Hurt

By: Brian McGilloway

Narrated by: Caroline Lennon

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

Lucy Black must protect the young and vulnerable... but can she protect herself?

Late December. A 16-year-old girl is found dead on a train line. Detective Sergeant Lucy Black is called to identify the body. The only clues to the dead teenager's last movements are stored in her mobile phone and on social media - and it soon becomes clear that her 'friends' weren't what they claimed to be.

Lucy is no stranger to death: she is still haunted by the memory of the child she failed to save, and the killer she failed to put behind bars. And with a new boss scrutinizing her every move, she is determined that - this time - she will leave no margin for error.

Hurt is a tense crime thriller about how, in the hands of a predator, trust can turn into terror.

Brian McGilloway was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1974, and teaches English at St Columb's College, Derry. He lives near the Irish borderlands with his wife and their four children.

©2013 Brian McGilloway (P)2013 Audible Ltd

Enjoyed from first to last

Smartly written meets outstanding narration!
There's only one in ten which demand my non-stop listening, but I'm there with this one.

Great listen

I really enjoyed this mystery. Despite the delicate subject matter, the author didn't go to the gruesome places many mystery writers to which many mystery writers these days descend. The main character Lucy Black was realistically drawn, a strong and interesting heroine. The principal storyline was well done. Nothing too earth shattering or twisty but there was enough suspense and interest in Lucy's methodical unraveling of what had happened to keep me hooked. Nice subplots as well. I liked entering a world (Northern Ireland) I don't know well. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes police centered mysteries set outside the US.

Good police procedural in gritty NI setting

Where does Hurt rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Pretty engaging. The child protection aspect is a bit new in police procedurals and was chilling and realistic.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hurt?

The denouement when you realise the historical political implications which have impacted on this investigation of child grooming and murder.

Have you listened to any of Caroline Lennon’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No, but she was a good reader who could do a range of northern irish accents. I liked her style.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Going on the dark side to rescue vulnerable young girls.

Any additional comments?

It really showed how investigating child grooming and abuse demands both old police skills and new. It was a well plotted and paced novel with an understandable and sympathetic
female copper at its heart. Way less self indulgent than some modern police procedurals I have read recently.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Are 2nd books as good as the first??

I bought it after listening to the first Lucy Black book Little Girl Lost, and eagerly bought this one - then it hit me....
Was it going to be as good as the first? Was I going to be dissapointed? oh No! 2nd books are notoriously rubbish! What if I hated it?? Eeeeek!
But, I am pleased to report that I was NOT dissapointed at all!! It is very good! In the first book you get to meet Lucy, in this book you get to KNOW her! She is a great character who just deserves to be happy!
The story has many twist and turns, a scouple of the a little predictable, as couple not so. it has a strong plot and strong well formed chgaracters.
I have even bought some other Brian McGilloway books because I like his style of writing.
(Audiable - can we have some more please!)
All-in-all, I would recommend this book! NOT suitable for some "readers" as it contains sexual abuse, but if you are willing to be lead down the path of great "modern female cop" fiction, give it a go!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A Very Good Read

Another very good story from Brian McGilloway and brilliantly narrated by Caroline Lennon. I would definitely recommend this series from Brian McGilloway to any potential readers.

D S Lucy Black

well rounded book giving a small insight into ploicing Ireland after the "troubles"
well worth reading.

Excellent thriller set in Derry

This novel is set in my home town, and I really enjoyed it. The story is fast paced and well written, with a refreshingly normal protagonist. The narrator pronounced some place names familiar to me with unusual emphasis, which jarred a little, but that didn't detract from the story at all. I look forward to more stories about Lucy Black. I think this is Lucy Black Bk 2, following on from Little Girl Lost.

Slow starter, but built well and not the usual!

What made the experience of listening to Hurt the most enjoyable?

The backdrop of Northern Ireland and the historical influences. The story unfolds with different (sensible) threads. The truth, when it becomes apparent, is pertinent to current crime rings finally being addressed on mainland UK.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lucy - intelligent, feisty and believable.

Engaging

Any additional comments?

This book has a strong, engaging storyline which keeps you interested as a listener. Unfortunately, for me, I did not enjoy the narrator - although the Irish accents are good, a lot of the time she sounds as if she's reading the news.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful