Genre: Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon
About The Book
There’s trouble brewing in the cold waters of Kildevil Cove, and this time Danny Quirke may be hard put to stop it.
Due to his suspected association with his former boss’s human trafficking organization, Danny has been demoted and is no longer in charge. To make matters worse, he’s broken up with his partner, Tadhg… who may be in serious hot water himself. But then a faceless killer begins targeting Kildevil Cove’s most vulnerable, and Danny can’t refuse when his new boss asks him to take the case.
When Danny pulls a hypothermic young woman out of a small boat in the middle of a blizzard, she whispers a cryptic phrase about a man with no face. But who is he? What is his connection to the murders? And how is Danny going to solve the mystery while he’s the subject of an investigation that could end his career?
The Review
Deiniol “Danny” Quirke has lost just about everything as he waits out the enquiry into a human trafficking case. He’s guilty by association because of his former Chief Moira Fraser, who was heavily involved. He still has his job, but has been demoted to Constable. He has to face the reality of the truth about his family.
But worst of all, he’s lost his partner, Tadhg Heany. Tadhg was swindled out of his money and lost everything. The only thing Tadhg hadn’t lost was Danny, but his hurtful words left Danny all alone. Tadhg and his daughter Lilly are gone, headed for Ireland. As Tadhg hunts down the man who bankrupted him, Lilly has to stay with her mother.
Danny is surprised when he gets a call from temporary RNC Chief Adrian Molloy. Constable or not, Molloy wants Danny on the case of a dory found adrift near the harbor with a frozen women inside. Danny finds that he still has the respect and support from not only Molloy, but his whole team. Cillian Riley, twins Kevin and June Carbage, Dougie Hughes and Sarah Avery are ready and willing to work with Danny on another twisted murder mystery.
As the murders and suspects start to pile up, Danny has to leave for Ireland and deal with the enquiry for the human trafficking case. He also hopes to reconnect with Tadhg and a special friend of his. He feels overwhelmed with fear, not knowing where any of this will lead.
Cook creates another twisted murder mystery from Kildevil Cove with just the right amount of victims and suspects to keep the investigative team on their toes. Cillian, Kevin, June, Dougie and Sarah, along with Bobbie Lambert (the forensic chief) and Dr. Regan Lampe all bring their expertise to the investigations.
It seems things have progressed with Cillian Riley and Kevin Carbage. The accident with Cillian Riley was terrifying, and it will be interesting to see what develops.
As for Danny and Tadhg, this was a heartbreaking story. Danny has so much on his shoulders, but Tadhg’s words left deep, open wounds. At times through the “Kildevil Cove” series, I’ve struggled to like Tadhg, but this story fills in some of his background, and the mental and physical abuse he’s had to deal with. He keeps trying to prove himself when he doesn’t have to.
And Lilly is so smart, and Tadhg and Danny really need her love and support.
There are two new characters in this book who I’d like to see again. Kai McNamara – you can’t help but love him. I won’t say how he becomes involved, but he’s good man and friend, and I hope he’ll be around for another story. And Isaac Shapter, solicitor for Danny’s enquiry, who has an interesting connection to this story.
I always enjoy DeinioI Quirkes Irish dialect to the story.
I have read so many of J.S. Cook’s books, and I can’t help but love anything she writes. I don’t want “Kildevil Cove” to end, and I’m ready for book five – Dark Vows. There’s a sneak peak at the end of this book, but I’m going to hold out and wait for the entire book!
I also highly recommend the previous books of the series: Dark Water, Dark Mire and Dark Tide.
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.
