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The Cold, Cold Ground
- Detective Sean Duffy, Book 1
- Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
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The Cold, Cold Ground
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Summary
Fast-paced, evocative, and brutal, The Cold Cold Ground is a brilliant depiction of Belfast at the height of the Troubles — and of a cop treading a thin, thin line —from The New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author Adrian McKinty.
“McKinty is one of the most striking and most memorable crime voices to emerge on the scene in years.” —Tana French
Northern Ireland, spring 1981. Hunger strikes, riots, power cuts, a homophobic serial killer with a penchant for opera, and a young woman’s suicide that may yet turn out to be murder: on the surface, the events are unconnected, but then things—and people—aren’t always what they seem. Detective Sergeant Duffy is the man tasked with trying to get to the bottom of it all. It’s no easy job—especially when it turns out that one of the victims was involved in the IRA but was last seen discussing business with someone from the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force. Add to this the fact that, as a Catholic policeman, it doesn’t matter which side he’s on, because nobody trusts him, and Sergeant Duffy really is in a no-win situation.
Critic reviews
What listeners say about The Cold, Cold Ground
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Annie
- 26-12-16
I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book!
I loved the voice of the reader. I liked the way that the story tied in with the Irish troubles. I knew something about these times, as an outsider.
I was held by the story, gradually drawn in.
I would def listen to another!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-12-12
Lord knows the Troubles I've seen
Enjoyable story, well narrated. Gives a great snapshot of a time and a place. Who'd have been in the RUC? Grim business and an unusual perspective
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- GORDON
- 16-01-15
Brilliant
Second time round and just as good. Great story, fascinating characters, interesting setting (time/place) and I could listen to Doyle recite the phone book. Love it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Katy
- 03-06-23
Brilliant but not for garden listening
The only problem with it is the short but graphic sex scenes so it couldn't be listened to in the garden unless you don't mind what the neighbours think or want to take the chance on starting a rumour about yourself. There must be a rule the author observes to explain the scenes inclusion. Still, I'll not be put off by them and intend to listen to all of his books in due course. The cultural and historical references, the plot with its proper resolution, really work for me.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- I W ROBINSON
- 16-11-23
Bleak humour but excellent
The author manages to portray a time before mobile phones where very often it was necessary to ask a perpetrator/victim if you might use their phone and manages with humour to portray the abject bleakness of Belfast/Ulster a book That deserves to be read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 16-01-24
For once the killer wasn't apparent from the get go
The storyline kept you guessing. It felt like you were there in Ireland during the bombings and protests and the cold non stop rain.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ellie Fergusson
- 02-04-24
Fantastic book
I’m only on chapter 8 but so far this is the best book I’ve ever listened to. The narrator is great, and the book is so well written. Can’t wait to listen to the next one in the series.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann D
- 08-12-18
Great stuff!
This is a great story, well written, with richly drawn characters. The context of Northern Ireland in 1981 is central to this story, but is also another story in it’s own right. Gerard Doyle’s narration is faultless. I am delighted to have found this, as it is the first in a series with the same narrator. I’m looking forward to many hours of listening pleasure ahead.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Digitalconvert
- 28-07-19
an entertaining read
really enjoyed the narrator, and the story was good. Not amongst the best crime dramas though, although I would recommend this if looking for something short and simple.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Caroline
- 22-12-18
Good beginning, good ending.
This was a boring book overall. The beginning was very good but that just made me feel even more let down when it all started to go wrong. The only thing that kept me reading was imagining the main character was Jamie Dornan. The end was good but not good enough to have to slog through to reach it.
The second detective plot in a row I've listened to with no back story to keep you hooked in. There's only the one story thread - a murder plot - in this book which, to me, means it's poorly constructed no matter how well written it is, how well researched it is or how much historical fact it contains.
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1 person found this helpful