Hmmm… I read quite a few police procedural books and I thought this offering from Dempsey was rather bland and boring. I did not feel there was any pace to this novel and it was rather lacking in the actual investigation of the crime scene that the story opened with.

The brutal crime scene that Dempsey portrays was enough to send shivers down my spine. I found it interesting that immediately the police do not believe the confession from Iona, doubting her credibility and the realism of what she was saying. What follows is why the police do not believe her. I found this an interesting angle to the case but wanted to see more interviews with Iona; instead she fades into the background of the story, rather than dominating the police investigations.

Furthermore, the presence of dolls strung up in the garden of the crime scene was an excellent motif for the murders, with the five victims living in the house. However, again, I do not believe that Dempsey truly capitalised on this piece of evidence and had hoped this would propel the investigations forwards. Instead, the case moves to focus on the bizarre message of ‘Who Took Eden Mulligan?’ that has been scrawled on the wall at the crime scene. It is this that the book is more about, rather than the opening crime.

What entails is a focus on the politics of Ireland during the 1980s. Rose, one of the investigating officers, has returned to Belfast to attend her mother’s funeral. Her mother, Evelyn, was involved in suspicious activities during such a troublesome period of the country. It is gradually revealed that Eden Mulligan also had some doubtful connections and this helps Rose and Danny try and piece together the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. As a result, I thought that the novel centred more on this, with the main crime scene becoming a sub-plot instead.

Due to the nature of the case, I thought there was a lot of talking and discussion, with very little action. After all, the action with Eden Mulligan happened over thirty years ago, so there is very little new events taking place. As Rose and Danny interview Mulligan’s family and those connected with the opening murder victims, I found this significantly lessened the pace of the novel and my thoughts began to wander.

I enjoyed elements of the story but my favourite parts appeared to be dismissed for the investigation of a missing woman. The political elements to the story made it more heavy-going than I wanted and I think this added to a lack-lustre crime novel. I guess this book has more angles than perhaps other novels of a similar genre. In my opinion, I wanted Dempsey to follow on with the crime that started the story, rather than allow something else to dominate the narrative.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An eerie Northern Irish tale, Who Took Eden Mulligan? with its gliding pace, grabs the reader and begins to enchant with rich, dark Irish lore. The book opens with an intriguing prologue; Iona Gardener has moved into a rental cottage which she and her housemates plan to do up a bit and make it a more comfortable place to live in. But she on her way to the police station, running along she falls and injures her knee whilst desperately trying to block out what she has seen back at the cottage. She can taste the bile in her throat and smell the blood on herself, her dark hair straggly and unkempt-looking. She arrives at the police station and tells the officer she has killed the people back at Lower Dunlore cottage.

Forensic Psychologist Dr Rose Lainey has returned to Belfast after 18 years away to attend her mother’s funeral and reconnect with her siblings. Chief Inspector Danny Stowe who is an old university friend and is leading the investigation into the Dunlore deaths, mentions the case, she agrees to help and Rose is taken back to the days of her own childhood. There are creepy dolls tied to a tree in the garden and the message “who took Eden Mulligan?” scrawled on a wall and Stowe knows there’s more to the case than the confession from Iona.

The lives of the investigators are as much a part of Sharon Dempsey’s tale as the deaths of the murder victims and her writing flows enjoyably making this a book I devoured easily. Whilst Who Took Eden Mulligan? is a murder mystery it is also an examination of people’s relationships with their individual and their shared pasts. The novel is mainly told from Stowe and Rose’s points of view, and the reader knows the same as they do, allowing for plenty of speculation. The author also explores the fear, tension and violence of the time in interesting detail giving a real sense of time and place. Captivating and emotive.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Avon Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Debut novel about murders in Belfast and the case of Eden Mulligan, mother of 5, who disappeared during the troubles. Iona Gardiner arrives at the police station , confessing to the murders of her friends in a small cottage. Who took Eden Mulligan is daubed on the wall.
Atmospheric and quite pacy in the first half as DI Danny Stone and forensic psychologist Rose Lainey, recently returned from London for her mother’s funeral, get stuck into solving the current murders and the disappearance.
The second half is a bit slower and repetitive. The ending was a bit contrived and not convincing.
Good writing, descriptions and NI setting helped draw the reader into the story. Nicely set up for a sequel.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.
3.5 Stars ⭐️

Iona Gardener, covered in blood and traumatised, staggers into a police station to confess to the murder of a group of her friends in Lower Dunlore Cottage.

Danny Stowe, reprieved after an action that looked set to end his career in the police force, is assigned to the case.
Rose Lainey, who has managed to escape her family and her previous life in Northern Ireland, long time friend to Danny, returns to Belfast for her mother's funeral. Rose is convinced by Danny to help with the investigation.

At the cottage, five dolls hang in a tree along with a note stating "Who took Eden Mulligan?". Eden Mulligan was a good looking woman with five children who disappeared during the troubles and has never been found.

