Five young people are attacked in a cottage and on the wall the message reads "Who took Eden Mulligan?" Rose Lainey is home in Belfast for her mothers funeral and when she meets old friend DI Danny Stowe he asks her to become involved. The case stirs up old memories for her about her own family and the Troubles, especially her mothers behaviour at the time.
I really enjoyed this book. Rose and Danny are likable characters and the story evolved over the course of the book, nothing was too obvious.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an advance copy.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This is the first book I've read by Ms Dempsey, and I really enjoyed it. The story was jumping between a modern day murder, and a murder that happened in the 1980's. Is the two linked, or is it just coincidence? And if they are, how are they linked. Trilling read and gripping until the end.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A good mystery/Thriller. Perfect for Halloween Month 🎃.

The setting is truly what made this book. A beautiful cottage setting, near Belfast. What more could you ask for? Unfortunately, that was the best part for me. A book where someone confesses to five murders? This should've been a slam dunk. But it just fell short. It wasn't fully fleshed out.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Although ‘Who Took Eden Mulligan?’ is described a mystery/thriller, it feels like more than that. The story essentially centres around 1980’s Belfast and the IRA. The story involves two separate crimes, seemingly unrelated. The relationship between the two crimes was not revealed until the end and did link the two storylines together logically. Overall, a good read.

Who Took Eden Mulligan? begins with a female running, heading for the nearest police station. Running from the horror she has left behind in a cottage. Blood, so much blood. When Iona Gardener reaches the station covered head to toe in blood, the first words to leave her mouth is her confession to the murder of four people. This was such an interesting and exciting start, an opening that instantly pulls you in and has you asking so many questions.

From here, we dive straight in to the police investigation, lead by Chief Inspector Danny Stowe. Stowe is trying desperately to prove himself after some recent wrong doings at work, and he knows that this case is his time to shine, but he needs help. Luckily for him, an old friend is in town. Forensic Psychologist Rose Lainey’s timing couldn’t be more perfect, because Stowe knows that she is exactly who he needs on this case. From the moment that Rose is introduced, you can feel the connection between the two of them, and you know that their partnership could definitely lead to some exciting reading. There are so many aspects to this case that prove to be difficult for the pair, but the biggest one being that of Eden Mulligan.

Eden Mulligan was declared missing during the Troubles, but what does she have to do with this case?That’s the question that everyone wants to know the answers to. I liked that the story links the two cases that were seemingly unconnected, one new case and one 20 year old cold case. The author did a brilliant job of merging the two, but keeping you guessing, and leaving the real ties until the very end.

No real answers were ever found as to what happened to Eden back when she went missing. Of course there were lots of theories, but there was never any definitive proof of anything. This was a regular occurrence during this time, and something that Rose remembers well. Rose’s backstory is probably one of my favourite parts of this story, it’s extremely interesting, and the Troubles are a time that I want to learn more about. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to grow up in Belfast during that time, or the horrors that you would see in your every day life. It was very clear in the story that Rose really struggled with those memories from her childhood.

I did however find that the story focused more on Rose’s background that the actually case, and although I didn’t mind that because it was interesting to read, I do think that the case should have been the main focus and Rose’s story should have taken more of a back seat. The pace of the book was a little too slow for me too, for a lot of the book there didn’t seem to be a huge amount happening. It wasn’t jam packed with action and excitement like I was expecting it to be.

The story did redeem itself though, with an explosive ending that I had not seen coming! There were so many twists and revelations in those last couple of chapters, which I loved. As a whole, this is a an enjoyable read, and I would recommend it, but it didn’t fully live up to my expectations.

I give Who Took Eden Mulligan? a 3 star rating!

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for my copy of the book, in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly I was quite disappointed in this story, the plot grabbed me but the actual story didn’t keep me interested.

Favorite part of the novel was the mystery surrounding who took Eden.
Well written absolutely twisty and figuring out the trust kept me intrigued!
Thanks for the review copy look forward to reading more by this author

This was my introduction to Sharon Dempsey’s books and immediately, the novel drew me in.

Danny and Rose make a great duo; bouncing off each other well. I wanted to know more about them and right from the start, I rooted for them. I hope it’s not the last we see of these two characters.

I also liked that fact that the POV not only switches between Danny and Rose, but also the events of the past so you really get a comprehensive picture on what’s happening and how they are feeling.

The plot itself is very intriguing and you’re pulled directly into the action, from the moment Iona Gardener runs into the police station, saying she’s hurt her friends. It’s clear that there’s more to the story.

The novel overall deals with various themes in a sensitive but compelling way.

