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Blood Ties (Ben Devlin Thriller 6)
Brian McGilloway
How can a dead woman avenge herself on her killer twelve years after her murder? This is the puzzle facing Ben Devlin in his latest case. He is called to the scene of a murder - a man has been stabbed to death in his rented room and when his identity is discovered Devlin feels a ghost walk over his grave as he knows the name Brooklyn Harris well. As a teenager, Harris beat his then-girlfriend Hannah Row to death, and then spent twelve years in prison for the murder.
As Devlin investigates the dead man's movements since his release it becomes apparent Harris has been grooming teenage girls online and then arranging to meet them. But his activities have been discovered by others, notably a vigilante, who goes straight to the top of Devlin's list of suspects... until he uncovers that Harris was killed on the anniversary of Hannah's death - just too big a coincidence in Devlin's books. So Hannah's family join the ever-growing list of suspects being interviewed by his team. And then forensics contact Devlin with the astounding news that blood found on Harris's body is a perfect match to that of Hannah Row's.
Yet how can this be; the girl was murdered many years ago - and Devlin doesn't believe in ghosts.
As Devlin investigates the dead man's movements since his release it becomes apparent Harris has been grooming teenage girls online and then arranging to meet them. But his activities have been discovered by others, notably a vigilante, who goes straight to the top of Devlin's list of suspects... until he uncovers that Harris was killed on the anniversary of Hannah's death - just too big a coincidence in Devlin's books. So Hannah's family join the ever-growing list of suspects being interviewed by his team. And then forensics contact Devlin with the astounding news that blood found on Harris's body is a perfect match to that of Hannah Row's.
Yet how can this be; the girl was murdered many years ago - and Devlin doesn't believe in ghosts.
GENRE
Crime; Police Procedural; Thriller
UK PUBLICATION
March 2021
Crime; Police Procedural; Thriller
UK PUBLICATION
March 2021
Praise
Irish Times Best Crime Books of the Year 2021
"The book is expertly paced and all the characters ring true. It handles all its themes sensitively and McGilloway's style is faultless and unobtrusive."
Irish Examiner
"What an enthralling, powerful, incredibly moving novel this is. Although a police procedural, Blood Ties does not feel like one." Irish Times
"The swiftness with which McGilloway can go from one narrative thread to another so neatly and succinctly is a skill that familiar readers will be aware of but new readers will greatly appreciate. A writer of real intelligence has again created a work of fiction that is both real and emotive basing it within a very familiar world as the fear of a pandemic takes over, but a gripping and entertaining crime read of real nous and skill." Next to the Aisle blog
"Blood Ties is one of those rare gems; a beautifully written crime novel that's also brilliantly paced, skilfully plotted and utterly absorbing. Brian McGilloway is, quite simply, a master of his art. Bravo."
Jo Spain
"Producing a crime novel in the midst of pandemic is difficult. If it's set in the present day, does the author ignore Covid-19? Pretend it's not there? Sneak the plot into 2019, maybe, or go for it bald-headed while not knowing what will happen by publication day? Brian McGilloway has opted for the bald-headed approach and it has worked beautifully ... This is a stylish, measured, superior police procedural."
Chronicle
"A clever engaging and beautifully-crafted police procedural raised well above the ordinary."
Irish Independent
"The book is expertly paced and all the characters ring true. It handles all its themes sensitively and McGilloway's style is faultless and unobtrusive."
Irish Examiner
"What an enthralling, powerful, incredibly moving novel this is. Although a police procedural, Blood Ties does not feel like one." Irish Times
"The swiftness with which McGilloway can go from one narrative thread to another so neatly and succinctly is a skill that familiar readers will be aware of but new readers will greatly appreciate. A writer of real intelligence has again created a work of fiction that is both real and emotive basing it within a very familiar world as the fear of a pandemic takes over, but a gripping and entertaining crime read of real nous and skill." Next to the Aisle blog
"Blood Ties is one of those rare gems; a beautifully written crime novel that's also brilliantly paced, skilfully plotted and utterly absorbing. Brian McGilloway is, quite simply, a master of his art. Bravo."
Jo Spain
"Producing a crime novel in the midst of pandemic is difficult. If it's set in the present day, does the author ignore Covid-19? Pretend it's not there? Sneak the plot into 2019, maybe, or go for it bald-headed while not knowing what will happen by publication day? Brian McGilloway has opted for the bald-headed approach and it has worked beautifully ... This is a stylish, measured, superior police procedural."
Chronicle
"A clever engaging and beautifully-crafted police procedural raised well above the ordinary."
Irish Independent
Also by Brian McGilloway
Ben Devlin Thriller series
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Other books by Brian McGilloway
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Rights Sales for BLOOD TIES
World English Language: Constable, Little Brown UK