No Obvious Cause

Dublin Murder #2

by Valerie Keogh

For five months, Garda Sergeant Mike West had dreamed about meeting Kelly Johnson again. It would be in some romantic setting, somewhere she would see him as a man and not the policeman who caught her husband's murderer. But when he does finally meet her, it is at the scene of another crime and, once again their relationship is in trouble before it starts. They are thrown together by the police investigation and gradually the initial attraction grows. But before their romance can develop, Kelly once again, goes missing. Can Mike West unwind the complications of his case soon enough to find her. And when he does will their romance finally take off?

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Ireland, Thriller, Irish Literature

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2014

About the author

Valerie started to write several years ago. She self-published eight crime novels and one psychological thriller before signing a two book contract with Bookouture in March 2018. The first of these, Secrets Between Us, is available now and the second is due in Feb 2019. She is a registered nurse with a degree in English and a Masters in American Literature. Recently she has given up nursing to concentrate on her writing career.

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Obvious Cause is the second book in the Dublin Murder Mysteries series featuring Garda Sergeant Mike West set in Dublin, Ireland and was previously published as Close Ranks. It isn’t essential to have read the first book as the main storyline is contained to this instalment, however, there are some minor threads running through it that would make more sense and be more enjoyable if you have read the series opener prior to this. Mike West is called in to investigate a rather peculiar and baffling case; a case of cyanide poisoning delivered through food but not how you might think. The root vegetable cassava is toxic enough to become poisonous should the dish not be cooked thoroughly and the fact that this seems intentional leads him to believe that the victim was targeted. Elsewhere, Edel Johnson of a Garda approved support group crosses paths with Mike again at the home of a victim she is consoling and sparks fly.

This is a compulsive and engrossing read and the series of seemingly motiveless crimes make it all the more compelling; I was gripped from the outset and although it begins quite slowly it soon picks up. I found it refreshingly original with the use of a vegetable I knew little about as a murder weapon which was an extremely clever part of the plot. The cast of characters was well developed and engaging and most had likeable personalities. The dynamic between Mike and his colleagues was very believable and realistic and Mike has a few human flaws and because of this, he is relatable. This series is very much character-driven, however, this instalment gets the delicate balance between the characters personal lives and the crimes just right. I haven’t been the biggest fan of Keogh’s previous thrillers/police procedurals but I am glad I chose to pick this up. Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Close ranks begins five months after the end of That One May Smile and is set with mainly the same cast of characters.
Kelly Johnson is busy rebuilding her shattered life and Garda Mike West is still thinking about her. But instead of meeting her in one of the romantic scenarios he has imagined, she turns up at one of his crime scenes, and once again they get off on the wrong foot.
There is a series of pointless nuisance crimes being committed, plus one motiveless murder.

Close Ranks has me perplexed. It is mostly better written than it's predecessor, but even then it swings from passages that are almost melodic to clunky heavy prose. I lost count of the number of times that we were reminded that the owner of Tyler, the dog West is minding, has gone overseas to "find himself".
Close Ranks is still littered with irksome errors, as was That One May Smile, that should have been removed long before the book got to this stage of it's life. Spelling, grammar and punctuation all let this book down. But as it is a better written book I will award it 2 1/2 stars.

I stand by my comments from my review of That One May Smile Again - 'I believe that in the hands of a good editor and a capable proof-reader, this book could metamorphise into a worthwhile read.'

Thank you to VIP reviews (Booklover Catlady Publicity) for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.
I enjoyed meeting Mike and Edel again, after reading the first book in the series a few weeks ago. They are great characters. The story line is quite easy to follow, there are not too many characters to keep up with and it weaves together nicely.
In my opinion, this story had a slightly better pace than the first, although I guessed the killer very early on. The finale was gripping.

Looking forward to book three

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Garda Mike West and his team are dealing with several new cases that are leaving them all perplexed.

A man is poisoned by cyanide .... there doesn't seem to be anyone who wanted him dead. By all accounts, he was a nice guy. There's absolutely no motive that can be seen.

