Ireland seems to be a favourite setting for crime writers lately, and McTiernan’s novels are a great example of this. The Good Turn features Galway and the village of Roundstone, and inspired me to look them up to gain a further sense of the locale. Cormac Reilly features again in this novel, but shares the stage with Peter Fisher, a keen detective who has been working with Reilly and taken on much of his “never give up” attitude, as well as a big dose of independent action.
This leads him into disaster when he believes he’s found the man who abducted a schoolgirl and follows him to a deserted boathouse at a lake. The pursuit ends in disaster, and Fisher is sent off to work for his father in the village of Roundstone, supposedly to keep him out of trouble while he waits for a police review and punishment. The fact that under police guidelines, fathers and sons shouldn’t work together is a sign of the internal politics and underhand dealings going on with the Irish garda – who owes who a favour? And how far do those kinds of “favours” stretch? Into full police corruption?
In Roundstone, Fisher can’t keep his nose out of what seemed to be a cut-and-dried investigation. Back in Galway, Reilly isn’t faring any better with those higher up determined to find a way to get rid of him. His attempts to uncover corruption lead him deeper into the bog.
This was definitely a book I couldn’t put down – the kind that you read in every spare minute and then are disappointed when it finishes because you wanted more. But there is more than enough in The Good Turn to keep any crime reader enthralled. Family hatred, corruption at such a level that there seems no way to stop it, detectives who plough on despite setbacks and threats. One of my top reads in the past six months – highly recommended.

3.85

This novel imagines and Irish Republic physician who does not fulfill his Hippocratic oath and several characters who seem to be in severe peril of losing their jobs but miraculously appear to be fortunate in redeeming themselves. Much of the problems are due to corrupt officials in the national civilian police force, called “An Garda Síochána”, meaning 'Guardians of the Peace of Ireland'

Another brilliant book by Dervla McTiernan in the Detective Sergeant Cormac O'Reilly series.

Cormac's move to Galway is looking increasingly a mistake. A Garda to his toes, he is clearly on the outer in the station and everyone can see it. Plus Emma has moved to Brussels on an increasingly lengthy 'short term' contract.

Then a young girl is abducted off the street and Cormac's urgent request for more staff to save her is turned down. What can his boss, Brian Murphy, be thinking? And how does it happen that not only is Brian working with his son, Trevor Murphy, against regulations but that practically all the stations resources have been funnelled into Trevor's anti drug operation for the last six months?

But then not only is Cormac's off sider, Peter, forced to kill the suspect but the abducted girl turns up miles away, and both Cormac and Peter are thrown to the dogs.

A brilliant and gripping story that will keep you engrossed. Plan to stay up late (or early).

Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and @HarperCollinsAU for an advance copy in exchange for an independent review

Police corruption against an Irish landscape. A kidnapping, drug ring, murders...

Excellent example of the crime genre. Enjoyed all the books in this trilogy.

DNF thought I loved Dervla Tiernan’s usually gripping style but this was so boring and could not get into it

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I could not put it down. Love Cormac and Peter.

The third Cormac Reilly and here's hoping for a fourth! I love Dervla McTiernan mysteries!

The Good Turn continues Irish-Australian writer Dervla McTiernan’s Cormac Reilly crime series, which has become a firm favourite in a very short time. Full review at Newtown Review of Books