4 out of 4 stars
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11.05 Murders is a thrilling crime novel written by Dr. Brain O’Hare and this is the second book in the Inspector Sheehan Mysteries. The novel begins with a sexual assault at a local university party, but unfolds into a murder mystery decades later. The main character of the story is Detective Sergeant Denise Stewart of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. She has recently transferred from a prior post in Lisbon, where she was subjected to sexual harassment and witnessed corruption. As she begins work at a new post as a Detective in Strandtown’s Serious Crimes Division, she tries to reassemble her life and continue her career as a police officer. At first, Detective Stewart is viewed as “prickly” among many of her colleagues due to her abrasive personality and defensiveness. Slowly, her walls begin to come down as she reevaluates her ideas about her male teammates and learns to heal from her prior traumatic experiences.
The main character of the book was believable and the struggles that she faced while investigating the murders was evident throughout the book. The description of Detective Stewart was well-researched and her background perfectly fit into our current times. She was a complex and hardworking woman which made her a realistic representation as a female officer in a largely male dominated job sector.
The book examines the different forms that love can take and the ways in which it can turn bad. I loved this book from the moment that I started it because of the author’s suspense. As I was reading, I developed many hypotheses, but I could never accurately guess what was going to happen. While reading the book, I could picture the interrogation rooms and the hours that were spent trying to find the killer. My favorite part was the author’s description of the beauty of Northern Ireland, including the endless green hills. I could see this book being adapted into a movie or as an episode for a crime series.
The author used his knowledge as a professor to highlight the complexities of the human mind. The plot and the uniqueness of each character made the story appear as if it was a telling of an actual crime. Dr. O’Hare created multiple storylines and subplots to enhance the books believably. It was only at the end did I realize that these stories connected to the theme of the book.
I rate 11.05 Murders 4 out of 4 stars because of the book’s realistic depiction of human emotions and thought processes. I would recommend this book to any adult readers who enjoy crime and mystery novels. I hope to read more of the author’s books in the future, including the other Inspector Sheehan Mysteries novels.
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The 11.05 Murders
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