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.

DI Owen Sheen and DC Aoife McCusker are back working on the reformed Serious Historic Offences Team in Belfast, they have been warned against taking walk ins after the disaster that occurred last time but when Tom Tuckers son walks in with a note asking for Owen Sheen only that says that they killed his friend, and now they're coming for him and to trust no one. Owen is obligated to take on this case..

This book looks at fictional historical events that happened during the times of the IRA. Owen Sheen is working on a cold case regarding the Cyprus 3 and trying to work out who sold them out and lead to their deaths. The interruption from David, Tom's son some how manages to interlink with what he is doing.

To be honest I found this book very confusing. There seemed to be so much going on at once. I suppose we are waiting for the identity of red locks to be apparent but even once the big shock was revealed I had no idea who it was, I think I wasn't paying attention.
I wish the story had only followed Owen I think I would of understood the revels as we went along but we followed Aoife, Tom and our mystery man and possibly someone else. I got very muddled with everything that was going on and I struggled to find the interest to finish, but I always finish what I start reading.

I would still recommend the book however I just don't think this storyline was my cup of tea. Its a well written crime mystery it requires concentration and now distractions I enjoyed Tom's storyline and Owens and maybe if they were the only narrators I probably would of felt more connected to the book. I have read several books which have fictional investigations around the troubles of Ireland the most recent being who to Eden Mulligan and I loved it. I just needed less in this book to fully appreciate everything that was going on.
I might myself re read at a later date and see if I connect better with it a second time. However for now I am rating 2.5 stars rounding up to 3 I didn't love it but I have read much worse.

Thanks to netgalley, the author and publishers for the advanced digital copy of never ask the dead in exchanged for my fair and honest opinion.

I read the first in the series and somehow missed the second so got a treat to read books two and three back to back. Really enjoyable, fresh mixture of thriller and police procedural. These are technically meant to be cold cases but this is northern Ireland and there seems to be no such thing. I really like how the team are solidifying with more character development. I really wasnt sure about the inclusion of Hayley but her character is growing on me. I'm maybe a little uncomfortable with signing the fictional story with real / recognisable real world case details but I suspect that's impossible to avoid. One to watch.

It's always a bit daunting starting a new series, isn't it? Especially if you're not starting it from the beginning. I never did have to worry though, because Gary Donnelly took the greatest care of me and my reading experience.

DI Owen Sheen hasn't so much as set foot back in Belfast before his services are required on a new and complex case. A young man has shown up with a cryptic note from his missing father, Tucker Rodgers, claiming that they have killed his friend and now they're coming for him. He must find Owen Sheen, and keep watching his back. He's sorry.

The plot thickens as Sheen attempts to balance his own agenda with office politics, wider politics, the violent past of a restless and traumatized country and his own private life on the side. As time progresses, the Tucker Rodgers' case snowballs and as the noose tightens, all clues seem to point to a mysterious and elusive individual known at one point as TOPBRASS. However, uncovering his true identity will prove easier said than done, as Sheen and DC Aoife McCusker sets off on a wild goose chase to pursue decades old leads which will put them directly in harm's way more than a few times. Ultimately, they learn what can happen when you attempt to ask the dead.

I had a lot of fun reading this. My knowledge of the The Troubles is patchy at best and I initially worried that a lot would go over my head because of this. However if so, it's not something I noticed or that impacted my reading experience negatively in any way.

I was kept on my toes at all times and I really enjoyed the alternating chapters and the straightforward prose. The element of puzzle solving is always a favourite and it's so much fun to get to be a part of those 💡 moments, and I loved how well everything came together in the end. Towards the last few chapters I really couldn't put the book down. The final drama had me biting my nails, not going to lie.

Di Owen Sheen, Aoife McCusker and the SHOT team are working on a historical case that involved 3 IRA members killed by the SAS in Cyprus in 1987 when a man walks into the police station with a warning note written by his father, Tucker Rodgers, who is now missing. This note claims that his friend was murdered, and the same people are after him and that Sheen is the only one who can be trusted to help. Dates are mentioned in the note, one of which happens to match that of the Cyprus killings and from there, the team identify other historical cases involving the IRA that match the other dates. It also mentions TOPBRASS and it's this mysterious name that all roads lead to.
The SHOT team begins to reinvestigate these cases while searching for Rodgers, but nothing goes unnoticed in Belfast when the police show up on doorsteps asking questions about the past. This leads to deadly consequences in the present...

