Police at the Station and They Don’t Look Friendly

Doyle returns as narrator for McKinty’s sixth Sean Duffy novel. It’s 1988, and Det. Sean Duffy is a Catholic policeman serving in Northern Ireland during the unstable time of The Troubles. He’s seen a lot during his career, but the murder by crossbow of a local drug dealer is something new even in a world where car bombings, riots, and assassinations are almost commonplace. As he and his team dig into the case, he learns that there is more to the dealer’s death than meets the eye, and his continued inquires will endanger not only his own life but the lives of those closest to him. This is familiar territory for Doyle, and he knows exactly how to navigate the material. From the tense opening scene he keeps the story moving at a steady pace, expertly building the suspense as Duffy delves deeper into the mystery. Bolstered by excellent characterizations, Doyle’s reading holds the listener transfixed straight through to the final confrontation when all is revealed. A Seven Street paperback. (Mar.)