Against this backdrop, both Rose's family issues and Danny's relationship issues play out, as well as the unspoken feelings that lie between them. Their goal is to find what connects the disappearance of Eden Mulligan and the cottage murders, which sees them look to the past and has Rose face her own conflicted feelings concerning her mother, whom she suspects of being involved with the IRA.

Of course they resolve the crime, and their discoveries about the case and the development of their relationship is enough to keep one reading to the end. I wouldn't say that this is especially gripping, or sophisticated, or compelling (words used to describe this book), but it is a decent read.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This is an atmospheric, multilayered story set in Northern Ireland in the present day with ties back to Northern Ireland's troubled history. A confession leads to a macabre discovery. Rose, a forensic psychologist and Danny, a detective, work together on the current case and a possibly linked historic disappearance.

The plot is twisty, keeping its secrets until the end. Believable characters, an engaging dynamic between Rose and Danny and the interwoven historical and political elements make this an interesting read.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. I literally couldn’t put this book down and finished in one reading. A mom is ripped from her family and all of her children are left. Years later the story is drug back up who took eden? This page turner has a lot of twists and turns to an end I did not see coming. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A young woman appears in a Belfast police station covered in blood and declares that she’s killed all 4 of her housemates in a rural cottage. Her story doesn’t add up.

On inspection of the murder scene 5 grotesque dolls are found hanging to a tree and the words “who took Eden Mulliigan?” are written on the wall inside the cottage. This is reference to a historical case during the troubles of Northern Ireland where mother of 5 Eden disappeared one night leaving behind her family with no trace.

DI Danny Stowe is assigned to the case and seeks assistance from his friend and forensic psychologist Rosie lainey.

Rosie has returned to Belfast to attend her mother’s funeral a woman she has had a fractious relationship with and because of moved to London to distance herself from the family’s heavy dealings with the IRA. Her childhood was blighted by her mother transporting weapons and helping the IRA do their bidding.

Danny is not without problems of his own having been reprimanded at work for assaulting a suspect and discovering his wife is having an affair.

Together the old friends channel both their expertise into solving both cases.

I cannot praise this book highly enough the insight to Rosie’s childhood and the troubles were totally gripping.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley & Sharon Dempsey for my copy of Who Took Eden Mulligan? for an honest review.. For a debut novel, I was very impressed with this story. Set in Northern Ireland, after the troubles, DI Danny Stowe and forensic psychologist Rosey Lainey, find themselves in the midst of a terrible crime, that needs solving. Rosey is back in Belfast for her mother’s funeral and Danny Stowe asks her to work with him on a murder of four students. At the site of the murder, 4 students are dead, there are 5 sinister dolls hanging from a tree and painted in the wall, Who took Eden Mulligan? Eden Mulligan, was a woman who was involved with the troubles and disappeared. Immediately, the two are at a loss as where to start the investigation. Then a young girl confesses to the murders. So many question to be asked and answered. Danny and Rosey work together, very well. For all the dead ends and they are able to piece this crime together. Rosey is able to address her own past & so many secrets are solved. I really loved how this author put together this story. She is an excellent writer and I really liked this story. There was great character development and I really loved her description of Northern Ireland. I am glad I got to read this novel. I have shared this on my Instagram page and shared my review on Barnes & Noble. This was a four star read for me, I have recommended it to friends and family. Enjoy..

This is a well-written fictional crime novel with good character development along the way. I got to know the characters early on in the story. So why 4 stars? Unfortunately I was able to figure out who the killer was early in the story. The ending wrapped up well and was not rushed.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own honest opinions written voluntarily.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC.
Psychologist Rose Lainey is back in Belfast for family reasons. Her old university pal Danny, now a detective with PSNI, asks for her help in a particularly brutal murder case with links to an old disappearance. Rose's own troubled relationships with her past and her family colour her view of the old mystery. No one is telling the full truth. The resolution is pretty chilling but plausible.
This drew me in and kept me interested, with echoes of the damage done by the Troubles and the generational effects of that collective trauma. I want to hear more from Rose and Danny.

I don't usually read books with associations with the Troubles, having grown up in the north of Ireland it sometimes seems too close to home. How glad I am that I took a chance with Who Took Eden Mulligan? The investigation into the multiple murders was much less interesting to me than the lives of the Mulligan children: The long term damage caused by the sudden disappearance of their mother. Eden Mulligan and her bereaved children have lingered with me for days, and I will certainly be looking for other work by Sharon Dempsey.

Who took Eden Mulligan is a psychological crime story. Criminal psychologist Rose has to return to her local town in Ireland after leaving to go to university in England and never looking back. But now she has returned to attend her mother's funeral. Whilst back she visits her police friend Danny who peaks her interest with his cold case a missing person's case from the 80s which is now linked to a mass murder of a group of friends. What makes this case even stranger is there housemate and friend walks into the police station saying she killed them. But it's just not sitting right with either of them.

