Review by Slingrider 10 -- The 11.05 Murders

[Slingrider 10]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The 11.05 Murders" by Brian O'Hare.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The book is riveting. I am referring to The 11:05 Murders by Brian O’Hare, published by Crimson Cloak Publishing. The book’s prologue allows the reader to witness a premeditated crime by the most base of individuals against a victim of tender innocence. Rage and desire for justice thrust the reader and law enforcers within the story into a mutual quest for answers. Presented as a work of fiction, the 378-page story features action and descriptions so detailed you will believe the situation to be real – thus, the first rivet begins with the prologue.

Central characters are Chief Inspector James Sheehan and Detective Sergeant Denise Stewart. Other members of Sheehan’s serious crimes team contribute significantly to solving “the 11:05 murders" cases, but none are so key as Detective Stewart.

Detective Stewart is young for a plain clothes sergeant position. Trim and fit, blonde with strikingly beautiful face, mid-twenties, Denise Stewart exhibits uncanny instincts for assembling clues. For the past couple of years there had been a UK-wide investigation into a growing Chinese prostitution ring. The investigation determined advertisements in UK newspapers tempted the women who answered the ads into coming to Northern Ireland. When the young women arrived expecting to find jobs, usually in Belfast or Derry, they were kidnapped and forced into prostitution.

As a uniformed rookie constable attached to the Crime Branch of the Lisburn City Police Station ‘D’ District, Denise was expected to make the coffee and file reports. Her personality could not ignore abnormalities in events which led to the arrest of a superior, Inspector Richard Kerley. Her evidence proved Kerley corrupt and part of the hierarchy in the Chinese prostitution human trafficking ring. Her evidence also necessitated her removal from the district where Kerley had bought many friends. She was promoted to detective and relocated to Sheehan’s district.

Chief Inspector Sheehan is known as the “human face of management,” a reputation well-earned in a long career of solving difficult cases and giving credit to staff assisting him. Sheehan, while easy to work with and strong on team morale, exhibits startling blue eyes in a darkly handsome face – his eyes, perhaps a clue to his intense intelligence. He is recently married. He is also human displaying frequent sciatica symptoms.

Two murders shortly after Denise joins Sheehan’s team – each of the murders happening at 11:05 p.m. on a Tuesday with exact circumstances - provide the team a race to prevent the third murder with dangerous circumstances for all involved. The murders provide the story with multiple rivets.

My least favorite scenes were the gruesome details revealed by the coroner of the murder victims’ physical remains. Don’t skip any detail; however, they all add up to significant clues. The book is a work of art to the conclusion.

Favorite scenes were the one or two relief insights into the Chief Inspector’s home life. As newlyweds and an older couple, James and Margaret Sheehan are charming. Their dialogue allows they are equal in love, comfort, interest and intelligence.

The 11:05 Murders is the second volume in a series for Inspector Sheehan of the Northern Ireland police. The Doom Murders is volume one by Brian O’Hare.. You won’t be disappointed in The 11:05 Murders – the ending is an unexpected jolting rivet, thus satisfying the best mystery connoisseur.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for quality of dialogue and intrigue of story.

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The 11.05 Murders
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Like Slingrider 10's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Izesicle]

You have a good point. I think it was a nice touch that the series detective's home life was portrayed in the novel. I always like hearing additional character info on the series lead. My rating of the book was two out of 4 stars.

[Darakhshan Nazir]

Your review is enough to make me add this novel to my 'want to read' list. I must admire your review