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Inspector Sheehan Mysteries #2
The 11:05 Murders
Three people are murdered on separate Tuesday evenings at precisely 11.05. Random clues point to random suspects, but too many questions remain unanswered. Why 11.05pm for each killing? Is there any connection between these deaths and a rape that occurred at Queen’s university twelve years before? What is the connection between the killings and Sergeant Stewart’s mystery informant? Who is the violent stalker who twice nearly kills Detective Allen? What is his connection, if any, to the murders? When one of his team is kidnapped, Inspector Sheehan has literally only minutes to make sense of these questions if he is to save his colleague’s life.
The first thing I thought after reading this book why isn't Brian O'Hare better known in the crime writing world? This man is extremely talented, and his book a wonderful ‘whodunnit’ that left me guessing until the end. [Joseph Sousa, Crime-writer]
Head and shoulders above most mystery authors who are published today, Brian O’Hare deserves far wider recognition. You won’t regret purchasing his books.[CBT, Amazon Reviewer]
Brian O’Hare is an intelligent and compassionate storyteller who takes his chosen genre a decent literary distance beyond your average ‘whodunnit’.[Robin Chambers, author]
An explosive mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, riddled with unseen surprises and breathless suspense! [Wesley Thomas, writer and blogger]
The first thing I thought after reading this book why isn't Brian O'Hare better known in the crime writing world? This man is extremely talented, and his book a wonderful ‘whodunnit’ that left me guessing until the end. [Joseph Sousa, Crime-writer]
Head and shoulders above most mystery authors who are published today, Brian O’Hare deserves far wider recognition. You won’t regret purchasing his books.[CBT, Amazon Reviewer]
Brian O’Hare is an intelligent and compassionate storyteller who takes his chosen genre a decent literary distance beyond your average ‘whodunnit’.[Robin Chambers, author]
An explosive mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, riddled with unseen surprises and breathless suspense! [Wesley Thomas, writer and blogger]
- GenresMystery
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2016
About the author
Brian O'Hare
35 books170 followersBrian O'Hare, MA, Ph.D., is a retired assistant director of a large regional college of further and higher education. Married, three children, ten grandchildren, one great grandchild. He plays golf three times a week off a ten handicap and does a lot of voluntary work. Any writing he has previously done was academic...very much restricted to a very specific readership. Several articles in educational journals were followed by a number of book-length reports for the Dept. of Education and the University of Ulster.
He has also written an interesting biography of a man who daily performs amazing miracles of healing...The Miracle Ship. That is currently available in Amazon's Kindle bookstore. Hopefully those who read it will spread the word and write reviews to help John's message to reach the hearts of many, many people. The Miracle Ship has won top medallist honours in the New Apple 2015 Awards for literary excellence.
Brian had a liver disease since childhood which resulted in him taking early retirement a number of years ago. In 2002 he had a liver transplant but is strong and healthy now. He continued to do academic writing well into his retirement and followed that with a memoir about his liver transplant, dealing with the physical, emotional and spiritual experiences that came from that period in his life (A Spiritual Odyssey, published by Columba Press, Dublin).
Recently he experienced a desire to write fiction. Hence Fallen Men. It is a story about three priests...but it is religious in much the same way Thornbirds was religious. Fallen Men has won two awards, including top medallist honours in the contemporary fiction category of the 2015 New Apple Awards.
He has also finished two further novels, both part of a new series commissioned by Crimson Cloak publishing, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries.. The first is a murder mystery inspired by an old 14th century painting of the Last Judgement. It's called "The Doom Murders", and it is available on Kindle and in print. The Doom Murders has to date won three prestigious awards.
The second book in the series, "The 11.05 Killings", has now been written. Obviously it features the same detectives as in The Doom Murders but since it was published only a few weeks ago it has not yet had time to collect any awards. The third book in the series, The Coven Murders, is currently being written.
To launch the print version of The Doom Murders, CCP asked Brian to write a couple of short stories, featuring Inspector Sheehan. These were originally intended to be Facebook games (i.e. a kind of 'see the clues, guess the killer' thing) but the publisher liked them so much that she has started a new line called Crimson Shorts. Brian's two shorts ( a third was written to launch The 11.05 Killings) Murder at Loftus House and Murder at the Roadside Cafe are now available on Amazon in Kindle and print versions. So, too, is the third, Murder at the Wooodlands Care Home.
Also now available on Kindle (as well as print) is the story of Brian's liver transplant and the growth in spirit he experienced as he waited for almost a year, not knowing if he was going to live or die. See: "A Spiritual Odyssey [Diary of an Ordinary Catholic]"
He has also written an interesting biography of a man who daily performs amazing miracles of healing...The Miracle Ship. That is currently available in Amazon's Kindle bookstore. Hopefully those who read it will spread the word and write reviews to help John's message to reach the hearts of many, many people. The Miracle Ship has won top medallist honours in the New Apple 2015 Awards for literary excellence.
Brian had a liver disease since childhood which resulted in him taking early retirement a number of years ago. In 2002 he had a liver transplant but is strong and healthy now. He continued to do academic writing well into his retirement and followed that with a memoir about his liver transplant, dealing with the physical, emotional and spiritual experiences that came from that period in his life (A Spiritual Odyssey, published by Columba Press, Dublin).
Recently he experienced a desire to write fiction. Hence Fallen Men. It is a story about three priests...but it is religious in much the same way Thornbirds was religious. Fallen Men has won two awards, including top medallist honours in the contemporary fiction category of the 2015 New Apple Awards.
He has also finished two further novels, both part of a new series commissioned by Crimson Cloak publishing, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries.. The first is a murder mystery inspired by an old 14th century painting of the Last Judgement. It's called "The Doom Murders", and it is available on Kindle and in print. The Doom Murders has to date won three prestigious awards.
The second book in the series, "The 11.05 Killings", has now been written. Obviously it features the same detectives as in The Doom Murders but since it was published only a few weeks ago it has not yet had time to collect any awards. The third book in the series, The Coven Murders, is currently being written.
To launch the print version of The Doom Murders, CCP asked Brian to write a couple of short stories, featuring Inspector Sheehan. These were originally intended to be Facebook games (i.e. a kind of 'see the clues, guess the killer' thing) but the publisher liked them so much that she has started a new line called Crimson Shorts. Brian's two shorts ( a third was written to launch The 11.05 Killings) Murder at Loftus House and Murder at the Roadside Cafe are now available on Amazon in Kindle and print versions. So, too, is the third, Murder at the Wooodlands Care Home.
Also now available on Kindle (as well as print) is the story of Brian's liver transplant and the growth in spirit he experienced as he waited for almost a year, not knowing if he was going to live or die. See: "A Spiritual Odyssey [Diary of an Ordinary Catholic]"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
December 8, 2017
Inspector Sheehan makes a return in this skillfully written murder mystery set in beautiful Ireland. Sergeant Denise Stewart is new to this department and is ready and willing to prove her worthiness of her chosen career.
She and her boss, Inspector Sheehan are called out to investigate a brutal murder. The killing is motiveless, but there were clues left behind. One man's cuff link belonging to someone .. the victim? murderer? or maybe even to another visitor? Stewart finds a newspaper clipping related to the death of a college student some 12 years prior.
Because Stewart was treated rather badly in a prior law enforcement department, she hesitates to speak her mind. But another killing ..exactly one week later at 11:05, changes her mind.
Going on gut feelings, she wonders if the deaths and newspaper clipping are somehow connected. Much to her surprise, her boss and team members let her run with it.
There are lies and secrets ... twists and turns ... plenty of red herrings and an overabundance of suspects. And things really heat up when someone stalks Denise ... friend or foe?
This is a well-written, riveting suspenseful story with believable characters. It's a definite page turner. I enjoyed how Sheehan, Stewart and team members interacted with each other. This book has whetted my appetite ... and I will be reading Book 1 shortly.
She and her boss, Inspector Sheehan are called out to investigate a brutal murder. The killing is motiveless, but there were clues left behind. One man's cuff link belonging to someone .. the victim? murderer? or maybe even to another visitor? Stewart finds a newspaper clipping related to the death of a college student some 12 years prior.
Because Stewart was treated rather badly in a prior law enforcement department, she hesitates to speak her mind. But another killing ..exactly one week later at 11:05, changes her mind.
Going on gut feelings, she wonders if the deaths and newspaper clipping are somehow connected. Much to her surprise, her boss and team members let her run with it.
There are lies and secrets ... twists and turns ... plenty of red herrings and an overabundance of suspects. And things really heat up when someone stalks Denise ... friend or foe?
This is a well-written, riveting suspenseful story with believable characters. It's a definite page turner. I enjoyed how Sheehan, Stewart and team members interacted with each other. This book has whetted my appetite ... and I will be reading Book 1 shortly.
June 1, 2020
11.05 Murders by Brian O’Hare (#2 of the Inspector Sheehan Mysteries)
After reading and loving The Doom Murders, my expectations were high when starting this book, and I was not disappointed.
WDS Denise Stewart joins the team but finds it difficult after her last position where she exposed corruption and encountered harassment and bullying from her colleagues. She wants to fit in with her new team but tends to be understandably prickly with her all-male workmates. She soon finds them supportive and kind, and is especially impressed with her new boss, DCI Sheenan.
Her first case is a gruesome murder. It’s not long before Denise feels she’s being stalked and this mysterious stalker attacks Tom Allen, a fellow detective, when he walks her home from work.
On Tuesday night at 11.05, when a second man is killed in the same grisly manner as the previous victim, DCI Sheenan realises that the first man was killed at exactly the same time. A broken watch bore testament to the fact.
Denise Stewart follows a lead from a murder of twelve years ago, certain that there’s a connection.
My thoughts
I don’t want to give away anything, but let me say, that from here, it is a holler coaster ride of thrilling clues, discoveries and an exciting edge-of-the-seat ending.
Denise Stewart, Tom Allen, DCI Sheenan and all the other characters are relatable and believable. The plot is masterfully woven and will keep you guessing, right to the end.
Brian O’Hare’s writing is concise and clever. He is a master of the who-dunnit. I’ve always loved mysteries. Sherlock Holmes, Maigret, Van de Valk, Inspector Morse - Sheenan’s hunches and the way he solves the mystery is on a level with these great minds. O’Hare’s writing is up there with the best.
I highly recommend this book to people who like murder mysteries and crime dramas. Although the murders themselves are gruesome, details are not constantly repeated during the course of the book. I really couldn’t put this book down.
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After reading and loving The Doom Murders, my expectations were high when starting this book, and I was not disappointed.