I found the book to be a good crime book. I honestly didn't know who had committed the murders of the friends, nor did I know where Eden was! However its a bit stretched out. I think I understood the concept however itt seemed like too much was going on at once for me.

I also wondered how legitimate it was for Rose to start working along side the police having jot worked with them before hand and her current job appears to be assessments for the CPS. But I did enjoy Rose she clearly has issues that stem from the civil unrest as a child, to a point she has clear attachment issues.
.Danny's backstop warranted more information if im honest. I felt like half his story had just been missed. But there's only so much you can fit in one book.
Out of the two lead protagonist did prefer Danny. He was funny intelligent and doesn't give up.

The description the novel is done very well. Espically with the scene of the crime i felt that I could really see the carnage. Its very well written and extremely moving.

In conclusion I would recommend this book. I found the experience of reading this book pleasant and easy. I honestly had no clue how it would conclude and it was completely not what I was expecting! Happy to rate 3 stars.

Thanks to netgalley, the author and publisher for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

Who doesn't love a good mystery of the past intertwined with one of the present? Add to that creepy dolls tied to a tree... Yeah, you wanna read it now, don't ya?

Iona has confessed to killing 4 people. The investigator in charge knows one thing about this case: she isn't the killer. The book focuses heavily on the investigation and I felt like I was watching one of these new-age crime fighting TV shows - one where I hope to get the answers to all my questions by the end of the episode! It also kept me glued to the chair to see it through to the end!

So who took Eden Mulligan? And who is Eden Mulligan? You'll just have to read to find out...

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The cover of this book is great.
The storyline is unique and kept my interest the entire time!
There were definitely some twists I didn't see coming.
You won't regret reading this book. I promise.

The setting of this book is unique and really fascinating!

Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, present day and investigators going through a cold case from the 80s. The author uses that setting to show the incredible difference between Belfast in the 80s and Belfast now. I happen to have been to Belfast recently and took a bunch of tours and learned all about the IRA and what the country used to be like but found it extremely difficult to picture that given the peace that they experience now. This book did a beautiful job of really illustrating the danger normal citizens were in back then. It was really, truly fascinating.

The case was also well constructed, the characters were likeable and the end was surprising. Really enjoyed it! Hope there’s
more to this detective’s story!

So thrilling and frustrating at times but in the end they solved the mystery and the crimes thank goodness as I was starting to wonder whether they would solve it or if the book would end in a cliff hanger. So many plot twists throughout it was a well-written who dunnit.

I found this book really interesting, because of the backdrop of the Troubles in Northern Ireland at the time. I learnt a lot about the historical context as I read. Liked that past and present ran alongside each other when telling the story. Enjoyed the back story between the 2 main characters too and hope they return in future.

Rosie left home to attend university and never looked back.
Until her mother died.
In her early thirties, Rosie goes home. Her brothers and sister are distant - understandably so.
Her best friend from university, Danny, has been assigned a horrendous murder. Five recent university graduates are slaughtered in their rented cabin - one survivor walks to the police station claiming she killed them all.
Danny asks for Rosie's help with a cold case - graffiti on the cabin wall demanding Who Took Eden Mulligan?
In the 80s, one night Eden just disappeared. The police gave little attention. She left five young children- pulled apart and placed in care.
What ties the two cases together?
This book could have been shorter. The relationships and complexity were emphasized too much.
Otherwise great plot, kept me interested for the most part.

A country tending its wounds, a family tending their wounds, and a forensic psychologist tending her own wounds combine with the somewhat gothic atmosphere outside Belfast Ireland to create an immersive mystery experience. The pace is a big uneven and the characters at times can be a bit cliché (old university friends who pine for each other but instead declare themselves best buds), but when taken in the entire context of the book, it seems to work. I also frequently wondered whether this was the beginning of a series with Rose Lainey returning home. I would be interested in reading more!

This is a multi layered mystery with many strands, set in a Belfast now free of The Troubles in the 70's and 80's. But someone doesn't want the past to be left there, as the words 'Who Took Eden Mulligan?" are there for the police to see, left after the shocking murders of four people.

Rose Lainey has come back to Belfast to attend her mother's funeral, she and Danny were at Liverpool Uni together and she agrees to help him with this baffling case.

I enjoyed the chemistry between the two, their interactions felt natural.

Who Took Eden Mulligan? is more than a murder mystery, it's about the assumptions people make, of living in fear in Belfast in the 1980's, fear of saying or doing the wrong thing, I could almost feel that claustrophobia in the writing, which was excellent from beginning to end.

The tension is slow and steady, gradually building up to a fast pace at the end.....and I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book of many layers.

I would love to read more of DI Danny Stowe and forensic psychologist Rose Lainey and see where their next case takes them.