Ostensibly, when a crime is committed in this area the An Garda and the Police Service of Northern Ireland work together on the case. On a Saturday shortly before Christmas in 2002 the body of a teenager, Angela Cashell, is found straddling the border between the two countries.

The fact that the girl was recognized quickly is not surprising. Her father had spent many a night in the small police station recovering from his drunk and disorderly behavior. Devlin is assigned the lead detective role in the case by his superior, Superintendent Costello. He is not pleased with the assignment. Apart from the fact that he was looking forward to spending some time with his wife and young children over Christmas, Cashell has recently been picked up. He and his brothers had set fire to an itinerant laborers’ campsite driving several families out into the cold. Devlin suspects that Cashell and his brothers think that someone within the camp is responsible for Angela’s murder, but Cashell harbors great animosity for the law and resolutely refuses to answer any questions.

As the case progresses, one of the young itinerants who had connections to Angela, Whitey McKelvey, is questioned. McKelvey in his anger against Devlin bites him. Devlin retaliates against his better judgment causing some bruising to the young man. McKelvey is taken into custody to spend the night in jail. The small staff of policemen divide up the duty of taking care of the prisoner on Christmas Eve. Devlin pulls an early shift, allowing him to return to his family for church services and getting ready for the big day ahead for his children. To his regret, he does not check on McKelvey as he leaves only to find out the young man has been found dead in his cell the next morning.

Because of the common setting it is tempting to compare this novel with the works of Ken Bruen. Though they have common elements Bruen’s work is much more polished. McGilloway does a creditable job of describing how Au Garda works and the relationship of the police forces in Northern and Southern Ireland. He also explains some Irish traditions. The fact that the murder victim is a traditional Irish girl provides the conditions for an elaborated description of an Irish wake.

The personality of the main protagonist, Ben Devlin is clearly delineated. Though he is basically a good and honest man, he is susceptible to anger when he lashes out against Whitey McKelvey, an action he regrets when he has pause to think. He is equally susceptible to the charms of women other than his wife for which he is ashamed. He tries hard, but he is human.

Though the plot is not overly complex, there are many pages of explanation as the story draws to a close. This situation suggests that the author is a bit stingy with the planting of clues earlier on in the book. It is much more satisfying to come to the conclusion with the realization of how the clues lead to the resolution of the problem, whether or not the reader recognizes them and puts them together as the author intended. The fact that the solution is possible and plausible is good, but it is better if the reader is forced to apply his mind to figure it out for himself.

All in all this first novel is an insightful look into the Irish justice system and a glimpse at life in rural Ireland.

--Andy Plonka