WDS Denise Stewart joins the team but finds it difficult after her last position where she exposed corruption and encountered harassment and bullying from her colleagues. She wants to fit in with her new team but tends to be understandably prickly with her all-male workmates. She soon finds them supportive and kind, and is especially impressed with her new boss, DCI Sheenan.
Her first case is a gruesome murder. It’s not long before Denise feels she’s being stalked and this mysterious stalker attacks Tom Allen, a fellow detective, when he walks her home from work.
On Tuesday night at 11.05, when a second man is killed in the same grisly manner as the previous victim, DCI Sheenan realises that the first man was killed at exactly the same time. A broken watch bore testament to the fact.
Denise Stewart follows a lead from a murder of twelve years ago, certain that there’s a connection.
My thoughts
I don’t want to give away anything, but let me say, that from here, it is a holler coaster ride of thrilling clues, discoveries and an exciting edge-of-the-seat ending.
Denise Stewart, Tom Allen, DCI Sheenan and all the other characters are relatable and believable. The plot is masterfully woven and will keep you guessing, right to the end.
Brian O’Hare’s writing is concise and clever. He is a master of the who-dunnit. I’ve always loved mysteries. Sherlock Holmes, Maigret, Van de Valk, Inspector Morse - Sheenan’s hunches and the way he solves the mystery is on a level with these great minds. O’Hare’s writing is up there with the best.
I highly recommend this book to people who like murder mysteries and crime dramas. Although the murders themselves are gruesome, details are not constantly repeated during the course of the book. I really couldn’t put this book down.
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 24, 2017
When three people are murdered in bizarre circumstances, there are plenty of suspects - though the evidence is thin on the ground. Rookie Sergeant Denise Stewart may be a little out of her depth when she joins the team at Strandtown Police Station, but she gets a chance to jump ahead of the game when a mysterious stranger starts calling her with information. Meanwhile, faced with a seemingly unconnected rape, a stalker and attacks on one of his team, Inspector Sheehan has some tough decisions to make. Will he be in time to save another life?
This police procedural is the second in the Inspector Sheehan series and the first Brian O’Hare book I’ve read. I liked the setting (Belfast, Northern Ireland), and the characters are an interesting mix of stereotypical coppers and new blood striving to do the right thing. Though the plot was well-thought-out and the tension nicely done, I never quite warmed to the author’s writing style, but I guess with this type of thriller it’s hard to break away from the thousands of others in the genre, so that’s probably just me.
All in all, a clever plot with well-drawn characters and a challenging bag of red herrings.
This police procedural is the second in the Inspector Sheehan series and the first Brian O’Hare book I’ve read. I liked the setting (Belfast, Northern Ireland), and the characters are an interesting mix of stereotypical coppers and new blood striving to do the right thing. Though the plot was well-thought-out and the tension nicely done, I never quite warmed to the author’s writing style, but I guess with this type of thriller it’s hard to break away from the thousands of others in the genre, so that’s probably just me.
All in all, a clever plot with well-drawn characters and a challenging bag of red herrings.
March 2, 2017
Brian O’Hare has produced a well crafted and engaging police procedural. He manages to portray vividly the sometimes everyday nature of detective work and creates rounded and sympathetic characters in the team, which is led by the charismatic Sheehan. Various false trails are laid, explored and ultimately rejected in the pursuit of the perpetrator of a series of grotesque murders and an explanation of how these connect to an earlier, serious sexual assault and cases of stalking.
The denouement is thrilling and the final account offered by Sheehan is both plausible and well rooted in the plot.
I can heartily recommend this to readers who enjoy murder mysteries with an emphasis on police procedure.
The denouement is thrilling and the final account offered by Sheehan is both plausible and well rooted in the plot.
I can heartily recommend this to readers who enjoy murder mysteries with an emphasis on police procedure.
April 9, 2021
Great book
I loved everything about this book. I love books with twisted endings. If you like murder mystery please read this book.
I loved everything about this book. I love books with twisted endings. If you like murder mystery please read this book.
March 12, 2017
“The 11:05 Murders” by Brian O’Hare is a fascinating read. Competently written and full of unexpected twists, it kept me reading with bated breath. The plot is really well-knit and unravels so smoothly that the readers won’t even notice how fast a progress they are making. Apart from the riveting action which is characteristic of crime fiction in general, the novel offers a number of well-developed characters whose interactions contribute greatly to the merit of the book. I read with great interest about the struggles and personal growth of the main character, WDS Denise Stewart, who had had to face harassment and ridicule at her previous place of work, but found herself surrounded by appreciative and supportive people at the Belfast “B” District Police Station. I also really liked Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan and his perspicacious wife, as well as a number of other characters. This is a great book and I enjoyed everything about it.
February 28, 2018
Murder, secrets, stalkers, informants, a crime from the past—The 11.05 Murders, written by Brian O'Hare, is an expansive mystery with enough twists and turns to keep the reader entertained and engrossed until the last page. When Denise Stewart, a police officer in Northern Ireland, is promoted to Woman Detective Sergeant and assigned to the Serious Crimes Department, she has no idea where the first case will take her, or how twisted and dark the story will go. With the aid of her new team, including Detective Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan, Detective Tom Allen, and Crown Prosecutor Robert Turner, she must unravel the evidence of a grisly crime, before the perpetrator strikes again...and gets personal.
A brutal, personalized murder takes place and from it, three very different avenues of motives appear for the detectives to decipher. Is this a case of discovered adultery and revenge? Swindled business owners harboring rage? Or can it be that a tragedy from the past has caught up with the present and someone is delivering their own form of justice? At first, Stewart and the team struggle to connect the dots and the limited amount of strange, seemingly unrelated clues at their disposal. Each time a new suspect and another piece of evidence appears, the questions only multiply with no answers ostensibly in sight.
When the detectives continue to hit walls, it is with the help of a secretive informant that begins nudging Stewart toward a chilling motive, but is this person to be trusted? Or do they know more than what they are sharing? The plot darkens evermore when Stewart appears to have a stalker, one that is targeting Detective Allen for unknown reasons, and it is only a matter of time before the stalker strikes once and for all. Are the stalker and the killer one in the same? Or someone with a sinister agenda for Stewart, and will stop at nothing until he gets his way?
The tale itself is an intriguing enough murder-mystery, although the overuse of dialogue and plain conversation dampens the suspense of the story, with too many unnecessary details given to the reader, rather than letting them put 2 and 2 together. And while each of the detectives has moments of skill, the main focus throughout being on WDS Stewart, it is the character of Detective Chief Inspector Sheehan that is given the role of the brilliant, kind policeman that gets along with everyone. With a flair of Sherlock-ness in the way that he is able to piece together clues and the solution, he even garners comparisons to the esteemed fictional character from his colleagues. However, this defining detail of his personality is not mentioned at all until everything goes bad in the final pages, as almost a last resort, which lowers the effectiveness the author was going for with the inclusion of such a character device. If it had been something included, or at least mentioned, much earlier in the story, the climax would have achieved a greater effect, rather than an out-of-the-blue solution.
Due to the intense, thought-out mystery, but the overuse of language which slowed down the story, The 11.05 Murders receives 3 out of 5 stars. Although police have their own language, which should be included in this type of novel, too much police and Irish jargon decreased the clarity of what was being said at times, especially for readers who may not be familiar with these types of speech. The use of multiple storylines, each one moving parallel to the others shows the author's skill of weaving a good story. However, too much attention was spent on one or more plot-lines while they were still in the running in the plot of the murders, muddling together at points; though once discovered that they had nothing to do with the murders, these storylines and characters are abandoned without resolution, which could annoy a reader. In addition, while a romantic essence flows in the background with Stewart and a couple of characters, the author finally ties it all together...in the last paragraph of the novel, which appears more like a last-minute decision than a planned plot point. In the end, the author produced a logical, explained resolution to the crimes to tidy up most of the loose ends, and if the reader can get through the dredges of abundant dialogue, then they could very well enjoy the read.
A brutal, personalized murder takes place and from it, three very different avenues of motives appear for the detectives to decipher. Is this a case of discovered adultery and revenge? Swindled business owners harboring rage? Or can it be that a tragedy from the past has caught up with the present and someone is delivering their own form of justice? At first, Stewart and the team struggle to connect the dots and the limited amount of strange, seemingly unrelated clues at their disposal. Each time a new suspect and another piece of evidence appears, the questions only multiply with no answers ostensibly in sight.
When the detectives continue to hit walls, it is with the help of a secretive informant that begins nudging Stewart toward a chilling motive, but is this person to be trusted? Or do they know more than what they are sharing? The plot darkens evermore when Stewart appears to have a stalker, one that is targeting Detective Allen for unknown reasons, and it is only a matter of time before the stalker strikes once and for all. Are the stalker and the killer one in the same? Or someone with a sinister agenda for Stewart, and will stop at nothing until he gets his way?
The tale itself is an intriguing enough murder-mystery, although the overuse of dialogue and plain conversation dampens the suspense of the story, with too many unnecessary details given to the reader, rather than letting them put 2 and 2 together. And while each of the detectives has moments of skill, the main focus throughout being on WDS Stewart, it is the character of Detective Chief Inspector Sheehan that is given the role of the brilliant, kind policeman that gets along with everyone. With a flair of Sherlock-ness in the way that he is able to piece together clues and the solution, he even garners comparisons to the esteemed fictional character from his colleagues. However, this defining detail of his personality is not mentioned at all until everything goes bad in the final pages, as almost a last resort, which lowers the effectiveness the author was going for with the inclusion of such a character device. If it had been something included, or at least mentioned, much earlier in the story, the climax would have achieved a greater effect, rather than an out-of-the-blue solution.
Due to the intense, thought-out mystery, but the overuse of language which slowed down the story, The 11.05 Murders receives 3 out of 5 stars. Although police have their own language, which should be included in this type of novel, too much police and Irish jargon decreased the clarity of what was being said at times, especially for readers who may not be familiar with these types of speech. The use of multiple storylines, each one moving parallel to the others shows the author's skill of weaving a good story. However, too much attention was spent on one or more plot-lines while they were still in the running in the plot of the murders, muddling together at points; though once discovered that they had nothing to do with the murders, these storylines and characters are abandoned without resolution, which could annoy a reader. In addition, while a romantic essence flows in the background with Stewart and a couple of characters, the author finally ties it all together...in the last paragraph of the novel, which appears more like a last-minute decision than a planned plot point. In the end, the author produced a logical, explained resolution to the crimes to tidy up most of the loose ends, and if the reader can get through the dredges of abundant dialogue, then they could very well enjoy the read.
June 11, 2016
Police procedurals can be hard reading. Too often, the leads fall into the cliché roles of impossibly hardened or emotionally devastated. Details about tactics, weapons and court proceedings go on and on.
