COLD COLD GROUND is a beautiful, thrilling heartbreaker of a book, alive with the sorrow and poetry of Ireland. Adrian McKinty is one of the finest writers working in any genre. ---Tim Hallinan
..
It's undoubtedly McKinty's finest novel: a visceral journey to the heart of darkness that was 1980's Northern Ireland. Written with intelligence, insight and wit, McKinty exposes the cancer of corruption at all levels of society at that time. Sean Duffy is a compelling detective, the evocation of the period is breathtaking and the atmosphere authentically menacing. A brilliant piece of work which does for the North what Peace's Red Riding Quartet did for Yorkshire.---Brian McGilloway
..
THE COLD, COLD GROUND is a razor sharp thriller set against the backdrop of a country in chaos, told with style, courage and dark-as-night wit. Adrian McKinty channels Dennis Lehane, David Peace and Joseph Wambaugh to create a brilliant novel with its own unique voice.---Stuart Neville
..
The Cold Cold Ground is a fearless trip into the nightmare world of Northern Ireland in the 1980’s: riots, hunger strikes, murders -- a time when every action from the mundane to the extreme is a political statement, yet Adrian McKinty tells a very personal story of an ordinary cop trying to hunt down a killer.---John McFetridge
..
Adrian McKinty's The Cold Cold Ground has got to on my five best of the year [list] as it is riveting, brilliant and just about the best book yet on Northern Ireland.---Ken Bruen
..
Adrian McKinty is the voice of the new Northern Irish generation but he’s not afraid to examine the past. Through Sean Duffy, his latest protagonist, he applies his unique writing skills to our troubled history expertly. This writer is a legend in the making and Cold, Cold Ground is the latest proof of this.---Gerard Brennan
..
The sense of what it must have been like to live through the most explosive days of Northern Ireland’s Troubles is vivid but, more than that, convincing. This goes especially for the book's homely details and the off-hand observations by McKinty's Sean Duffy, a Catholic member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. If McKinty were a tour guide, he’d take visitors to parts of Belfast and its surroundings that no one else does. The world’s most exciting crime fiction these days comes from Ireland, the best of that comes from the North, and The Cold Cold Ground may be the best crime novel – and one of the best books, period – out of Northern Ireland.–-- Peter Rozovsky
It's undoubtedly McKinty's finest novel: a visceral journey to the heart of darkness that was 1980's Northern Ireland. Written with intelligence, insight and wit, McKinty exposes the cancer of corruption at all levels of society at that time. Sean Duffy is a compelling detective, the evocation of the period is breathtaking and the atmosphere authentically menacing. A brilliant piece of work which does for the North what Peace's Red Riding Quartet did for Yorkshire.---Brian McGilloway
..
THE COLD, COLD GROUND is a razor sharp thriller set against the backdrop of a country in chaos, told with style, courage and dark-as-night wit. Adrian McKinty channels Dennis Lehane, David Peace and Joseph Wambaugh to create a brilliant novel with its own unique voice.---Stuart Neville
..
The Cold Cold Ground is a fearless trip into the nightmare world of Northern Ireland in the 1980’s: riots, hunger strikes, murders -- a time when every action from the mundane to the extreme is a political statement, yet Adrian McKinty tells a very personal story of an ordinary cop trying to hunt down a killer.---John McFetridge
..
Adrian McKinty's The Cold Cold Ground has got to on my five best of the year [list] as it is riveting, brilliant and just about the best book yet on Northern Ireland.---Ken Bruen
..
Adrian McKinty is the voice of the new Northern Irish generation but he’s not afraid to examine the past. Through Sean Duffy, his latest protagonist, he applies his unique writing skills to our troubled history expertly. This writer is a legend in the making and Cold, Cold Ground is the latest proof of this.---Gerard Brennan
..
