‘The Detective Up Late’ By Adrian McKinty – Sean Duffy Series

‘The Detective Up Late’ by Adrian McKinty (Book 7 Sean Duffy series 2023)

What a guy, what a book! I am talking about the author as well as the character. Straight to hardcover edition. I have read all Adrian McKinty’s novels but none so brilliant, clever, absorbing and addictive as Detective Inspector Sean Duffy of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Somehow Sean Duffy of Carrickfergus RUC is grounded, he tries to keep his humanity intact and his reality in focus but the halo frequently slips. I read the books in order (hanging out for each new publication) and got a strong sense of personality and practice, of common law and uncommon citizens, e.g. rioting and retaliation, cons, crooks and criminal matters that police deal with on a daily basis. Often a bit of Duffy tongue-in-cheekiness is thrown into the mix “Radio 2 was playing ‘Ebony and Ivory’ over in the Incident Room. I sat up and paid attention. I liked to hate that song” thinks Duffy.

What’s this story about? Well, McKinty’s book titles refer to songs. This title is derived from a Tom Waits song “Bad as Me” and fits well among the irony and dark observations. DI Duffy comes back from an Israel holiday to workplace boredom (nobody wants his bottles of holy water) until a missing Traveller girl Katrina McAtamney tweaks interest. Is she dead or alive? Like real life, Duffy’s work colleague Detective Sergeant “Crabbie” McCrabban is easing himself towards retirement and Detective Sergeant Alexander Lawson is settling in. I got the feeling Lawson’s the token “woman” cop in the story even though WPC Warren is seconded? Characters are diverse and leads are chased; suspects interviewed and statements are fully dissected. A big piece of evidence is discovered. Plenty of lead-chasing work back-and-forth from the cop shop but nothing brings the teenage girl’s whereabouts any nearer or clues any clearer.

During the 1980s I watched Irish TV news bulletins covering The Troubles but was removed from the IRA Belfast horrors. All I remember is the nightly updates “more bombings”. Now, thanks to McKinty and Duffy, a literary picture has been painted and it’s thought-provoking. Yeah, time moves on, now 1990, but Duffy still checks under his car for tilt bombs. Beware, Sean Duffy is not a squeaky clean cop. Although he now has a more “normal” homelife with Beth and little Emma, involving ferry crossings back and forth, he still gets righteously angry. This is tempered by his deep knowledge of music and literature and his strong sense of justice, even as he tweaks the rules and infers dire consequences on hapless suspects. Probably couldn’t get away with it now. And be prepared for swearing at appropriate times, although surprisingly none when they got lost in Coventry’s one-way street system enroute to an interview.

Author Adrian McKinty’s literary identifier, e.g. intertextuality and breaking the fourth wall, does not detract from this compelling story. They drew me through the story. See Chapter 18 “The Fourth Floor” for an excellent example. Apart from Sean’s unsubtle quotations, look for what I think are appropriate genre nods. A nice balance exists between high action, soft moments, cops-and-criminals, scenery and settings, using quick screenplay-scripted dialogue which at times can be philosophical or a tad predictable like the syrupy ending. You may never see me write it again but Sean Duffy could make a great character in a prime time Éire/UK television series. This is reflected in varying locations and grim humour. A strong actor could follow the threads, face the slog of interviewing, the hope of a confession, the tension of a life-and-death encounter.

You know how some crime books just click, you are absorbed into the story? Well, that’s what I find when I read Adrian McKinty’s work. Overall, the clues are there to identify the killer. Enjoy reading this investigative tale for yourself—and take a guess if it will really be the final book.

❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward

Sean Duffy
   1. The Cold, Cold Ground (2012)
   2. I Hear the Sirens in the Street (2013)
   3. In the Morning I’ll be Gone (2014)
   4. Gun Street Girl (2015)
   5. Rain Dogs (2015)
   6. Police at the Station And They Don’t Look Friendly (2017)
   7. The Detective Up Late (2023)

Adrian McKinty—Author
Adrian McKinty was born and grew up in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. After studying philosophy at Oxford University he emigrated to New York City where he lived in Harlem for six years working in bars, bookstores, building sites and finally the basement stacks of the Columbia University Medical School Library in Washington Heights. In 2000 he moved to Denver, Colorado where he taught high school English and started writing fiction in earnest. In 2008 he moved to St. Kilda, Melbourne Australia with his wife and two children. In 2023 he is currently residing in New York City with his family. He has written numerous other books and won numerous literary awards.
Visit his official website for more details:
https://officialadrianmckinty.com/

‘Rain Dogs’ by Adrian McKinty

It’s 1987 and things are still nasty in riot-torn Northern Ireland. The Troubles in Ulster won’t go away. A dreaded mercury tilt bomb causes a fatality in the Royal Ulster Constabulary ranks when least expected. In fact, many things happen when least expected. The old ‘dead body in the locked room’ scenario rears its ugly head again. The unassailable Carrickfergus Castle location is picturesque but the freaky circumstances are not. Pretty reporter Lily Bigelow’s body is found sprawled in the snowy courtyard at the base of the castle keep. The castle is locked. Nobody went in and nobody came out, so what’s the deal? The facts don’t add up and it’s a case of did she fall or was she pushed?

Northern Ireland Map Without much to go on, DI Sean Duffy of Carrickfergus RUC uses dogged police work, video tape footage, and many repeat suspect interviews, until small pieces slowly emerge. There is an outline to this puzzle but can it be filled in? Convincing evidence is hard to come by. Much in all as I love Sean, I do think he took two matters at face value even though I was shouting at him to double check. And he does appear to be maturing, perhaps a little bit more circumspect, managing to curb his anger when insulted by hostile Larne CID Chief Inspector Kennedy at a horrific crime scene.

We are left to wonder what part Sean’s old friend and ex-cop Tony McIlroy has to play in his role as protector of the visiting Finnish delegation Mr Laakso Mr Ek & Company. They are on a tight schedule, which involves finding a suitable factory location to manufacture Lennätin mobile phones, so these dignitaries are unhappy when Mr Laakso’s wallet is stolen. Sean is unhappy too. More so later when he has to interview them on the ice-road island of Hailuoto near Oulu in Finland.

The series regulars appear, solid unattractive Sergeant McCrabban and intelligent handsome DC Lawson who steals the limelight with a couple of excellent ideas. Some of my favourite cameos are from vague Chief Inspector McArthur and major irritant Sergeant Dalziel (gotta wonder about that name) and Sean’s lady love Beth plus the ever-delightful Mrs Campbell from nextdoor, married with kids but oh-so-smouldering. The only thing which grated on me was the dead giveaway of the chapter titles. I like them a bit more esoteric.

It seemed to be the year for paedophilia in crime fiction; the RUC Sex Crimes Unit at Newtownabbey gets involved and Jimmy Savile puts in an appearance. On a different note, Belfast has a visit from world heavyweight boxer The Champ, Muhammed Ali. I do enjoy Adrian McKinty’s diversions, these little re-writings of history. I wouldn’t class Rain Dogs as a scary thriller but in a gripping scene, Sean knew he ‘was afraid and fear releases power. Fear is the precursor of action’. McKinty also writes the dread and tedium of everyday life in succinct wording (without me needing grim online images) and Sean’s days are peppered with music and references. Which incidentally are where the titles of the books are derived.

Now living in Australia, Irish-born author Adrian McKinty has again worked his magic with Sean, maybe with a little help from St Michael (or St Francis de Sales) and no doubt book six in the Sean Duffy series Police At The Station And They Don’t Look Friendly is equally as good. At least I hope so because I don’t think readers are ready to kiss this Carrickfergus detective goodbye just yet. I can recommend Rain Dogs if you want to sink your canines into a distinctively styled crime novel.

Books in the Sean Duffy series: