The Cold, Cold Ground

Detective Sean Duffy, Book 1

By: Adrian McKinty

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Fast-paced, evocative, and brutal, The Cold Cold Ground is a brilliant depiction of Belfast at the height of the Troubles — and of a cop treading a thin, thin line —from The New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author Adrian McKinty.

“McKinty is one of the most striking and most memorable crime voices to emerge on the scene in years.” —Tana French

Northern Ireland, spring 1981. Hunger strikes, riots, power cuts, a homophobic serial killer with a penchant for opera, and a young woman’s suicide that may yet turn out to be murder: on the surface, the events are unconnected, but then things—and people—aren’t always what they seem. Detective Sergeant Duffy is the man tasked with trying to get to the bottom of it all. It’s no easy job—especially when it turns out that one of the victims was involved in the IRA but was last seen discussing business with someone from the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force. Add to this the fact that, as a Catholic policeman, it doesn’t matter which side he’s on, because nobody trusts him, and Sergeant Duffy really is in a no-win situation.

©2012 Adrian McKinty (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“McKinty is a streetwise, energetic gunslinger of a writer, firing off volleys of sassy dialogue and explosive action that always delivers what it has promised.” ( Irish Times)

“What makes McKinty a cut above the rest is the quality of his prose. His driven, spat-out sentences are more accessible than James Ellroy's edge-of-reason staccato, and he can be lyric.” ( The Guardian)

“If Raymond Chandler had grown up in Northern Ireland, The Cold Cold Ground is what he would have written.” ( The Times, London)

Excellent crime story

Northern Ireland in 1981 during "The Troubles", one murder, then another, seems to be a serial killer of homosexuals, but is it? Sean Duffy is in charge and going to find out, but has many obstacles to cross trying to get to the conclusion.
This book recreates a great backdrop of the politics and civil uprisings of that time. Was a good history lesson for me, with a fascinating crime mystery to solve.
The narration is exceptional with the accents and character differentiation.
Glad to hear this is the first of a trilogy.

Very good!

This book was way more than about I.R.A., it was about lives and crime associated with the upheaval during that time period. The writer took you there. I liked the humor, it was well placed when needed. The reader was awesome! I didn't like the ending, but other than that it was a good book.

The Troubles with a twist

This detective is very engaging; young, impetuous, driven. The story surprises at many points and the narration is really terrific.

The accent might throw you

But your ear will tune in eventually.
Good story that offers an incite to Irish struggle

A Good Mystery with Interesting Twists

Would you consider the audio edition of The Cold, Cold Ground to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version but the narrator does a very good job in creating unique voices for each character.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sean Duffy was the central character so you get to know him the most. His character is well developed and has some subtle layers.

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

Sean Duffy.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were descriptions of the RUC police waiting in anticipation for rioting to begin. These moments were handled well and showed some understanding and insight into the whole situation of the "Troubles". McKinty gives a balanced view and is not sympathetic to either side.

Any additional comments?

This is a first novel (from what I can tell) and there are a few things that happen that stretch the believability a little bit. There is one action scene as well that does that too but overall it is a book that's hard to put down. I enjoyed it very much and the narration was great. It seems like a very positive start to a new series.

Sucks you into the world of Belfast 1981.

love Gerard Doyle reading this novel. He is perfect for the character. The author describes the world he is inhabiting very well even if a few descriptions seem only a mite uneccessary. The pacing is spot on and keeps you in it's grips with ease. It's graphic at times but not quite enough that it out me off completely. All in all a good listen.

Excellent book

I really liked the story, along with some insight into the IRA and the 'troubles'. Great narration also.

First listen of Adrian McKinty--instant fan!!!

My favorite genre is historical fiction and my second favorite genre is crime thrillers. This has both and I couldn't get enough. I definitely am not an expert on the "Troubles" in Ireland during the late 60s to early 90s and have enjoyed learning more about it through various books. This has been my favorite so far. I really enjoyed Sgt. Duffy's character--intelligent, down-to-earth, and witty. Very cool book.

I don't know if this is the only novel with Sgt. Duffy's character or if there are others as I would love to read more with him. But I will certainly be listening to other McKinty novels.

This is the second time hearing Gerard Doyle. He's great and cannot imagine anyone else narrating these stories about Ireland.

Highly recommended

Highly recommended

Looking forward to next in series

Very inventive with great twists and turns, allusions to ancient myths, and narrated expertly (covering at least 5 languages)

1981 in Ireland and Murder is Afoot

This gritty police detective novel starts out with a murder in near Belfast, Ireland in 1981 and leads you through the life of one detective as he desperately tries to put the pieces together and solve the murder. He is foiled over and over and the closer he gets to the killer, the more danger he is in. There are twists and turns in this novel that keep you guessing about how connected two deaths might actually be or whether they are connected at all. The author explores the effects of the violence of Northern Ireland in the early 1980's on the police and people who live there where justice isn't always guaranteed and sometimes a policeman will have to go to great lengths to solve a crime.