Mystery in a Riddle in a Whodunnit - EXCELLENT!

This fabulous, intricate, multi-layered thriller really packs a punch. So many mysteries, so much true affection between friends and so many richly textured lives blended together - of course I ADORED this intelligent, superbly written, absorbing, intriguing story set in one of my favourite places The Beara Penninsula.

I was initially put off buying this audiobook by the sample as I was afraid I would find the narrator's sibilance and slight lisp a distraction and after having just returned the brilliant whodunnit thriller "Rewind" by the excellent Catherine Ryan Howard as the narrator made it impossible to even follow the story, I was worried that this would be another great book made unlistenable by the reader - I could not have been more wrong!

Karen Cogan was amazing and like the very best of narrators her voice soon faded in the background as she brought the story to life. I loved the way she made the dialogue so natural, the way she distinguished between characters without putting on big dramatic voices. Imogen Church and Clare Corbett who both narrate a lot of thrillers and makes their male characters sound like comedy turns could learn a thing or two from Karen Cass and her subtle change of pace and nuance making her male voices very distinct without trying to force her voice into a gruff low range.

I loved every bit of the story and the narration was just so seamless and natural it was storytelling at its best. Towards the end there was only one glitch with a character pronounced Saint John which I presume was written "St. John" and is usually pronounced as [SIN-jin] or [SIN-jun] . But this was the only flaw in an otherwise fascinating gem. Karen really made the characters come alive and the whole book hummed along at a speed of knots and as the mysteries unfolded and the plot twisted and turns with thrills, chills and amiable banter galore I really felt I was there with the friends - that was how beautifully natural the read was.

The story takes place in the Castletown Bear in the 80's and the present day and the story is so beautifully crafted and intricately plotted with interwoven stories that reveal mystery after mystery, plot twist after crafty plot twist until you realise how you were only skimming the surface when you first were introduced to the characters.

I particularly loved Murph and the way he was voiced and his sense of humour. It all sounded very authentically West of Ireland, the banter, the craic, the unique sense of humour and the way the church had such a huge hold on its people in those early days. The Beara Penninsula is one of Ireland's hidden gems so having been there made the whole thing more evocative for me - but in fairness with the skill of the writing and narration I think every listener would be transported there.

There really were so many depths to the book, so many secrets and lies and cover ups and mysteries even before the first murder and the reveals went right on after the murderer was identified that it gave a most satisfying ending to a whole village of secrets over a couple of generations.

Clever, clever. clever - this has been my favourite book for a long time - just superb.

I can't wait to read more of Alex Barclay's work.

Highly recommended to all mystery lovers

100 Stars

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful