False Mermaid

Nora Gavin #3

by Erin Hart

AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR ERIN HART DELIVERS A SEARING NEW NOVEL OF SUSPENSE, BRILLIANTLY MELDING MODERN FORENSICS AND IRISH MYTH AND MYSTERY IN THIS CHARGED THRILLER.

American pathologist Nora Gavin fled to Ireland three years ago, hoping that distance from home would bring her peace. Though she threw herself into the study of bog bodies and the mysteries of their circumstances, she was ultimately led back to the one mystery she was unable to the murder of her sister, Tríona. Nora can’t move forward until she goes back—back to her home, to the scene of the crime, to the source of her nightmares and her deepest regrets.

Determined to put her sister’s case to rest and anxious about her eleven-year-old niece, Elizabeth, Nora returns to Saint Paul, Minnesota, to find that her brother-in-law, Peter Hallett, is about to remarry and has plans to leave the country with his new bride. Nora has long suspected Hallett in Tríona’s murder, though there has never been any proof of his involvement, and now she believes that his new wife and Elizabeth may both be in danger. Time is short, and as Nora begins reinvestigating her sister’s death, missed clues and ever-more disturbing details come to light. What is the significance of the "false mermaid" seeds found on Tríona’s body? Why was her behavior so erratic in the days before her murder?

Is there a link between Tríona’s death and that of another young woman?

Nora’s search for answers takes her from the banks of the Mississippi to the cliffs of Ireland, where the eerie story of a fisherman’s wife who vanished more than a century ago offers up uncanny parallels. As painful secrets come to light, Nora is drawn deeper into a past that still threatens to engulf her and must determine how much she is prepared to sacrifice to put one tragedy to rest . . . and to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself.

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

340 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

ERIN HART'S archaeological crime novels are set in the mysterious boglands of Ireland. She introduced pathologist Nora Gavin in one of the most lauded mystery debuts of 2003: HAUNTED GROUND (2003), was a Booksense 76 pick, won the Friends of American Writers award and Romantic Times' Best First Mystery, was shortlisted for Anthony and Agatha awards, and translated into ten foreign languages. LAKE OF SORROWS (2004) was shortlisted for a Minnesota Book Award, and FALSE MERMAID (2010) was named by ALA/Booklist as one of the Top Ten Crime Novels of 2010. THE BOOK OF KILLOWEN is due out in March 2013. A Minnesota theater critic, a former communications director of the Minnesota State Arts Board, and a founder of the Twin Cities Irish Music & Dance Association, Hart received an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota. Erin lives in Saint Paul with her husband, Irish musician Paddy O'Brien (http://www.paddyobrien.net), and travels frequently to Ireland.

Visit her website at http://www.erinhart.com.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

What happens when our main character believes her brother-in-law killed her sister (his wife)? In this instance, she does everything to get him convicted. The problem is there is no evidence.

So now what?

She leaves her home in Minnesota for Ireland.

But it doesn’t erase her need for answers, so she returns 3 years later. Determined to put the case to rest.

The problem is, her brother-in-law is planning to marry someone new, and leave the country, leaving our character searching for answers, and concerned about the safety of her niece.

And she is only given a few days to solve this case before he leaves.

And then there is another murder – similar to how her sister was murdered.

So now what?

I seem to ask that a lot, don’t I?

Are we heading back to Ireland?

Well, let’s just say that the novel starts quickly and grabs readers as more clues become obvious with each turning page. With a lot of attention to forensic details. Along with scenic views of St. Paul’s river, and the sea in Ireland.

This story is…Family drama. Murder. Tons of mystery. Irish folklore (think selkies, mermaids and changelings). Oh, and did I mention a little romance? All of this could very well keep readers engaged and hopeful for resolution.

If any of this sounds interesting, be patient with this book. I wasn’t. It was too much of a convoluted plot (in my opinion), and thus a disappointment for me. And, apparently this is a series. But it wasn’t obvious to me. Would it have been better for me if I read book 1 & 2 first?

2.5 stars rounded down.

