The Good Turn

Detective Cormac Reilly faces pressure from his superiors in Galway when his colleague Peter Fisher makes a questionable judgment call during a child abduction case. After the incident, Fisher is reassigned to a small coastal town where his father serves as the local sergeant. While Fisher grapples with his new position and strained relationship with his father, he discovers connections between a murder case and broader criminal activities. Meanwhile in Galway, Reilly continues investigating despite increasing obstacles and resistance from within the police force. The parallel investigations in both locations reveal a network of corruption and long-buried secrets that threaten both detectives' careers. The story moves between Fisher and Reilly's perspectives as they navigate professional challenges and personal loyalties. This third installment in the Cormac Reilly series examines themes of institutional power, family bonds, and the cost of integrity in law enforcement. The novel raises questions about justice and accountability in systems designed to protect the public.

Readers call this a satisfying continuation of the Cormac Reilly series, with tighter plotting than the previous books. Many note it works well as a standalone despite being book #3. Likes: - Complex, interweaving storylines that connect smoothly - Strong character development of both Reilly and Fisher - Fast pace with rising tension - Authentic portrayal of police procedure and Irish setting Dislikes: - Some found the multiple perspectives confusing early on - A few readers wanted more closure on certain subplot threads - Several mention the ending feels rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (16,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (3,800+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4.5/5 Representative review: "The parallel investigations create great suspense as the seemingly unrelated cases begin to intersect. McTiernan excels at showing the personal toll of police work while maintaining momentum." - Goodreads reviewer

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🔍 Author Dervla McTiernan worked as a lawyer for twelve years before becoming a full-time writer, including practicing corporate law in both Ireland and Australia. 📚 The Good Turn is the third book in the Cormac Reilly detective series, following The Ruin and The Scholar. 🏆 The book reached #1 on the Irish Times bestseller list and was shortlisted for the 2021 Davitt Award for Best Adult Crime Novel. 🌍 Though McTiernan now lives in Australia, she sets her crime novels in Galway, Ireland, drawing from her experiences growing up in County Cork. 🎯 The novel explores themes of police corruption and institutional power, inspired in part by real-world cases of misconduct in police forces around the world.