The sense of what it must have been like to live through the most explosive days of Northern Ireland’s Troubles is vivid but, more than that, convincing. This goes especially for the book's homely details and the off-hand observations by McKinty's Sean Duffy, a Catholic member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. If McKinty were a tour guide, he’d take visitors to parts of Belfast and its surroundings that no one else does. The world’s most exciting crime fiction these days comes from Ireland, the best of that comes from the North, and The Cold Cold Ground may be the best crime novel – and one of the best books, period – out of Northern Ireland.–-- Peter Rozovsky
49 comments:
I'm very much looking forward to this one. I'll be getting it from Audible. I will make an effort to listen to it right away, but my current book is longish and I might not finish it by 1/7.
Have a great vacation with your family!
I am marking (and clearing!) my calendar. Will also be getting mine from Audible. Perhaps you should do a blog post on how to write a good review :)
I'm reading it again now and I will just say that it totally holds up to a second read. Which may be just because my memory is not what it once was, but still.
Looking forward to it immensely....now be careful on that road to W'Bool...plenty of nasty grassfires around at the moment...enjoy the break and see ya soon
I haven't read it yet, but it's on my best books of 2012 list.
Tim, it sounds like you make best of book lists like Adrian makes best of movie lists.
I should have taken a picture of my back garden the other day: visting in laws reading Dead Yard and Dead I May Well Be, wife reading Fifty Grand and I'm reading (and enjoying) CCG. I'm sure if I'd checked, the dog would have been chewing The Bloomsday Dead. Last word to the ma-in-law: "Eee, he's a violent fella, that McKinty."
Bet she didn't put the book down, though, did she, Dave?
Only reason this might not make it onto my Best of 2012 list is that I read it in 2011.
I'm waiting, I'm waiting :) It should be here any day now. Have a good vacation!
I've been saving an Audible credit just for this book. I'm looking forward to it.
Huzzah! My copy arrived today in time for the Honeybone family holiday next week at Wilsons Prom. A contrast in scenery...
Seana, that is where my inspiration came from.
Peter Rozovsky's review is pretty glowing. Mr McKinty shouldn't be expecting anything similar from me.If I like it, it will go something like this, "I really, really enjoyed this book, it was, erm, really, really good".
Useful and informative, i think you'll agree.
Amazon will suggest that Customers who wrote reviews like this, also bought books like this
'Improve your Vocabulary'
That ex of yours was right, Frankie. You are funny. Too bad he discovered this too late.
Tim, Adrian has started a dubious trend.
Although,in your case, I suppose he benefits from this.
I'll be buying it from Audible when released but wish to continue my tradition of hearing your new books when on vacation (which won't be until the end of February this year). I promise to review it then.
Congrats!
I'll be buying it from Audible when released but wish to continue my tradition of hearing your new books when on vacation (which won't be until the end of February this year). I promise to review it then.
Congrats!
My copy arrived from Amazon today. Should have it finished and a review up by Saturday.
Loved this book. Buy it, read it.
Falling Glass was a delight to listen to on audio. Strangely enough, my library only had this novel in that format. Glad they did!
Put in a request at that same public library to get a copy of this new novel. Cannot wait to read or listen to a new McKinty.
By the way, would really like to read some of your "ghostwritten" novels. Will read a McKinty any way possible.
Just to let everyone know...I'm still by the seaside. But I thought I'd raid an internet cafe to see how the book was doing.
:(
...is all I'll say in terms of coverage out there in the blogosphere. Seana you are the notable exception. thank you.
Speedskater.
I think you'll be into it, mate.
But perhaps not.
Who knows?
Its all a crapshoot.
Jean
Should be on Audible today or tomorrow.
Seana
thanks for that and the review. I appreciate it mightily.
Dan
Wbool is lovely. A little chilly perhaps but nice. Its the real Australia down here, mate.
Tim
I like the way you play.
David
And Geordies are such strangers to casual violence arent they?
Peter
You read the galley mate. This is the new improved version. With 10 percent more crispy goodnesss. Or possibly 1 percent less. My memory is hazy on the actual changes.