There were so many twists and turns that I really couldn’t predict where the story was going to lead and it had me guessing until the end. I couldn’t see how everything fit together and I didn’t see the end coming. I am not going to say much more as I don’t want to spoil it.

Who Took Eden Mulligan? is an absorbing, action-packed crime novel that I devoured in pretty much one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Being in my 40’s and somewhat interest in current events when I was a kid, I knew something of ‘the Troubles’ in Ireland in the 80’s. I gorged myself on Irish culture, obsessed with everything from the movie ‘In the Name of the Father’ to Michael Flagler. When I graduated high school I travelled to Ireland - by this time it was the mid-90’s and there were still British soldiers on the streets of Belfast. When I look back now I can still remember the faces of the people I met, at once tired and filled with burning purpose, passionate and tragic. So many of them shouting and not being heard. Since then I have been back to Ireland several times (married an Irishman) and I am happy to say that the North, in fact the whole country, has changed a lot in peace time. The passion for family and for history remains,

Reading this book invoked those memories of the first time I was in Belfast again, and the author did a wonderful job of weaving the bloody history of Northern Ireland into this crime thriller. The characters speech is so lyrical I could almost hear them speaking. And the story was exciting and poignant - an interesting blend for a book of this type.

Both Danny and Rose are complex and flawed - I really hope there is more to come in their story, or at least from this author,

Having just given up on my previous book, I decided to stick with this. It was a mistake! Lots of people are dead and theres graffiti about a disappearance from 35 years ago and that is all you seem to know for the first 50+ chapters. I kept thinking, in the next chapter it will liven up.....but it didnt. The solution when it eventually came, was rushed and a bit random.
Sorry.....not one I enjoyed.

Unfortunately I could not get into this book and did not finish it. Other readers may enjoy this more.

Interesting how the author mixes the Belfast of today with past events during the Troubles and the impacts these have all these years later. The book focuses a lot on how families were then and now, especially the Mulligans who are still reeling from the effects of their mother's disappearance all these years later.
Not your usual crime novel in that there is one set of gruesome murders which the two main characters are investigating.
Really enjoyed this novel and an author to watch as they have an undoubted talent as a crime writer.

A really interesting book and one that was incredibly hard to put down! I was completely hooked from the first page until the last!

A gripping, gritty and fascinating story that kept me on the edge.
Great characters, a tightly knitted plot, a dark story I loved.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a pretty fast paced read to be fair and I didn’t get the twist until the end when it was revealed, I thought it was interesting to read about the time of “the troubles” as I was too young to remember them to be honest, I thought it was a well thought out plot and I enjoyed the book a lot, plenty of twists and it didn’t take me long to race through it. Great book!

On the plus side, I found some of the information about the Troubles in Northern Ireland interesting, though I'd have liked to have read about the subject from a less biased source. The description was good until it became too much and bogged down the pacing.

As for the negatives, I found Who Took Eden Mulligan? to be so full of useless information that I could skip at least half of every page and not miss anything. I found the killer and their motive much too easy to figure out early on so the ending held no impact for me. Even if I hadn't figured it out, the lack of stakes or conflict at the end would have still been a letdown. I was annoyed by the huge plot convenience that allowed the story to exist as it is (Iona suffering some delusion that made her believe she was the one who committed the murders instead of just telling the police who did it) and I didn't like or care about any of the characters. The author happily sniped at over half of the UK population who voted to leave the EU just because it annoys her and I find that to be very immature.
Even though the story started off in a promising manner, by 30% it had slowed to a snail's pace and from then onward, I was bored.

2.5* rounded up.

Who Took Eden Mulligan by Sharon Dempsey.
Rating 4.7/5
Wow what a debut for Sharon Dempsey, well plotted with an have fantastic in-depth insight of how the human mind reacts to traumatic scenarios.
Currently three murders, an attempted murder and attack bring Forensic Psychologist Dr Rose Lainey and Chief Inspector Danny Stowe together again, working for the PNSI to solve the crime in Northern Ireland. They have a history together from university but Rose has always been cagey about her upbringing Northern Ireland.
Who Took Eden Mulligan relates to the Disappeared in the time of the Troubles. The effects on the men, women and children who survived it and runs parallel with the recent deaths of the young adolescents.
Shocking revelations, great character building, plenty of action. Very recommended, Ms Dempsey is an author to watch out for.
Many thanks to Sharon Dempsey, Harper Collins/Avon and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this novel. In return I have given an unbiased and honest review.

Who Took Eden Mulligan opens with a gruesome, bloody murder with clues tying it to the long ago disappearance of a young mother during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. This was an interesting mystery but left me feeling that maybe not enough time spent on the actual, initial crimes. Still, I learned a bit about that period of time in Belfast which is always fascinating.