Not so in this fine work. O’Hare gives us detectives working the way we imagine real police operate as they unravel clues to complicated crimes. They have foibles and lives and feelings. They puzzle over the meaning of events just as the reader does. Sometimes, they make mistakes or go off in wrong directions.
The reader’s job isn’t to find the monsters responsible for the first, horrifying crime. Someone else has taken on the job of punishing them. But who? There are so many tantalizing leads, each a mini-story in its own right, we scramble to solve the mystery before the characters do. And fail. All the clues are there, but we miss them until the surprising, believable reveal.
I thoroughly enjoyed The 11:05 Murders. Read it! You’ll be glad you did.
Not so in this fine work. O’Hare gives us detectives working the way we imagine real police operate as they unravel clues to complicated crimes. They have foibles and lives and feelings. They puzzle over the meaning of events just as the reader does. Sometimes, they make mistakes or go off in wrong directions.
The reader’s job isn’t to find the monsters responsible for the first, horrifying crime. Someone else has taken on the job of punishing them. But who? There are so many tantalizing leads, each a mini-story in its own right, we scramble to solve the mystery before the characters do. And fail. All the clues are there, but we miss them until the surprising, believable reveal.
I thoroughly enjoyed The 11:05 Murders. Read it! You’ll be glad you did.
March 5, 2019
Awesome story with perfect characters. The sub genres used are balanced perfectly. Right amount of mix.
January 30, 2020
Three gruesome murders in Northern Ireland methodically carried out, multiple suspects, multiple possible motives. Inspector Sheehan and his team at Strandtown Police Station are put to the grind once more in an attempt to catch a killer with nothing more than clean crime scenes and their detective skills.
Brian O'Hare pens the second in the Inspector Sheehan series masterfully. He put together a cast of well-rounded, engaging characters from the start of his first novel, The Doom Murders, and carries them into this one while introducing a few new key players effortlessly. Fans of police procedure and psychology will be thoroughly engaged. Sheehan leads an exciting investigation, and new-comer WDS Denise Stewart is a realistic female lead you will cheer for and just wait til you see how she connects with the team!!
O'Hare takes you on the investigation with the team as if you right there with them. In the debriefings, the Incident Room, puzzling out the clues.... and he does it all with edge, action, and excitement! Toss in a little humor and some romantic nuances.
I have grown so fond of all the characters. Each one is realistic and believable. Their backstories are relevant and add to their complexities. O'Hare has created a great cast, the good ones and the pratty ones.
For a gripping, realistic, action from page one, murder mystery Inspector Sheehan Series is a must read!!! All of them!!
Brian O'Hare pens the second in the Inspector Sheehan series masterfully. He put together a cast of well-rounded, engaging characters from the start of his first novel, The Doom Murders, and carries them into this one while introducing a few new key players effortlessly. Fans of police procedure and psychology will be thoroughly engaged. Sheehan leads an exciting investigation, and new-comer WDS Denise Stewart is a realistic female lead you will cheer for and just wait til you see how she connects with the team!!
O'Hare takes you on the investigation with the team as if you right there with them. In the debriefings, the Incident Room, puzzling out the clues.... and he does it all with edge, action, and excitement! Toss in a little humor and some romantic nuances.
I have grown so fond of all the characters. Each one is realistic and believable. Their backstories are relevant and add to their complexities. O'Hare has created a great cast, the good ones and the pratty ones.
For a gripping, realistic, action from page one, murder mystery Inspector Sheehan Series is a must read!!! All of them!!
February 25, 2017
STORY-LINE THE 11.05 MURDERS, THE INSPECTOR SHEEHAN MYSTERIES VOLUME 2:
Author Brian O'Hare created a spine tingling intriguing police crime mystery drama in The 11.05 Murders, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Volume 2. A horrendous rape 12 years earlier at Queen's University, a photograph and article found on a victim's computer, 3 murders, all at 11.05 p.m.; how does past and present fit together?
WDS Detective Sergeant Denise Stewart, newest addition to the Strandtown Police's Serious Crimes Unit, and fellow officers must unravel the mysteries. Stewart, fresh from a another station where she uncovered corruption and endured persecution and harassment, works under Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan to solve these murders. A close net unit, Stewart fits in after a few false starts.
Denise's stalked by an unknown stalker, Tom Allen's almost killed by an unknown assailant, and as the murders continue the suspects not only increase, but place the officers lives in peril. Come along with Inspector Sheehan, and the unit as they solve the latest murders piecing together the past and present. My police crime mystery novel review of The 11.05 Murders, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Volume 2 follows
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
Not only a fine crime police drama, The 11.05 Murders, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Volume 2's full of suspense, mystery, and thrills; the reader finds an action packed story with strong characters. Filled with in-depth plotting along with twists and turns, nonstop intrigue and suspense rule the day in this book.
Laying the ground work for this multifaceted story, O'Hare begins with the rape in Queens, twelve years earlier; then fast forwards to present day. Not only did this book grab me from the horrendously evil prologue, it held me enthralled to the last page. I found I did not want to put this novel down, but kept reading far into the night.
O'Hare's development of his characters were full-bodied and realistic. With a believable premise, realistic police procedures, and gripping tension, this book's a must read for anyone who loves a solid well-written police drama. Also, O'Hare's villains will make the hair on your arms stand up! The pacing was in-line with the story-line and transition from scene to scene smooth. O'Hare included twists and turns around each corner; the reader never knows what to expect next.
O'Hare created a smart, strong, independent character in Denise. O'Hare also included a little romance for all the romantics in the audience. With a cast of strong, smart secondary characters, O'Hare shows the police as normal people with realistic attitudes, faults and failures. A strong superior in Sheehan, intelligent fellow officers along with the normal lay-abouts, and old school officers, O'Hare shows a slice of a police unit in action. He also shows the inequity of police work, advancement and promotions, and general attitudes when dealing with female officer versus male; as well as the stigma associated with an officer who rats out another regardless of their guilt.
In concluding my review of The 11.05 Murders, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Volume 2, I found a solid story-line and well-developed characters. Spreading hints throughout the story, O'Hare does not reveal the what, why, or who until just the right moments. With many suspects and motives, the reader's kept on the edge of their seat. I look forward to the next installment in the Inspector Sheehan series.
THE 11.05 MURDERS, THE INSPECTOR SHEEHAN MYSTERIES VOLUME 2: STARS 5
Additionally, even though I found a few minor editing errors, I felt I must give this book 5 well-deserved stars. I would not hesitate to buy The 11.05 Murders, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Volume 2, for myself or a friend. I highly recommend this book and series. Due to subject and violence, this novel is suitable for young adults and adults. Although part of series, this novel is a standalone.
FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE:
Additionally, I received this book from the onlinebookclub and chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest police crime novel review. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinions. In addition, the ARC did not affect my voluntary police crime novel revie
Author Brian O'Hare created a spine tingling intriguing police crime mystery drama in The 11.05 Murders, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Volume 2. A horrendous rape 12 years earlier at Queen's University, a photograph and article found on a victim's computer, 3 murders, all at 11.05 p.m.; how does past and present fit together?
WDS Detective Sergeant Denise Stewart, newest addition to the Strandtown Police's Serious Crimes Unit, and fellow officers must unravel the mysteries. Stewart, fresh from a another station where she uncovered corruption and endured persecution and harassment, works under Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan to solve these murders. A close net unit, Stewart fits in after a few false starts.
Denise's stalked by an unknown stalker, Tom Allen's almost killed by an unknown assailant, and as the murders continue the suspects not only increase, but place the officers lives in peril. Come along with Inspector Sheehan, and the unit as they solve the latest murders piecing together the past and present. My police crime mystery novel review of The 11.05 Murders, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Volume 2 follows
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
Not only a fine crime police drama, The 11.05 Murders, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Volume 2's full of suspense, mystery, and thrills; the reader finds an action packed story with strong characters. Filled with in-depth plotting along with twists and turns, nonstop intrigue and suspense rule the day in this book.
Laying the ground work for this multifaceted story, O'Hare begins with the rape in Queens, twelve years earlier; then fast forwards to present day. Not only did this book grab me from the horrendously evil prologue, it held me enthralled to the last page. I found I did not want to put this novel down, but kept reading far into the night.
O'Hare's development of his characters were full-bodied and realistic. With a believable premise, realistic police procedures, and gripping tension, this book's a must read for anyone who loves a solid well-written police drama. Also, O'Hare's villains will make the hair on your arms stand up! The pacing was in-line with the story-line and transition from scene to scene smooth. O'Hare included twists and turns around each corner; the reader never knows what to expect next.
O'Hare created a smart, strong, independent character in Denise. O'Hare also included a little romance for all the romantics in the audience. With a cast of strong, smart secondary characters, O'Hare shows the police as normal people with realistic attitudes, faults and failures. A strong superior in Sheehan, intelligent fellow officers along with the normal lay-abouts, and old school officers, O'Hare shows a slice of a police unit in action. He also shows the inequity of police work, advancement and promotions, and general attitudes when dealing with female officer versus male; as well as the stigma associated with an officer who rats out another regardless of their guilt.
In concluding my review of The 11.05 Murders, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Volume 2, I found a solid story-line and well-developed characters. Spreading hints throughout the story, O'Hare does not reveal the what, why, or who until just the right moments. With many suspects and motives, the reader's kept on the edge of their seat. I look forward to the next installment in the Inspector Sheehan series.
THE 11.05 MURDERS, THE INSPECTOR SHEEHAN MYSTERIES VOLUME 2: STARS 5
Additionally, even though I found a few minor editing errors, I felt I must give this book 5 well-deserved stars. I would not hesitate to buy The 11.05 Murders, The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries Volume 2, for myself or a friend. I highly recommend this book and series. Due to subject and violence, this novel is suitable for young adults and adults. Although part of series, this novel is a standalone.
FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE:
Additionally, I received this book from the onlinebookclub and chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest police crime novel review. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinions. In addition, the ARC did not affect my voluntary police crime novel revie
April 6, 2017
A great example of the genre and the characters and the setting complement the mystery perfectly I write this review as a member of the Online Book Club org.
This police procedural novel, the second in The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries series, is set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and it has it all: mysterious murders, a complex set of suspects that will keep fans of the genre spinning the wheels of their brains, a fascinating backdrop that includes political and religious issues, secondary themes that are in everybody’s minds (police corruption, sexual harassment, domestic violence, rape, stalking, financial crisis…), a team of policemen made up of distinct and realistic individuals, great dialogue, detailed crime scene investigation, touches of humour and even a dab of romance.
