Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
They say it never rains but it pours. Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Inspector Danny Quirke would have to agree.
First someone murders a vulnerable Kildevil Cove man and dumps him in an abandoned well. Then the body of a sex-trafficking victim washes up on a nearby beach. Danny has to get to the bottom of both deaths, but with few leads and little support from his superiors, he’s spinning his wheels in a mud pit of a case. Vital resources go missing, witnesses disappear, and suspects proliferate.
Each step toward the truth brings him two steps back. Help comes in the form of Scottish investigator Martin Belshawe, but he may not be who he says he is, and someone in the highest echelons of the Newfoundland Constabulary is lying to Danny. Even Danny’s lover, Tadhg Heaney, whom he looks to for emotional support, seems to know more than he should about the shady characters who keep popping up in the investigation.
With time running out, Danny must decide who, if anyone, he can trust—before the sex traffickers claim their next victims. But on an island, there’s no escaping the tide.
The Review
Dark Tide is the third installment to the “Kildevil Cove Murder Mysteries” by J.S. Cook. Deiniol “Danny” Quirke and Tadhg Heaney return as another chaotic mystery becomes the focus for Danny.
In Newfoundland, there’s a small quiet village of Kildevil Cove, but it doesn’t stay quiet for long.
Danny Quirke has been getting his feet wet with his new Constabulary Inspector position at the Royal Newfoundland PD. He gets immersed with the complications of the murder of Johnny Locke, a mentally challenged man, who was never a problem.
Ursula Heffernan is Johnny’s mother, and she doesn’t seem to care that her son is dead.
Then in the midst of the complex case, a body of a young, unidentified woman washes up near Singles Bridge. When Danny reports this to Chief Inspector Moira Fraser, he’s basically told to back off.
But Danny can’t bring himself to do it, and the suspect pool and the investigations get chaotic. Missing witnesses, a priest, a stranger in town and tattoos all lead to danger. Who can he trust? Danny’s emotions ride high, and when Tadhg tries to help, it causes conflict. He’s also never told Tadhg about his odd blood type.
And what about the cryptic messages from Danny’s sister, Sandra?
Cook has created another outstanding, twisted and complex mystery with Dark Tide. Each novel in the series has gotten better, and they all have a touch of the eerie. The story goes deep with police procedure, investigations and forensic methods, layering on mounting clues to both murders.
Tadhg Heaney, his daughter Lily and Jesper, who handles the Day Lilly, are all notable characters. For this one there’s a good support team for Danny too, including Constable Sgt. Riley Cillean, twin Constables Kevin and June Carbage, and Dougie Hughes, as well as forensics officer, Dr. Reagan Lampe, and Bobbi Lambert.
I’m very curious about the connection between Riley Cillean and Kevin Carbage, and wonder if there will be an interesting development with them down the road. They really come through as a good working team.
I’m a long-time follower of Cook’s work, and with each new book she amazes me. I love how she intermingles the Scottish/Irish dialect and the area’s rural settings, customs and climate into the story. I’m ready for book four, and excited to find out what’s still to come for Deiniol and Tadhg.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