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

So far I've really enjoyed Erin Hart's books, but this one was a disappointment, although I had no trouble finishing it. It just felt too over the top--too many overly tragic backstories, and character motivations and behavior seemed unrealistic. I knew things were going downhill when Nora, the heroine, found a book with spine turned inward at the St. Paul library, which had supposedly not been touched for five years. I don't know anything about their collection management practices, but I find it hard to believe that in five years, in a busy public library, it wouldn't have been either weeded for lack of circulation or turned right side out when someone was shelving or shelf-reading. Sorry to sound like a librarian, here--but the acknowledgements reveal that to be one profession the author didn't seek research assistance from, and perhaps she should have, lol. Anyway, so much in this story was hard to swallow--how many coincidences and parallels can one mind entertain?--that I probably shouldn't get hung up on this one. What about leaving an important message on an old cassette tape that is unlikely to ever be listened to? Seriously. All the seal stories and magical realism touches were actually the more believable parts of this book. Also, I'm getting tired of the cop-out cliche of having the villain die in a struggle with the good guys at the climax of the book.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating Clarification: 2.5 Stars


After enjoying the first two books in the series, this one, I'm sorry to say, was a disappointing read for me. Too many perfectly plotted coincidences, too much magical realism (which I enjoy when it makes sense within the context of a particular story - but not in this one), a tepid romance (I'm still not sold on Nora and Cormac's love story, regardless of how often Hart tells the reader that it is in the "soul mate" realm) and far too many eye-rolling moments when the heroine does something totally stupid, illegal and unbelievable - and the rest of the characters don't bat an eye.

I'll continue on with the series, but with not as much anticipation.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably one of the most intriguing and well-written books I've read in a long time (and I read a lot of books). It had everything one would want from a novel: a unique and differentiated cast of characters, a plot that was part mystery, part thriller, part family drama, all wrapped up in a fascinating motif of Celtic myth and legend. This is one of those books that is a joy to open up each and every time while you're reading it and one for which you close the book at last with a great deal of regret, hating that your time with these characters has come to a close.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this one was greater than the sum of its parts; I'd give this a 2.5 if I could. False Mermaid is the third Nora Gavin mystery. In Haunted Ground (which was lovely) and Lake of Sorrows (a solid mystery), we'd heard hints about Nora's murdered sister and the mark the unsolved mystery has left on her. False Mermaid has Nora traveling back to the US from Ireland in order to finally solve the mystery.

The cold case nature of the crime led to one of the book's weaknesses - I'm not sure that I buy that some of the evidence Nora found this time wasn't found when her sister was first killed. The author does explain why each clue eluded her previously, but some of them were far more plausible than others.

The cop who was assigned to the case in the past helps Nora again this time, and he's given a sub-plot that's beyond distracting and half-baked. I think the author wanted to flesh out her new supporting character's background, but it didn't do the book any favors. It really felt forcibly shoved in with no eye to whether it added to the book.

Finally, there's some mystical seal stuff going on which felt a little over the top. I think it would have worked better if the author hadn't tried to include the selkie myth in both Nora's and Cormac's plots. Again, like the cop's sub-plot, stretching the selkie myth over to Nora's side of the story just felt like it was forcibly added rather than something that truly made sense to the story.

In the end, I enjoyed it and it went fast, but many of the pieces of the story had me scratching my head. I far preferred the first two books in the series (trilogy?) and would have rather seen Nora tackle another body found in the bog in Ireland. The Irish setting of the first two books were part of what made them so interesting.

[Sarai · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I wanted to be blown away by it based on a couple of reviews I'd read. But I was not blown away. I would like to have given it a 3.5 rating.

What didn't I like? I felt like the ending was supposed to be a surprise, but it was not. And the actions the characters took in the ending - I don't believe you, I don't believe you, oh, maybe I do believe you - seemed contrived.

There were elements of the mystical in the book, but they were not true mystical stuff nor were they explained away by science. The whole selkie subplot ended up just being kind of boring, with no purpose I could see. And, working in a library, it bothered me that she found a book her sister had left on the shelf that was still turned backward after 5 years - did no one on staff ever go in that room? Did no one on staff ever do any weeding? And then the next day the book had mysteriously disappeared from the system. Did the selkies do it? I think not. So that scene just ended up being kind of goofy.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* It’s been a long wait since Hart’s Lake of Sorrows (2004), the follow-up to her outstanding debut, Haunted Ground (2003), which introduced Nora Gavin, the American forensic pathologist who works in Ireland with archaeologist Cormac Maguire. The novel begins with Nora returning to Minneapolis, hoping to solve at long last the murder of her sister, Triona. Convinced that Triona was killed by her husband, Peter, but unable to prove it, Nora retreated to Ireland and began a new life. But now Peter is returning to Minneapolis, and Nora feels she must tackle the unsolved crime before he has a chance to wreak more havoc on her family, especially Triona’s daughter, 11-year-old Elizabeth. Meanwhile, back in Ireland, Cormac becomes ensnared in another long-standing mystery, this one concerning the century-old disappearance of a woman believed to be a selkie a (mermaid who becomes human when she loses her sealskin). The two plot elements are skillfully combined through the feminist view of the selkie’s plight: a woman torn between loyalty to her human family and the lingering need for a return to the independence of the sea. Series writers attempting to send their protagonists on road trips often invite missteps, but Hart lands firmly on her feet by intermingling the Minneapolis scenes with the Ireland subplot and by bringing both together for the finale. And, as always, the novel is rich in human drama, complex relationships, and vivid local color. Few writers combine as seamlessly as Hart does the subtlety, lyrical language, and melancholy of literary fiction with the pulse-pounding suspense of the best thrillers.

