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Finn Fitzpatrick #2
Cruel Deeds
A successful lawyer is found murdered in a derelict house in Cork.
Finn Fitzpatrick barely knows Mandy Breslin from the law firm where they both work. Mandy moves in the privileged world of the senior partners. Finn keeps to herself.
But Mandy has secrets and, as Finn gets drawn deeper and deeper into her dead colleague's life, she finds out that Mandy isn't such a stranger after all.
And that Mandy's not the only one at the firm with something to hide.
Who can Finn turn to when there's no left to trust?
Finn Fitzpatrick barely knows Mandy Breslin from the law firm where they both work. Mandy moves in the privileged world of the senior partners. Finn keeps to herself.
But Mandy has secrets and, as Finn gets drawn deeper and deeper into her dead colleague's life, she finds out that Mandy isn't such a stranger after all.
And that Mandy's not the only one at the firm with something to hide.
Who can Finn turn to when there's no left to trust?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2022
36 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 28, 2022
Cruel Deeds is the second in the series featuring Cork based solicitor Finola Fitzpatrick. When Mandy Breslin, an esteemed colleague at law firm MLC, is found murdered, Finn is tasked with looking into her work files ahead of a law society inspection. In searching for any discrepancies that could bring the firm’s name into disrepute Finn inadvertently stirs up a hornet’s nest of secrets, lies and deception which all serve to sully Mandy’s whiter than white character.
Well I’m so pleased I picked this up when there were no other demands on my time because I would have loathed any interruptions! I practically inhaled this book in one sitting. It’s not often I can say this but it’s wonderful to read a crime/thriller novel where both the plot and the main character are equally engaging but I’ll talk about the plot first.
Well written, and extremely easy to digest, each strand is linked together seamlessly so that the plot is watertight. Nothing felt contrived. Suspects accumulate both in and outside the offices of MLC at a fairly rapid rate so that you’re almost spoilt for choice with regards to likely culprits. They’re also not confined to Cork either, the trail of possibilities taking Finn much further afield. Although I had my suspicions as to the identity of the killer quite early on it’s one of those plots where you need your wits about you if you stand any chance of guessing correctly. Mandy’s murder is a tough case to crack. It’s a minefield of shady characters, secrets, subterfuge and mysterious disappearances where people you think you know can surprise you with behaviour that appears wholly out of character. In truth outward appearances can be deceptive and it begs the question of how well we can ever truly know someone. We all have skeletons in our closets but some are more surprising (and dangerous) than others as Finn is destined to discover. The deeper she probes into Mandy’s personal and professional life the more perplexing and riddled with inconsistencies it becomes, eventually exposing evidence of cruel deeds that adds a sinister edge to the investigation. But whose cruel deeds am I referring to and do these two words have a more ambiguous meaning? Just when you think all the knots have been unraveled Catherine Kirwan produces her final ace card with a flourish, satisfyingly tying up any remaining loose ends. All in all this is a devilishly tangled plot with some ingenious twists, and I thought it was quite brilliant!
So, if I thought the plot was well executed what did I make of our crime solving solicitor? Well, she’s smart ( probably goes without saying) naturally curious and she’s certainly not afraid to ruffle a few feathers even if that involves trespassing into dangerous territory. It felt to me as if her talents are wasted at MLC; she should really be in detective Sadie’s shoes as they seem to be a better fit. But on reflection she’s perhaps too independent minded to slot into such a role, since she seems to operate by her own set of rules. Finn is a lone wolf, Sadie her only friend and even then that relationship isn’t without its difficulties. Overall she is emotionally quite detached but there’s something genuine and down to earth about her character that I instantly warmed to. It should be irritating that a character meddling in police business manages to solve the crime ahead of the real detectives but for some unidentifiable reason it isn’t! I liked how the author weaves elements of Finn’s personal life, namely her relationship troubles with boyfriend Davy into the main body of the plot so that every detail feels relevant and not surplus to requirements. I ended up feeling as invested in this area of her life as I was in identifying Mandy Breslin’s killer.
If like me you’ve only just stumbled across this series it matters not one bit. Cruel Deeds can be enjoyed perfectly well as a stand-alone but in my opinion once you have a flavour of Catherine Kirwan’s style of writing you’ll be hooked. I’m over the moon to have discovered such a fantastic crime series especially as they’re not normally “my thing.” However Finn is an exceptionally good character, flawed and intriguing and one I know I’m going to enjoy spending time with. This woman has already managed to get under my skin and for that reason I’m already excited for book 3. In the meantime I’m off to catch up on Ms Fitzpatrick’s first investigation. Highly recommend for anyone who fancies themselves as a bit of a super sleuth! 5⭐️all the way.
