The Business of Blood

Fiona Mahoney Mystery, Book 1

By: Kerrigan Byrne

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Dying is the only thing people do with any regularity, and Fiona makes her indecorous living cleaning up after the corpses are carted away. Her childhood best friend, Mary, was the last known victim of Jack the Ripper. It's been two years since Fiona scrubbed Mary's blood from the floorboards, and London is no longer buzzing about the Ripper, but Fiona hasn't forgotten.

And she hasn't stopped searching for Jack.

When she's called to a murder in the middle of the night, Fiona finds a victim mutilated in an eerily similar fashion to those of the Ripper, and only a few doors down from Mary's old home. The relentless, overbearing, and irritatingly handsome Inspector Grayson Croft warns her away from the case. She might have listened, if she hadn't found a clue in the blood. A clue that will lead her down a path from which there is no return. As a killer cuts a devastating swath through London, a letter written in blood arrives at her door, and it is only then that Fiona realizes just how perilous her endeavor is. For she has drawn the attention of an obsessive evil and is no longer the hunter, but the prey.

Contains mature themes.

©2019 Kerrigan Byrne (P)2020 Tantor

Wonderful Mystery!

This was a terrific book. I enjoyed the mystery! I do not read too many mysteries! I should warn that there are some graphic violence. The narration was terrific.

What a Journey

If you love historical mystery and KB you will love this book. A thrilling mystery that keep you glued to the Audible and the narration was a stroke of a genius

When's the Next One Coming?!?!

Loved it! I can hardly wait for the one!!!! So WHEEENNN is it coming?!?!!!!!!

Very good!

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I thought it was a very good story and really liked the narration. I look forward to the next one.

Dark and atmospheric Victorian mystery

A dark, atmospheric Victorian murder mystery. Fiona is a great heroine, and Byrne brings her gritty world alive with her writing. The cast of interesting side characters/potential love interests for Fiona contribute to both the worldbuilding and the mystery. I really loved The Hammer in particular, as well as grumpy Grayson Croft. I did feel that there was a bit of fetishization with the repeated use of the word "exotic" that I hope will not continue into future books. The mystery itself was creepy and well-paced, but I did guess the murderer right from the beginning. Fiona and her interactions with the other characters are definitely the most gripping part of the book, and the part that left me eager for book two.

great book

in not much for mystery books but really enjoyed this. is can't wait for what comes next

Predictable Brain-candy

Good for an escape but nothing extraordinary. Too many forced cultural cliches, that almost seem racist in nature is The Noble Savage, The Tragic and Wise Jewish, The Rabidly Catholic Irishman. I guessed the perpetrator a third of the way in.

The Business of Blood

Could not wait for it to be over! Narrator irritating. Nasal-type voice, constantly sounding breathless.
Didn’t care for the story.

Kerrigan Byrnes Always Delivers

I love all of Kerrigan Byrne's work; and she is so versatile HR, HR fantasy, and now this mystery/detective series. Enjoyed it thoroughly. It's dark and funny and offers a great twist! Great narrator, too.

Incandescent

Obsession worthy book and beautifully narrated by Justine Eyre. Wish she could have continued the series! She is amazing at voices and can convey so much emotion. Absolutely wonderful!

A book set in the past, not a historical novel.

You get the feeling the author of this book churns out quite a few a year. They would certainly have time because the haven’t even stopped to Google a few basic historical facts. The book is set after the Ripper murders so let’s say 1890s. One character insists on having her crinoline for decency’s sake. I don’t know about decency but it’s over a decade out of fashion. Later the heroine says her dad was in the Guardai-an org not founded until the 1920s and she drinks Israeli wine! It’s pitiful and lazy. I’m assuming the author is one of those Americans who goes on about being Irish because someone in her family came over 200 years ago. If she was Irish, she might not use phrases such as the heroine recognising the she ‘had her Irish up’ when angry. Totally American and pretty offensive. Anyway, it’s appalling.

loved the story

Loved every second of the story. Whereas normally I watch a bit of tv in the evenings I kept listening till late till I finished it. It was so tense and intriguing. This is not my usual genre but I live ak if Kerrigan Byrne's books so I thought I'd try it out and it didn't disappoint.
Unfortunately I can't say the same about the narrator. She's ok but I can't bear her voice for the Male characters. Her voice is weak and sounds shaky. I don't usually buy books narrated by her, only when they're ones I really really want to listen to.
Now on to the next one.