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Title details for Too Close to Breathe by Olivia Kiernan - Available

Too Close to Breathe

A Novel

by Olivia Kiernan
Brona C. Titley
Audiobook
1 of 2 copies available
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1 of 2 copies available
Olivia Kiernan’s tautly written debut novel immerses readers in a chilling murder case...and the tantalizing, enigmatic victim at the center of it all.
In a quiet Dublin suburb, within her pristine home, Eleanor Costello is found hanging from a rope.
Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan would be more than happy to declare it a suicide. Four months earlier, Frankie’s pursuit of a killer almost ended her life and she isn’t keen on investigating another homicide. But the autopsy reveals poorly healed bones and old stab wounds, absent from medical records. A new cut is carefully, deliberately covered in paint. Eleanor’s husband, Peter, is unreachable, missing. A search of the couple’s home reveals only two signs of personality: a much-loved book on art and a laptop with access to the Dark Web.
With the suspect pool growing, the carefully crafted profile of the victim crumbling with each new lead, and mysterious calls to Frankie’s phone implying that the killer is closer than anyone would like, all Frankie knows is that Eleanor guarded her secrets as closely in life as she does in death.
As the investigation grows more challenging, Frankie can’t help but feel that something doesn’t fit. And when another woman is found murdered, the same paint on her corpse, Frankie knows that unraveling Eleanor’s life is the only way to find the murderer before he claims another victim...or finishes the fate Frankie only just managed to escape.
Engrossing, complex, and atmospheric, Olivia Kiernan’s debut novel will leave you breathless.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    April 3, 2018

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780525593881
      • File size: 266355 KB
      • Duration: 09:14:54

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 26, 2018
      Det. Chief Supt. Frankie Sheehan, the heroine of Irish author Kiernan’s solid debut, has recovered sufficiently from being gravely wounded in the line of duty to investigate the apparent suicide of Eleanor Costello at her Dublin home, but a closer look at the body shows it’s a clever murder. Digging into Eleanor’s life and searching for her missing husband uncovers plenty of secrets—and indicates she wasn’t as straitlaced as she appeared. When the body of another woman turns up, Sheehan quickly discovers that the two are connected through Eleanor’s husband, and a snuff video of the last victim leads the police into some sinister places on the dark web. Meanwhile, the case that left Sheehan injured and still a bit shaky is coming up for trial, but she suddenly isn’t so sure the authorities have charged the right person after all. The intersection of the two cases feels too convenient, and Sheehan’s post-trauma troubles offer nothing new. Still, likable characters, strong pacing, and the appealing Dublin locale bode well for any sequel. Agent: Susan Armstrong, C&W Agency (U.K.).

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The skillful narration of Brona C. Titley is the best feature of this mystery, which includes graphic descriptions of murder and an unappealing protagonist, Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan. Despite being a debut, Sheehan's backstory dominates much of the narrative. Titley is a plausible Sheehan and is successful in depticing his dedicated team of officers as they investigate a series of murders in Dublin. Well-rendered city descriptions lighten the atmosphere as the body count rises and the dark web adds a bizarre element to the plot. Titley's best creation is unassuming witness Tom Quinn, a guileless farmer who is a sharp contrast to the sometimes intimidating city dwellers. Listeners will be fascinated by the depictions of Irish life and detailed police procedures but annoyed by the story's dubious conclusion. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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