Review by Noenoepool -- The Dark Web Murders

Noenoepool · Post by **Noenoepool** » 29 Jul 2020, 13:23

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

4 out of 4 stars

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The Dark Web Murders by Brian O’Hare is a gripping mystery that follows the highly-skilled Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan and his team in their attempt to solve a series of gruesome murders committed by a highly-intelligent killer. This killer, calling himself Nemein, takes great pleasure in taunting Sheehan and his team via a series of blogs posted on the Dark Web, describing the killings in explicit detail. During the investigation, they are faced with an enormous number of potential suspects as well as dark secrets that could result in the downfall of some of Northern Ireland’s most elite citizens. With time running out, the team is forced to deal with false leads and a deluge of secrets that threaten to implicate a net far wider than just Northern Ireland in their hunt for the ruthless Nemein.

I found this book not only interesting and enjoyable, but genuinely gripping and difficult to put down as I made myself read just one more page to find out what would happen next. The author has a gift for vivid descriptions and he uses it throughout the story, from the crime scenes to its characters’ thoughts and feelings. The book strikes a perfect balance between the team’s attempts to track down Nemein and the personal lives of the individual team members themselves.

It was exceedingly difficult for me to single out one specific part of the book I enjoyed, due to it being an overall excellent read. The author introduces a large number of characters throughout the story and each is well-written with their own voice, which means that each one stands out and none are ever lost in the shuffle. In addition despite the amount of characters and intersecting plotlines, I never once felt lost and was always able to follow the story without any trouble. The plot itself is very well-constructed and keeps the reader hooked until the very last word. No plot threads are left unresolved by the end, and the story ends in a satisfying manner, though on a personal note I would say that I wish the character of Detective Robert Williams had more involvement in the story.

While there was nothing I disliked about the book I did find one scene particularly hard to read and others may feel the same way, namely the vivid description of a dog being killed. I can say that the scene is not gratuitous and is central to the plot, while any misgivings is solely due to my personal opinion on animal abuse. That being said, it does make a later scene related to the above incident have a very satisfying payoff.

Based on the above, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. There were one or two minor spelling errors, but it does not detract from the book at all and it is clear the story was very well-edited and proofread. While the book contains several scenes of violence that may not be for sensitive readers, if you are a fan of crime stories, or just enjoy an all-around excellent book, then this will definitely be your cup of tea.

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The Dark Web Murders
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Ashley-Osuna · Post by **Ashley-Osuna** » 30 Jul 2020, 01:19

I love crime stories and this seems like it was very well-written. I think we all enjoy those books that have us on the edge of our seats, wanting to know more. Thank you so much for the recommendation and the review!