The story is told in the third person and it is narrated from the point of view of a variety of characters (mostly members of the police team, although also some chapters by some of the suspects), but there are no sudden changes in viewpoint and it does not cause any confusion. Instead, the style of the storytelling helps create a puzzle where the reader has more clues than any of the given characters, but there are also delayed discoveries and many red herrings, so things aren’t quite as easy as one might initially think. Being able to share in the different characters’ opinions and motivations gives the reader a multifaceted view that increases the intrigue.
At the beginning of the story we have a female Sergeant Detective, Denise Stewart, join Sheehan’s team. She has been through a harrowing experience at her previous post that has made her defensive and suspicious. Despite that, it doesn’t take long for her to realise Sheehan’s team is different and she starts to relax. Unfortunately, other things start going on in her life that seem, initially, completely unrelated to the murder they are investigating, a rather gross and well-planned crime that took place on a Tuesday at, exactly, 11:05 pm. There are several lines of enquiry, a fragment of a cufflink that keeps popping up, suspects galore, assaults on one of the detectives (young and handsome Tom Allen, who has taken an interest in Stewart), and Sheehan has the feeling that he’s missing something. His famous intuition seems to be letting him down but…
This is the second book in the series and although I have not read the previous one, I had no difficulty getting into the story. This is a standalone book that can be enjoyed without having read the first one but after having read this one I hope to read more in the series.
This novel could serve as an illustration on how to write mystery and police procedural books. The writing is precise, with enough descriptions and fleshing out of the characters to make the readers recognise them and care for them, with clues masterfully shared throughout the book, with no extraneous details or anything that does not move the story forward included. Even seemingly innocuous or passing comments have a reason and the twists and turns of the story will have readers choosing and discarding numerous suspects, keeping them always on their toes. The pacing and timing of the reveals work very well. When I was getting close to the end, I kept stopping and trying to run all the clues in my head to see who the perpetrator was. I had my suspicions from the beginning but kept changing my mind as the story went. Ah, and the ending did not disappoint.
Both the murder being investigated and the detectives are interesting in their own right and readers will end up feeling a part of Sheehan’s team. The light and humorous moments alternate with tense and scary moments enhancing both. The local touches and references to locations and historical events (the troubles) make it particularly memorable and distinct. I recommend it to any readers who love police procedural mysteries with great characters and complex plots. A word of warning, due to the nature of the crime and to some of the other scenes, this is not a book for the faint-hearted and is definitely not a cozy mystery.
This police procedural novel, the second in The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries series, is set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and it has it all: mysterious murders, a complex set of suspects that will keep fans of the genre spinning the wheels of their brains, a fascinating backdrop that includes political and religious issues, secondary themes that are in everybody’s minds (police corruption, sexual harassment, domestic violence, rape, stalking, financial crisis…), a team of policemen made up of distinct and realistic individuals, great dialogue, detailed crime scene investigation, touches of humour and even a dab of romance.
The story is told in the third person and it is narrated from the point of view of a variety of characters (mostly members of the police team, although also some chapters by some of the suspects), but there are no sudden changes in viewpoint and it does not cause any confusion. Instead, the style of the storytelling helps create a puzzle where the reader has more clues than any of the given characters, but there are also delayed discoveries and many red herrings, so things aren’t quite as easy as one might initially think. Being able to share in the different characters’ opinions and motivations gives the reader a multifaceted view that increases the intrigue.
At the beginning of the story we have a female Sergeant Detective, Denise Stewart, join Sheehan’s team. She has been through a harrowing experience at her previous post that has made her defensive and suspicious. Despite that, it doesn’t take long for her to realise Sheehan’s team is different and she starts to relax. Unfortunately, other things start going on in her life that seem, initially, completely unrelated to the murder they are investigating, a rather gross and well-planned crime that took place on a Tuesday at, exactly, 11:05 pm. There are several lines of enquiry, a fragment of a cufflink that keeps popping up, suspects galore, assaults on one of the detectives (young and handsome Tom Allen, who has taken an interest in Stewart), and Sheehan has the feeling that he’s missing something. His famous intuition seems to be letting him down but…
This is the second book in the series and although I have not read the previous one, I had no difficulty getting into the story. This is a standalone book that can be enjoyed without having read the first one but after having read this one I hope to read more in the series.
This novel could serve as an illustration on how to write mystery and police procedural books. The writing is precise, with enough descriptions and fleshing out of the characters to make the readers recognise them and care for them, with clues masterfully shared throughout the book, with no extraneous details or anything that does not move the story forward included. Even seemingly innocuous or passing comments have a reason and the twists and turns of the story will have readers choosing and discarding numerous suspects, keeping them always on their toes. The pacing and timing of the reveals work very well. When I was getting close to the end, I kept stopping and trying to run all the clues in my head to see who the perpetrator was. I had my suspicions from the beginning but kept changing my mind as the story went. Ah, and the ending did not disappoint.
Both the murder being investigated and the detectives are interesting in their own right and readers will end up feeling a part of Sheehan’s team. The light and humorous moments alternate with tense and scary moments enhancing both. The local touches and references to locations and historical events (the troubles) make it particularly memorable and distinct. I recommend it to any readers who love police procedural mysteries with great characters and complex plots. A word of warning, due to the nature of the crime and to some of the other scenes, this is not a book for the faint-hearted and is definitely not a cozy mystery.
October 2, 2020
I’d already seen the many reviews of this book series, and some talked of Inspector Sheehan’s sidekick, who is a good character. When he was killed off in the first book, I was a little disappointed and wondered who they could have meant. We were introduced to a new sergeant in this book, and she came with an interesting back story. Maybe she is the one they are referring to. She certainly had a baptism of fire in this book.
You can see my full review on my website
https://magicofstories.net/2020/09/23...
Very compulsive reading!
You can see my full review on my website
https://magicofstories.net/2020/09/23...
Very compulsive reading!
November 4, 2017
The 11:05 Murders: Volume 2 of the Inspector Sheehan Mysteries is a brilliantly intriguing work of the crime fighting mystery genre. We are immediately embroiled with what we can presume is a heinous crime before swiftly being sent into the future. The author introduces us to Woman Detective Sergeant Denise Stewart as she is entering her new job site. WDS Stewart is weary towards her fellow officers as her promotion is coming off her discovery of a corrupt cop at her prior station. Weary makes the young officer prickly and forces her to review her attitude towards her new co-workers. Not too long after WDS Stewart and her new team are thrown into 3 murders that somehow links back to the previously mentioned crime that author Brian O’Hare introduced us too.
Brian O’Hare gives us characters with a past and a personality. It seems, at times, that the personality falls flat, however, in favor to keep the story moving along. There were many times that I, the reader, wished that I had received a little more thoughts and emotions from a character. More specifically, there were some scenes that felt they needed more (for lack of a better word) flavor. As a third person perspective, readers want to feel like they are a part of the action. Another cop in the wings type of feeling. Unfortunately for this reader, it felt more like a reporting of facts.
With the introduction of the heinous crime at the beginning, it is easy (almost too easy) for the reader to see where the book is going. In many cases, this led to a predictability of the killer and their motive. However, there were a couple of suspects that made the reader think that maybe the predictability was wrong and, thus, gave the suspicion a possibility of doubt. Ultimately, it came about that that new scenarios were not likely and the conclusion was the same as before.
To be fair, however, there were many aspects that were enjoyed. The slower newer acceptance of WDS Stewart with her new team and the chemistry between her and Detective Tom Allen were palpable. The strength she had to endure a male dominated career was something all women can relate to and strive for. The calm and rational Inspector James Sheehan is the kind of boss that everyone in the world dreams of having. He creates a work atmosphere that you are envious of and wish with every fiber of your being to go to work in.
Overall I give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. As mentioned, there were times that the book fell flat. Characters did not seem to have much personality during interactions, and crime scenes lacked the feeling of actually being there in the moment. The predictability of the story gave away much of the book and made it somewhat difficult to read because of simply knowing. However, the relationships, WDS Denise Stewart’s strength and determination, and the few plot twists that Brian O’Hare implemented made the book readable. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to ease into the mystery thriller genre.
Brian O’Hare gives us characters with a past and a personality. It seems, at times, that the personality falls flat, however, in favor to keep the story moving along. There were many times that I, the reader, wished that I had received a little more thoughts and emotions from a character. More specifically, there were some scenes that felt they needed more (for lack of a better word) flavor. As a third person perspective, readers want to feel like they are a part of the action. Another cop in the wings type of feeling. Unfortunately for this reader, it felt more like a reporting of facts.
With the introduction of the heinous crime at the beginning, it is easy (almost too easy) for the reader to see where the book is going. In many cases, this led to a predictability of the killer and their motive. However, there were a couple of suspects that made the reader think that maybe the predictability was wrong and, thus, gave the suspicion a possibility of doubt. Ultimately, it came about that that new scenarios were not likely and the conclusion was the same as before.
To be fair, however, there were many aspects that were enjoyed. The slower newer acceptance of WDS Stewart with her new team and the chemistry between her and Detective Tom Allen were palpable. The strength she had to endure a male dominated career was something all women can relate to and strive for. The calm and rational Inspector James Sheehan is the kind of boss that everyone in the world dreams of having. He creates a work atmosphere that you are envious of and wish with every fiber of your being to go to work in.
Overall I give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. As mentioned, there were times that the book fell flat. Characters did not seem to have much personality during interactions, and crime scenes lacked the feeling of actually being there in the moment. The predictability of the story gave away much of the book and made it somewhat difficult to read because of simply knowing. However, the relationships, WDS Denise Stewart’s strength and determination, and the few plot twists that Brian O’Hare implemented made the book readable. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to ease into the mystery thriller genre.
June 21, 2017
James Fitzpatrick and Peter Shaw were both killed at exactly 11:05pm on a Tuesday night. Inspector Sheehan, the lead investigator of the Special Crimes Unit, believes there is a connection between these two gruesome murders and the rape of a young girl at Queens University twelve years ago. However, when Detective Tom Allen and Sergeant Denise Stewart (also Special Crimes) are pursued by a stalker who seems to have every intention on killing one of them, it becomes a race against the clock as the team tries to figure out if it has something to do with the investigation or if it runs even deeper than that. Could Sergeant Stewart’s mystery informant also be involved somehow?
The 11:05 Murders is a murder mystery novel written in the third person point of view. My favorite character was Sergeant Denise Stewart. Her character started out as a female cop who was bullied by the other male cops from her previous district. After testifying in court against a fellow cop whom she sent away to prison, Denise transferred to another police station and became a sergeant. However, the wall that she put up around her heart did not allow her to connect with her new team and it made for a rocky beginning. Learning to let go and trust her fellow colleagues didn’t come easy but by the end she had become not only a better cop but an even stronger woman.
