In the Morning I'll Be Gone

Detective Sean Duffy, Book 3

By: Adrian McKinty

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the 2014 Ned Kelly Award and a 2015 Audie Award nominee for best mystery

A Catholic cop tracks an IRA master bomber amidst the sectarian violence of the conflict in Northern Ireland

It's the early 1980s in Belfast. Sean Duffy, a conflicted Catholic cop in the Protestant RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary), is recruited by MI5 to hunt down Dermot McCann, an IRA master bomber who has made a daring escape from the notorious Maze prison. In the course of his investigations Sean discovers a woman who may hold the key to Dermot's whereabouts; she herself wants justice for her daughter who died in mysterious circumstances in a pub locked from the inside. Sean knows that if he can crack the "locked-room mystery", the bigger mystery of Dermot's whereabouts might be revealed to him as a reward. Meanwhile the clock is ticking down to the Conservative Party conference in Brighton in 1984, where Mrs. Thatcher is due to give a keynote speech.

©2014 Adrian McKinty (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

It’s like I was there

Adrian thank you for your prose. Your depiction of the struggle is beyond poignant. Thank you sir. :)

Among the most reliable good authors in my library

Once again I am taken back to the period known as "The Troubles" in Ireland and am reminded of the Intense violence, stress and anxiety that was part of that time. I personally really enjoy the authentic Irish brogue Gerald Doyle brings to the book. Another journey into the police vs. IRA, the north vs. south, British vs. Irish rule, Catholic vs. Protestant and the personal toll it took. Imagine being a police officer and having to check under your car each morning to be sure no one planted a bomb under it, or entering a city that held constant threats to your well being. Wrapped in a mystery these books offer very colorful description of the Troubles.

great story, great narrator, great perspective,

Loved it, believable characters, interesting backdrop in time. great plot line, more Sean Duffy please.

Brilliant!

Great story, beautifully told/performed. A true gem. Very enjoyable and highly recommended. Looking forward to more.

Great conclusion to a terrific trilogy.

The Sean Duffy "Troubles Trilogy" books have been incredibly engaging listens - this one exceptionally so. All three books share some elements that make this series unique:

First, the backdrop of Northern Ireland at the height of its conflicts is so different. I don't think I've ever encountered any writing that makes day-to-day life during that time any clearer. As with any good read, you come out of it knowing more than you did when you started. I'll never be an expert, but at least I have a little more understanding now.

Second, Sean Duffy is SO flawed and SO likable. Flawed characters are nothing new. But when an author can create one that you actually admire, it's really an accomplishment.

Third, these are never scripted books with conclusions all wrapped up like a present. The pacing is unexpected. Sometimes McKinty takes you down a path you had no idea would ever enter into the mix. And even when Sean Duffy succeeds, it's not a cinematic win. It's messy. Justice may be served, but it's not tidy.

Fourth, Gerard Doyle makes this work. If I had read these books in print, I never would have heard the voices quite the same way. He really puts you there and gives life to every character.

When you add all that together with the cultural references to the early 80s - music, Princess Di, Thatcher, strikers, politics, et al - the result is a lively, thoughtful series that's unusual and very well done.

Absolutely the best yet

I have waited so long for this finale to the "Troubles Trilogy" that when I met a woman in a local bar with a early release UK copy of the paperback, I practically wrestled her to the floor. Now, I have both Kindle and audio in my greedy hands, and it's as gratifying as one could hope for. The appearances by 'Joe Kennedy," "Gerry Adams," and "Margaret Thatcher" --- I can't even decide who packs the most punch! Gerard Doyle, hats off, and Adrian, you have made a historical contribution to Great Irish antiheroes, locked box mysteries, and the sexiest fatalistic detective ever.

The Dangerous Gamble

What made the experience of listening to In the Morning I'll Be Gone the most enjoyable?

This one is the best of this series by far. I loved the voice, the humor and the constant questioning character of Sean Duffy.

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

Yes, this one kept me going like a fast-moving roller coaster. I started listening to this yesterday and I'm sorry to say it is over.

Which character – as performed by Gerard Doyle – was your favorite?

Sean was my favorite character, but Doyle is brilliant at voices. Maybe not with Kate.

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

i would have gladly listened to it straight through.

Any additional comments?

Up until now, I've been more taken with Mckinty's other series than the Sean Duffy books, but this one is first rate. Third time around, Duffy steps up to the plate and captivates us with a fast moving, intellectually challenging story that keeps us guessing and keeps us worried as well. The Catholic cop in Northern Island takes us places we would rather not be, but we know he has the bravery and brains to see it through. The only real question, Is it worth it? Mckinty's "peeler" is a fine creation, a smart, courageous dachshund of a cop, thrown into a world where every policeman is a target simply for being alive. Duffy's a target for being too smart. Listen to this one!

Love McKinty!

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

Yes. I love Adrian McKinty's writing and Gerard Doyle's narration both.

What did you like best about this story?

Tied up loose ends from the other Sean Duffy books.

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

Yes. He's always excellent.

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

I would have liked to, but generally listen to books in the car so am constrained by my own time schedule.

Any additional comments?

Anyone who wants to listen to McKinty's work, should begin with Book One of each series and continue through the rest of the series.

Much Much More than a Detective Story or series

This review is for all 3 novels .. The Sean Duffy series is very well written. The backdrop of the Troubles in the 1980s and the references to contemporary events add a special sense of time and place – along with melancholy because the times were so dark in Northern Ireland. The sense of the time, the feel for the place along with the excellent writing make this a detective series well worth the reading or listening too. It is history, a detective story and so very well written and well read.

First time for less than 5 stars for McKinty

I love this man's work. His two trilogies are as good a body of work as any contemporary author. Plot, characters, dialogue, metaphors, even soliloquies are excellent. I've read both trilogies and all the stand alone thrillers. There's not one I wouldn't recommend, or listen to again. And Gerard Doyle is a remarkable talent. No accent is beyond his ability. Female voices, no problem.

So why the 4 stars? Not because the writing is flawed. Honestly, this is as good as it gets. But, there's always a "but" isn't there? This is the 3rd book of a trilogy. I expected some closure for the main character. There was at the end of the Death trilogy. That satisfaction is missing here. The trilogy just ends, sort of fizzles. It's like a chapter is missing. Maybe I expect too much.