An elderly lady's home is vandalized ... sort of. Things are placed on the floor, dresser drawers pulled out... but West thinks this was all staged. Nothing was taken, nothing broken, her money is still in the house .... another motiveless crime.

While at his partner's son's birthday party, one of the youngsters attending disappears. Looking at the cameras, they see a woman holding the boy's hand as they leave the building. The boy is found at a nearby mall... safe and sound. The boy says the nice lady took him to a drive through for a burger and fries. He thinks he fell asleep and when he woke up, the lady was gone.

Added to West's frustrations, a woman from his past appears at one of his crime scenes. He hasn't seen her in months and now she's working with a victim support group. They are still attracted to each other .. but they are both wary of being involved.

With crime in Dublin’s suburbs at an all-time high, and his superiors breathing down his neck, West doesn't need the distraction. But someone wants her out of the way, and it's up to West to find out who…

This is another well written murder mystery set in Dublin. There's suspense and lots of suspects for West and his team to look into. I enjoy how the characters interact with each other, especially West and his partner. There's a lot of banter, but they each are loyal to the other. A bit of romance touches West and I like the back and forth he and his lady friend display. I enjoy this author's writing and I look forward to the next in this series.

Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerard Roberts returns home from a bicycle ride, taking around half an hour longer than usual and not long after, he ends up deceased. The cause, at first, looks to be from natural causes: a stroke or maybe a heart attack, but on closer inspection, Pathologist, Dr Kennedy, suspects Cyanide poisoning. Why was Gerald out longer than was usual for him and how has he ended up dead under suspicious circumstances? Detective Garda Sergeant West and Garda Peter Andrews from Foxrock Station, respond to the call. More incidents occur, from abduction to burglary, and it's up to Garda West and his team to find out the motives and any links between them. I enjoyed 'No Simple Death', the first book in this series, and this book matched my feelings - if not more. I really like the protagonists; Mike and Peter Snr work well together and are friends as well as work colleagues; then we have Edel Johnson who only five months ago was a victim herself and now volunteers for a group called 'Offer', who offer victim support in the Foxrock area. Through their work, Mike and Edel cross paths and it is obvious that they still have a mutual attraction. I think the story has a well written plot and I couldn't wait to find out who was behind the crimes. It was baffling and a hard case for Mike and Peter to crack. I liked how it all came together - this author is certainly very talented! I found one part regarding a vegetable (yes, a vegetable!) very interesting and this is another reason why I enjoy reading - not only do you get to read a good story but you also get to learn something new. I never suspected the culprit/s until near to the end when it is clear to us, the reader. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and I am very much looking forward to reading more from this author. I highly recommend - thank you!

[Annemie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book in this series for me, gripped from the first page. After a few chapters , I actually stopped and started looking for other books by this author and bought one. Very well written!

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

No Obvious Cause? More fittingly, no obvious mystery. I wasn’t a third into the book before I’d figured out the plot. The author seems to scrub her material clean so as not to alarm or offend the reader. Ugh. Not my cup of (seemingly endless) tea. Even less “gripping” than the initial offering in the series.

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

CLOSE RANKS takes place five months following THAT ONE MAY SMILE and features the same characters.

Sergeant Garda Michael West is back, along with his partner Garda Peter Andrews are responding not only to a suspicious death, but also is taking on robberies. To say they are overwhelmed is an understatement.

Kelly Johnson, the victim in THAT ONE MAY SMILE, is back .... lingering in Garda West's mind. Since her life changing events she has now become a volunteer in a program for victims' .. being their advocate. While most of the policeman involved do not really appreciate their 'interference' since they aren't trained beyond making a pot of tea, the Police Chief has spoken .. and the volunteers hang around headquarters waiting for a crime to happen.

The suspicious death is a poisoning by an exotic vegetable. The robbery looks to be staged ..very carefully with nothing taken. A young boy disappears from a birthday party. He is found several miles away at a mall .. uninjured.

There is something that ties all these things together. West and Andrews are searching diligently looking for motives ....

I still liked the characters. West is still headstrong. I did learn a little more about Andrews' personal life, which was delightful. Kelly has blossomed into a very self-assured woman which was nice to see.

