REVIEW

The Sisters, Dervla McTiernan

Reviewed By
Karen Chisholm

Flagged as a prequel to McTiernan's acclaimed THE RUIN, THE SISTERS is an audible only novella, set 10 years before the first Cormack Reilly book THE RUIN, which was followed by THE SCHOLAR. McTiernan's two series books have met with considerable acclaim in all parts, and THE SISTERS is very loosely (by the lightest of threads) connected to these. It's really the story of bright-young-copper Carrie Ryan and her sister, newly qualified barrister Aifric whose work collides when Aifric takes on the defence of a man charged with the murder of his girlfriend, and Carrie interferes in an investigation that both sisters aren't convinced was properly conducted at the time.

It's a good little story with the concentration very much on the two sisters, who you can't help but hope are being considered for more in the future. The narrator is easy to follow, the twists and turns of the investigation nicely laid out, with some salient points being made about discrimination against women, and the challenges of learn as you go law and order. The style is perhaps a little on the subdued side though, and you may struggle a little getting to really know the main characters in such a short, sharp undertaking, especially as the ending arrived way before I was ready for it :) About 3 hour's listening in total, THE SISTERS is available for free on Audible if you have a monthly subscription. 

BOOK DETAILS
BOOK INFORMATION
ISBN
B07W8WY88T
Year of Publication
BLURB

Two sisters climbing the ranks of Dublin’s criminal justice system. A murder case that could change their lives forever. The Sisters is a gripping new thriller from one of the most exciting voices in crime fiction.

In this prequel to the international bestseller The Ruin, set 10 years prior, bright-eyed Carrie Ryan is at the very start of her career. When she has a hunch about an ongoing murder investigation, she knows it could be her only chance to prove herself and truly break into the “boy’s club” of Dublin’s police force. 

Carrie uncovers this make-or-break moment in a case file her sister Aifric, a newly qualified barrister, leaves on their kitchen counter: Robert Collins has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend after a fight in a local pub, and all signs point towards a guilty verdict. But both sisters quickly begin to find evidence that complicates the story. All the while, Carrie is very aware that she’s crossed the line – if the detective sergeant running the investigation finds out she’s been messing around with his case, her career will be over before it has begun. 

Review The Sisters, Dervla McTiernan
Karen Chisholm
Tuesday, November 19, 2019

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