[roe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a letdown for me. After two decent novels that I enjoyed, this one was so hard to get interested in. granted, Minnesota will never be as historically interesting as Ireland but the focus on the story being so much on the sister and her murder didn’t interest me. I really only continued to read two book for two reasons: One, book-obsession to complete the trilogy, and Two, to find out if she was wrong in her supposition that Peter was the murderer.

All of the Cormac sections were nearly pointless. The only thing that I liked about him was that it was able to keep the theme of weaving Irish history in the book as the first two had done. But in relation to the story/mystery it had no point. It was yet another glimpse into uniquely Irish history/lore/culture which was appreciated and yet it fell flat since there was no significance of it to the story. The relationship between Cormac and Nora wasn’t meaningful. It seemed as if he had been kept around as a convenience so that there was still a tie to Ireland that Nora could use.

Nora was even less likeable in this story, she seemed to have lost all her sense and PhD worthy-brain when she flew back from Ireland. Obsessive and although well-meaning, juvenile and stupid.

There were good bits that I wished mattered more to the story so that I could have enjoyed them as parts of a large masterpiece rather than gems among the rocks: the selkies, the fiddling, the Mississippi River (the closest Minnesota can get t mythical history, I suppose).

The investigation wasn’t interesting and the secondary characters, minus Roz, were nothing spectacular, nothing memorable. I would recommend Haunted Ground, the first in the series, but I would not recommend further reading of the trilogy.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 Stars

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

The strength of this series has been the interweaving of archaeological digs involving bog bodies with a more modern murder. As a sideline, there was the main character's (Nora's) rather tedious obsession with the murder of her sister. Unfortunately this novel was focused on Nora's return to Minnesota in her ongoing effort to pin the murder on her brother in law. A new body is found. This was a gloomy story. Even the unhappy back story of the investigating detective (of course, Nora was involved with him previously), gets full coverage, although was of little interest really. The murders get solved but the crime was rather bizarre. There were magical realism aspects to the story that I did enjoy. I hope the series moves on from this whole story arc and Nora can be a more positive character.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Sentence: Death was close at hand, but the wounded creature leapt and twisted, desperate to escape.

Pathologist Nora Gavin has been working in Ireland and living with Cormac Maguire. Three years ago, her sister, Tríona, was murdered and although her husband, Peter, was suspected, nothing could be proven. Now that he’s about to remarry, Nora returns home afraid for both her niece, Elizabeth, and Peter’s fiancée, as well as determined to find out the truth. Back in Ireland, Cormac visits his father who abandoned him and his mother when he was young. However, a severe heart attack may end things before they truly get started.

After a very compelling opening, the story was a bit slow getting into, but well worth staying with. Ireland is always an appealing setting for the story and the sense of being there was certainly much stronger than being in Minnesota.

The characters were not very well developed and, with the exception of Cormac’s father, neither were they particularly interesting and the angst surrounding them became heavy-handed and overwhelming. What saved them was the quality of the dialogue which captured both the characters and the locales.

The plot with its dual threads was brought together in satisfactory manner at the end but the folktale really could have been omitted, making the story stronger by having each thread be a traditional mystery, and there were several rather large coincidences which felt awkward. What was well done were the descriptions were occasionally filled with a great sense of poignancy. Hart did capture the tragedy and pain of a family who has lost a child. There was a good building of the suspense and an effective twist, although it was broadcast a little too soon. The second twist, however, was extremely effective.

“False Mermaid” felt a bit overwritten and heavy-handed at times; not quite certain what it wanted to be. Even so, it was an enjoyable read with an effective ending.

FALSE MERMAID (Lic Inv/Pathologist-Nora Gavin-Ireland/Minnesota-Cont) – G+
Hart, Erin – 3rd in series
Scribner, ©2010, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9781410427830

[Laura Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap! I didn't think Erin Hart could equal the first book in the series, but she outdid herself.

