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)

Glad to read the first Sean Duffy story

After listening to several books in the series, I had to go back to the beginning. Great characters, Irish setting, crime detective stories read by an enjoyable narrator. You can't go wrong with an Adrian McKinty book.

Great narrator

Entertaining story. Crime, politics and a little poetry. Excellent narration as usual by Gerard Doyle.

Enjoyable

The story and the narrator were very enjoyable. It’s nice to have a mystery Detective book that does not have a super macho star. The humor in the interaction between characters is delightful.

Still good .

Second time listening, and still like it. Having read the rest of the series , I am a bit more able to set aside some of the awkwardness(?) of this one.

Welcome to the real Ireland

Adrian McKinty writes a fascinating mystery in the true style of an Irish. The humor, the thinking patterns, and the story as a whole takes you where the Irish have lived for 200 plus years. If you're Irish you recognize it, if you're not you will learn some things that may changing your thinking. Gerard Doyle delivers it with the right emotion and attitude. You may not love this story, but you should want to read more McKinty after this one.

Adrian McKinty Does It Again

Having absolutely loved the Dead trilogy and his last book, Falling Glass, I was so looking forward to The Cold, Cold Ground. I was not disappointed. The Cold, Cold Ground takes you through several murders occurring during the "Troubles" in Belfast in the 1980's. The authors ability to transport the reader/listener to Belfast during that time is what separates him from all the rest.

Gerard Doyle is the narrator and, as he does in all of McKinty's books, is fantastic. I strongly recommend this book.

Terrific story and performance

Adrian McKinty is one of my favourite writers and this book is one of his best. The main character, Sean Duffy, is flawed and almost unlikeable at first. As the story progresses (and a great, twisting story it is), Sean's determination to find the truth wins out: there are no easy answers in 1980's Belfast, simply people trying to do the best they can to keep looking themselves in the mirror each day. Mr. McKinty masterfully re-creates the sights, sounds, and havoc of Belfast on the edge. This book will resonate with me for a long time. I don't often listen to books again; however, I will make an exception for this wonderful book because I am pretty sure I will enjoy it even more the second and third time around. And, I could listen to Gerard Doyle all day and all night- he's simply amazing. Highly recommended.

Had no idea where it was going!

Gruesome and funny and tragic and a history lesson. That is what you get from this story. Many surprising things happen to Duffey I mean a few real shockers.
Truly a great 10 + hours. We hope there is a sequel.

Blown away

I don't read a lot of this type of book which could be classified as mystery or thriller. The writing in this genre is usually what disappoints me. This is one of those rare books that stands out due to the authors adeptness at writing and the time and place the story happens. In other words, it fires on all cylinders and isn't just some writer filling in the blanks. I plan to read this whole series. The book enveloped me so much that I started calling people around me poofters and for about a week I felt compelled to drink Guniess, but eventually I went back to Stella. Sorry. We'll see what happens when I read the second book of the series!

Good Book

This book was excellent! I am really looking forward to the follow on. Narrator was on the money well done.