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The Ruin Audiobook
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Publisher Description
“Compelling, unexpected twists and a hold-your breath standoff . . . Hand this one to readers of Tana French and to police-procedural fans.” —Booklist
It’s been twenty years since Cormac Reilly discovered the body of Hilaria Blake in her crumbling Georgian home. But he’s never forgotten the two children she left behind.
When Aisling Conroy’s boyfriend Jack is found in the freezing black waters of the river Corrib, the police tell her it was suicide. A surgical resident, she throws herself into study and work, trying to forget—until Jack’s sister Maude shows up. Maude suspects foul play, and she is determined to prove it.
Cormac Reilly is the detective assigned with the reinvestigation of a seemingly accidental overdose twenty years ago—the overdose of Jack and Maude’s drug and alcohol addled mother. Detective Reilly is under increasing pressure to charge Maude for murder when his colleague Danny uncovers a piece of evidence that will change everything.
This unsettling small-town noir draws us deep into the dark heart of Ireland, where corruption, desperation, and crime run rife. A gritty look at trust and betrayal where the written law isn’t the only one, The Ruin asks who will protect you when the authorities can’t—or won’t.
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“A compelling story line deepened by McMahon’s Irish-accented voice, perfect pacing, and riveting attention to details…McTiernan’s well-written story and McMahon’s top-notch narration make this a compelling listen. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
Quotes
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“A gripping mystery…that touches on corruption, clandestine cover-ups, and criminal conspiracy.”
— Daily Mail (London) -
“An intricate story of impossible decisions, family bonds, and police politics. Avid mystery readers will be enthralled with this intricate, mysterious, and edgy debut.”
— Library Journal (starred review) -
“McTiernan’s powerful first novel has the authentic feel of its Irish setting…[A] tightly woven plot…[with a] suspenseful conclusion.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Brings together procedural and psychological thriller for a fascinating portrait of small-town Ireland and its big city problems.”
— Literary Hub -
“The story that unfolds shows the worst of Irish society and its police force and includes compelling, unexpected twists and a hold-your-breath standoff.”
— Booklist -
“Fans of Tana French will love McTiernan’s expertly plotted, complex web of secrets that refuse to stay hidden.”
— Karen Dionne, author of The Marsh King’s Daughter -
“An excellent story, very well written…This one was a winner for me!”
— Alex Gray, author of The Darkest Goodbye -
“A terrific debut and a rare gem: a compelling crime thriller that delivers depth as well as twists, with every page clearly written from the heart.”
— Sara Foster, author of All That Is Lost between Us
Awards
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An Audible Pick of Best of July
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An Amazon Best Book of the Month
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A Literary Hub Pick of Most Anticipated Crime Thrillers of the Summer
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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Winner of the 2019 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Ficton
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Shortlisted for the London Guardian's Not the Booker Prize
The Ruin Listener Reviews
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" Very enjoyable story but I had to stop listening because of the narration of the Irish/Australian character, Maude. It’s shame because I really wanted to continue. I am going to read it myself in print instead. Narrator Aoife McMahon does a super reading otherwise but breaks the spell of the story with the voicing of Maude. I think the task of trying to capture the vocal nuances of a character who apparently moves from County Mayo to Australia when about 15 years old, and returns 20 years later to Galway is just unachievable. At least I think this is what the narrator is trying to capture. Strange that she chose to do this as there’s no mention from other characters in the story of Maude’s “Australian” accent. It would have been far better to stay with just a subtle Irish voicing for her character. Unfortunately it renders the reading difficult to listen to as an Australian in particular. That’s a double shame as this is Dervla McTiernan’s country of residence now. "
— Matthew Hunt, 7/10/2020 -
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kim topping, 12/27/2019
About Dervla McTiernan
International no.1 bestseller Dervla McTiernan’s first two novels, The Rúin and The Scholar, were critically acclaimed around the world. Dervla has won multiple prizes, including a Ned Kelly Award, Davitt Awards, a Barry Award, and an International Thriller Writers Award, and has been shortlisted for numerous others. Dervla’s third book, The Good Turn, went straight to no.1 in the bestseller charts, confirming her place as one of Australia’s best and most popular crime writers.
About Aoife McMahon
Aoife McMahon, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, is an Irish actress with extensive experience in theater and television. She won the 2002 Best Actress Gemini Award for Random Passage opposite Colm Meaney. She has also performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Old Vic and has toured the United Kingdom with Goodnight Mister Tom.