While this book was okay, it was not as suspenseful as Book 1 in the series. I had the entire plot figured out within the first 3-4 chapters. I still had to read the book just to make sure I was right. :-)

My thanks to the author and to Booklover Catlady Publicity who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

3.5 Stars

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Garda Sergeant Mike West is called to investigate the death of a man from Cyanide poisoning. Not from gas you might think but, when he visits the pathologist, he finds out from a vegetable Cassava. When not cooked properly its poisonous. So West searches the local town where this vegetable may be brought from. The investigation widens when talking to people they find out a woman with blonde hair wrapped in a scarf is involved.
On the other side of town incidents in the town happen. A woman’s house is broken into but, nothing is taken. Whilst the police are called, a volunteer group that is approved by the local police are called. The group is called the offer. They help these victims in the hour of need. Eventually Mike west finds links between the two incidents.
Thank you, Bloodhound books and Valarie Keogh, for an ARC of this book. No Obvious cause is the 2nd book in the Garda West series. I have not read the first, but don’t worry you can read it as a standalone.
This is the first book I have read from this author and I thought this well written and had a great unique story line with kept me turning the pages throughout. I just thought that the author packed so much into that I lost my way a little. 4 stars from me.

[Rona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the new series by Valerie Keogh and I loved it just as much as the first one. It's a really intriguing tale, starting off with a grisly murder. Garda Sargeant West and his team have their work cut out and when Edel turns up in the mix, all sorts of confusion arise, in his heart as much as his head. I love the style of writing, so easy to read and not too dark and it's great to have a bit of romance mixed in with the crime. The tone of the story-telling voice is pitch-perfect and I felt a little glow of anticipation every time I picked this up to read a bit more. Excellent series, fantastically twisted tales and compelling story-telling. What more could you want? Can't wait for the next one!

[John R. Goyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good and surprising mystery tying in a number of cases in an interesting way. Well written and very strongly a continuation from the first book. A bit more romance than I would prefer in a mystery, but it's all tied in so I'll keep quiet... Good development, and a good ending - I'm looking forward to the next volume.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved book one in this series and so jumped at the chance to read book two. Even better, a third and fourth book are coming out soon and work is in progress on book five, so there is plenty to look forward to from this author. In the Foxrock suburb of Dublin Detective Garda Sergeant Mike West and his partner Garda Peter Andrews are called to investigate the suspicious death of a man called Gerard Roberts. The family are devastated but fortunately on hand is a volunteer from the newly formed "Offer" group, a collection of people ready to give support to victims, or "survivors" as they put it, of crime. Mike cannot believe his eyes when he sees the volunteer that has been sent out - it is Edel Johnson, the woman whose husband's death he investigated not that long ago and whom it appeared he was falling for. She looks to have got her life back on track and Mike hopes that something might finally develop between them. It appears Mr Roberts may have been poisoned and the post mortem proves exactly that. Only poisoned with a exotic vegetable imported from Africa which can kill if not prepared properly. Tracing the source of the poison only leads the detectives in a circle back to the victim, a health food fanatic who was very careful about what he ate, and still they struggle for a motive for the killing. Whilst the team of Gardai are struggling with this investigation they are also tasked with looking into more odd cases. These seem to be random and once again motiveless, but at least these crimes are finally giving the Offer helpers a chance to show how helpful they can be, something which Inspector (Mother) Morrison is pleased about since he is a firm supporter of them. When yet another of these strange crimes occurs it seems to Mike that there might just be a link between them after all. But in his pursuit of the truth he may be placing someone in danger and as reality dawns on them it is a race against time for the team to save a life. I got to like the main characters very quickly in the first book and this story builds on them nicely, with a good plot, well written and easy to follow. Overall a good strong police procedural which I very much enjoyed, and I am already looking forward to the third book in this series, No Past Forgiven, which is due out soon. 5*

[Natasha Orme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keogh is a very talented writer and I think this book surpasses the expectations laid down by her previous novel. The characterisation and chemistry between Mike and Kelly is extraordinary and it kept me sitting on the edge of my seat throughout. I found myself rooting for them the whole time and inwardly groaning at their miscommunication. I think this was expectedly played with throughout the book and built nicely upon the preceding story without making the reader feel like they’d missed out on too much.

