I Hear the Sirens in the Street

Detective Sean Duffy, Book 2

By: Adrian McKinty

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

A torso in a suitcase looks like an impossible case, but Sean Duffy isn’t easily deterred, especially when his floundering love life leaves him in need of a distraction. So with detective constables McCrabban and McBride, he goes to work identifying the victim.

The torso turns out to be all that’s left of an American tourist who once served in the U.S. military. What was he doing in Northern Ireland in the midst of the 1982 Troubles? The trail leads to the doorstep of a beautiful, flame-haired, twentysomething widow, whose husband died at the hands of an IRA assassination team just a few months before. Suddenly Duffy is caught between his romantic instincts, gross professional misconduct, and powerful men he should know better than to mess with. These include British intelligence, the FBI, and local paramilitary death squads - enough to keep even the savviest detective busy. Duffy’s growing senseof self-doubt isn’t helping. But as a legendarily stubborn man, he doesn’t let that stop him from pursuing the case to its explosive conclusion.

©2013 Adrian McKinty (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Could do without so many f bombs

Great historical detective novel. Had some the American culture references wrong, but easy to understand considering the author perhaps didn't have a American editor.

Another awesome story

Just great all around: McKinty knows how to tell a story. All his characters are spot on with hidden agendas and allegiances. I can’t say enough about this book and this series.

This series is so good

Gripping. Can't put down. Interesting history.

I love this series so far. Sean is quite a character and in this book he's called upon to work on two separate murders. Or are they separate? He ticks off his bosses and other "friendly organizations" in his efforts to solve these cases. Good stuff!

And, again, Gerard Doyle's narration is spot on!

Sean Duffy's Persistent as Always

loved this novel again. Sean mamages to get in and out of trouble. great inveatigator with human foibles
a fun read!

Read it

Educating and thrilling at the same time. Excellent narrative. A low profile hero. Start with book 1

Make sure you're okay with Irish politics

I read the first book in this series first - and I think this is required. The story itself is separate from the first one, but this book will make much more sense if you do read book one first since it sets the stage, give the background for Duffy's world, and starts Duffy down the path he is taking in this book.

If you did not like the Irish politics of book one, it is as thick here as it was there. In fact, if this story were to be pulled out of that setting, it would be a much weaker story. A lot of the obstacles that Duffy has to deal with are direct results of the political turmoil during the "Troubles".

I'm not familiar with that era, but accepted it as the backdrop of Duffy's detecting (it is a detective novel, underneath all the politics), and think it made the novel dark (noir) and heavy (in a good way). It is a violent (but non-gory) novel and there are no sex scenes.

The narration is very good, but it is a heavy Irish accent that you might have to get used to. I got the next one in the series on Audible as soon as I finished this one. Ghosts of Belfast is a read-alike book here on Audible, read by the same narrator (and it has the same setting and same noir tone).

Great story, great writing, great narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, because it's intelligent, witty, engaging, and the narration is perfect.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The characters were sympathetic, so I cared what happened to them. Also the writing was so witty and fun that I wanted to keep going -- was sorry when the book ended.

Have you listened to any of Gerard Doyle’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to Doyle's performances of all Adrian McKinty's books. He has a beautiful voice and accent that make the performance a pleasure to listen to -- he makes each book come alive.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, because I wanted it to last a long time.

Any additional comments?

I wish all writers had McKinty's knack for knowing just how much blood-and-gore to include and how to draw characters that the reader cares about. He brings intelligence, wit, humor, and humanity to every book.

Best combination in hard boiled fiction

What made the experience of listening to I Hear the Sirens in the Street the most enjoyable?

There is no better audiobook experience than an Adrian McKinty novel read by the incomparable Gerard Doyle.

What did you like best about this story?

Sean Duffy is a classic, terrific protagonist in the hard-boiled mode -- quick witted, fearless, tough but with a heart of gold, resolute in his desire to see justice done regardless of the personal consequences, etc etc. He seems improbably irresistible to gorgeous women who he seems to encounter with shocking regularity for a town like Belfast -- but that's OK for this type of book.

Which scene was your favorite?

Noble but bemused Sean faces down the neighborhood IRA thugs defending a lady in distress. The neighborhood hooligans are priceless.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Started a bit slowly, but I could listen to Gerard Doyle read Adrian McKinty all day.

Any additional comments?

Terrific re-creation of Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Including John DeLorean as a character was a nice touch.

Sean Get's Screwed

What is it they say, "No good deed will go unpunished." The author has developed a character that really wants to do good but has to climb so many fences to get there. He really seems to be the wrong person at the wrong place but seems to get the job done.

Northern Ireland seems to be a land so full of contradictions that characters like Sean Duffy do not seem to fit at all, yet they do.

Good book and I recommend it to all.

Really a GREAT read

Adrian has a wit in his stories that I truly enjoy . Gerard Doyle is perfect for the narration, he pulls you into the story wanting more. Both books I've read so far, the first chapter, has to be listened to twice, so I can get into the rhythm of the accent, but totally worth the second listen.