The Dying Breed

By: Declan Hughes

Narrated by: Stanley Townsend

Even the best private eye needs more than a name to find a missing person, but that's all that Father Vincent Tyrrell, the brother of prominent racehorse trainer F. X. Tyrrell, will offer Loy when he comes to him for help.

A dwindling bank account convinces Loy to delve into the deadly underworld of horse racing, but fortune soon smiles on him: while working another case, he discovers a phone number linked to F. X. on a badly beaten body left at an illegal dump.

Loy's been around long enough to know that there's more to the Tyrrell family than meets the eye - and then a third body appears...

©2008 Declan Hughes (P)2008 Isis Publishing Ltd

Critic reviews

"Declan Hughes breathes new life into the private detective story." (Michael Connolly)

Irish Angst

I read both of Declan Hughes books - The Wrong Kind of Blood and the Colour of Blood and enjoyed both. They are not for the delicate reader as there is violence and brutality and profanity and much, much drinking. But there is also an insight into the Irish soul...and for those of us who have an Irish heritage, a comforting insight into our dark side. It is not necessary to have read the two previous books to enjoy Dying Breed, which apparently is not in print yet in the US. I'm not a particular fan of horse racing, but the information in this story was interesting and informative. There is a lot of sorrow in the story, but also vindication. Well worth your time.

Grand writer, excellent narrator

Coming across Declan Hughes was a happy accident. I've thoroughly enjoyed all Declan Hughes novels that Audible has on offer- but have now exhausted Audibles offerings! More, please! Thanks to a great writer, and a serious nod to a truly wonderful narrator. Having just stopped two books (by other authors) midway due to really poor narration, I especially appreciate Stanley Townsend's reading (of all the Declan Hughes audiobooks, I believe). He actually inhabits each character distinctly, without over-dramatization.

Mr. Hughes and Mr. Townsend- huge fan. Thank you, sincerely.

Not for the faint of heart but a crackerjack story

Any additional comments?

It's a tough book at times but a crackerjack of a story all the same. Stanley Townsend is an amazing narrator; he manages to have very distinct voices for each of the characters. I do sympathize with another reviewer's complaint about "Tommy"s voice. I didn't find it annoying but I can see how someone might.

The story is one of no little brutality, about how cruelty and betrayal is handed down from one generation to the next. There is a LOT of profanity as well as stories told of past child abuse, rape and violence. It might sound like there isn't much to recommend the book but, in spite of my usual squeamishness, I really did enjoy it. There are a lot of twists and turns to the plot and a lot of sardonic humour.

Declan Hughes paints a vivid tale that hooked me from the very beginning; I couldn't stop listening until it was finished and when I was, it took me a long time to return to here and now.

A Gripping Story Held Back by Poor Narration

I enjoyed this story quite a bit, though as mentioned by a previous reviewer it is not for the faint of heart. There is a good deal of cursing and violence, and though it's not overly explicit, it's very disturbing. I enjoyed the story quite a bit until the end of it, when a whole section is narrated from the point of view of the main character's friend/employee. The narrator tries to use a higher-pitched voice for this character which causes his voice to crack and squeak a LOT. It does suit the character, when it's just a bit of dialogue, but it is incredibly annoying, and I'm not an easily annoyed person. It's a pity because this character has a lot of humorous comments that would typically make me enjoy his appearance in the story, but the squeakiness of him is so over-the-top that I can't imagine a man who talks like the would even have a friend/employer!