4 out of 4 stars
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The 11:05 Murders by Brain O'Hare is a good solid mystery novel. Set in Ireland, Sergeant Denise Stewart has just received a promotion under less than pleasant circumstances, and has moved to a new police station. She and her new team are immediately thrown into a murder case. At first, she is uncertain how to respond to her male teammates due to past prejudice, but soon is working smoothly with the team to discover the totally unexpected killer.
As the story takes place in Ireland, there is a bit of slang that may not make immediate sense to an American reader, but context makes the meanings clear enough, so think of it as a bit of a language lesson included at no extra charge. Throughout the entire book, I did not spot a single typo, and O'Hare's use of information on police work and psychology holds the story up well, reminding us all that details matter. In every good murder mystery I've ever read, it is made clear that small details and unlikely leads need to be followed up, and O'Hare takes us through this less action packed part of police work without diminishing from the reading experience. The twists and turns in the plot, as well as dynamic characters with real personality, draw you in as you experience their excitement and frustration throughout the case.
O'Hare really fleshes out his characters well, giving them attributes we can easily see people having, including ourselves. There's even a bit of romance included, as one would expect in an intense, real life situation of this type. The character's emotions and what drives those emotions are portrayed clearly, in ways that make sense, and made me relate strongly to the protagonists.
This is a great book to just sit down and read straight through, or to take bits at a time. The story stays with you even if you have to put the book aside for a bit. A very engaging story, action, realistic characters, and good use of language make this book stick in your mind even when you're not reading it, as well as an intense desire to find out who the killer really is.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It's well written, was carefully edited, and is just an enjoyable read. It's also, as an American, an interesting look at police work in another country, and I enjoyed the Irish slang, idioms, and common words thrown in to keep the Irish flavor. Any fan of mystery novels should give this one a try.
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The 11.05 Murders
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