This is the third book in the DI Own Sheen series and just like the first two, I loved it. And although it is the third in the series, it is absolutely possible to be read as a standalone and what is good, is that nothing from the previous books is spoiled in this one.
The book is tense and exciting throughout, from the prologue to the epilogue. The prologue is great, it is set in 1979 and provides the context for the rest of the book, it will draw you in and have you hooked. I love the mix of old and present days events and the alternating chapters from each of the characters.
I live in NI so I know about our country's past but you don't have to know much or anything about the Troubles in N. Ireland to enjoy this series as everything is well explained (there's also a helpful list of acronyms and abbreviations at the back of each book) and so well written with details and descriptions that you will feel as of you are there walking the streets of Belfast.
I love the characters, Sheen and McCusker are very likeable and relatable and are both well developed. I really enjoy reading more about them and their relationship with each book, they add a nice bit or romance. I'm glad Hayley who first appeared in Killing In Your Name, appeared again in Never Ask The Dead with her physic abilities, she's adds a little extra to the stories.
The book is categorised as noir for a reason; it's gritty, it's brutal, it's tense, and it's a fantastic read for anyone who loves great police procedural/crime thrillers. The concluding chapters will have you on the edge of your seat.

This book brought back memories of a long lost fling with a guy from Belfast in the 80s. It was during the Trouble and I remember the descriptions of what was living in Belfast and feeling strongly for a side (he was catholic).
I found some of those memories in this tense, thrilling and gripping story that mixes present with events from the past in a quite bleak atmosphere.
There is no good or bad, there are stories from the past that still affects the present and can hurt or kill.
This was my first meeting with DI Owens and Aoife McCusker and I don’t think it will be the last because I found these characters damaged but also extremely interesting and realistic.
This is a gripping story, full of twists and turns, that will keep you on the edge till the last page. There is hope but there’s also a lot of emotional hurt and we can only hope that those wounds will heal.
The descriptions of the places are fascinating and the character development is excellent.
The mystery is solid and couldn’t stop reading.
An excellent story which is also a good way to learn about stories we forgot or removed. You can learn and being entertained at the same time.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Allison & Busby and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The past always has a way of catching up with us and Don’t Tell the Dead by Gary Donnelly epitomise that notion. Lace up those Nikes because you’re going to be doing some running!
Writing is such a labour of love and writing a series is doubly true. The commitment, the research, and the psyche to get into the head of your characters time and time again requires a special kind of author. Gary Donnelly has consistently delivered a gritty, raw, and deeply compelling crime series set in the pulsing heart of Ireland. The atmosphere is catastrophically real, you can almost feel the elements battering you where you stand, the characterisation gets stronger each time we meet these much-loved characters. Its like watching evolution before your very eyes.
Donnelly certainly doesn’t take the easy route in Don’t Tell the Dead. You can feel the pressures that the plot is threatening to crush each protagonist, the timeline doesn’t leave an inch to breathe and his deep and dark narrative creates a deadly web of intrigue with past events being the catalyst that threatens to consume.
I was very excited to be reunited with DI Sheen and Aoife McClusker. The book started off on a tense note and never let up until the very end. It opened leaving you questioning the troubles lingering impact and trying to already connect the dots that Donnelly so expertly had left dotted around. Something serious is about to go down and its exactly how I love my Crime Fiction books to start; explosive, exciting, and having me scramble for answers even though the question has yet to be posed. Nothing is so black and white in a Gary Donnelly book.
Belfast’s past is casting an ever-present shadow. Serious Offenses Historic Unit. Multiple different directions lead to a game of cat and mouse. Buckle in you’re in for a hell of a ride.
The one thing I love about Gary Donnelly’s writing and Don’t Tell the Dead in particular, is that he is a dab hand at creating realistic characters. DI Sheen isn’t perfect. Not by a long shot. He has many flaws and anxieties, but he knows how to do the right thing. He might be up against the powers that be at times, but he follows his gut and is assertive when needed. He sometimes dwells on past events, but the important thing is that he doesn’t just move in, he gives himself a shake and tackles the case at hand with all his might and expertise.
Don’t Ask the dead is brutally Irish. The inner voice is acerbic and injected with local phrases, humour and most importantly you feel as though you are there. Donnelly knows how to take risks but time and time again it pays off. It’s a story about truth, battling injustice and trusting your gut. This series just keeps getting better and better and I wait on bated breath to see what Gary comes up with next.

