The Cold, Cold Ground

The author of last year's Audible.com's Best Mystery or Thriller strikes again, only this book is even better. There is an enormous degree of sublety and sophistication in this book, both in the plot and the vivid atmosphere created of 1980s Northern Ireland. McKinty always treats the reader as intelligent in his unwillingness to paint a black and white picture of the 'troubles'. He also builds a drum-tight plot which weaves fictional and true characters together. There's a lot of tounge in cheek humor at the expense of some of these character's bloated egos, too.All of these features make this a brilliant book, but the superb narration by Doyle works to make something sublime.

Stuart Neville's The Ghosts of Belfast. Detail, sophistication and grittiness

Gerry Adams

Absolutely

Detective Sean Duffy of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has to walk a very fine line. It’s 1981 and Northern Ireland is ablaze in sectarian violence after IRA commander and hunger-striking prisoner Bobby Sands dies. As a Catholic, Duffy is mistrusted by the Protestant population, and even by some of his police colleagues. As a policeman (or peeler, as the slang name has it) he is mistrusted and often hated by the Catholic population. In the midst of riots and random violence, Duffy is assigned to investigate the killings of two gay men. As he investigates, it begins to look as though a serial killer is at work. As he digs deeper, he runs afoul of both the IRA and his own superiors, neither of whom seem to want him to find the killer.

McKinty paints a tense and convincing picture of the suspicion, danger and continuous threat of catastrophic violence that hung over Northern Ireland during “The Troubles.” He has also created a believable and sympathetic character in Sean Duffy. Duffy is a man who leads a difficult life with dignity, integrity and a fair amount of dark humor.

I have liked McKinty’s work for several years now, and have admired his ability to plot a very tight mystery. He has managed to keep the ideas that propel his mysteries fresh so we have not had to suffer through the reverse-engineered plots that mar the careers of so many great mystery writers. It is gratifying to see that there are plans for more Duffy novels.

I discovered McKinty’s novels through my love of the work of the actor who has narrated all the audio editions of his novels so far, an Irish actor named Gerard Doyle. Some years ago I tried to listen to the book Eragon. I didn’t care for it and gave up quickly, but I loved the voice talent, so I sought out other books that he had narrated. My local library had the audio edition of McKinty’s Hidden River. It was easily the best mystery I read/listened to in 2004. I’ve been a real fan of Doyle’s interpretation of McKinty’s books ever since.

After you listen to Cold Cold Ground and you find yourself impatiently waiting for the next Duffy book, give Hidden River a listen—you won’t be disappointed.

Just finished The Cold Cold Ground. I've been a big fan of Adrian McKinty for the last few years and I've listened to all of his books. This new one does not disappoint. In fact I think it's his best since Dead I Well May Be. The plot is both intricate and thought provoking. We are given a glimpse of a different time and place (Belfast in the 1980's during the Troubles), and a different culture. One not on an especially healthy path.

We're used to hearing about 3rd world countries at war with themselves. Tribes going at each other for no good reason other than their irrational hatreds, blood feuds, and power grabs. But when it's a country that most of us would consider civilized we often don't think of what life would be like if such horrors occurred in our own countries. The Cold Cold Ground gives us a glimpse of that world along with a great story.

Gerard Doyle , the narrator, is terrific. At first, I considered reading The Cold Cold Ground the old fashioned way, something I haven't done with any of McKinty's other books, but I'm so hooked on having these stories read to me in a think Irish accent (actually multiple accents, not only Irish, but English, American, as well as different variations of Irish) that I decided against it. Doyle's reading brings the novel to life and makes some of the Irish slang more readily understandable.

Don't miss McKinty's earlier novels, especially the Dead Trilogy and Falling Glass (voted Best Mystery or Thriller of 2011 here on Audible). All great stuff.

