McGarr on the Cliffs

This was my first Peter McGarr mystery and it won't be my last. Bartholomew Gill created this most Irish detective and imbued both he and his setting with the charm of an Irish Bed and Breakfast. McGarr is the Chief Inspector of Detectives, a position created to lure him away from Interpol. Before that McGarr had been with Criminal Justice in Paris and is somewhat revered in his home of Ireland. When a particularly young and beautiful Irish lass named May Quirk is found murdered with a pitchfork along the roadside McGarr tackles a case that will involve the I.R.A. and lead him all the way to New York and back to catch a killer. Gill writes a complex mystery full of atmosphere for a beautiful country where some tawdry things take place. He shows the sympathetic nature of most in Ireland for the I.R.A. even though their methods are frowned upon. It appears May Quirk may only have returned to her homeland to expose the financial pipeline of the I.R.A. for her paper in New York. McGarr is a fleshed out character with a wife, Noreen, 21 years younger than he, and a love for fine food and Ireland. As he tries to get to the bottom of May Quirk's death an explosive attempt to take out McGarr and a high ranking I.R.A. member will give him a steely resolve to find out whether love or politics was at the bottom of her death. Gill subtly makes us feel as though we really are in Ireland throughout this entire mystery. Whether describing the lovely Irish countryside or coast, Gill perfectly captures the charm of a country where a friendly Irish pub is a social club while at the same time showing political division. This is a good series with finely drawn characters, great atmosphere and just enough fun mixed in to make this a great read. Open up this McGarr mystery and enjoy some great food in scenic Ireland.

With this toast Chief Superintendent Peter McGarr of the Garda Soichana salutes his New York counterparts for helping him investigate IRA fund-raising in the U.S. to finance terrorism abroad. A seemingly straightforward investigation of the murder of a young Irish woman, stabbed to death with a wooden pitchfork on the Cliffs of Moher, has quickly turned into an international conspiracy involving secret cells of the IRA, money-laundering, and plans for a major terror attack in the Emerald Isle. McGarr's investigation of the murder of May Quirk, a reporter for a New York newspaper, reveals the wide variety of people affected by her death and their interactions--educated young Irish emigres now living in New York, sad and frustrated old folks tending small farms in County Clare, owners of local dance halls and pubs in Lahinch, misguided supporters of the IRA, crooks threatened by May's investigations, and even her German boyfriend with his Irish roots. McGarr, his wife Noreen, and his officers--Hugh Ward, Bernie McKeon, and Liam O'Shaughnessy--whom we know from two previous novels, continue to develop their personal relationships in parallel with the ongoing IRA investigation. McGarr, who is not averse to having a jar with the lads, even the bad lads, is an honest investigator who shows his emotions and is willing to get "down and dirty," if necessary. He himself admits to interpreting the law on terms that are "somehow fairer than the cold print on the pages of the law books," in order to effect a just outcome. The action is fast, the plot is exciting, and the characters, with all their quirks and idiosyncrasies, are unforgettable. Author Gill's eye for revealing detail, his colorful dialogue with all its colloquialisms, his perceptive recreation of unique settings and atmosphere, and the loving humor of his observations make this novel a lively and memorable evocation of characters and places we have come to know as part of this sixteen-book series. This novel has been recently reprinted under the title Death of an Irish Lass. Mary Whipple

With this toast Chief Superintendent Peter McGarr of the Garda Soichana salutes his New York counterparts for helping him investigate IRA fund-raising in the U.S. to finance terrorism abroad. A seemingly straightforward investigation of the murder of a young Irish woman, stabbed to death with a wooden pitchfork on the Cliffs of Moher, has quickly turned into an international conspiracy involving secret cells of the IRA, money-laundering, and plans for a major terror attack in the Emerald Isle. McGarr's investigation of the murder of May Quirk, a reporter for a New York newspaper, reveals the wide variety of people affected by her death and their interactions--educated young Irish emigres now living in New York, sad and frustrated old folks tending small farms in County Clare, owners of local dance halls and pubs in Lahinch, misguided supporters of the IRA, crooks threatened by May's investigations, and even her German boyfriend with his Irish roots. McGarr, his wife Noreen, and his officers--Hugh Ward, Bernie McKeon, and O'Shaughnessy--whom we know from previous novels, continue to develop their personal relationships in parallel with the ongoing IRA investigation. McGarr, who is not averse to having a jar with the lads, even the bad lads, is an honest investigator who shows his emotions and is willing to get "down and dirty," if necessary. He himself admits to interpreting the law on terms that are "somehow fairer than the cold print on the pages of the law books," in order to effect a just outcome. The action is fast, the plot is exciting, and the characters, with all their quirks and idiosyncrasies, are unforgettable.Author Gill's eye for revealing detail, his colorful dialogue with all its colloquialisms, his perceptive recreation of unique settings and atmosphere, and the loving humor of his observations make this novel a lively and memorable evocation of characters and places we have come to know as part of this fifteen-book series. Originally published in 1978 as McGarr and the Cliffs of Moher, this is a new reprint following the untimely death of the author in the summer of 2002. Mary Whipple