‘It began with Gail’s wedding, The one in the Oceanview Hotel in Moville. That was where they picked me up the first time.’
[ About The One You Least Suspect ]
Katie lives a quiet life. She likes her small Derry neighbourhood. She likes her job as a barmaid at O’Reillys. And she loves her daughter, Hope.
But everything changes when she is approached by two detectives. They want Katie to tell them the things she hears at work. To become their informant.
In this city, Katie knows the dangers of talking to the police. Yet with Hope’s safety at risk should she refuse, she is trapped between two impossible choices.
Crossing the O’Reilly brothers could cost her everything.
Her only chance of survival is if she can remain the one that they least suspect . . .
[ My Review ]
The One You Least Suspect by Brian McGilloway published May 8th with Constable and is described as ‘a gripping, heart-wrenching thriller that explores the fine line between right and wrong, justice and revenge, and how you choose your side when everyone is guilty . . .’
Jo Spain has said that Brian McGilloway is a ‘master of his art’ and I would wholeheartedly agree. From the opening pages I knew I was in very safe hands with this standalone novel set in Derry. The stage is set from the get-go, and the intensity of what’s ahead is palpable.
When Katie attends the wedding of a work colleague she is approached by two detectives who want her help. Katie works in O’Reillys bar. She keeps her nose clean and gets on with the job at hand. The owners of the pub are known to the police but the local community keep quiet as to any untoward activity that takes place there as they look after their own. Katie is conscious of the consequences of any form of betrayal so her initial reaction is one of a dismissive nature. But these detectives are relentless in their pursuit, forcing her hand and pushing her into something that is very much against her principles.
Katie loves her mother and her daughter Hope. Without them life would have little meaning, so when a threat arrives on her doorstep, her hand is forced. Now Katie must ensure that no suspicions are raised and no fingers point in her direction. Her position within the bar puts her in some dodgy situations but Kate has managed to roll with things up to now. But as a shift occurs, Katie starts to witness some events that she would rather not be exposed to.
What follows is very much a tense game of cat-and-mouse as Katie does her best to distract any attention away from herself and her family until when asked to carry out certain actions, Katie starts to experience real fear. Why are these detectives picking on her? What is it they are looking to uncover? Can Katie survive this terrorising ordeal?
Brian McGilloway creates an authentic and scary environment that shines a spotlight on the nefarious activities of the criminal underworld. Northern Ireland has had its fair share of troubles and in The One You Least Suspect we witness lives being manipulated and destroyed on all sides as Brian McGilloway takes his readers on an intense journey. Katie’s loyalties are split as she tries to stand firm to her views and values but, with the pressure colliding from all sides, she needs to have all her wits about her. Her sheer determination and will to survive are depicted with great clarity as a sense of urgency grips the reader. Katie is an ordinary person placed in an extraordinary situation. Can she outwit and survive this chain of events?
A sense of urgency runs through this compelling read, with Katie’s high-stakes race against time pushing the narrative forward. A thrilling read with lots to keep the reader engaged, The One You Least Suspect is an exciting page-turner, one that I highly recommend.
[Thank you to Plunkett PR and Hachette Ireland for a copy of The One You Least Suspect]
[ Bio ]
Brian McGilloway is the author of eleven crime novels including the Ben Devlin mysteries and the Lucy Black series, the first of which, Little Girl Lost, became a New York Times and UK No.1 bestseller. In addition to being shortlisted for a CWA Dagger and the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, he is a past recipient of the Ulster University McCrea Literary Award and won the BBC Tony Doyle Award for his screenplay, Little Emperors.
He currently teaches in Strabane, where he lives with his wife and four children.
