3 out of 4 stars
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The 11:05 Murders by Brian O'Hare is a classic whodunnit. The story opens with an unnamed character "standing in a shadowed corner, his back to a wall, observing but not observed." The ominous mood is thus set and does not lift throughout the book. There is a constant feeling that someone is watching the action from the shadows.
We pick up the story as Detective Sergeant Denise Stewart joins the Serious Crimes squad, led by Chief Inspector Sheehan. The squad is soon caught up in the investigation of the brutal murder of bank employee James Fitzpatrick. There are multiple suspects with valid motives to do harm to Fitzpatrick, given his history of recommending foreclosure on debts in order to secure a bonus from his employer.
Detective Sergeant Stewart is relentless in her pursuit of leads and, at one stage, receives the help of an anonymous informant. As she continues her search, she works closely with Detective Allen. The sense of threat looms larger, as Detective Allen falls victim at one point to a hit and run. The threat continues to escalate until it leads to a crisis point, the moment of life or death.
This is an enjoyable crime thriller. I figured out the puzzle before it was revealed, so I am rating the book 3 out of 4 stars. However, I only realised the truth a few pages too early, and so I would still be happy to recommend the book.
The plot is satisfyingly complex, the suspense is maintained throughout and the characters are all credible. The relationship between the two main players, Stewart and Allen, is developed fairly well. We are also given occasional glimpses of the domestic home life of supporting character, Chief Inspector Sheehan - just enough to avoid him feeling too shallow.
I also like how the author shows us the inner thoughts of the main characters. We are privy to "stream of consciousness" thoughts at critical moments. This is a very effective technique, as it makes you empathise with the characters, and the situation that they are facing at any given moment.
This book will appeal to readers who like a good crime story. It definitely had me turning the pages. I understand the book is the second in a crime series, and it is clear that Detective Sergeant Stewart has previously faced some challenging experiences in her career. However, this book can easily be read in its own right.
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The 11.05 Murders
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