My favorite part of the book was when Detective Allen and Sergeant Denise Stewart began to fall in love. Their quirky back and forth banter also made for some very much needed laughter throughout a very solemn plot line. What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic and I like a little love in every book that I read. My least favorite part of the book was the ending. It left me with a “That’s it?” It needed just a little bit more. I didn’t feel as though it had truly come full circle which is why I am only giving this book 4 out of 5 stars.
If you are looking for a fast-paced murder mystery that you can easily read in under a week, then this book is for you. The characters are well developed but the storyline itself is predictable. It takes place in Ireland so the language is difficult to follow at times. There’s also not much in the way of romance so this is catered more towards the male audience than the female. The first book in the series, “The Doom Murders,” should be read before this one. It introduces the character of Inspector Sheehan and his team.
Title: The 11:05 Murders
Author: Brian O’Hare
Publisher: Crimson Cloak Publishing
Publication Date: March 22, 2016
Edition: First Edition
Pages: 376
Price: Kindle $2.50, Paperback $13.99, Hardcover $24.99
ISBN: 978-1681600727
The 11:05 Murders is a murder mystery novel written in the third person point of view. My favorite character was Sergeant Denise Stewart. Her character started out as a female cop who was bullied by the other male cops from her previous district. After testifying in court against a fellow cop whom she sent away to prison, Denise transferred to another police station and became a sergeant. However, the wall that she put up around her heart did not allow her to connect with her new team and it made for a rocky beginning. Learning to let go and trust her fellow colleagues didn’t come easy but by the end she had become not only a better cop but an even stronger woman.
My favorite part of the book was when Detective Allen and Sergeant Denise Stewart began to fall in love. Their quirky back and forth banter also made for some very much needed laughter throughout a very solemn plot line. What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic and I like a little love in every book that I read. My least favorite part of the book was the ending. It left me with a “That’s it?” It needed just a little bit more. I didn’t feel as though it had truly come full circle which is why I am only giving this book 4 out of 5 stars.
If you are looking for a fast-paced murder mystery that you can easily read in under a week, then this book is for you. The characters are well developed but the storyline itself is predictable. It takes place in Ireland so the language is difficult to follow at times. There’s also not much in the way of romance so this is catered more towards the male audience than the female. The first book in the series, “The Doom Murders,” should be read before this one. It introduces the character of Inspector Sheehan and his team.
Title: The 11:05 Murders
Author: Brian O’Hare
Publisher: Crimson Cloak Publishing
Publication Date: March 22, 2016
Edition: First Edition
Pages: 376
Price: Kindle $2.50, Paperback $13.99, Hardcover $24.99
ISBN: 978-1681600727
October 16, 2017
A mystifying, good read with more twists and turns than a roller coaster ride. That will keep you guessing who did the murders right through til the end. In The 11.05 Murders, O’Hare addresses issues that still effect most women in the modern world, such as sexism, violent stalking and domestic abuse as well as sending your brain on a wild goose chase trying to work out who done it.
After WDS Denise Stewart is bullied by colleagues at the Lisburn Station, she finds herself transferred to the Strandtown Police Station where everyone no matter of gender is considered part of the team and where everyone part of that team has each others back. This is proven to WDS Stewart when the team is investigating two gruesome murders while trying to stop a third from murder happening. With so many if, buts and maybes that will keep changing the course of the investigation sending the team on a wild goose chase as well as bringing to light a 12 year old evnetual fatal rape case that was never reported, which leads the team to who actually done the murders and why, while tackling other cases such as viloent stalking and domestic abuse.
What I like about this book is how O’Hare’s eye to detail makes you feel like you are a character in the book, that you are at the actual scenes that are described in the book and that you are part of the team. Every little piece of new information keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat and wanting to read more and more. Very gripping. Also I like the fact that O’Hare has been able to mix a lot of the most common issues that people face in day to day life. To create an illusion that you are not alone, making you understand how those people effected may feel in those particular situations. Also the amount of information that O’Hare has researched to get the impacts of all situations in this book is rather well done.
I give this book The 11.05 Murders a rating of 4 out of 5. If you love the thrill of a good mystrious book then this is definitely the book for you.
I found the following few errors throughout the book: On page 5 in the sentence “ she just wanted to know if you could you just go up and be with her for a while” Grammar error with an extra you in between could and just. The second error that I found was a spelling error on page 121 though should be through. Third error I found was another spelling error on page 187 though again should be through. And the fourth and final error that I found was a grammar error which made the sentence not make sense this was on page 213 “He had left her home…” Not sure what this is meant but thought it was worth while to note.
After WDS Denise Stewart is bullied by colleagues at the Lisburn Station, she finds herself transferred to the Strandtown Police Station where everyone no matter of gender is considered part of the team and where everyone part of that team has each others back. This is proven to WDS Stewart when the team is investigating two gruesome murders while trying to stop a third from murder happening. With so many if, buts and maybes that will keep changing the course of the investigation sending the team on a wild goose chase as well as bringing to light a 12 year old evnetual fatal rape case that was never reported, which leads the team to who actually done the murders and why, while tackling other cases such as viloent stalking and domestic abuse.
What I like about this book is how O’Hare’s eye to detail makes you feel like you are a character in the book, that you are at the actual scenes that are described in the book and that you are part of the team. Every little piece of new information keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat and wanting to read more and more. Very gripping. Also I like the fact that O’Hare has been able to mix a lot of the most common issues that people face in day to day life. To create an illusion that you are not alone, making you understand how those people effected may feel in those particular situations. Also the amount of information that O’Hare has researched to get the impacts of all situations in this book is rather well done.
I give this book The 11.05 Murders a rating of 4 out of 5. If you love the thrill of a good mystrious book then this is definitely the book for you.
I found the following few errors throughout the book: On page 5 in the sentence “ she just wanted to know if you could you just go up and be with her for a while” Grammar error with an extra you in between could and just. The second error that I found was a spelling error on page 121 though should be through. Third error I found was another spelling error on page 187 though again should be through. And the fourth and final error that I found was a grammar error which made the sentence not make sense this was on page 213 “He had left her home…” Not sure what this is meant but thought it was worth while to note.
April 24, 2017
I recently read The 11.05 Murders by Brian O’Hare, and it was intriguing, interesting, and contained several subplots that helped keep the reader involved. Although it was written about an area in Ireland and I had a few issues with the dialogue and vernacular, I soon got used to it and enjoyed reading this story.
The murders all seem to be taking place at the same time and on the same night. Although the team of Denise Stewart, Sheehan, Allen and Turner seem to be on the same page trying to figure out how it could possibly relate to a 2002 incident that led to a suicide, there are many twists and turns.
As soon as Stewart gets involved in the case, it appears there may be attempts on her life, which could affect anyone brave enough to get involved with her. These attempts on her life have a plot of their own, as they could be related to her previous takedown of an authority figure in her previous position.
As things progress, the reader gets to see several possible romances brewing, from the wealthy prosecutor wooing and praising Denise Stewart to her co-worker who seems to have something against the prosecutor, and is it just jealousy?
This book is well-written, it flows nicely and keeps the reader engaged, but doesn’t use the subplots so much that it confuses the reader or takes away from the fact that the main story is solving the murders. The detectives are all racing to save the next victim, but what they don’t know is that they themselves could be next.
Although I really enjoyed the book, and the twists and turns, after the mystery was solved, it seemed like the ending was a bit fluffy and perhaps unbelievable. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The reason for this is because it seemed like the point of view was a little all over the place, sometimes switching from paragraph to paragraph, so it was a bit confusing. Also, sometimes there were areas where they would capitalize Inspector or Chief Inspector and sometimes they would not, and it wasn’t in dialogue. I didn’t rate it a 5 because it felt like these issues could have been tightened up a bit, and it didn’t suck me in so much I found it un-put-downable. I didn’t rate it a 3 because I felt it was well-written and a fun story to read.
I believe anyone who enjoys murder mysteries would enjoy this book, as well as those that don’t mind a little romance thrown in. I think anyone that likes a lot of details and deep plots in their thrillers would find this a little boring.
The murders all seem to be taking place at the same time and on the same night. Although the team of Denise Stewart, Sheehan, Allen and Turner seem to be on the same page trying to figure out how it could possibly relate to a 2002 incident that led to a suicide, there are many twists and turns.
As soon as Stewart gets involved in the case, it appears there may be attempts on her life, which could affect anyone brave enough to get involved with her. These attempts on her life have a plot of their own, as they could be related to her previous takedown of an authority figure in her previous position.
As things progress, the reader gets to see several possible romances brewing, from the wealthy prosecutor wooing and praising Denise Stewart to her co-worker who seems to have something against the prosecutor, and is it just jealousy?
This book is well-written, it flows nicely and keeps the reader engaged, but doesn’t use the subplots so much that it confuses the reader or takes away from the fact that the main story is solving the murders. The detectives are all racing to save the next victim, but what they don’t know is that they themselves could be next.
Although I really enjoyed the book, and the twists and turns, after the mystery was solved, it seemed like the ending was a bit fluffy and perhaps unbelievable. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The reason for this is because it seemed like the point of view was a little all over the place, sometimes switching from paragraph to paragraph, so it was a bit confusing. Also, sometimes there were areas where they would capitalize Inspector or Chief Inspector and sometimes they would not, and it wasn’t in dialogue. I didn’t rate it a 5 because it felt like these issues could have been tightened up a bit, and it didn’t suck me in so much I found it un-put-downable. I didn’t rate it a 3 because I felt it was well-written and a fun story to read.
I believe anyone who enjoys murder mysteries would enjoy this book, as well as those that don’t mind a little romance thrown in. I think anyone that likes a lot of details and deep plots in their thrillers would find this a little boring.
September 10, 2017
Brian O’Hare’s The 11.05 Murders starts by showing the reader the events that happened at a college party, twelve years ago. We don’t know what happened, but the rest of the story might be connected to that night.
Enters Woman Detective Sergeant Denise Stewart on her first day as a member of the Serious Crimes Unit. Her first experience as a police woman was not the most pleasant one and she has built walls around herself. But she is immediately received as one of the family by DCI Jim Sheehan and her new colleagues. In that unit, there’s a concept she had never heard before: having each other’s backs.
A series of brutal murders are being perpetrated. Every Tuesday, at 11:05 pm, one man is murdered in a violent way. The team, composed of very different individuals, starts investigating the connection between the murders. As they make progress, strange events start happening every time Stewart and the young Detective Tom Allen are seen together. Questions start to appear: are these strange events connected to the case they are investigating? How are the murders connected? And why does Stewart, the newest agent of the unit, have a target on her back?
