STATE PATHOLOGIST TERRY O’BRIEN IS ABOUT TO TAKE ON HER TOUGHEST ROLE YET.
– Deadly Evidence
[ About Deadly Evidence ]
Tasked with leading the Open Case Review Unit, her usual post-mortem work has been extended to cold-case investigation into unsolved suspicious deaths.
When a garda detective is murdered, his body mutilated and dumped on gangland ground, she is called in. As a large-scale investigation takes shape to hunt down the killers, Terry’s post-mortem uncovers uncomfortable evidence.
She soon finds herself up against the powers that be. But, as new evidence emerges from her cold-case work that impacts closer to home, this may be the least of her worries. Can the identity of her sister Jenny’s killer, all those years ago, be revealed? And are some truths best left buried?
[ My Review ]
Deadly Evidence by Marie Cassidy publishes October 2nd with Hachette Ireland and is described as ‘a gripping new crime thriller from this former State Pathologist and Number One bestselling author‘. I really enjoyed Marie Cassidy’s debut fiction novel Body of Truth which introduced us to the credible protagonist, State Pathologist Terry O’Brien. New to her role in Ireland she was faced with uncovering the truth behind a high-profile murder. In Deadly Evidence it all gets a little more personal when a member of An Garda Síochána is murdered, with his brutally mutilated body left exposed in an area associated with gangland crime. Immediate questions are asked as to why he was there leading Terry and the investigating team down a very dangerous path.
With a busy workload Terry is also asked to lead the Open Case Review Unit, in the hope of solving some cold-cases that have been languishing unresolved. But what Terry had not anticipated was the unearthing of evidence which could finally lead to the unravelling of the mystery surrounding her sister’s murder years previously in Glasgow, her home town. (Not a spoiler but I wasn’t completely convinced in how this element of the novel wrapped up)
Terry O’Brien has her demons and after being exposed to a ruthless individual in Body Of Truth, she has been left more vulnerable and on edge. She needs to see this madman locked away and, as his court case looms, she is distracted. Her closest colleagues and friends look out for her at all times but she has the reputation of being a bit of a loose canon, resulting in her getting into more than one difficult situation. Canny and unwavering in her quest for the truth she knows that she is about to ruffle some feathers among those in a position of power but Terry is relentless and, if justice is within her grasp, she is prepared to do anything to lock it in.
With Marie Cassidy’s personal experience as Ireland’s former State Pathologist, her books carry a very authentic vibe. Never one to shy away from the, at times, brutal landscape of society today, she always brings her engaging humour and wit to Terry’s personality. Exposing Terry’s vulnerabilities and giving the reader insights into her personal life adds an extra dimension to her character, enhancing the legitimacy of her story.
Intertwining multiple storylines adds to the pace of the novel keeping the reader engaged at all times, including a slow smouldering romance which should appeal to Jane Casey’s Maeve Kerrigan fans (IYKYK) As I mentioned in my review of Body of Truth, it is the plausibility of Terry O’Brien as a character which adds to the authenticity of the threads that tie these books together.
Deadly Evidence is another fine addition to this series. With the commanding presence of Terry O’Brien at the helm, I look forward to more stimulating investigations, with great dialogue and a believable plot.
[ Bio ]
During her 15-year career as Ireland’s State Pathologist, Marie Cassidy became known to the Irish public as a trusted figure whose expertise helped to solve murders and clarify unexplained deaths. In over thirty years of practice, she performed thousands of postmortems and dealt with hundreds of murders. She has witnessed the burgeoning role of forensic science and the impact that has had on death investigation and the expectations of the general public, while embracing new technology and welcoming the input of experts in the other sciences. She retired at the end of 2018 to spend more time on the other passions in her life, her family and writing.
Marie is the author of two number one bestselling books: her memoir Beyond the Tape (2020) and her debut novel Body of Truth.
A good one for crime fans out there.
Certainly is Rosie!