Set in present day Belfast, DI Owen Sheen and DC Aofie McCusker on their Serious Historic Offences Team are tasked to investigate the assassination of IRA members in 1987. Their investigation takes a dark turn when they begin to uncover sinister secrets concerning cases from the Troubles conflict in Northern Ireland and a concerning message left from a retired police officer who has gone missing.

This is the third instalment of of Donnelly’s series on DI Owen Sheen but I read it as a stand alone. Donnelly takes the reader on a journey to uncover the identity of Special Branch agent TOPBRASS. I enjoyed the plot and liked the majority of the characters- Donnelly made sure each character had a purpose within the novel. I also felt like I was learning as I read about the Troubles as my knowledge is quite limited on it. The prologue was enticing and drew me in straight away.

It really began to pick up half way through. I was gripped towards the end of the book; the pace revealed things in good time.

Some of the vocabulary that was used I didn’t always understand- I was pleased to see a section at the end of the book on acronyms and abbreviations. So for those who do not know much on this particular historical conflict or police jargon, this is comes in handy!

Overall I found this a compelling crime novel with a hint of romance and profound historical context. I will definitely be reading Gary’s other novels in the DI Owen Sheen series.

A huge thank you to Allison and Busby for letting me be a part of the blog tour!

This is the third book to feature DI Sheen and set in Belfast. It is well written and researched, based around the Troubles in Northern Ireland from the 70's to the present day. Sheen leads the historic offences team, investigating serious crimes from the past. There are lovely descriptive passages which transport the reader right into the streets of Belfast. I loved the character development and I would recommend this series, start with the first for background information but this can be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Never Ask the Dead is the third book in the Belfast based police series by Gary Donnelly.

The Serious Historic Offences Team was reformed at the end of the previous book however that doesn’t mean that things are any easier for DI Owen Sheen and his colleagues, both official and unofficial.

Double Agents, IRA informers and retired ex colleagues are just some of the challenges Sheen has to navigate whilst under the direct command of the Chief Constable.

There are twists and turns galore throughout the book that definitely kept the pages turning and this reader interested until the very end as the action comes thick and fast.

This series has been enjoyable from book one and Never Ask the Dead is definitely recommended

I really enjoyed this book. The story mixing the old with the present day was interesting and each chapter uncovered more clues. I was hooked, turning the page to see what happens next. Great characters too, looking forward to seeing how they develop. Thanks for the ARC

Loved this book so much lived most of my life in Belfast. Felt Iike I was back there again when reading it. Brilliant book love that it is based in my hometown bring on the next one

'Never Ask the Dead' is the third book by Gary Donnelly in the DI Sheen series. Born in Belfast, and raised in largely in London, DI Owen Sheen, has vowed that he will never to return to Ireland since the loss of his brother in a bombing during the height of The Troubles in Belfast, many years previously.
In the DI Sheen series, the past is never far away and indeed the events of the past are having clear repercussions today. Despite the movement towards peace, those echoes are ever present and for that reason the Serious Historic Offences Team has been created to deal with the resulting cases. Sheen is in charge of this unit and leading his rather motley crew.
This time around, their boss the Chief Constable has tasked the team with investigating the deaths of three members of the IRA in Cyprus, suspected to be planning a bombing. The SAS has been found responsible but with the government to be reformed in Northern Ireland, the case in being reviewed. And, then a walk-in, throws a fairly hefty spanner in the works by suggesting that a double agent may have been involved ......
The descriptions of the city of Belfast and surrounding countryside are incredibly colourful and vivid and it is easy for the reader to imagine themselves walking the streets. Equally the characters are well developed and I found myself caring for Aoife and the outcome of the case which is not often the situation in a crime/thriller.
An utterly engrossing and exciting thriller.
Many thanks to to Netgalley for the ARC.