This is the second book of The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries series. Although this book is focused on Denise’s history and the beginning her new career phase, we have the pleasure to have glimpses inside DCI Sheehan’s head. He’s a very interesting character. As you’re reading, you can notice his brain is making invisible connections between the information he keeps receiving, even though he has no immediate interpretation for those connections. This is what Brian writes — brilliant and real characters. Every single one of them has some resemblance to someone we know.
If what I just said wasn’t enough, you still have the killer factor. Can you discover who the killer is? I bet you think you can… I confess that if I had read some paragraphs with a little more attention, I would have had almost 90% sure of the killer’s identity. But Brian keeps making you doubt your conclusions! There are too many factors to consider to make a clear decision. You’ll be anxious until the last minute.
While I was choosing this book, one of the critic’s wrote something like “I don’t know why Brian O’Hare isn’t a known crime writer” and I have to agree with that. There’s everything in this book: action, mystery, genuine character’s reactions, and even some love. This series could be at the level of Alex Cross.
Enters Woman Detective Sergeant Denise Stewart on her first day as a member of the Serious Crimes Unit. Her first experience as a police woman was not the most pleasant one and she has built walls around herself. But she is immediately received as one of the family by DCI Jim Sheehan and her new colleagues. In that unit, there’s a concept she had never heard before: having each other’s backs.
A series of brutal murders are being perpetrated. Every Tuesday, at 11:05 pm, one man is murdered in a violent way. The team, composed of very different individuals, starts investigating the connection between the murders. As they make progress, strange events start happening every time Stewart and the young Detective Tom Allen are seen together. Questions start to appear: are these strange events connected to the case they are investigating? How are the murders connected? And why does Stewart, the newest agent of the unit, have a target on her back?
This is the second book of The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries series. Although this book is focused on Denise’s history and the beginning her new career phase, we have the pleasure to have glimpses inside DCI Sheehan’s head. He’s a very interesting character. As you’re reading, you can notice his brain is making invisible connections between the information he keeps receiving, even though he has no immediate interpretation for those connections. This is what Brian writes — brilliant and real characters. Every single one of them has some resemblance to someone we know.
If what I just said wasn’t enough, you still have the killer factor. Can you discover who the killer is? I bet you think you can… I confess that if I had read some paragraphs with a little more attention, I would have had almost 90% sure of the killer’s identity. But Brian keeps making you doubt your conclusions! There are too many factors to consider to make a clear decision. You’ll be anxious until the last minute.
While I was choosing this book, one of the critic’s wrote something like “I don’t know why Brian O’Hare isn’t a known crime writer” and I have to agree with that. There’s everything in this book: action, mystery, genuine character’s reactions, and even some love. This series could be at the level of Alex Cross.
April 20, 2016
A sadistic killer slashes the throats of his victims and then does something to them that would make anyone cringe. Each of these murders occurs at 11:05 pm. And each one happens on a Tuesday. Throw in a stalker and a mysterious informant, and things get even stranger. A plan to catch the killer goes awry and results in a kidnapping and a daring rescue. The action never stops, and the reader never has a chance to be bored.
As it says in one of the many mysteries by Agatha Christie, "Love can be the most frightening word there is." And when someone with a deranged mind "loves" someone else, it can be deadly. Brian O'Hare's mystery reminds me of the Agatha Christie stories that were my first love in detective fiction. Never has Detective Sheehan disappointed me in the way he solves his crimes. Never have I lost track of what is going on as I have in mysteries by other authors whose writings have been compared to those of the queen of mystery.
Detective Denise Stewart is new to his team of cops. She comes from another station in Ireland where she turned in another one of her fellow detectives for being corrupt. She is wary of developing relationships with anyone for good reason. Her acceptance by those she now works with surprises her just a little. And she finds herself being romantically pursued by not only another detective but also by a prosecutor.
The characters are well-developed and believable. They act like real people and not just cardboard cutouts. When one of them was kidnapped, I found that I wasn't able to read fast enough to discover what happened. I had to know if this character lived or died or was hurt in any way; I had to find out if the rescue of this character was a success.
And there is at least one character you will hate. This one abuses his wife without reason. He has a cruel streak running through him and purposely almost beats her to death one day. Is he the guilty one, the one who commits these sadistic murders? Maybe. Maybe not.
Full of twists, turns, and surprises, this is a book that would grab hold of any mystery lover and pull them into its pages. There are enough red herrings and potential suspects to keep one from guessing who is behind these grotesque murders and why they are being committed.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As it says in one of the many mysteries by Agatha Christie, "Love can be the most frightening word there is." And when someone with a deranged mind "loves" someone else, it can be deadly. Brian O'Hare's mystery reminds me of the Agatha Christie stories that were my first love in detective fiction. Never has Detective Sheehan disappointed me in the way he solves his crimes. Never have I lost track of what is going on as I have in mysteries by other authors whose writings have been compared to those of the queen of mystery.
Detective Denise Stewart is new to his team of cops. She comes from another station in Ireland where she turned in another one of her fellow detectives for being corrupt. She is wary of developing relationships with anyone for good reason. Her acceptance by those she now works with surprises her just a little. And she finds herself being romantically pursued by not only another detective but also by a prosecutor.
The characters are well-developed and believable. They act like real people and not just cardboard cutouts. When one of them was kidnapped, I found that I wasn't able to read fast enough to discover what happened. I had to know if this character lived or died or was hurt in any way; I had to find out if the rescue of this character was a success.
And there is at least one character you will hate. This one abuses his wife without reason. He has a cruel streak running through him and purposely almost beats her to death one day. Is he the guilty one, the one who commits these sadistic murders? Maybe. Maybe not.
Full of twists, turns, and surprises, this is a book that would grab hold of any mystery lover and pull them into its pages. There are enough red herrings and potential suspects to keep one from guessing who is behind these grotesque murders and why they are being committed.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2016
This is my first read by Brian O’Hare and it won’t be my last. He is a remarkable author with a unique style of writing. Words flow effortlessly, and pacing is controlled with precise control. Scenery is vividly painted in the reader’s mind, while compelling action takes place.
So in this particular mystery, we have many layers to an investigation, which proves addictive for the reader, whether their preference is mystery or not.
You’ll be spellbound, guaranteed!
So this book revolves around the murder of 3 people, all taking place, strangely enough, at 11:05. Even weirder, each murder takes place on a Tuesday. The clues are uneven, pointing at random suspects, but it all seems too easy. Then there are far too many questions unanswered. For example, why were they all killed at that time, and on a Tuesday? What is the significance? What is the meaning? Are they connected? Do they perhaps link back to a horrible event that occurred twelve years previously? But Inspector Sheenan doesn’t have a lot of time to figure out the connections, as if the pattern follows, another murder will take place the following Tuesday. Then there is the added pressure of one of his team being kidnapped, and having mere minutes to find them!
This is suspenseful and energetic, never a dull moment. This book oozes action and adventure, while still holding onto the genre of Mystery by keeping our minds working.
This is more than a simple ‘whodunit’. This goes beyond any Mystery book ever written. It delves deep into the characters, and the plot. And perhaps the past comes into play? One thing is for sure, you are guaranteed plenty of twists and surprises, that you won’t see coming!
The character of Inspector Sheenan has been personalized excellently, almost as if the writer knows an inspector like this. Brian has created a likeable character that we sympathize greatly with, and worry for when the going gets tough.
All in all, this is a riveting read. An explosive mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, riddled with unseen surprises, breathless suspense and unsettling twists. An epic mystery that every reader will enjoy!
So in this particular mystery, we have many layers to an investigation, which proves addictive for the reader, whether their preference is mystery or not.
You’ll be spellbound, guaranteed!
So this book revolves around the murder of 3 people, all taking place, strangely enough, at 11:05. Even weirder, each murder takes place on a Tuesday. The clues are uneven, pointing at random suspects, but it all seems too easy. Then there are far too many questions unanswered. For example, why were they all killed at that time, and on a Tuesday? What is the significance? What is the meaning? Are they connected? Do they perhaps link back to a horrible event that occurred twelve years previously? But Inspector Sheenan doesn’t have a lot of time to figure out the connections, as if the pattern follows, another murder will take place the following Tuesday. Then there is the added pressure of one of his team being kidnapped, and having mere minutes to find them!
This is suspenseful and energetic, never a dull moment. This book oozes action and adventure, while still holding onto the genre of Mystery by keeping our minds working.
This is more than a simple ‘whodunit’. This goes beyond any Mystery book ever written. It delves deep into the characters, and the plot. And perhaps the past comes into play? One thing is for sure, you are guaranteed plenty of twists and surprises, that you won’t see coming!
The character of Inspector Sheenan has been personalized excellently, almost as if the writer knows an inspector like this. Brian has created a likeable character that we sympathize greatly with, and worry for when the going gets tough.
All in all, this is a riveting read. An explosive mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, riddled with unseen surprises, breathless suspense and unsettling twists. An epic mystery that every reader will enjoy!
May 1, 2019
This book starts with DeniseStuart looking for her new office in the serious crimes department. She was transferred after turning in her superior for being in Coots with a prostitution and drug ring. She is Very stuffy and very Defensive. After all she is a woman in a “mans” job and wants to garner respect for her ability as a detective and Not be treated any different than anyone else in the office. So this is why she is fumbling around looking for the serious crimes department, because she doesn’t want to ask anyone. She thinks what kind of detective can’t even find her new office? After she finds it. She meets one of 5 detectives in the office who gives her what is obviously a chauvinistic eyeball evaluation, But never once getting up to offer to help her with the heavy box. She sees DSI Sheehan’s door and makes a beeline for it as he grateful he opens it and grabs her box. After meeting Captain Sheehan she feels a little bit more comfortable at her new Johb.
She hast to finish her unfinished business with our prior department and Hass to go to court to testify against her less superior. The DA asked like he fancies her and she is ambivalent about it as well as the tact of Alan in our new department but throw in a stalker in the mix and that is just where the crazy begins
To start off with the first murder is a loan officer at a bank who was cheating on his wife, and eagle eyes for anyone one second late on payment and wasn’t the most likable guy to boot. Well he is the first to be murdered and his watch was intentionally stopped at 11:05 PM not to mention his private part was in his mouth… Remember this is only the beginning.
This is book 2 of a series it is mainly about captainShean and this one gets a new detective Stewart a prickly detective defensive about where she came from and where she’s going. With romance on the horizon for Denise and pain up his legofCaptainSheehan will they solve the crime This is a wonderful cop drama with wonderful characters it is professionally written and by keeping you guessing you do not want to put the book down.