My thanks as always to the publisher Hachette Books Ireland and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
Well I’m so pleased I picked this up when there were no other demands on my time because I would have loathed any interruptions! I practically inhaled this book in one sitting. It’s not often I can say this but it’s wonderful to read a crime/thriller novel where both the plot and the main character are equally engaging but I’ll talk about the plot first.
Well written, and extremely easy to digest, each strand is linked together seamlessly so that the plot is watertight. Nothing felt contrived. Suspects accumulate both in and outside the offices of MLC at a fairly rapid rate so that you’re almost spoilt for choice with regards to likely culprits. They’re also not confined to Cork either, the trail of possibilities taking Finn much further afield. Although I had my suspicions as to the identity of the killer quite early on it’s one of those plots where you need your wits about you if you stand any chance of guessing correctly. Mandy’s murder is a tough case to crack. It’s a minefield of shady characters, secrets, subterfuge and mysterious disappearances where people you think you know can surprise you with behaviour that appears wholly out of character. In truth outward appearances can be deceptive and it begs the question of how well we can ever truly know someone. We all have skeletons in our closets but some are more surprising (and dangerous) than others as Finn is destined to discover. The deeper she probes into Mandy’s personal and professional life the more perplexing and riddled with inconsistencies it becomes, eventually exposing evidence of cruel deeds that adds a sinister edge to the investigation. But whose cruel deeds am I referring to and do these two words have a more ambiguous meaning? Just when you think all the knots have been unraveled Catherine Kirwan produces her final ace card with a flourish, satisfyingly tying up any remaining loose ends. All in all this is a devilishly tangled plot with some ingenious twists, and I thought it was quite brilliant!
So, if I thought the plot was well executed what did I make of our crime solving solicitor? Well, she’s smart ( probably goes without saying) naturally curious and she’s certainly not afraid to ruffle a few feathers even if that involves trespassing into dangerous territory. It felt to me as if her talents are wasted at MLC; she should really be in detective Sadie’s shoes as they seem to be a better fit. But on reflection she’s perhaps too independent minded to slot into such a role, since she seems to operate by her own set of rules. Finn is a lone wolf, Sadie her only friend and even then that relationship isn’t without its difficulties. Overall she is emotionally quite detached but there’s something genuine and down to earth about her character that I instantly warmed to. It should be irritating that a character meddling in police business manages to solve the crime ahead of the real detectives but for some unidentifiable reason it isn’t! I liked how the author weaves elements of Finn’s personal life, namely her relationship troubles with boyfriend Davy into the main body of the plot so that every detail feels relevant and not surplus to requirements. I ended up feeling as invested in this area of her life as I was in identifying Mandy Breslin’s killer.
If like me you’ve only just stumbled across this series it matters not one bit. Cruel Deeds can be enjoyed perfectly well as a stand-alone but in my opinion once you have a flavour of Catherine Kirwan’s style of writing you’ll be hooked. I’m over the moon to have discovered such a fantastic crime series especially as they’re not normally “my thing.” However Finn is an exceptionally good character, flawed and intriguing and one I know I’m going to enjoy spending time with. This woman has already managed to get under my skin and for that reason I’m already excited for book 3. In the meantime I’m off to catch up on Ms Fitzpatrick’s first investigation. Highly recommend for anyone who fancies themselves as a bit of a super sleuth! 5⭐️all the way.
My thanks as always to the publisher Hachette Books Ireland and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2022
Cruel Deeds by Catherine Kirwan was published February 3rd with Hachette Ireland and is the second book in this series set in Cork City featuring solicitor Finn Fitzpatrick, following on from the very successful Darkest Truth.
Finn Fitzpatrick has worked for commercial law practice, McGrath Lynch Cleary, for over fifteen years. Not one to mix with the high-flyers of Cork’s legal fraternity, Finn is happiest in the solitude of her small tucked away office up in the attic space or what Finn affectionately calls ‘the servant’ quarters’
‘I don’t do much of the corporate stuff. We found out fast that that wasn’t where my talents, or my interests lay. Think legal dogsbody and you’re closer to the mark. Or general operative. Essentially, all the low-paying knobbly miscellaneous work that crops up in a big firm like ours that nobody else wants to do'
In my review of Darkest Truth I referred to Cork City being a member of the cast and in Cruel Deeds the same applies. It’s something that is very important to Catherine Kirwan – “Basically I want anyone who reads my books to get a feel of what it’s like to be around Cork”– and this is very evident throughout the book. I even learnt a few bits about my own city along the way, especially in a chapter where Finn refers to The Marina
‘On summer evenings, this part of Blackrock has the feel of an imagined Italy about it. It’s no accident. The Marina, a long, raised, tree-lined riverside promenade built on reclaimed land sometime during the 1800s, was named by the city councillors after a similar construction near Palermo in Sicily, a place that few, if any of them, could ever have had any hope of visiting. Which probably tells you everything you need to know about Cork people’
(yes we do have notions 😉)
Cruel Deeds finds Finn caught up in a dangerous web of lies following the disappearance of Mandy Breslin, a work acquaintance in MLC (McGrath Lynch Cleary). When Mandy’s body is discovered in an abandoned house on the other side of the city, the partners are skittish. Why was Mandy murdered? What was she hiding? And, most importantly, how can the firm protect itself from the inevitable fallout? It is decided that Finn is best placed to lead the charge and she is set the immediate task of going through Mandy’s file to see if there is anything hidden that could negatively impact the firm’s reputation. Initially all looks above board but as Finn digs a little deeper she starts to see anomalies in Mandy Breslin’s perceived perfect life.
Finn has a way about her that encourages people to open up to her but she struggles in her own personal life, unable to fully trust and confide in others. Finn had a rough start in life but she is happy with her lot professionally. On a personal level she has her own concerns but Finn tries to separate the two until lines begin to cross and Finn has to ask questions of herself and her own relationships.
With short and snappy chapters, the intensity of the plot never lets up. Catherine Kirwan wraps the reader up in knots as we try to figure out who is innocent and who is guilty. The perfect read for anyone who loves a jigsaw, Cruel Deeds, is a complex and complicated tale of legal drama, whodunnits and jaw-dropping reveals. Finn Fitzpatrick is an excellently depicted main protagonist. She is a very independent character, someone who paddles her own canoe. She is feisty, efficient, focused and measured in her actions. She doesn’t have a wide circle of friends and spends quite a bit of time alone in a life that she has chosen for herself but there are moments when we see beneath the veneer and the loneliness that she ofttimes experiences. She is a loyal friend but an obstinate one, determined to unravel the truth and occasionally putting her own life at risk without too much consideration for her own personal safety.
Cruel Deeds is a murder mystery with amateur sleuth and legal eagle Finn Fitzpatrick always one step ahead of the pack. Featuring some rather slimy and nefarious characters, Catherine Kirwan drops red-herrings aplenty, leaving the reader confused, riveted and in awe of her ability to keep us titillated, thrilled and shocked. Highly recommend to all!
“What I can say is that when you’re reading the book, remember the words of the great PD James, ‘All the motives for murder are covered by the four ‘L’s: love, lust, loathing and lucre.’ I’m happy to report that every one of the four ‘L’s features strongly in Cruel Deeds!” – Catherine Kirwan
Finn Fitzpatrick has worked for commercial law practice, McGrath Lynch Cleary, for over fifteen years. Not one to mix with the high-flyers of Cork’s legal fraternity, Finn is happiest in the solitude of her small tucked away office up in the attic space or what Finn affectionately calls ‘the servant’ quarters’
‘I don’t do much of the corporate stuff. We found out fast that that wasn’t where my talents, or my interests lay. Think legal dogsbody and you’re closer to the mark. Or general operative. Essentially, all the low-paying knobbly miscellaneous work that crops up in a big firm like ours that nobody else wants to do'
In my review of Darkest Truth I referred to Cork City being a member of the cast and in Cruel Deeds the same applies. It’s something that is very important to Catherine Kirwan – “Basically I want anyone who reads my books to get a feel of what it’s like to be around Cork”– and this is very evident throughout the book. I even learnt a few bits about my own city along the way, especially in a chapter where Finn refers to The Marina
‘On summer evenings, this part of Blackrock has the feel of an imagined Italy about it. It’s no accident. The Marina, a long, raised, tree-lined riverside promenade built on reclaimed land sometime during the 1800s, was named by the city councillors after a similar construction near Palermo in Sicily, a place that few, if any of them, could ever have had any hope of visiting. Which probably tells you everything you need to know about Cork people’
(yes we do have notions 😉)
Cruel Deeds finds Finn caught up in a dangerous web of lies following the disappearance of Mandy Breslin, a work acquaintance in MLC (McGrath Lynch Cleary). When Mandy’s body is discovered in an abandoned house on the other side of the city, the partners are skittish. Why was Mandy murdered? What was she hiding? And, most importantly, how can the firm protect itself from the inevitable fallout? It is decided that Finn is best placed to lead the charge and she is set the immediate task of going through Mandy’s file to see if there is anything hidden that could negatively impact the firm’s reputation. Initially all looks above board but as Finn digs a little deeper she starts to see anomalies in Mandy Breslin’s perceived perfect life.
