The Ruin: A Novel (The Cormac Reilly)

by Dervla McTiernan

FROM INTERNATIONAL #1 BEST SELLING AUTHOR OF UPCOMING NOVEL, THE MURDER RULE

“Compelling, unexpected twists and a hold-your breath standoff . . . Hand this one to readers of Tana French and to police-procedural fans.” —Booklist
  
It's been twenty years since Detective Cormac Reilly discovered the body of Hilaria Blake in her crumbling home. But he's never forgotten the two children she left behind...

When Aisling Conroy's boyfriend Jack is found in the freezing black waters of the river Corrib in Ireland, the police tell her it was suicide. She throws herself into work, trying to forget—but Jack's sister Maude reappears in Ireland after years abroad, determined to prove Jack was murdered.

Meanwhile, Detective Cormac Reilly, who was recently transferred to Galway from his squad in Dublin, is assigned to dig into a cold case from twenty years ago—the seeming overdose of Jack and Maude's drug and alcohol addled mother. Other detectives are connecting Jack’s death to his mother’s, and pushing Reilly to arrest Maude, and fast. But instinct tells him something isn’t quite what it seems…

This unsettling small-town noir draws us deep into the dark heart of Ireland, where corruption, desperation, and crime run rife. A gritty look at trust and betrayal where the written law isn't the only one, The Ruin asks who will protect you when the authorities can't—or won't.

• ISBN10: 0143133128
• ISBN13: 9780143133124
• Publish Date: 3 July 2018 (first published 1 March 2018)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Penguin USA
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 400
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780143133124

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

3 1/2 Stars

The Ruin is the first in a new series, Cormac Reilly, by Dervia McTiernan. It was described as being perfect for fans of Tana French, and after having read this novel I can honestly say that this is an accurate statement. There were actually a couple of times where I stopped and double checked the author’s name, for I sincerely thought I was read a Tana French novel (specifically Into the Woods – the tone was very similar between the two novels).
I just want to say real quickly that I absolutely adore the cover to this novel. It’s beautiful and eerie at the same time, which is likely exactly what they were going for. I don’t know why, but I love thriller novel that use natural elements on their covers.



Warnings first: There’s talk of both suicide and rape during this novel. Being that one of the main characters is an Irish police officer, this probably shouldn’t come as a surprise. But still, consider yourself warned. Both are talked about as either after the fact or as theoretical, depending on the situation. Neither provides a terrible amount of detail, which in this case is a good thing.
When I started reading the Ruin I found myself immediately immersed in the new world on the pages. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s the truth. I actually ended up reading this novel entirely in one sitting, simply because I couldn’t bear to put it down.
I really loved that there are two cases, twenty years apart, tied together to make the foundation of this story. It adds depth and intrigue all at the same time. The complexity of both situations was fascinating, and in the end it turned out to be a rather difficult web to untangle.
I will say that thinking back on the matter; it is possible to spot many breadcrumbs to help lead us to the truth. It probably isn’t possibly to get the whole story until the end, but the villain is believable in that they’re seen ahead of time, their character is put into question again and again, and so on.
I do have a complaint or two about the novel, which is why I didn’t rate it higher (I wish I could have though). They were minor complaints mostly, and they just ended up stacking up over time. Despite that I honestly do think I’ll continue reading this series as it comes out. Too often I feel like I’m playing the catch-up game in a series I like, so I’m not going to get this one get away from me.


For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks