returned

1888 Dublin and D.I. Joe Swallow is tasked with investigating the death of a young female. But this will not be the last attack, is there a connection between them.
There is quite a bit in the book concerning Irish politics at the time, fine if you don't know history from an Irish viewpoint, but not really enough story concerning a mystery, but enjoyable enough with a variety of characters.
A NetGalley Book ( )

This is the third in the Joe Swallow series by Conor Brady. Three girls were accosted, two of them mortally, within two weeks of each other on the street of 1888 Dublin. Joe Swallow was put in charge of the cases. The girls seem to be unrelated, other than age and the brutality of the crome.. They were from different walks of life. There were virtually no clues. As the weeks drag on, no clues comes to light until Swallow's former boss, "Duck" Boyle accidentally overhears something that might be relevant.

Brady describes the conflicts going on in Ireland in the 1880s with farmers being forced off their land and the push towards an independent Ireland angering the home office in England. With th is as a backdrop, Brady sets his mystery.

Those of us who have read the frist two books in the series have come to know Joe Swallow, so this is sort of a homecoming. While the book is good as a standalone, I'd recommend reading the first two books in order to see how Swallow's life has progressed. A good, readable mystery. ( )

Well written well researched series set in turn of the century Dublin featuring Joe Swallow, police detective inspector. There have been three brutal attacks on young women, two resulting in deaths. Conincidence or another Jack the Ripper? Conor Brady brings to life the Irish/English political conflict as well as daily life for 1888 Dubliners. ( )

3.5 Late 1800's, Dublin Swallows life is looking up both professionally and personally. Yet soon he will be involved in a case of the murder, as young women are being attacked, and very few clues are available. The political situation in Ireland is also at play, Fenians, Land Leaguers, Home rulers are all in a political fight that is proving to be a powder keg for violence. The Irish police, like Swallow against those of the British. So many different things at play here, and now young women are at risk, and some are comparing the murders to those of the Ripper.

Very slow moving, detailed and atmospheric, definitely not an edge of your seat mystery, but a slow unveiling of all issues. Definitely receive a thorough immersion into the situation and various factions, a look at how difficult it was for the police to investigate crimes in the days before computers and data bases made it must easier to track people. Took so much patience, painstaking investigation, interviewing people, checking and double checking. The power of the Catholic Church and the untouchable reputation of their priests. This is a book that contains much and takes patience. Events unravel so slowly, but I found it interesting and thought their was a good mix of the personal, professional and political.

ARC from Netgalley. ( )