Such a wonderful book, though the excruciating subject matter concerning the murder of Nora's sister made it difficult to read at times. And all the scenes with Elizabeth were so heartrending. The one true innocent in all of this. I loved the folklore of the selkies which was interwoven into the plot. The scenes set in Ireland were so captivating and mystical. One side note. If you enjoyed these parts as much as I did, you may want to check out the movie "The Secret of Roan Innish".

Only one drawback. The conclusion was so dissatisfying. I really wanted Peter Hallett to go to prison and pay for his crimes and all the pain he's caused. Having him killed was far too easy a way out. I only hope Elizabeth eventually comes to believe the truth about him. Even is she does, however, it will only bring the poor girl further pain.

Not only is Erin Hart's writing beautifully lyrical at times and meticulously informative at others, she knows how to hit all the right notes to keep the characters fresh, engaging and very, very human. Bravo, Ms. Hart, on a job well done.

Just wanted to add a thought. After scrolling through some of the reviews, I see many people commenting on the fact Nora seemed to do a lot of really stupid things, not quite in keeping with the intelligence of her character. However, isn't there a chance Hart was making a point? When confronted with such a horrifying situation, the brutal murder of a beloved sister, all rational reason disappears to the point of obsession. Sure Nora acted recklessly at times, almost to the point of fanaticism in trying to nail Peter Hallett. But whose to say any of us, intelligent, rational creatures that we are, might not act the same if faced with the same stark reality, knowing the murderer of someone we loved was walking free and we were the only chance to see him convicted. Just a different viewpoint to consider.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.25 stars. False Mermaid is better than the second book in this series and I do intend to continue on to read the fourth in the series. I am relieved to have the heroine's own personal mystery story line solved but there were a lot of crazy coincidences. These coincidences bring the rating down. Still False Mermaid is a decent tale that crosses through multiple settings -- Seattle, Minneapolis, and Ireland and weaves in Celtic myth, Celtic culture and magical realism. By these interwoven themes, Ms. Hart provides a simple murder mystery with layers of complexity that make False Mermaid richer than an average mystery story.

The lead character, Nora Gavin, is a professor at Trinity in Dublin and she specializes in archeologic work. There is a little bit of detective work in this series, but not in a boring way. If this sort of stuff intrigues you, it is important to read this series in order:



I listened to the audio version of this book. The narration was okay. The same narrator performed the Wallflowers and Hathaways by Kleypas and I found the similiarity in the voices distracting. For those who have read these historical romance novels by Kleypas, you probably understand why. :) I wouldn't recommend the narrated version of the second book in this series. My conclusion -- #1 is a decent read and I enjoyed it. But you should read this series rather than listening.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

In False Mermaid, Nora Gavin returns to St. Paul for Ireland intent on finding out the truth of her sister's death. It took a little longer thatn usual for this one to catch me, but then I was caught up in the Twins run for the Pennant while I was reading. Nonetheless, having LOVED Erin's Haunted Ground and Lake of Sorrows, I kept on and found myself "mired" in the story as Nora skulks along the banks of the Mississippi looking for clues. Fans of the previous two books will be happy to know that Hart keeps Ireland always in the picture as Nora's friend Cormac does some research of his own into the legends of the Selkies. The last hundred pages flew by keeping me engrossed until the end.

[Kristi Lamont · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do so wish I'd liked this more than I did, because of the Ireland/magical/mystical aspect. As a detective procedural it was above average, but something about the characters just never clicked with me. Won't be reading any more in this series, but will go away pleased to have once again come across this important truth in fiction: "The barman smiled. 'Ah, sure, no one believes the old stories anymore. But like my granny used to say, that doesn't mean they aren't true.' "

[Scottsdale Public Library]

This third entry in the series remains strong. The story takes place in both the U.S. and Ireland. This time Nora travels back to Minneapolis to solve the mystery of her sister's death. Cormac remains in Ireland where he too, gets involved in solving another crime. -- Marian R.

