McKinty’s previous reserve, Falling Cup, was an Audible.com Best Thriller of 2011

Northern Ireland, spring 1981. Hunger hits, riots, power slashes, a homophobic serial killer with a penchant for opera, and a woman’s suicide that may yet grow to be murder: on the top, the events are unconnected, but things-and people-aren’t often what they seem. Detective Sergeant Duffy is the guy tasked with looking to get to underneath of everything. It’s no easy job-especially when as it happens that among the victims was involved in the IRA but was last seen discussing business with somebody from the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Pressure. Add to this the actual fact that, as a Catholic policeman, it doesn’t matter which aspect he’s on, because no one trusts him, and Sergeant Duffy really is in a no-win situation. Fast-paced, evocative, and brutal, The Cool Cold Ground is normally an excellent depiction of Belfast on the height from the Troubles-and of the cop treading a thin, thin line.