I was intrigued as to whether we’d meet Kelly again, but was thrilled to see her reintroduced to us as a lesser main character. I preferred how Mike was now more of a focus, particularly because it’s ‘A Garda West’ novel. The contrast in Kelly’s character works very well in differentiating the situation she’s in. Where before we witnessed an unlikeable individual whose life is in ruins, we see Kelly take more control of her destiny and embrace life – although there are moments of doubt.

I loved the storyline here and the way in which the murder was committed. It was very clever and testifies to Keogh’s knowledge of poisoning, giving it a realistic feel. I think this story worked much better than the previous as it was simpler and easier to follow. I also enjoyed the characters that we met in connection to solving the crime – especially the assistant in the vegetable shop.

One of my favourite elements of the novel – putting Mike and Kelly’s relationship aside – is the camaraderie between the officers. It gave a new depth to the novel and allowed us to feel a part of the characters’ lives. It brought the friendships alive and even included a little humour.

I really enjoyed reading this book and was sad that it came to an end. I hope the author decides to continue with this series as Mike West is a terrific protagonist.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Garda Sergeant Mike West is called to investigate a suspicious death of a prominent and well liked local businessman. After observing the scene Mike and his partner, Garda Peter Andrews are tasked to talk to the family to find out exactly what happened. When they reach the room holding the family they are surprised to discover that someone from a victim support group is already sitting with the distraught family but it’s not just anyone, it’s Edel Johnson. If that wasn’t complicated enough a series of puzzling and motiveless crimes are happening throughout the community. Mike needs to solve these mysterious crimes while trying to keep Edel off his mind…easier said than done.

This is the second book in the Detective Garda Sergeant Mike West series and I can’t wait for number three! Valerie Keogh does not disappoint in her story telling and building already likable characters. There’s enough twists and turns to keep you second guessing.

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read. This will standalone but does follow on from “That one may smile” the first one in the series. I thought I knew where this was going by about half way through… and was right....but then wrong! That’s the sort of book that I love- that gets the grey matter active and then twists. Garda West has a series of crimes to investigate- one of which happen right under his nose, and they all have an unusual air of suspicion in that they have no apparent motive. He again meets Kelly and yet again gets off on the wrong foot not once but several times, just when we are thinking they should have sorted it by now- but that’s how real life goes.
An excellent plot, good strong characters and a smile along the way.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foxrock Dublin. Detective garda sergeant Mike West with garda Peter Andrews are on a call out from a family panicking.the house is amazing. The body of deceased Gerard Roberts after been poisoned by cyanide. Adel Johnson volunteer for OFFER is already comforting the family. Mike hasn't seen her in five months. theres a lot of questions that need to be asked over the poison someone is definitely involved in this killing and wanted him dead. A lot of twists are entailed in this book. A lot of research has been done by this author and its all spot on. A great who dunnit and a book that i enjoyed from start to finish. And a cracking ending loved it

[J. Kahele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Mike West. Since catching the murderer of Kelly's husband, he has pinning for her. He wants to get closer in a romantic way, but every time they are thrown together, it is at the scene of a crime. Will this man ever truly get his chance to be with this woman, or at least a chance at trying to get with her?

In the first book, I thought that Kelly's character could use a little work, but in this book I realized she is who she is. Honestly, the only thing that annoyed me this time, was the fact that she went missing. I thought for sure in the first book, we had enough of that.

[Ellie Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the series and another great book. I love the characters in this series, the storyline is easy to follow without loads of characters to keep up with and I like how it all weaves together. Hurry up book 3. I read this in 2 sittings, would have been 1 but I had to go to work.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as compelling as the first one

I.wasn't drawn into the story as quickly in this second book of the series. And then I was disappointed at the stupidity of Edel to the point I really couldn't work.up any sympathy for her predicament.

