This is a thriller set mostly in Northern Ireland in 2011. The protagonist is Killian, an enforcer for various criminal elements, who tried to leave "the life" but has returned after falling into debt due to the Irish housing crisis of that era. He does a simple job in Massachusetts, displaying a knack for using minimal force in collecting on a debt. He's then contracted to find a woman, Rachel, the ex-wife of a wealthy Irish businessman, who has run off with their two young daughters. But it turns out that Rachel has also taken a mysterious laptop that seems to have some incriminating evidence against her ex-husband, the nature of which is revealed near the end of the book.

Killian plays cat and mouse with young Russian killer, who appears to have been sent by the businessman's people too, and who has more lethal instructions.

The book moves along great- I read it on an airplane, and it was perfect for that purpose. We learn a bit about Northern Ireland, and about the "tinkers" or Pavee people, a gypsy-like people distinct from other Irish. The spycraft if pretty good too. This is my first McGinty book, so I don't know how of if this fits in with others he's written. Looking forward to finding out. ( )

It's an engaging story. The characters all feel real. We become attached to them. Even the bad 'bad guy' hitman has a redeeming feature. (Does it make us like him, no, but anyway, he's not totally evil)
Do I know anything about Ireland, and the IRA and the political sitch there, then? Or now? Nope, not a clue. And that had no effect on my enjoyment of this story.
It's a good story. The pacing is decent, there is a bit of suspense and, while there isn't really a whodunit question present, you will still want to see how it all turns out. ( )

Purchased from CHIRP
Like author’s writing and characters. Exciting (frightening) and engages reader quickly and keeps up interest and concern. ( )

Excellent. It reminded me a lot of McKinty's Detective Sean Duffy series, which I loved. I was invested in the characters, I couldn't wait to find out what happened next, it was just very well written. ( )

The story starts strangely, jerkily, as McKinty switches between narrators unnecessarily. But it is always readable, and smooths out by about halfway through. I thought that the ending was a little drawn out, but by then I appreciated the extra time with Killian. ( )