time for things to really get going with regard to the mystery, and I would have liked to have been more drawn into it earlier in the book.
Overall, this book was jarring to me. After going from a deeply personal book in which we knew only Maggie and the people closest to her, she suddenly has a partner I don't remember figuring into the previous book. It was almost like reading books from two different series. Plus, I didn't like the way this one was tied up because it felt too convenient and because I saw it coming long before it happened.
I may still give a third book a shot, if there is one, but I'm surprised by how wide the gulf is between my enjoyment of the first and how I felt about this one.
Partially my irritation was due to Maggie's behavior. She seems obsessed with her job to the point of willful ignorance of what her daughter is going through, and that makes me wonder if the elements of the book just didn't blend well. The reader is supposed to believe what's happening with Lilly is of great concern to Maggie, but it's hard to get that sense when Maggie goes trotting off to investigate her case rather than focus on her daughter.
I also wasn't as invested in the mystery this time, and I wonder if that's because the first case was so personal that shifting to a more impersonal one made it harder for me to connect with it. I found that the memory device in this one didn't work as well either. When the memories were Maggie's in book one, they didn't feel out of place with the rest of the book the way they did here, when we're getting memories from someone who's a complete stranger to Maggie.
The pacing didn't do it for me either. It took a long time for things to really get going with regard to the mystery, and I would have liked to have been more drawn into it earlier in the book.
Overall, this book was jarring to me. After going from a deeply personal book in which we knew only Maggie and the people closest to her, she suddenly has a partner I don't remember figuring into the previous book. It was almost like reading books from two different series. Plus, I didn't like the way this one was tied up because it felt too convenient and because I saw it coming long before it happened.
I may still give a third book a shot, if there is one, but I'm surprised by how wide the gulf is between my enjoyment of the first and how I felt about this one.
May 10, 2021
Long Island homicide detective Maggie D’Arcy and her daughter Lilly are still reeling from the details of Maggie’s last case, the solving of her cousin Erin’s murder in Ireland. Lilly is struggling with the suicide of her father and Maggie is furious that the perpetrators behind Erin’s demise aren’t being charged with their crimes. When Irish citizen Gabriel Treacy is found dead on a beach in Long Island, Maggie D’Arcy is back on a US-Irish case. When she goes over to Ireland as a way to connect with her boyfriend Conor and her grieving daughter Lilly, Maggie continues getting pulled into the case on the Irish side, especially when there’s another murder. As she continues getting closer to the truth, Maggie is putting herself in danger and from a very unlikely source. There’s a reason this is quickly becoming a favorite police procedural series with me and it’s not just because of the captivating characters. I love the ease the author has in addressing how different the legal system is between Ireland and the United States. I thought this case was pretty good but I’m really hoping that this book is a set up for Maggie to move to Ireland in a (hopeful!) third book. I liked this one because you got to see Maggie in her natural element as a cop in Long Island, which we really didn’t get to see in book 1. All in all, I think this was a really great follow up but like I said, I’m hoping this one is a bridge to a third book as well.
June 20, 2021
Complex, sophisticated, and sharp!
In this latest novel by Taylor, A Distant Grave, we head back to Long Island, where Detective Maggie D’arcy finds herself once again immersed in an investigation that will take her from the streets of NY to the green hills of Ireland when an Irish international aid worker with a complicated past is found suspiciously murdered on the beach in Bay Shore Manor Park.
The writing is absorbing and meticulous. The characters are multifaceted, intuitive, and persistent. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine methodically into a sinister mix of twists, turns, red herrings, secrets, deduction, mayhem, manipulation, corruption, politics, violence, and murder.
Overall, A Distant Grave is a dark, crafty, intriguing tale by Taylor that is thoroughly entertaining and undoubtedly another highly satisfying addition to the Maggie D’arcy series.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this latest novel by Taylor, A Distant Grave, we head back to Long Island, where Detective Maggie D’arcy finds herself once again immersed in an investigation that will take her from the streets of NY to the green hills of Ireland when an Irish international aid worker with a complicated past is found suspiciously murdered on the beach in Bay Shore Manor Park.
The writing is absorbing and meticulous. The characters are multifaceted, intuitive, and persistent. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine methodically into a sinister mix of twists, turns, red herrings, secrets, deduction, mayhem, manipulation, corruption, politics, violence, and murder.
Overall, A Distant Grave is a dark, crafty, intriguing tale by Taylor that is thoroughly entertaining and undoubtedly another highly satisfying addition to the Maggie D’arcy series.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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