John Parker is a Graduate-qualified English/Spanish Teacher, owner and director of CHAT ENGLISH, an English Language Centre in Avilés on the north coast of Spain . A voracious reader, he has particularly loved horror fiction for many years.
This is the third DS Claire Boyle thriller. While attending a doctor’s appointment, Claire finds herself caught up in a hostage situation in the surgery of her doctor, Heather Gilmore. At almost the same time, Leah, Gilmore’s daughter, is ambushed and kidnapped while out running.
The connection between the two incidents turns out to be a woman called Eileen Delaney. Delaney and Gilmore were best friends a few decades ago in the past but something happened to drive them apart and end their relationship. It is up to Sergeant Boyle to resolve the situation and find Leah before it is too late.
Crowley’s book is a remarkably well-paced police procedural. Interwoven into the present-day story is the tale of how Heather and Eileen meet. Both end up following very different paths in their lives. Heather finds success along with financial and marital stability in recession-hit Ireland while Eileen is not so lucky. The key to the present day situation and the whereabouts of Leah lies hidden in the past. Crowley keeps the intrigue going right up to the end as we come to realise that things are getting out of hand and Leah’s life is in the balance.
Meanwhile, there is also time to flesh out the characters of Claire and her husband, Matt who have marital issues to solve. Bringing up a child is never easy but house-husband Matt copes well. The problem is the dangerous job that Claire does for a living and the lack of her presence when her child is young and in need of motherly love. Despite all the tension at home, Boyle has to sacrifice family for work. What will it cost her?
Overall, this is a fine thriller that is worth your time and money.
