You Have Gone Too Far

A rural Irish community faces the return of a violent cult leader in O’Connor’s chilling third outing for veterinarian Dimpna Wilde (after Some of Us Are Looking). Decades ago, the town of Dingle was terrorized by Cahal Mackey, who called himself the Shepherd and recruited young, pregnant women to his cult. Though one of Mackey’s followers was discovered with her throat slit and her baby cut out of her womb, authorities couldn’t link Mackey to her death, and instead arrested him on drug and weapons charges. Twenty-nine years later, Mackey is released from prison and tragedy strikes Dingle once again: one pregnant woman is found dead in a bog, and another is abducted while meeting with her unborn baby’s adoptive parents. Dimpna gets involved when she learns that Mackey paid a recent visit to her veterinary clinic and may have targeted her decades ago. She offers to help Det. Insp. Cormac O’Brien and Det. Sgt. Barbara Neely track Mackey down and prove his guilt. O’Connor’s gift for atmosphere elevates the well-oiled plot, resulting in the series’ best entry yet. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Agency. (Nov.)