She hast to finish her unfinished business with our prior department and Hass to go to court to testify against her less superior. The DA asked like he fancies her and she is ambivalent about it as well as the tact of Alan in our new department but throw in a stalker in the mix and that is just where the crazy begins
To start off with the first murder is a loan officer at a bank who was cheating on his wife, and eagle eyes for anyone one second late on payment and wasn’t the most likable guy to boot. Well he is the first to be murdered and his watch was intentionally stopped at 11:05 PM not to mention his private part was in his mouth… Remember this is only the beginning.
This is book 2 of a series it is mainly about captainShean and this one gets a new detective Stewart a prickly detective defensive about where she came from and where she’s going. With romance on the horizon for Denise and pain up his legofCaptainSheehan will they solve the crime This is a wonderful cop drama with wonderful characters it is professionally written and by keeping you guessing you do not want to put the book down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 1, 2016Review By Sherri Fulmer Moorer For READERS’ FAVOURITES
A MURDER MYSTERY DONE PERFECTLY
The 11:05 Murders (Volume 2 of the Inspector Sheehan Mysteries) by Brian O'Hare is a thrilling, well paced mystery that takes you into another world. WDS Denise Stewart is trying to do her best with a promotion after a devastating experience at her last job posting that resulted in the arrest of one of her team, and harassment by others that were supposed to help and support her. She believes she's on the right track with her new colleagues, who are more cordial, understanding, and kind than her former posting. But she fears her past may be coming back to haunt her when she lands a part in her first case: the grisly murder of a prominent loan officer. As she helps her team investigate this case, a mysterious stalker attacks another member of her team, and another murder occurs at exactly the same time: 11:05 p.m. on a Tuesday night. Seemingly random connections weave around one another as another tragedy is revealed from twelve years ago, making Stewart, Inspector Sheehan, and the rest of the team wonder if these discoveries are really unrelated, or if they merge together in an unlikely way.
The 11:05 Murders (Volume 2 of the Inspector Sheehan Mysteries) is a murder mystery done perfectly. The characters are easy to relate to and likable, the plot has enough elements to keep you guessing, the pacing is perfect, and Brian O'Hare keeps a tight lid on "whodunit" until the very end - and even then, the motives for these crimes are shrouded in mystery until it all comes together on the final pages. There are enough "plausible suspects" to keep you guessing, and this novel has no slow spots where you wander off into anything meaningless (in fact, I urge you to pay close attention to everything). This is a great mystery book; just what I was looking for, and I highly recommend it to readers that love a great mystery.
May 21, 2017
The 11:05 Murders - Brian O'Hare
Title: The 11:05 Murders
Author: Brian O'Hare
First Published in the UK: 2016
Publisher: Crimson Cloak
Pages: 378
Price on Amazon: Paperback £9.78 Kindle: £2.00
ISBN: 1681600722
A time for murder, Clock strikes 11:05 and so does murder.
Murders occurring on consecutive Tuesdays at 11:05 pm, the victims linked from twelve years ago at university. A cufflink at each crime scene, a suicide victim from twelve years ago. An affair, A known criminal gone legit. Stalkers, Hit and runs. This book has it all. But how does it all fit together?
When the body of a man is found in his home, his throat slit and his penis cut off and placed in his mouth. The police begin to look into his life. With nothing to go on except a single cufflink from the crime scene, this is going to be a tricky one.
The case continues and more evidence and clues come to light, with several suspects can the police catch the killer before he kills again?
I enjoyed this book, This is another of my read to review books. Although this is the second book in the series and I have not read the first I found it really good, I didn't feel like you needed to have read first one.
I must admit at the beginning of books like this I like to make a guess as to who I think the killer is. Without giving away any spoilers, I didn't think the killer was who it turned out to be but I did think there was something funny about him, I didn't trust him and didn't like him as a character. So I was shocked to find he was the killer but I should trust my instincts in believing there was something funny about him.
I enjoyed watching Stewart grow and come out of her shell as the book went on the more she realised that her new team was nothing like her previous team, I also enjoyed the love story building up between her and Tom.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and shall be giving the series a go. I have given this book 4-stars.
Title: The 11:05 Murders
Author: Brian O'Hare
First Published in the UK: 2016
Publisher: Crimson Cloak
Pages: 378
Price on Amazon: Paperback £9.78 Kindle: £2.00
ISBN: 1681600722
A time for murder, Clock strikes 11:05 and so does murder.
Murders occurring on consecutive Tuesdays at 11:05 pm, the victims linked from twelve years ago at university. A cufflink at each crime scene, a suicide victim from twelve years ago. An affair, A known criminal gone legit. Stalkers, Hit and runs. This book has it all. But how does it all fit together?
When the body of a man is found in his home, his throat slit and his penis cut off and placed in his mouth. The police begin to look into his life. With nothing to go on except a single cufflink from the crime scene, this is going to be a tricky one.
The case continues and more evidence and clues come to light, with several suspects can the police catch the killer before he kills again?
I enjoyed this book, This is another of my read to review books. Although this is the second book in the series and I have not read the first I found it really good, I didn't feel like you needed to have read first one.
I must admit at the beginning of books like this I like to make a guess as to who I think the killer is. Without giving away any spoilers, I didn't think the killer was who it turned out to be but I did think there was something funny about him, I didn't trust him and didn't like him as a character. So I was shocked to find he was the killer but I should trust my instincts in believing there was something funny about him.
I enjoyed watching Stewart grow and come out of her shell as the book went on the more she realised that her new team was nothing like her previous team, I also enjoyed the love story building up between her and Tom.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and shall be giving the series a go. I have given this book 4-stars.
August 27, 2018
Sgt. Denise Stewart has recently been promoted and transferred to the Strandtown Police Station in Belfast. The day after her arrival at Strandtown, she is scheduled to testify in court against a corrupt official from her previous station. She is to be the star witness for Crown Prosecutor Robert Turner.
Sgt. Stewart is the newest member of the Serious Crimes Unit at Strandtown, working with Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan's team of detectives. Her first case as part of the Serious Crimes Unit involves the violent death of James Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was a bank loan officer who had a reputation for searching out high value loans that were in jeopardy and calling them due immediately. His underhanded dealings led to numerous people going broke and losing everything, while he prospered from their losses.
While looking through Fitzpatrick's laptop, Denise discovers a photo and a news article from 12 years earlier. Thinking that he kept these for a reason, Denise proceeds on the theory that they may hold a clue to the motive behind the man's death.
While investigating the connection to a 12-year old suicide, Denise receives a mysterious phone call. A mysterious informant has singled her out to provide additional information aimed at helping her solve the case.
How was Fitzpatrick involved in the incident from 12 years earlier that prompted him to keep the newspaper article? Who are the people in the photo and how are they involved? Was Fitzpatrick's killer someone from his past or a new enemy? Who is the mysterious informant? Why does he insist on helping Sgt. Stewart?
This story is very well written, but does contain some foul language and graphic descriptions of the murders, which give it a feeling of a real life drama. The language is scattered throughout the book, but does not detract from the main story. There are several mysteries occurring simultaneously, but they are all resolved by the end of the story.
Sgt. Stewart is the newest member of the Serious Crimes Unit at Strandtown, working with Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan's team of detectives. Her first case as part of the Serious Crimes Unit involves the violent death of James Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was a bank loan officer who had a reputation for searching out high value loans that were in jeopardy and calling them due immediately. His underhanded dealings led to numerous people going broke and losing everything, while he prospered from their losses.
While looking through Fitzpatrick's laptop, Denise discovers a photo and a news article from 12 years earlier. Thinking that he kept these for a reason, Denise proceeds on the theory that they may hold a clue to the motive behind the man's death.
While investigating the connection to a 12-year old suicide, Denise receives a mysterious phone call. A mysterious informant has singled her out to provide additional information aimed at helping her solve the case.
How was Fitzpatrick involved in the incident from 12 years earlier that prompted him to keep the newspaper article? Who are the people in the photo and how are they involved? Was Fitzpatrick's killer someone from his past or a new enemy? Who is the mysterious informant? Why does he insist on helping Sgt. Stewart?
This story is very well written, but does contain some foul language and graphic descriptions of the murders, which give it a feeling of a real life drama. The language is scattered throughout the book, but does not detract from the main story. There are several mysteries occurring simultaneously, but they are all resolved by the end of the story.
October 3, 2019
I was curious while reading the synopsis of this story. The plot was good. The author had thoughtfully organized everything in this book.
I am just having problems with how it was written. Or probably the writing style but still the book was good!
I love investigating things, I love detectives thingy lol.
Okay back to the book. Denise Stewart was promoted from a Police Officer to a Woman Detective and was assigned to the serious crime department (ugh police dictionary I had hard time with it). Together with her new team with their head Inspector Sheehan, they would unravel and solve the case that was assigned to them. It's Denise first time to face a brutal, cruel, bloody case.
The 11:05 murders was a headache to the team. They were considering different kinds of angles. The murders happened on tuesdays 11:05 pm. Victims were brutally killed.
The question was why they were killed like that and in the same way? Then the killer leave a cufflink? It's like giving them clue or something.
The question, was it about a revenge from what had happened 12 years ago? If so who was doing the revenge and what did the murder victims did 12 years ago?
Another question this was for the first murdered victim. Was it a revenge or getting back for having an affair?
So many questions it's hard to get an answer.
I was actually loving all the mysteries of this book. I had a feeling that all those things were all connected. From Denise stalker, to the one who hurt Tom. I just can't connect it to the 11:05 murders.
I didn't realized there was one clue that I missed and it's all in there.
What I love the most was I had guessed the killer. It was just a feeling at first but as what I said I love investigating and I keep looking for clues and then it was all there!
A very good book and recommended one for everyone who loves mystery. But be prepared on the brutal and bloody scenes.
I am just having problems with how it was written. Or probably the writing style but still the book was good!
I love investigating things, I love detectives thingy lol.
Okay back to the book. Denise Stewart was promoted from a Police Officer to a Woman Detective and was assigned to the serious crime department (ugh police dictionary I had hard time with it). Together with her new team with their head Inspector Sheehan, they would unravel and solve the case that was assigned to them. It's Denise first time to face a brutal, cruel, bloody case.
The 11:05 murders was a headache to the team. They were considering different kinds of angles. The murders happened on tuesdays 11:05 pm. Victims were brutally killed.
The question was why they were killed like that and in the same way? Then the killer leave a cufflink? It's like giving them clue or something.
The question, was it about a revenge from what had happened 12 years ago? If so who was doing the revenge and what did the murder victims did 12 years ago?
Another question this was for the first murdered victim. Was it a revenge or getting back for having an affair?
So many questions it's hard to get an answer.
I was actually loving all the mysteries of this book. I had a feeling that all those things were all connected. From Denise stalker, to the one who hurt Tom. I just can't connect it to the 11:05 murders.
