The Wrong Kind of Blood

Private investigator Ed Loy returns to Dublin after 20 years in Los Angeles to attend his mother's funeral. A woman hires him to find her missing husband, pulling him into a case that forces him to confront both the changed city and his own past. The investigation leads Loy through Dublin's affluent suburbs and criminal underworld, revealing connections to powerful families and old secrets. He must navigate a complex web of property developers, organized crime, and buried history from the 1980s. As he digs deeper, Loy uncovers layers of corruption and violence beneath Dublin's prosperous surface. The case becomes increasingly personal, testing his relationships and challenging his understanding of the place he once called home. The novel examines themes of belonging, memory, and the impact of Ireland's economic transformation on its culture and values. Through its noir lens, it captures a specific moment in Celtic Tiger-era Dublin while exploring universal questions about the price of progress and the weight of the past.

Readers frequently compare The Wrong Kind of Blood to Raymond Chandler's work, noting its noir style and gritty Dublin setting. Many reviews mention the authentic portrayal of Celtic Tiger-era Ireland and the depth of the main character Ed Loy. Readers appreciated: - Complex, layered mystery plot - Vivid descriptions of Dublin neighborhoods - Strong sense of time and place - Sharp dialogue Common criticisms: - Too many characters to track - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the violence excessive - Plot becomes convoluted toward end Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (90+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "Hughes captures Dublin's dark underbelly perfectly - you can smell the Guinness and feel the rain." -Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted similarities to Ken Bruen's Jack Taylor series but found Hughes's writing style more polished and traditional in structure.

In The Woods by Tana French A Dublin murder detective confronts a case that connects to his own troubled past in a story that blends personal history with police work in modern Ireland.

The Guards by Ken Bruen A former Irish police officer turned private investigator works cases in Galway while battling his own demons and the darkness of Celtic Tiger Ireland.

Every Dead Thing by John Connolly A former New York police detective searches for his family's killer through cases that take him between the U.S. and Ireland, mixing noir elements with Celtic mythology.

Mystery Man by Colin Bateman A Belfast bookshop owner becomes an accidental private investigator when he inherits cases from the detective agency next door, creating a noir tale in Northern Ireland.

Faithful Place by Tana French A Dublin cold case detective reopens an investigation in his old working-class neighborhood, forcing him to confront family secrets and childhood wounds.

📚 This book launched Declan Hughes's Ed Loy detective series, drawing on his extensive experience as a theater director and playwright in Dublin. 🔍 The novel's title "The Wrong Kind of Blood" refers not only to murder but also to family ties and inheritance—major themes throughout the story. 🏆 Hughes has been called "Ireland's answer to Chandler and Ross MacDonald" by notable crime fiction critics, as he brings hardboiled noir style to Dublin's streets. 🎭 Before becoming a crime novelist, Hughes co-founded Rough Magic Theatre Company, one of Ireland's most respected theater companies. 🌃 The book's Dublin setting shows both the traditional face of the city and its rapid transformation during the Celtic Tiger economic boom, creating a stark contrast between old and new Ireland.