Finn has a way about her that encourages people to open up to her but she struggles in her own personal life, unable to fully trust and confide in others. Finn had a rough start in life but she is happy with her lot professionally. On a personal level she has her own concerns but Finn tries to separate the two until lines begin to cross and Finn has to ask questions of herself and her own relationships.
With short and snappy chapters, the intensity of the plot never lets up. Catherine Kirwan wraps the reader up in knots as we try to figure out who is innocent and who is guilty. The perfect read for anyone who loves a jigsaw, Cruel Deeds, is a complex and complicated tale of legal drama, whodunnits and jaw-dropping reveals. Finn Fitzpatrick is an excellently depicted main protagonist. She is a very independent character, someone who paddles her own canoe. She is feisty, efficient, focused and measured in her actions. She doesn’t have a wide circle of friends and spends quite a bit of time alone in a life that she has chosen for herself but there are moments when we see beneath the veneer and the loneliness that she ofttimes experiences. She is a loyal friend but an obstinate one, determined to unravel the truth and occasionally putting her own life at risk without too much consideration for her own personal safety.
Cruel Deeds is a murder mystery with amateur sleuth and legal eagle Finn Fitzpatrick always one step ahead of the pack. Featuring some rather slimy and nefarious characters, Catherine Kirwan drops red-herrings aplenty, leaving the reader confused, riveted and in awe of her ability to keep us titillated, thrilled and shocked. Highly recommend to all!
“What I can say is that when you’re reading the book, remember the words of the great PD James, ‘All the motives for murder are covered by the four ‘L’s: love, lust, loathing and lucre.’ I’m happy to report that every one of the four ‘L’s features strongly in Cruel Deeds!” – Catherine Kirwan
February 7, 2022
A very twisty crime where Finn is searching for her colleague Mandy's killer.
Mandy, a very successful lawyer is found murdered in a dilapidated house, the same day 2 men are seen in her office asking for her and they just seem have vanished into thin air after waiting for a bit. The cops and Finn have to figure how Mandy got killed, how did she show up in that house in the 1st place and where did those men vanish?
This is the 2nd book in the series, and I look forward to reading the first one - I am thankful that I was introduced to this author by NetGalley!
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Ireland for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Mandy, a very successful lawyer is found murdered in a dilapidated house, the same day 2 men are seen in her office asking for her and they just seem have vanished into thin air after waiting for a bit. The cops and Finn have to figure how Mandy got killed, how did she show up in that house in the 1st place and where did those men vanish?
This is the 2nd book in the series, and I look forward to reading the first one - I am thankful that I was introduced to this author by NetGalley!
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Ireland for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 11, 2024
So drawn out it became tiresome
June 25, 2025
Jane Casey, author of my favorite Maeve Kerrigan crime series, recommended Catherine Kirwan so I had to give her a try. I enjoyed her debut, Darkest Truth, but I loved this. The MC works for a law firm but mostly works as an amateur investigator. She reminds me of Maeve without a badge, so that is fun. This one had a lot of story threads and they all came together in a surprising way. She also does a great job with the setting in Cork. I plan on reading the next in the series right away.
January 14, 2024
Another ‘who dunnit’ that kept me guessing until the final page. Lots of secrets and lies which had me questionning all the characters. I was a big fan of the short chapters too.
September 4, 2024
Main character was just annoying. Plot was a bit far fetched. Didn't really care about any of the characters.
February 2, 2025
short chapter are not for me, too many characters, so many happenings and just that
February 4, 2022
This was such a twisty crime thriller that I really could not guess “ whodunnit” even though I’m a seasoned crime mystery reader.
