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)

Loved this

The reading was terrific... listened and then listened again. Got a very long walk in over a week's time.

Drew me in

It took me a while to get into this book, but probably because it was different than what I was expecting (or hoping for). Much darker and more cynical than books I usually listen to. But the more I listened I couldn't help but be drawn into the story. The author paints a clear, if not haunting, picture of how it must have been living in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, and you can't help but grow fond of Detective Sean Duffy (even with all his flaws). This definitely isn't a feel-good story, but it is wonderfully written and narrated. By the end there was no doubt I would be reading more by Adrian McKinty.

Another solid McKinty/Doyle effort

Adrian McKinty has always been a solid writer, and he continues to mature. For all it's pyrotechnics, "Cold, Cold Ground" feels more restrained that, say, "Dead I Well May Be." The violence is more restrained than in previous works, and so is the language (although the opening is as beautiful as anything he's written).

Gerard Doyle is a great narrator for McKinty. I haven't liked him as much reading other books, but in these novels he shines.

Exciting story !

I had not heard of this author before and the first ten minutes were a bit tough to get through...strong accent and regional slang. Hang in there..it's worth it!

great book looking forward to the sequels

enjoyed the book immensely. I look forward to reading the follow up releases. great look at the Irish troubles!

I liked the setting and characters

It was a well executed book that made you feel what it was like to live in that time. I liked the characters and it was well narrated, but it was slow and meticulous, maybe some editing was needed. But I think McKinty did an excellent job of painting a every heartfelt picture of a difficult period.

If I hadn't read l...

If I hadn't have read rain dogs first, I probably wouldnt have liked this one as much. This also was much more extreme than rain dogs and certain themes could have been seen as jumping the shark if it had come later in the series. I love Sean Duffy none the less and had a drink next to Carrick PSNI last I was in Belfast.

Entertaining Story with the BEST Narrator

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

I have not read the print version.

What does Gerard Doyle bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings the Belfast atmosphere to the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was repulsed. In a good way.

Any additional comments?

Great story read by a great narrator.

Great writing...Interesting history.

Any additional comments?

This is one of those stories that winds around the historical events occurring in Ireland in the 70's and 80's. The combination of the times mixed with a convoluted, mesmerizing story was riveting. Great characters...great narration. I felt like I was there.

I'm now a huge fan!

What did you love best about The Cold, Cold Ground?

I loved Gerard Doyle's narration.......his accent made this book come to life.

What did you like best about this story?

Loved the characters in this story, so realistic.