The Death of an Irish Sinner: A Peter McGarr Mystery

With the untimely death of Mark McGarrity (pen name, Bartholomew Gill) this is, unfortunately, the last McGarr.Fortunately, it was one of his best.This is certainly the darkest of the McGarr series. The characters are ageing, and all not gracefully; their foibles and weaknesses laid bare in sharp focus. McGarr wonders if he has held on too long, if the price he has paid now too dear.The murder of a wealthy religious biographer, and member of the Catholic secret society Opus Dei, begins a whirlwind plot that embroils all of the characters. Not much of a "who-dun-it", why and how the more fascinating questions.The end of the book is a shock for all long-time followers of the head of Dublin's "Murder Squad." The book has a nearly palpable sense of mortality that resonates even more given McGarrity/Gill's accidental death...Ah, lad, we'll miss ya!

As an avid fan of Bartholomew Gill, I eagerly awaited the new Peter McGarr novel. I was not disappointed; this is Gill's best work. As a librarian, I read extensively--this is one of the top novels I have read this year. Not to be missed.

I was almost late leaving for work, because I just couldn't put the book down. I had a little time left before I had to leave my house, and thought I'd read a few pages more -- I was half-way through the book -- well, a few pages more turned into many chapters more, and I had to scramble.I've read all the McGarr books, and loved them all, but this one was by far the best. The only slightly annoying thing in this outstanding mystery series, is that the characterizations change very abruptly. Bresnahan started out as cow-like, and now is a sex goddess. Hughie shouldn't be in his early forties. After all his eldest son is about 14 and he was conceived when Hughie was a college student. And wasn't Sinclair an important member of the squad? He now seems like a bit player.Anyway, that's minor stuff. The book is a terrific, fast-paced, exciting read. Go for it.

Father Fred Duggan informs Chief Superintendent Peter McGarr of the Dublin police that his benefactor Mary-Jo Stanton died under suspicious circumstances. Peter visits the Catholic compound owned by the deceased, who, on first observation, seems to have peacefully died while tending her garden. However, around the victim's neck is a cilicio, a medieval device that as it is tightens chokes a person.Peter immediately suspects Fred. However, he reconsiders his first opinion when local newspaper publisher Dery Parmalee claims that Mary-Jo was about to reveal a scandalous secret that would have destroyed the order. Dery does not seem sincere and hides something involving the case. Peter and his staff dig deeper into the life and death of Mary-Jo. They find powerful obstacles with even more powerful connections trying to end their inquiries because a conspiracy stretching back a decade to behind the Iron Curtain must never be revealed.Peter McGarr seems to have been around forever, but in his fifteenth appearance, the Dublin law enforcement official remains as fresh as he was over two decades ago. THE DEATH OF AN IRISH SINNER is an entertaining police procedural starring a fabulous lead character, an intriguing victim, and several viable suspects. As usual Bartholomew Gill provides readers with a wonderful Irish police procedural that will entice newcomers to search for McGarr's previous novels.Harriet Klausner

Those readers who have followed Chief Superintendent Peter McGarr Of the Dublin police and his fascinating wife Noreen will find this book to be another good read - lovely Irish settings, familiar characters from the police force and incredibly evil killers, determined to keep their secrets at all costs. The ending of this book is a real shocker! This series is just wonderful, you can't stop until you have read them all.