I liked the M Forsythe novels, but I believe Cold, Cold Ground is McKinty's best so far. Again, based in Northern Ireland in the '80's, this book weaves an exciting story about a young catholic detective sergeant and the violent world around him. If for no other reason (and there are many others), this book is worth the credit because of the author's insights into a society in which nothing seems to make sense, at least from the perspective of an outsider. It's a great listen not only because of the story, but Gerard Doyle's powerful rendering of the characters. I had a difficult time turning off my Ipod.

I've been a fan of Adrian McKinty's books for a couple of years. He's a leading member of a group of writers from Ireland writing crime fiction. The "Dead Trilogy" is highly recommended but The Cold Cold Ground is his best yet.

McKinty's style is reminiscent of Raymond Chandler and other writers of great crime fiction. Sean Duffy, the protagonist in TCCG, is so well-drawn that one might recognize him on the street. Duffy is very human, loves books ("Midnight's Children" in audio!) and music ("Venus in Furs"!) and is generally a good guy. He's a Catholic police detective in Northern Ireland.

The book is set in Northern Ireland in 1981, during the famous hunger strikes. That is in the middle of the The Troubles. That historical backdrop is a fascinating setting for this book. Many readers will learn things about those times that aren't common knowledge. Unlike many popular authors, McKinty will not talk down to his readers, rather, he challenges readers with his thoughtful writing.

The reader, Gerard Doyle, is wonderful. His narration adds greatly to this book.

This is good story, a bit of a whodunit but the book is really about Northern Ireland's civil strife and Sean Duffy. Since this is the first book of a Sean Duffy series, I'm eagerly looking forward to book 2!

This is a great book. If you haven't listened to an Adrian Mckinty book you are cheating yourself. This guy is in a class by himself. I have listened to all of his books more than once. His last book Falling glass won book of the year on audible 2011. Cold cold ground is as good or better. Enjoy.

The joining of Adrian McKinty's story and Gerard Doyle's narration is a perfect marriage. McKinty creates characters that grab hold of us from the very beginning and never let go. Doyle's voice brings those characters alive. Don't miss this adventure.

This is the 5th or 6th combination of Gerard Doyle and Adrian McKinty. There are some other author reader combinations that are as good, but none are better. Fine writing and an outstanding reading! If you have not tried one of these books, this is not a bad one to start with. McKinty's subject matter can sometimes be a little brutal but it is so, so worth it.

I started listening to this on my own, and liked it so much I started it over, sharing it with my husband...so I have already listened to some of it twice. It is definitely a book that would stand up to rereading, both for the information it imparts and for the complexity of the characters McKinty has created. The second time I could listen more carefully, since I wouldn't be driven crazy by not knowing what would happen next!

Sean, since every step he takes seems to disillusion him more, and I can well appreciate that. I like the way he thinks, I like the way he perceives the people around him, I like his music, for the most part, and mostly I like how he does not conform to the role everyone else would restrain him with. Sean's character is changed bbbbbbbbbby the things he experiences, he is not a one dimensional character.

His experieence in the public toilet. McKinty does not underestimate his readers or their own experiences. This scene made me feel such empathy for this character. I guess you might say it made Sean very human to me, a character I would feel protective of.

I can't recommend this book highly enough to people who like really engrossing mysteries, that stay in your mind, long after you have finished reading them. I was completely unfamiliar with this author...I think I had seen some of his novels here on Audible, but when I saw titles like, "Dead I May Well Be," or something like that, I assumed (yeah, you know what that means!) that it was about vampires or zombies!! Can't wait till the next installment in this trilogy, and will be checking out his many other titles here on Audible. Great stuff!

Those who don't have a problem with bad language and subject matter will probably not be bothered at all by this book.

Nope, I love murder mysteries.

The performance is great and the historical setting of the book really pulls you in.

Very bad language and some subject matter that may make you a little uncomfortable if you're a more conservative reader. Most of you probably won't have a problem with it but if that kind of thing bothers you just be aware.