Published By: Canelo
Pages: 332
Released On: 19/02/2026
The murder of an innocent shakes Ireland to its core.
One cold January morning in 1980, on a beach in Kerry, the body of a newborn baby is found in its most sheltered sand dune. Local Garda Mary Shea is first on the scene.
Such a case calls for more than small town policing, and the Dublin major crimes team is brought in to take charge. But there’s a way of doing things in Kerry, one which Mary understands well. And when she is able to get crucial female witnesses to cooperate, lead detective Matt Foley takes her under his wing. This is the biggest case of his career and he needs all the help he can get.
Mary finds more questions than answers and it becomes clear many locals conduct secret lives – but who would do such a thing?
*****
Thanks to Canelo for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review. I was lucky enough to receive a proof of this at the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Festival 2025.
Oh how this book angered me. Not in terms of the writing or the book itself as if it was a bad book, but at the unfairness in the story. I know it’s based 40+ years ago and that was a different time, but the casual sexism and sexual misconduct, homophobia, domestic violence, political unrest – it was so full on that I found myself getting pissed off with it (in the best way).
For me, Mary is the star of this book. She’s a female police officer, which in 1980s Ireland was very rare, and unfortunately she is seen as nothing more than a glorified ta maker. But she is good at her job, she wants to help, and she trusts her gut, even if it means standing up to those with more power. She is a star, one of the best written characters I’ve read.
I was really worried this would be a very sad book. I mean, a dead newborn baby is not exactly ripe for a comedy. It is sad but it doesn’t get too uncomfortable, I never felt I had to look away, but I won’t pretend, this is a hard book to read. But I think she’s balanced it well.
Now I am not a night owl, instead I am a permanently exhausted pigeon who likes to be tucked up in be by 9, and yet I read this into the early hours it was so addictive.
It is full of twists and turns but none feel too much. It keeps you on your toes, and you’re not sure who to trust or what to believe.
Whilst this isn’t her debut novel, I believe it is her debut thriller, and what an achievement it is. I think she should definitely pursue this more in her future books.
Yes it’s about a dead child, that’s the heart of the story and we shouldn’t forget that. But it’s more than that. It’s about community, family, friendship, finding your place, standing up for yourself, proving yourself, trusting your instant. Just fabulous.
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