Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly

Detective Sean Duffy returns in this sixth installment of Adrian McKinty's Northern Ireland crime series set in 1988. The Catholic detective faces danger when he investigates a murder involving a drug dealer who was killed with a crossbow. While pursuing the case through Belfast's criminal underworld, Duffy must also navigate the politics and sectarian tensions of The Troubles. His position as a Catholic officer in the Protestant-dominated Royal Ulster Constabulary puts him at constant risk, requiring him to check under his car for bombs each morning. The investigation leads Duffy through a maze of paramilitary connections, corrupt officials, and personal threats. His determination to solve the crime puts strain on his relationship with his girlfriend Beth and their young daughter. This noir police procedural examines themes of loyalty, justice, and survival in a divided society. The story captures both the dark reality of living amid constant conflict and the persistence of human connections despite systemic violence.

Readers describe this as one of the stronger entries in the Sean Duffy series, with many noting it maintains the quality through book 6. Reviews highlight McKinty's mix of dark humor with serious subject matter and his portrayal of 1980s Northern Ireland. Likes: - Authentic details of life during The Troubles - Complex plotting that ties together multiple threads - Sharp dialogue and Duffy's sardonic observations - Historical context woven naturally into narrative Dislikes: - Some found the pacing slower than previous books - A few readers mention trouble following the political background - Several note it's not ideal as an entry point to the series Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (3,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,000+ ratings) "McKinty nails both the police procedural aspects and the deeper character moments," notes one Amazon reviewer. Multiple Goodreads reviews praise the blend of historical fact with fiction, though some mention needing to Google references to follow certain plot points.

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🔍 This book is the sixth and final installment in Adrian McKinty's Sean Duffy series, set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. 🏆 McKinty drew inspiration for the title from a Tom Waits song lyric in "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis." 🌍 The author grew up in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland—the same town where his protagonist Detective Sean Duffy lives and works. ⚔️ The novel takes place in 1988, during a particularly tense period of The Troubles when assassination attempts against police officers were common practice. 🚗 Like all books in the series, Detective Duffy maintains the habit of checking under his car for mercury-tilt bombs before getting in—a real practice used by police officers during The Troubles.