This was a well constructed and cleverly written book with an excellent lead protagonist in the form of Finn, a junior solicitor in an Irish law firm. When Mandy, one of the partners, goes missing and is subsequently found dead, Finn’s boss asks her to investigate and write a report for the law society which will hopefully prove that the firm and Mandy in particular is not guilty of any wrongdoing.
As Finn starts looking into what has happened she delves further into Mandy’s life and discovers that there has been a lot of wrong doing and that there are many secrets.
However there are several potential suspects and it is difficult to find out who is the guilty party. She cannot trust anyone, even those closest to her and as her investigation progresses there is the possibility that she is putting herself in extreme danger. “Cruel Deeds” abound making the title perfect for the book!
I just loved the character of Finn- bright and fearless: she will not give up until she solves the mystery. I couldn’t believe all the twists and turns in the plot. There’s no way I could have worked out the outcome which is what made it such a great mystery.
I’m really looking forward to reading more about Finn- I realised that this is book 2 in the series so I will definitely be looking to read the earlier novel. I highly recommend “ Cruel Deeds” and have no hesitation in giving it five stars. Another excellent Irish author for me to look out for!
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette books for my arc.
This was a well constructed and cleverly written book with an excellent lead protagonist in the form of Finn, a junior solicitor in an Irish law firm. When Mandy, one of the partners, goes missing and is subsequently found dead, Finn’s boss asks her to investigate and write a report for the law society which will hopefully prove that the firm and Mandy in particular is not guilty of any wrongdoing.
As Finn starts looking into what has happened she delves further into Mandy’s life and discovers that there has been a lot of wrong doing and that there are many secrets.
However there are several potential suspects and it is difficult to find out who is the guilty party. She cannot trust anyone, even those closest to her and as her investigation progresses there is the possibility that she is putting herself in extreme danger. “Cruel Deeds” abound making the title perfect for the book!
I just loved the character of Finn- bright and fearless: she will not give up until she solves the mystery. I couldn’t believe all the twists and turns in the plot. There’s no way I could have worked out the outcome which is what made it such a great mystery.
I’m really looking forward to reading more about Finn- I realised that this is book 2 in the series so I will definitely be looking to read the earlier novel. I highly recommend “ Cruel Deeds” and have no hesitation in giving it five stars. Another excellent Irish author for me to look out for!
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette books for my arc.
November 28, 2021
There are many Cruel Deeds here. A law firm bursting with secrets. A woman seen with another man. Disappearances. Lies. Murder. More secrets.
After Mandy Breslin is murdered, Finn Fitzpatrick, a lawyer at the same firm, is asked to investigate Mandy’s death to clear the firm of any involvement. Finn has a big secret of her own. Six months earlier, she saw Mandy with a man who was not her husband. Mandy asked her to forget that it happened but now…could that mystery man be Mandy’s killer? Or could her death be related to the two men who came to the office to see Mandy the day after she was found dead? And who or what made Mandy so worried?
Cruel Deeds is part mystery, part thriller with a touch of romance. It’s unputdownable with well described characters, especially Finn, Davy and Gabriel. The Cork setting is atmospheric and, as the characters remember her, Mandy’s presence haunts the story. The plot is well crafted and leads to a totally surprising ending. This is the second in a series, although it reads as a standalone. The first Finn Fitzpatrick mystery is Darkest Truth. I’ll be reading that while I wait for the next in this excellent series! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Books Ireland and Catherine Kirwan for this ARC.
After Mandy Breslin is murdered, Finn Fitzpatrick, a lawyer at the same firm, is asked to investigate Mandy’s death to clear the firm of any involvement. Finn has a big secret of her own. Six months earlier, she saw Mandy with a man who was not her husband. Mandy asked her to forget that it happened but now…could that mystery man be Mandy’s killer? Or could her death be related to the two men who came to the office to see Mandy the day after she was found dead? And who or what made Mandy so worried?
Cruel Deeds is part mystery, part thriller with a touch of romance. It’s unputdownable with well described characters, especially Finn, Davy and Gabriel. The Cork setting is atmospheric and, as the characters remember her, Mandy’s presence haunts the story. The plot is well crafted and leads to a totally surprising ending. This is the second in a series, although it reads as a standalone. The first Finn Fitzpatrick mystery is Darkest Truth. I’ll be reading that while I wait for the next in this excellent series! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Books Ireland and Catherine Kirwan for this ARC.
February 3, 2022
This is book #2 in the Finola Fitzpatrick series but can be read as a standalone. However, I enjoyed it so much that as soon as I’d finished it, I downloaded the first book!
