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Crime mystery set in Galway

21st September 2018

The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan, crime mystery set in Galway.

In Irish, Ruín means something hidden, a mystery or secret, but the word has a long history as a term of endearment….

Crime mystery set in Galway

1993 and Cormac Reilly is a fledgling police officer, sent to investigate what seems to be a case of domestic abuse. But what he discovers in the rambling house is a mother – Hilaria Blake – dead from a seeming heroin overdose, and her children, 15 year old Maude, 5 year old Jack. It is clear that Jack has been abused, he has innumerable bruises and scars. Cormac takes both children to hospital and it is here that the last sighting of Maude occurs, she disappears into thin air. Jack, however, is placed with a loving family. Cormac consigns this traumatic case to history and gives the people involved little further thought….

Forward to 2013 and Cormac is stationed back in Galway after a period in Dublin. It’s not a rosy work setting for him but needs must, he has had to accommodate his wife’s work life.

Jack, now in his twenties, is in a relationship with trauma specialist and trainee surgeon Aisling and one morning, after they have broached how they feel about a couple issue that has presented itself, Jack leaves, never to return. He has apparently committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. A vague witness attests to having seen him disappear into the murky waters and the police are not minded to pursue investigations further. Cormac however just knows that things are not as they seem and as he delves further into the past, he discovers trails that lead him through a quagmire. This is Ireland, so of course the story is not complete without church involvement. Clearly life had moved on since the 1990s but ingrained ideas and attitudes perhaps haven’t shifted so much.

The author dovetails the past and present stories extremely well. This is an exceptionally competent debut and this author is one to watch!

Tina for the TripFiction Team

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