[Dorthe · Rating 2 out of 5]

An Irish murder mystery, the suspicious death followed by odd crimes where nobody is hurt - intriguing, right? Sadly, the execution of the story is excruciatingly slow and boring. The main characters are all sympathetic people and yet impossible to care about.

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Detective Garda Sergeant Mike West’s second case, we see him completely stumped when trying to solve the murder of Foxrock resident Gerard Roberts. By all accounts Gerard is a model citizen with no skeletons in his closet, so why would someone want to murder him? If this is not complicated enough, when Mike turns up at the residence to investigate, he is reunited with Edel Johnson who is now a volunteer with a victim support group. Things then get even stranger for Mike and his team after Gerard’s Murder, when a string of senseless crimes where no one is hurt, take place for no apparent reason. Trying to solve the crimes as well as getting a grip on his feelings for Edel, things take a turn for Mike when Edel gets caught up in the investigation and it appears she could be the next target.

Even though this is only the second book I have read in the series, I can honestly say it has fast become one of my favourites series, with Valerie being one of my favourite authors. Every time I read a book from her, it is like catching up with an old friend and over a cup of tea, she transports me into the world of her characters and their stories. This is exactly what happened with No Obvious Cause. Right from the beginning I was taken captive and was caught up in the thick of it with Detective Garda Sergeant Mike West trying to solve this latest case. The story, which is told through brilliant writing that is so visual, also made me feel like I was right there by his side the whole time.

What I do love most about this series apart from its quirky characters, is along with the crime element there also a touch of romance and humour to balance the crime out. Another bonus, is witty writing that includes lines like “Not that there was anything pressing about a dead body; It wasn’t going to get any more dead”!, gave me many a chuckle and these little gems are scattered throughout which makes this an even more enjoyable and entertaining read. Also an unfortunate incident with Mike and a feminine hygiene product at the supermarket when he runs into Edel, also provides a good laugh and just reinforces how much I love his character. Poor bugger, I really did feel for him in this part! Although not without flaws, he is a great guy and does try to do his best at all times and is like a dog with a bone in ensuring each case is solved and that justice is served for the victims families.

With a well researched and solid plot, well developed characters and writing that is flawless, engaging and witty, you really can’t go wrong with this book. You also get quite an education into the unique murder weapon used that killed Gerard Roberts. Not knowing what this was, I am now very well versed in it thanks to Valerie! Although No Obvious Cause is the second instalment in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I do recommend though to read the first in the series No Simple Death, to fully immerse yourself in the setting and it’s characters and just because it is another fantastic read. I am so happy to have been introduced to this series and I can’t wait to see what Valerie has in store for my favourite detective in the next instalment. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review No Obvious Cause which I highly recommend.

Thank-you to Heather Fitt from Bloodhound Books for inviting me to the publication day party and for providing me with a copy of the ebook of No Obvious Cause which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Robert Crouch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series, building on the characters and relationships in the first, No Simple Death, which I reviewed here.

When a man with no obvious enemies is poisoned by an imported vegetable that can kill if not properly prepared, Sergeant West’s murder investigation soon grinds to a halt. He’s also thrown out of his normal rhythm by the return of Edel Johnson, who featured in the first story. Despite his feelings for her, he manages to alienate and aggravate her.

With a man down and crime on the increase in Dublin, he struggles to keep his team motivated and on track to solve the murder. But once the mystery is unlocked, there’s a race against time in the exciting climax.

I thoroughly enjoyed my second outing with West and his sidekick, Andrews, who make a great team with plenty of banter and humour. You get to know more about them as they struggle to make sense of something that makes no sense. The romantic attraction between West and Edel adds another dimension to this well-paced and written crime story, which sits at the cosy end of the spectrum.

I’m not a big fan of violent and gritty crime fiction as I want to be entertained by engaging characters and bamboozled by a good plot. If that’s how you like your crime fiction, I would recommend this book and series.