It was really interesting to have a lawyer, Finola Fitzpatrick (Finn), who is a sleuth as well. One of the partners in the Cork-based law firm Finn works for – Mandy - is found brutally murdered, leaving behind a husband and two teenage daughters. Finn is asked by one of the senior partners to conduct a discreet but thorough investigation to see if Mandy’s murder is linked to the practice in any way.
I was totally gripped, it’s a very well-written book and keeps you guessing as the different pieces of the jigsaw are put into place. There’s murder, fraud, adultery, and more, and everything is connected to the law firm, with an unexpected twist at the end.
A fantastic read, highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Books Ireland for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
It was really interesting to have a lawyer, Finola Fitzpatrick (Finn), who is a sleuth as well. One of the partners in the Cork-based law firm Finn works for – Mandy - is found brutally murdered, leaving behind a husband and two teenage daughters. Finn is asked by one of the senior partners to conduct a discreet but thorough investigation to see if Mandy’s murder is linked to the practice in any way.
I was totally gripped, it’s a very well-written book and keeps you guessing as the different pieces of the jigsaw are put into place. There’s murder, fraud, adultery, and more, and everything is connected to the law firm, with an unexpected twist at the end.
A fantastic read, highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Books Ireland for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
April 9, 2025
A 'cozy' murder mystery (apart from the freezer scene maybe). And very well put together and written. Again set in Cork city we have our solicitor MC Finn Fitzpatrick taking the part of lead investigator when her colleague is murdered. I suppose we must set aside the inclination to think that the Gardai ought to be running the case whilst Finn attends to her day job, but the result is a good read. Complex, plenty of suspects, clues, red herrings. Finn's good, I'd want her to be representing me. I'm not a reader who tries to work out who the murderer is, but I'd never have guessed anyway.
Intricate attention to detail - however we could have done without the lengthy tying up of loose ends once we know the murderer, it drags the book on unnecessarily.
An excellent break-up scene at Isaacs - will we see Davy again? And again, I came across not a single typo, rare these days, so a solid 4*.
Intricate attention to detail - however we could have done without the lengthy tying up of loose ends once we know the murderer, it drags the book on unnecessarily.
An excellent break-up scene at Isaacs - will we see Davy again? And again, I came across not a single typo, rare these days, so a solid 4*.
March 30, 2022
A complex plot, well put together and a rare, for me, un-put-downable until finished. I liked the setting of a provincial solicitors office and the characters are well drawn and believable. I particularly like the Cork setting, given that I was born in Cork and on Magazine Road! The 'police procedural' parts of the book are also pleasingly accurate, as to me, nothing is more annoying than getting this bit wrong. The plot is complex, full of twists, turns and surprises with plenty of false trails to keep the reader guessing! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and eagerly await the next one.
January 7, 2023
The structure of this book is unusual, with 135 chapters, some of which as short as one page. Regardless of these short scenes, the narrative is pretty much linear. A feature which was repeated so often that it became a bit annoying was the last sentence in a chapter which introduced a twist.
It is a whodunnit, but the narrator and main investigator is a lawyer, not a detective, which gives a different perspective. I was keen to keep reading it, so it must have been good. I don't want to say too much that might constitute spoilers,
It is a whodunnit, but the narrator and main investigator is a lawyer, not a detective, which gives a different perspective. I was keen to keep reading it, so it must have been good. I don't want to say too much that might constitute spoilers,
May 31, 2023
Solicitor Mandy, having an affair is found dead.
A work collegue Finn is tasked with making sure niohing underhand was going on, as Mandy was into personal finance for wealthy clients investing offshore etc.
Finn initially finds that the husband will come into a large amount of money after his wifes death.
She was having an affair with a wealthy client, and was going to jump ship to work at his company, also some dodgy mortgage advance applications in her name.
Very good read, I really enjoyed it.
A work collegue Finn is tasked with making sure niohing underhand was going on, as Mandy was into personal finance for wealthy clients investing offshore etc.
Finn initially finds that the husband will come into a large amount of money after his wifes death.
She was having an affair with a wealthy client, and was going to jump ship to work at his company, also some dodgy mortgage advance applications in her name.
Very good read, I really enjoyed it.
September 14, 2023
Kept me reading late into the night.
Perhaps 2-3 too many characters for me to keep up with, but that may have been just me.
