A Great Day for Dying

A first-rate novel here, from all angles. The mystery story twists and turns engagingly. This time Danny O'Flaherty is back in New York, and it's not in wannabe hip circles downtown but far uptown above 200th Street where the work is tough and the people live in fear of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Harrington moves with authority from the complications of a Dominican neighborhood to the internecine strife of the Irish community. And along the way he offers incisive and often funny characters - Detective Washington, Mr. Zhang, surly Ian Masters, and above all, the opinionated Fintan Conway who, even dead, is larger than life. These creations linger in the mind long after the story is over. The climax is a fitting mix of resolution and tragedy, with a promise of romance to come. Highly recommended.

A GREAT DAY FOR DYING Jonathan Harrington A Great Day for Dying is a fast-paced, thoroughly enjoyable mystery. In Harrington's two previous books Danny O'Flaherty solved murders while teaching in the quaint, Irish town of Ballycara. In the third book in the Danny O'Flaherty series, A Great Day For Dying, the tone changes somewhat as Danny returns to his job teaching in an inner-city high school in New York. His girlfriend from Ballycara, Fidelma Muldoon, has also come to New York and wants to go to the infamous St. Patrick's Day Parade on Fifth Avenue. Danny hates the parade, believing it is more about politics than Irish pride, but eventually agrees to go. Finton Conway, the Grand Marshall of the parade, is killed right in front of them and Danny is an eyewitness. Clues seem to point to another Ballycara resident and friend, Brendan Grady, who may be mixed up with the IRA. Danny is determined to prove his friend innocent, although Brendan makes it clear he does not want Danny's help. A Great Day For Dying is spiked with enough Irish history and politics to peak my interest without overwhelming me. I am Irish American and learned more about my ancestry. The characters in the Danny O'Flaherty series are growing and maturing as the series continues. I really enjoyed A Great Day for Dying, and recommend it.

Mystery connoisseurs who have not discovered Jonathan Harrington's Danny O'Flaherty series will be delighted to do so. O'Flaherty--New York City Irish--after the death of his father, visits Ireland to research his roots. Ultimately, this protag finds himself investigating two seemingly unplumbable mysteries in, The Death of Cousin Rose and the Second Sorrowful Mystery. Harrington's latest mystery novel, A Great Day for Dying, is anything but small town. Back in New York City O'Flaherty resumes his role as a tough but fair inner-city high school teacher. While attending a St. Patrick's Day parade the controversial Grand Marshal, Fintan Conway--whose enemies stretch from the IRA to the Papacy to Miami drug traffickers--takes to the chest, three bullets from a masked assassin and is left for dead. O'Flaherty, witness to the events, soon finds himself unraveling the mystery behind the shooting at the urging of his fiancee, Fidelma Muldoon. Muldoon is a modern day Maureen O'Hara equal to her beauty, spirit, and individuality. Harrington knows the mystery genre well and it's obvious that he demands of himself taut writing, swift pace, bushels of humor, Irish wit, and above all, fairplay plotting. There's no sorcery in O'Flaherty's conclusions and there are no wasted tributaries on the road to culpability. A Great Day for Dying also introduces Detective George Washington. A seasoned, New York City cop--McCoy from the get go. readers may at first feel uncomfortable with the author's "George Washington" device, but much like Arthur Upfield's shamus, Napolean Bonaparte--"Boney" to friends--Washington quickly emerges as a keeper. He could easily carry a series on his own. In a Great Day for Dying Danny O'Flaherty and his world around him develop wonderfully. An excellent, swift, and satisfying read. --Andrew McAleer is the editor of Crimestalker Casebook and the author of Appearance of Counsel.

While teaching in Ireland for a year on an exchange program, Danny O'Flaherty solved a couple of murders. He recently returned to his home in New York City where his fiancee Fidelma Muldoon illegally stays too, though her Visa expired. Fidelma persuades Danny to accompany her to the St. Patrick's Day parade, an event he hates because it has become more revelry than a celebration of ethnic pride.Someone shoots the controversial Grand Marshal Fintan Conway near where Danny and Fidelma are observing the events. The police arrest illegal immigrant Brendan Grady, a friend of Peter and Fidelma. Since Danny provided an eye witness account of what he observed and Fidelma knows he has solved at least two homicides, she insists he find the real killer. Brendan was in the room where Conway was shot, but he refuses to explain why. Despite misgivings on becoming involved, Danny investigates the killing only to learn more than he ever wanted to know about ethnic loyalties.A GREAT DAY FOR DYING captures the ambiance and gala feeling that New York's St. Patrick's Day parade provides to much of the locals and visitors. The tale also looks at the politics that go on behind the scenes, especially that of the Big Apple's Irish community. Danny remains a terrific character who in spite of his doubts instinctively champions justice. Readers will enjoy Jonathan Harrington's latest work while eagerly awaiting more novels in a tremendous series.Harriet Klausner

When Fintan Conway, a universally disliked newspaper columnist, bullies his way into becoming the grand marshal of New York City's St. Patrick's Day parade a lot of people are upset. But which one was upset enough to kill him for it? And when Brendan Grady is arrested for the murder, Danny O'Flaherty decides that he has to save in friend(despite his friend not wanting any help) and find the real killer. Jonathon Harrington has created a fascinating look at murder, life, love and loyalty in A Great Day For Dying. Danny, an inner-city high school teacher, is convinced of his friends innocence and sets out to prove it, nearly getting himself killed in the process. And when he begins to suspect he knows who the killer is, he finds himself being forced to choose between his past and his future. Filled with bits of Irish history, humor, and a likable but stubborn hero, this is a great mystery with an ending you won't be able figure out.