Lil
the vacation is nice so far. Lets not dwell on the spitting camel incident and the sunburn.
Glenna
I salute and your audible credit. that 7.99 will be well spent, hopefully.
David
Huzzah for the shopkeep and the postman indeed. Not the postman who must seems to have stolen some of my Xmas presents, obviously.
Frankie
Any review where you praise is good. Even if you have to lie through your teeth. Writers want praise not reviews.
StevieD
I shall await the good word from StevieD.
Remy
I hope so. Look I'm not saying that I'll be refreshing the amazon.co.uk page like a rather sad basement bound ego cripple.
Or perhaps I am saying that I dont know...
Cavalier Esq
Jon,
Appreciate it buddy. Read your review on the web! Excellent work against the armies of darkness.
Mickie
You really dont want to read my ghostwritten books. Or any books that I have coghostwritten. I wont say any more than that. For legal reasons and because its a dark chapter in my past.
My review so far:
I found Adrian McKinty's "Cold Cold Ground" easily in the Kindle Store at Amazon.com. Ten bucks. Shit, I can't buy a good bottle of booze for that. A bargain. I bought it. AmEx will be happy - until I'm late on my payment.
It downloaded easily on both my Kindle and my iPhone. I did wonder how - on the non-Kindle Amazon page there could be a used copy already for sale.
Additionally, I thought about downloading the Tom Waits song by the same name, too. But I went over to Spotify and heard it for free. I have no idea if I'll buy the song on iTunes - maybe.
While on Amazon, and on the same page, I also thought about buying Cold Sore Relief from Enzymatic.
So...my blurb for your next book jacket: "Tom Waits, electronic reading devices and cold sore relief - are woven (weaved?) together expertly by McKinty in his latest effort."
You like?
I like getting credit, but you have to be fair here. Some people haven't even been able to get the book yet! I think the praise, uh, I mean reviews will start rolling in shortly.
Enjoy the sea.
Crawdaddy
You should see Tom Waits's version of Cold Cold at the Bridge School Benefit that he does with the Kronos Quartet. Its amazing. I saw it on youtube years ago. Dont know if its still up there but its great if you can find it.
Seana
The sea is chilly but really rather lovely.
I'll stick a review up on Amazon later but I blitzed through this book in a couple of days as I thought it was excellent. Have to be honest Adrian that I wasn't a big fan of Falling Glass, but this book is much more like it. Duffy is an excellent character, the story, which mixes fictional and real people, rattles along, there are some very funny one liners. It may have helped me that I know a lot of the locations, the back story of the troubles and a bit about the early 80s (particularly the music), but twet are no block to people enjoying the story. This book is great. Buy it, read it and tell your friends.
Can't wait for the next one Adrian.
You mention going back to ghostwriting. This interests me because I am currently reading a French writer who has been accused of plagiarism.
I had heard that some textbooks, authored by famous names, e.g. scientists, are in fact "ghost written".
I think plagiarism only exists because "knowledge" is sold and regulated. If "knowledge" was free, then 3 year olds could be playing video games to learn all manner of skills, and there would be no need for the "knowledge industries".
telfer cronos
You mention ghostwriting. This interested me because I am currently reading an author who has been accused of plagiarism.
I think plagiarism only exists because there is a market for "knowledge". If knowledge was freely shared, then the current work hierarchies would not exist - a novice could use tools that had taken lifetimes of work by others to develop.
Of course the current education system already gives the learner access to tools that have taken lifetimes to develop. But it still maintains current work hierarchies, by discouraging sharing.
Remy
FOUR stars? Really? You're a hard taskmaster.
Telfer
Writers have to get paid though so there has to be some kind of barrier otherwise only rich people can afford to write and we'll only get their perspective which is why English fiction has been in the doldrums for the last two or three decades.
Adrian
Very few books ever get 5 stars. I probably could have given it 4.5 though.
First review I've ever done on Amazon though so you should be flattered!
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