Gee whiz, Finn is nosy and like a dog with a bone when she gets an idea into her head. She left no stone unturned and was relentless in finding out what had happened to Mandy. Imagine what she would be like if it was someone she was close to??!?!
I do like an Irish setting and this didn't disappoint. Could easily be made into a mini series and I would be tuning in.
Twists and turns galore made it fun to keep guessing who, what and where.
Perhaps 2-3 too many characters for me to keep up with, but that may have been just me.
Gee whiz, Finn is nosy and like a dog with a bone when she gets an idea into her head. She left no stone unturned and was relentless in finding out what had happened to Mandy. Imagine what she would be like if it was someone she was close to??!?!
I do like an Irish setting and this didn't disappoint. Could easily be made into a mini series and I would be tuning in.
Twists and turns galore made it fun to keep guessing who, what and where.
November 15, 2022
This book was excellent for two reasons: 1. I didn’t figure out the killer. That’s always a great sign for me.
2. Cork. What’s a Cork person’s favourite thing? Cork… second favourite? Cork. A Cork person’s favourite drink? Wine. Not because of the wine itself. But it has a Cork in it.
I loved all the little details about Cork. The real places. Places I’ve been. Places I love. Businesses I love. Magical reading!
2. Cork. What’s a Cork person’s favourite thing? Cork… second favourite? Cork. A Cork person’s favourite drink? Wine. Not because of the wine itself. But it has a Cork in it.
I loved all the little details about Cork. The real places. Places I’ve been. Places I love. Businesses I love. Magical reading!
February 9, 2025
I love mysteries where I’m guessing as I read, and in the beginning I felt the murderer was female, but the red herrings along the way, fooled me. I chose this book as one of the Cork reads, as I’m visiting Cork, for the first time later this year. Catherine paints her city vividly, a bit like the videos of Cork, I’ve been watching. The story is original and had me needing to read one more chapter, every time I picked up the book. Thank you Catherine Kirwan, I’ll be reading more of your books.
November 25, 2021
I loved this book from the front cover, to the gripping storyline, to the well developed characters and the tense and unpredictable atmosphere it was so enjoyable. The pacing was so fast and really added to the atmosphere, I couldnt put it down and raced through it in one sitting. I really enjoyed it.
May 18, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this book set in Cork. It is the second in a series, but that didn’t detract from the great writing and plot. Loved Finn and will now have to read the first book, Darkest Truth. I shall certainly look out for more by this author .
Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers, Hachette Books for this ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers, Hachette Books for this ARC.
August 28, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. It was a light easy read and I liked Finn as the main character. It was unbelievable and she reminds me of an Irish Agatha Christie. I didn’t realise it was the 2nd in a series based on the character Finn so have downloaded the 1st and shall also read the 3rd one.
February 3, 2022
The book is well written and the main character Finn seemed interesting to a point. Some clever plot twists so why was I not enthralled?
I have read the other reviews and they are very positive so perhaps it was just the wrong time or wrong book for me.
I have read the other reviews and they are very positive so perhaps it was just the wrong time or wrong book for me.
August 13, 2023
Very well written and a great twist that I didn’t fully guess. I loved the local references to Cork city. Finn’s character is likable and her stubbornness to get answers is maddening. I highly recommend this plot twisting mystery!
August 25, 2024
4.5 up to 5 stars for this one by Catherine Kirwan. I look forward to more from her, hopefully with Finn happier in her personal life. Cruel Deeds had so many twists and turns, all quite believable and natural.
October 19, 2024
It’s a really good story but way too drawn out. Skip the whole middle part and you’ll still love the ending.
Would make a great little Netflix series.
Took me so long to finish because It was going nowhere for a while.
Would make a great little Netflix series.
Took me so long to finish because It was going nowhere for a while.
May 10, 2022
Excellent thriller with loads of suspects and several twists along the way. Finn is a likeable character, and as a Corkman, the Cork background rings true for me. Recommended.
October 7, 2022
One of my favourites this year. When you think its all over...then its not. When you think you know who dunnit, then you don't, then you do again. 😮 Gripped until the last page. 👏👏👏
April 4, 2023
This was a very good detective story mostly solved by a solicitor . Finn has a great talent for playing the sleuth . She gets herself into some serious scrapes .
April 7, 2023
An excellent and suspenseful read.
May 27, 2023
I went through this book thinking I had identified the killer only to keep changing my mind!! A good read with lots of twists that will keep you guessing!
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