[Liz McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best series I have read in a long while. The combination of archeologist and medical pathologist as sleuths is pure genius! Each mystery is imbued with the spirit, music and culture and history of Ireland in addition to intricate mysteries. Although I read them out of order by mistake (not knowing it was a series) that didn't distract from the flow of the series. Each book shares archeologist Cormac and pathologist Nora but the detectives and medical examiners they work with change which each book unique but still part of a series. This book in the series sees Nora returning to the US to try to solve her sister's murder once and for all. She knows who killed her sister and now she sets out to finally prove it. A series you never forget!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second read of this murder mystery cum faerie story. I know I've found a keeper when I can read a book multiple times, and even more so when it is a mystery. I love Erin's books because they flit gently over the boundary into imagination and back to reality effortlessly, taking me deeper into the feelings behind the facts. Her characters are fully fleshed, and her protagonists very likable. I love the settings both in the far away, ethereal Emerald Isle, and in the more familiar, but no less otherworldly St. Paul, Minnesota. Her plots are not so neatly sewn up as to be predictable or outside the realm of the possible. This is so much more than just a well written police procedural/criminal forensics mystery. There is a real life messiness here that takes her stories out of the territory of genre reading, into what is truly literature.

I don't want to trespass into the area of spoilers, so I'll just say that I absolutely love the allegorical use of seals woven through this book, and the unvarnished look at the relationships between parents and children, and siblings, both young and grown. Each time I read a book, I see different things. This time around I saw so clearly the champions of truth, and the battles they face when no one else wants to know the truth. The easy thing to do, is to give in and let it go, stop rocking the boat, but is that the right thing to do?

I hope those who may read this review, who have yet to enjoy Erin's beautiful stories, will go right out and get the first book in this series, Haunted Ground, and then move on to Lake of Sorrows, and finally False Mermaid, so you can discover for yourself the wonderful world she has conjured.

One final note playing softly in my head after this second reading is the life song of one of the more ancillary characters, the Cambodian fisherman, Seng Sotharith. It is a note of hope, and I am still savoring it's echoes.

[Kathleen Hagen]

False Mermaid, by Erin Hart, b-plus, narrated by Roslyn Landor, produced by Audible Inc. and downloaded from Audible.com.

Nora, a pathologist, fled from her home in St. Paul to Ireland to put distance between herself and the murder of her sister-a murder that went unsolved. Nora has always believed that her brother-in-law planned and maybe committed the murder. She has finally gone back to Minnesota to try to put the mystery to rest. Also, she believes that her niece may be in danger from her father. Elizabeth was too young to understand the murder at the time, but now five years later what does she suspect? Nora finds out secrets about her sister and the life she lived, as well as rescues her niece and then puts herself in danger to unravel the mystery once and for all. This book moved along at a good pace, and anything read by Roslyn Landor is worth listening to. She’s very good and particularly did the Irish accents well. This book, as is true with Hart’s other books, moves between Minnesota and Ireland.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read...more just for entertainment. In general, I'm not the biggest "mystery" fan. Same pet peeves as before with this author...unrealistic police type stuff. For example, detectives most definitely DO NOT drive around with the boxes of investigation files in their personal cars or allow the sister of a murdered victim to peruse them and help with the official part of the investigation. Also, the main character, Nora who is a Dr. seems to be a fairly intelligent person, yet she consistently puts herself into ridiculous situations...like snooping around near the river. Lastly, it drives me crazy when the characters, again, intelligent people keep using the phrase.."the cop" instead of "police officers." It just doesn't fit them. I hope book #4 catches up with Elizabeth a little bit....

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was the third book in a series, so I may have missed a lot of important background information. Overall, this was an intriguing book BUT I found it highly unrealistic. Trying to solve a murder from 5+ years ago, the amount of "new" evidence they just easily stumbled upon was unrealistic, especially when it came to DNA evidence that had been worn every day for 5+ years but still somehow managed to have uncontaminated DNA? Easily finding a murder victim that had disappeared 100+ years ago and walking through their house to find everything undisturbed for that long?

I also found it very transphobic in the last 20 pages or so. There was absolutely no reason at all to include that random aspect, except to demonize trans people and those that aren't 100% straight. Very disappointing and unnecessary.

[Albert Riehle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover boasts the entwining of Irish myth and murder mystery in minnesota. I suppose the Irish people in Minnesota might think that's a great idea but I didn't.

Blah, blah selpies. Blah, blah someone killed my sister and I've done nothing about it for 3 years. Blah, blah there's a hot Irish stud named Cormac. The end.

[rhiannonrising · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last of the Nora Gavin series, though we are hoping for more installments.

I loved the weaving of the plot line and couldn't predict what was coming next, unlike with most books I read. The author brought the idea of bog bodies to the States, which I wasn't expecting either. Highly recommended.

[Karlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read few mysteries, but this one was hard to put aside. The Irish selkie legends and a 19th c murder are entwined with a contemporary crime in Minnesota. The characters seem real and the plot scary as the heroine comes closer to a solution.

[Suziqoregon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My blog post about this book is at this link.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too much serendipity and seal intervention for my taste, but I kept turning the pages to see how it would turn out. A satisfying tale.

[Clarissa Simmens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, mystical mystery with an unfamiliar (to me) folklore component.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many things coming together after 5 years to be a totally satisfying mystery. The seal/selkie thread was of interest from mythology and Irish history points of view, but not sure how believable. I am glad this part of Nora's background can be laid to rest. But it does advance the series (and since I have read the 4th in the series as I write this review, I can say that the next one is better than this.)

The one great comment I seized on from the book, however, was made in reference to a visit Nora and the detective on the cold case made to the University of Minnesota Herbarium in order to see if seeds from one murder site matched another.

"Despite its impressive Latin name, the Herbarium was nothing more than a climate-controlled room full of metal cabinets, each containing specimens of pressed plants from Minnesota and all around the world. No one could enter without comprehending just how antiquarian the field of plant biology remained. Color coded maps of county biological surveys hung on the wall. The images might be computer-generated nowadays, and the ranges of various plants tracked with GPS coordinates, but the data were still collected by human beings traveling by foot, taking samples from fields and forests and ditches."

I will also pay homage to the other GR reviewers who called out the clue in the book in the library that was turned backward on the shelf and apparently had been so for 5 years. Several reviewers commented on the fact no one had shelf-read that shelf or weeded the book for lack of circulation in all that time. Love it!

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I alternately love and struggle with the Nora Gavin books - they are rich, well written and so layered that the mystery isn't a foregone conclusion. But for some reason they are slow to read - at least for me. These aren't page turners and I often find myself frustrated with the pace. Which was amplified in this third installment.

Now we finally, finally, FINALLY dive in to the death and mystery surrounding Nora's sister Triona. Having long suspected her brother in law, Nora returns to the states to either solve the crime or come to terms with being unable to prove his guilt. Winding through a fresh cast of characters, fleshing out others, Hart finally settles into to the big question of what happened to Nora's sister with an answer that is as disturbing as you imagine, but far more convoluted than ever hinted at previously. It's a testament to Hart that she was able to wind this mystery into the background of two previous books without selling out the ending of this third novel. But what I was most excited about was seeing how Nora figured out this murder and finally found a way to move forward beyond her sister's death. Yet in this respect it was a little disappointing, instead of giving us closure the resolution merely provided a new feeling of limbo. It will be interesting to see how the series and Nora's character progress from this point, but it doesn't feel like the weight lifted from the books the way I wanted it to.

[Barbara Njira · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tried to be...something. But it repeatedly failed at achieving that...thing. I'm not sure what 'it' is. Successful depiction of inter-generational tragedy? Successful merging of the cold, scientific world with the mystical world our ancestors occupied because they didn't have the science to explain it? Successful showing of how men have used manipulation over the centuries to get what they want, and people around them - almost willingly - falling for the stories they wind so that justice is rarely served? Whatever the book was trying to show or say, it did not do successfully at all.
Plus all the loose ends. And the story of Peter Hallet manipulating his mentally ill friend to kill seems familiar, like I read it in a different book. And he cross-dressed and had sex with other people. How did that have any bearing on the story? What was his motivation for this, and why did we need to know this if the purpose wasn't going to be revealed? And the blind guy who groped the security guy? What was that random tidbit about?

I see it's part of a series so maybe the its failure to sate my thirst is due to the fact that I didn't know 2 books preceded it. And maybe my questions will be answered in upcoming books. But still. Anyway.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite series. The first book, HAUNTED GROUND, was gut-wrenching and superb and I was immediately a fan. I've spread the time between each book out over the years, to savor and be in just the right mindset.
There are excellent twists and turns, winding throughout the book. Nora is still investigating her sister's murder, she knows her brother-in-law is guilty but the evidence is practically nonexistent.
The murder haunts her in the first two books, she's lived and worked in Ireland the last three years to work through everything.
She returns to the US to take up the investigation again.
There are so many points of view and stories that make up this book. And they are all necessary. Each one is interwoven with the other one or another, even without the characters being near or knowing each other.
To go into more detail would be to spoil the story. Know that it is superb even if it took me a bit to get into the story in the beginning. This isn't Nora the pathologist studying the bog bodies in Ireland...this is Nora the avenging sister and she is a force to be reckoned with.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.