A dreary but well written book. I can appreciate why others would like it, but I guess I really do not like the detective genre

• Published: 2018
• Completed: 13/10/2023
• Pages: 380

Rúin is an intriguing detective story that links two apparent suicides that occurred more than 20 years apart. It is compelling and well written, but I resented my enjoyment of this bleak and gloomy novel.

The main characters in this novel by McTiernan are very well drawn. The detective Cormac Reilly and the bereaved Aisling are both complex and believable. Their development over the course of the novel is also great and I felt invested in their struggles. The villains are possibly a little under developed, but McTiernan still does a great job with them. The cruel and sadistic religious caretaker, Domenica Keane is a particularly loathsome figure.

The Ireland that the characters inhabit is also equally interesting. This backdrop was a fascinating slice of Irish culture and history. I do wonder if it is always that cold and rainy in Ireland though or whether this has been exaggerated for the purposes of the novel. If yes, I commend the constitution of locals who can withstand this relentless bad weather.

Despite all these strengths of the novel, I really struggled with the plot’s pacing. I feel at least the first two thirds of the novel meandered, taking too long with setting up the premise and the characters. This helped contribute to the novel’s realism, but made the last third seem rushed. As the nature of the mystery became revealed, I kept checking my progress through the book, worried that McTiernan would not have enough time to neatly resolve everything.

Ultimately this is not the sort of genre I would normally read. It is genuinely a very well crafted novel, but I think I found the subject matter too drab.

Quotes

“He was just a wrong one from the beginning” P365

Questions & Thoughts

Sincere forms of condolences – does convention bring more comfort to those attempting to comfort the truely grief stricken? “…sought refuge in convention – I’m so sorry for your loss”, P47

Incorrect age calculation of cold case victim. “If Maura had lived she would be fifty-six now.” P58, Should be 53 if she was 15 in 1975 and the current year is 2013

“…banh-mi yokes” P61, appreciate the correct spelling but don’t know what “yokes” means in this context?

Typography

I like the soft cover format of this book. Easy to read in bed

New Words

• Hurley
• Aga
• Wimple
• Rueful
• Yokes
• Camogie
• Cortège
• Gardaí
• Garda
• Dower House

Ratings

• Hayley: 7.5
• Kaye: 8
• Liz: –
• Sarah: 8
• Sally: –
• Thành: 6

Restaurant

Originally Finn Maccool’s Irish Pub

But finally The Good Tiger