I didn't realized there was one clue that I missed and it's all in there.
What I love the most was I had guessed the killer. It was just a feeling at first but as what I said I love investigating and I keep looking for clues and then it was all there!
A very good book and recommended one for everyone who loves mystery. But be prepared on the brutal and bloody scenes.
April 8, 2020
Having read The Doom Murders and The Dark Web Murders it was great to meet the same characters in another book. The characters are so well described I began to feel I knew them personally and I was dreading their possible demise. Once again the story twists and turns and the readers interest is held by the balance of dialogue and description. If you enjoy police procedurals and the private lives of the detectives involved, then this book is for you. Brian O'Hare is definitely an author I will be reading more of, and I urge many others to do the same. This is an excellent crime story and quality piece of writing, which I've spent much too much time today reading! This is the third book I've read featuring Inspector Sheehan and the author is creating a great detective series. Sheehan is a dedicated, thoughtful, intelligent Inspector who solves crimes through hard work and teamwork. He is the type of boss everyone would want and also the type of police officer you want to investigate any crime committed against you or your family. We gain insights to both their professional and personal lives, which makes them come alive. I read a lot of police/detective stories and have become somewhat bored by the stereotypical grumpy detective who dedicates his life to his work and has no friends or family, oh and don’t forget he is a heavy drinker that sometimes crosses the line of the law in his investigations!! It was so refreshing to read about likeable, believable characters. I also enjoy the Irish settings, dialogue and references to the troubled past. It all helped to transport me to a place I have never visited and thoroughly enjoyed reading about. The heart of any crime story is the plot and we have a good story linking events in the past with some grisly murders in the present and a number of suspects. The clues are there but not obvious! This is a very entertaining, well written murder story, which I strongly recommend. Bring on the next in the series!!
June 29, 2017
** 4 out of 5 Murderous Stars **
I must start by saying that I have never heard of this author. After getting about halfway through this book, I found myself asking why?? Brian O’Hare has a clever mind and has a way with his writing that keeps you interested and thinking through the entire book. It is for sure a page turner! The only reason why I did not mark 5 stars is because I was correct in guessing the killer pretty early on in the book.
In Brian O’Hare’s defense, I am an addict to mystery and thriller stories, so I am pretty confident in my abilities to figure out mysteries such as this. Even though I figured it out early on, I was second guessing myself through the story because there are so many twists and turns that throws you through a mind-roller coaster!
The book starts off with a young female Officer, Denise, in Ireland who was promoted because she helped to bring down a “dirty cop.” In the beginning she is faced with the court proceedings for dealing with this issue, as well as settling down at her new office with her new job. As soon as she starts, there is a call about a murder. Denise must go with her supervisor to the location to investigate the crime. Once back at the office, the entire team begins to unravel clues that can possibly bring down the murderer. However, this is a skilled and devious person who is very good at covering their tracks. Denise uncovers information that no one else is able to and begins to follow leads to help aid in bringing the murderer down, but not before he/she claims more victims….
I highly recommend this book and it has left me wanting to read book 1 in the series (you do not have to read book 1 to understand book 2). I also see that there is a book 3 coming out! It will be on my “to-read” list!!
I must start by saying that I have never heard of this author. After getting about halfway through this book, I found myself asking why?? Brian O’Hare has a clever mind and has a way with his writing that keeps you interested and thinking through the entire book. It is for sure a page turner! The only reason why I did not mark 5 stars is because I was correct in guessing the killer pretty early on in the book.
In Brian O’Hare’s defense, I am an addict to mystery and thriller stories, so I am pretty confident in my abilities to figure out mysteries such as this. Even though I figured it out early on, I was second guessing myself through the story because there are so many twists and turns that throws you through a mind-roller coaster!
The book starts off with a young female Officer, Denise, in Ireland who was promoted because she helped to bring down a “dirty cop.” In the beginning she is faced with the court proceedings for dealing with this issue, as well as settling down at her new office with her new job. As soon as she starts, there is a call about a murder. Denise must go with her supervisor to the location to investigate the crime. Once back at the office, the entire team begins to unravel clues that can possibly bring down the murderer. However, this is a skilled and devious person who is very good at covering their tracks. Denise uncovers information that no one else is able to and begins to follow leads to help aid in bringing the murderer down, but not before he/she claims more victims….
I highly recommend this book and it has left me wanting to read book 1 in the series (you do not have to read book 1 to understand book 2). I also see that there is a book 3 coming out! It will be on my “to-read” list!!
November 23, 2016
I loved this indie book. It is, an indie book. By that I mean it's independently published. You need to know that before you go into reading this novel. To the casual reader this means the book is a bit raw. There will be grammatical errors and the occasional typo. You have to get over that. What it also means is that the book did not go through several cleaning cycles and get dumbed down to meet the largest possible audience. It's a more true experience for the reader in my opinion. It's pure in its intentions to captivate and mesmerize the reader, straight from the heart of the author. "The 11:05 Murders" does just that. I was captivated from the first page. The small issues of grammar and typos that are inherent to indie novels only add to the books charm.
The story revolves around a series of murders that occur at precisely 11:05pm in Northern Ireland. A deeper mystery is afoot as the characters are introduced and the backstory builds to reveal a much bigger plot. Strong characters that each bring their own spice to the story keep the plot moving forward. A bit of sex appeal is thrown in as well through the Detective Sergeant Denise Stewart character which I loved. I could read another book centered around this character alone. The main character, Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan did not disappoint. I was hooked from the very beginning and more than willing to be taken for a ride.
If you like twisting plots, murder mysteries or detective novels, don't miss "The 11:05 Murders" part of the Inspector Sheehan series from author, Brian O'Hare. Well worth the read. Especially if you're new to the independent book scene, this is a great novel to introduce yourself to the genre.
The story revolves around a series of murders that occur at precisely 11:05pm in Northern Ireland. A deeper mystery is afoot as the characters are introduced and the backstory builds to reveal a much bigger plot. Strong characters that each bring their own spice to the story keep the plot moving forward. A bit of sex appeal is thrown in as well through the Detective Sergeant Denise Stewart character which I loved. I could read another book centered around this character alone. The main character, Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan did not disappoint. I was hooked from the very beginning and more than willing to be taken for a ride.
If you like twisting plots, murder mysteries or detective novels, don't miss "The 11:05 Murders" part of the Inspector Sheehan series from author, Brian O'Hare. Well worth the read. Especially if you're new to the independent book scene, this is a great novel to introduce yourself to the genre.
October 11, 2016
For me, it's refreshing to find a book set in Northern Ireland that's not all about "the troubles". For us Northern Irish, Ulster is simply the most natural place to live, as O'Hare well know. I enjoyed being able to visualise various scenes that were set in places I knew about, like the Europa hotel, Newtownards Road, Shaftsbury Square and the shores of Lough Neagh. Okay, so the police stations look like fortresses, as does the Strandtown PSNI policestation, and one of the villians is a leader in the Protestant paramilitaries. Over in New York, they have Mafia. Here, we have the paramilitaries. So, Belfast is as ideal place as any for a good old police who-done-it, which this is.
Brian O'Hare spins a supurb police story set in the city he knows well. He opens with a couple of scenes that set the background, the rape of a Queens University student at a party many years ago, and lunch at the Europa with a very nasty businessman. Then, there's Sergent Stewart settling into her new job as an inspector at the Strandtown PSNI after an unpleasant time as a uniformed cop in Lisburn. All the characters are flesh-and-bone humans like we know them, and the action is steady and keeps us flipping the pages -- or swiping the screen as the case may be. After the first of the murders, suspects begin to show up, some of them obviously evil, one turned up by surprise after an intense search, but the real killer is found only after Chief Inspector Sheehan does a Sherlock Holms style "two pipe" think-over. Then, the surprise...
The ending is throughly satisfying, as befitting a great narrative.
Brian O'Hare spins a supurb police story set in the city he knows well. He opens with a couple of scenes that set the background, the rape of a Queens University student at a party many years ago, and lunch at the Europa with a very nasty businessman. Then, there's Sergent Stewart settling into her new job as an inspector at the Strandtown PSNI after an unpleasant time as a uniformed cop in Lisburn. All the characters are flesh-and-bone humans like we know them, and the action is steady and keeps us flipping the pages -- or swiping the screen as the case may be. After the first of the murders, suspects begin to show up, some of them obviously evil, one turned up by surprise after an intense search, but the real killer is found only after Chief Inspector Sheehan does a Sherlock Holms style "two pipe" think-over. Then, the surprise...
The ending is throughly satisfying, as befitting a great narrative.
December 8, 2016
Brian O’Hare wisely shows us how well we write when we are enamoured with a certain genre. For me, it is science fiction and urban fantasy, and for him, detectives and mysteries. I could not even fathom writing hard-boiled crime novels like he does. The 11:05 Murders is a well-spun, craftily told mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I found myself flipping through the pages, just because I wanted to know who dunnit.
Sergeant Denise Stewart is a welcome addition to this story as a new main character, one who is dedicated to her job and to nab the killer. In addition, as portrayed in this novel, she has a struggle overcoming prejudices about women pulling senior rank in police stations. Indeed, the entire novel seems like a heart-rendering testament to the difficulties for women everywhere, as students, as wives, and as police constables, even in a modern society such as Northern Ireland’s. In certain isolated cases like this one that is so bluntly told, women do suffer so much abuse and violence that I as a man was left shaking my head. However, Sergeant Stewart’s resilience is uplifting, and she does not take pity upon herself, except in a few emotional reflective moments.
Details matter in murder investigations, and that is shown in this book. I kept on checking out the clues one by one, wondering if each would fit in a complex puzzle.
Well-done, Mr. O’Hare! For sensitive readers (but I would think the typical hard crime reader would be fine) a caution that there are a few graphic scenes of how victims have died.
Sergeant Denise Stewart is a welcome addition to this story as a new main character, one who is dedicated to her job and to nab the killer. In addition, as portrayed in this novel, she has a struggle overcoming prejudices about women pulling senior rank in police stations. Indeed, the entire novel seems like a heart-rendering testament to the difficulties for women everywhere, as students, as wives, and as police constables, even in a modern society such as Northern Ireland’s. In certain isolated cases like this one that is so bluntly told, women do suffer so much abuse and violence that I as a man was left shaking my head. However, Sergeant Stewart’s resilience is uplifting, and she does not take pity upon herself, except in a few emotional reflective moments.
Details matter in murder investigations, and that is shown in this book. I kept on checking out the clues one by one, wondering if each would fit in a complex puzzle.
Well-done, Mr. O’Hare! For sensitive readers (but I would think the typical hard crime reader would be fine) a caution that there are a few graphic scenes of how victims have died.
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