[Spicydish · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the narrator hadn’t been so boring maybe i would have enjoyed this mystery more. He read with the same inflection throughout, a cross between a funeral director and the most monotonous university lecturer you’ve ever had to endure. So basically, a man with no enemies and without health problems is found dead. His death is traced back to some exotic vegetable commonly found in Africa purchased from the local greengrocer who illegally purchased it from a traveler who inadvertently smuggled it into the country., an unwanted gift from her mother.
In pursuit of the cause of death, the police, called The Guarda, run across a volunteer grief counseling organization. Of course, one of The Guarda falls in love with one if the volunteers who accidentally stumbles into a link to the murder.
I kind of liked it but since these novels are my favorite genre, compared to others in the came category, it wasn’t outstanding.

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Garda Sergeant Mike West and his partner Garda Andrews are called to a suspicious death at a beautiful house, they find a grieving family, along with a face they never expected to see..Edel Johnson, a woman never far from West's thoughts..is now working with the support group Offer..and is there for the family in their time of need ..As the team probe further with the case , at first it seems there is no reason or motive as to why this man died ...But when a strange spate of events happen..one after another, the team are getting closer to the truth ..What they will find ..in the very heart of Foxrock will be danger and madness in all its darkness..After reading No Simple Death ,I couldn't wait to see what happens next in the series ..Once again a stunning read that held my attention to the end .. an mhaith Ms.Keogh ...

[Les Linyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garda West and Edel Johnson reconvene their unkindled romance five months after the conclusion of book one - a cyanide murder kicks off the story and Edel appears as part of. Victim support group looking after victim’s families. Forced to take on the work of a lazy DI who is shirking work via a supposed health problem Mike West becomes embroiled in a number of unconnected cases and sets his team onto finding a connection. Once m0re the characters are well written and the story moves along nicely making for an easy read - I zoomed through these first two books in the Dublin Murder Mysteries in three days and am now looking forward to reading the next two (the fifth instalment arrives in November).

[Patricia Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

More clever storytelling not to be missed!

I've only just reviewed book one, even though I've read all books in the series. Not going into the story as the blurb gives enough to wet ones appetite!
Brilliantly written storyline gets your own powers of deduction working overtime, but clever writing twists turns and blind alleys keep you hooked from start to finish. I loved it, the main characters quickly becoming like members of your own circle of friends!
This author I feel has a wonderful imagination and gift for storytelling, plus a fabulous ability to add characters that draw you into the story with ease!

I love this series and highly recommend it!

[Ken the incredible · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good crime yarn, easy to read, just about plausible, enough mystery to keep turning the pages.
The principle characters are more likely in this than the first book, although the villain is somewhat far fetched - but you need that to get a good twist at the end, which Valerie does.
This isn't a literary masterpiece, it's just a really good read and I enjoyed it immensely. It doesn't tax your memory like some books - so you can read it to relax, and follow the plot even when you're tired.
The romance is a little contrived, but less so than the first, which had the characters misbehaving badly. It's nice to have this sub-plot; adds something different to keep you engaged.

[Karen Breakell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am still undecided about this series .... there seemed to be a lot of unconnected events going on in the first bit of the book and I was struggling to keep engaged .... it was redeemed as the culprit became more obvious and the motive so I did enjoy the storyline ... Edel though is super annoying ... and I found myself tutting quite a lot at her actions behaviour and general wetness ... if she carries on being front and centre of the books I might not be able to continue ..... onto the next one ....

[Christine Goodnough · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is fast-paced and suspenseful, the characters well fleshed out. While the story is primarily told in the viewpoint of Mike West and his frustrations with these rather bizarre crimes, we also get scenes in the point of view of his love interest.

I read the first book in this series long ago and found it just as compelling and well written. Since then the first three books have been given a facelift, new cover and title. Also, Kelly Johnson was given a name change; she's now Edel. This switch was the only thing I didn't care for.

I'm looking forward to reading Book 3 in the series.

[Sue Doucette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series with fantastic characters.

This is the second book in this series. I’ve enjoyed each book tremendously. The police procedure (here the Garda) is great. The detectives wait for warrants and are careful to properly preserve evidence, ultimately preserving the case for trial but, the best moments are when things go off the rails. Adding a promising love story make this series complete. I highly recommend! The series is also free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.