Cruel Deeds

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

I loved this book from the front cover, to the gripping storyline, to the well developed characters and the tense and unpredictable atmosphere it was so enjoyable. The pacing was so fast and really added to the atmosphere, I couldnt put it down and raced through it in one sitting. I really enjoyed it.

There are many Cruel Deeds here. A law firm bursting with secrets. A woman seen with another man. Disappearances. Lies. Murder. More secrets.

After Mandy Breslin is murdered, Finn Fitzpatrick, a lawyer at the same firm, is asked to investigate Mandy’s death to clear the firm of any involvement. Finn has a big secret of her own. Six months earlier, she saw Mandy with a man who was not her husband. Mandy asked her to forget that it happened but now…could that mystery man be Mandy’s killer? Or could her death be related to the two men who came to the office to see Mandy the day after she was found dead? And who or what made Mandy so worried?

Cruel Deeds is part mystery, part thriller with a touch of romance. It’s unputdownable with well described characters, especially Finn, Davy and Gabriel. The Cork setting is atmospheric and, as the characters remember her, Mandy’s presence haunts the story. The plot is well crafted and leads to a totally surprising ending. This is the second in a series, although it reads as a standalone. The first Finn Fitzpatrick mystery is Darkest Truth. I’ll be reading that while I wait for the next in this excellent series! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Books Ireland and Catherine Kirwan for this ARC.

Underhand Dealings In Droves..
Secrets, lies and underhand dealings in droves in this romantic suspense with an edge. Who to trust? That’s a good question, there are plenty of dubious elements here! With a solid protagonist and a colourful cast of credible characters this is an immersive read from the off and keeps hold of the reader throughout to a satisfying denouement.

This is book #2 in the Finola Fitzpatrick series but can be read as a standalone. However, I enjoyed it so much that as soon as I’d finished it, I downloaded the first book!

It was really interesting to have a lawyer, Finola Fitzpatrick (Finn), who is a sleuth as well. One of the partners in the Cork-based law firm Finn works for – Mandy - is found brutally murdered, leaving behind a husband and two teenage daughters. Finn is asked by one of the senior partners to conduct a discreet but thorough investigation to see if Mandy’s murder is linked to the practice in any way.

I was totally gripped, it’s a very well-written book and keeps you guessing as the different pieces of the jigsaw are put into place. There’s murder, fraud, adultery, and more, and everything is connected to the law firm, with an unexpected twist at the end.

A fantastic read, highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Books Ireland for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Cruel Deeds is the second in the series featuring Cork based solicitor Finola Fitzpatrick. When Mandy Breslin, an esteemed colleague at law firm MLC, is found murdered, Finn is tasked with looking into her work files ahead of a law society inspection. In searching for any discrepancies that could bring the firm’s name into disrepute Finn inadvertently stirs up a hornet’s nest of secrets, lies and deception which all serve to sully Mandy’s whiter than white character.

Well I’m so pleased I picked this up when there were no other demands on my time because I would have loathed any interruptions! I practically inhaled this book in one sitting. It’s not often I can say this but it’s wonderful to read a crime/thriller novel where both the plot and the main character are equally engaging but I’ll talk about the plot first.

Well written, and extremely easy to digest, each strand is linked together seamlessly so that the plot is watertight. Nothing felt contrived. Suspects accumulate both in and outside the offices of MLC at a fairly rapid rate so that you’re almost spoilt for choice with regards to likely culprits. They’re also not confined to Cork either, the trail of possibilities taking Finn much further afield. Although I had my suspicions as to the identity of the killer quite early on it’s one of those plots where you need your wits about you if you stand any chance of guessing correctly. Mandy’s murder is a tough case to crack. It’s a minefield of shady characters, secrets, subterfuge and mysterious disappearances where people you think you know can surprise you with behaviour that appears wholly out of character. In truth outward appearances can be deceptive and it begs the question of how well we can ever truly know someone. We all have skeletons in our closets but some are more surprising (and dangerous) than others as Finn is destined to discover. The deeper she probes into Mandy’s personal and professional life the more perplexing and riddled with inconsistencies it becomes, eventually exposing evidence of cruel deeds that adds a sinister edge to the investigation. But whose cruel deeds am I referring to and do these two words have a more ambiguous meaning? Just when you think all the knots have been unraveled Catherine Kirwan produces her final ace card with a flourish, satisfyingly tying up any remaining loose ends. All in all this is a devilishly tangled plot with some ingenious twists, and I thought it was quite brilliant!

So, if I thought the plot was well executed what did I make of our crime solving solicitor? Well, she’s smart ( probably goes without saying) naturally curious and she’s certainly not afraid to ruffle a few feathers even if that involves trespassing into dangerous territory. It felt to me as if her talents are wasted at MLC; she should really be in detective Sadie’s shoes as they seem to be a better fit. But on reflection she’s perhaps too independent minded to slot into such a role, since she seems to operate by her own set of rules. Finn is a lone wolf, Sadie her only friend and even then that relationship isn’t without its difficulties. Overall she is emotionally quite detached but there’s something genuine and down to earth about her character that I instantly warmed to. It should be irritating that a character meddling in police business manages to solve the crime ahead of the real detectives but for some unidentifiable reason it isn’t! I liked how the author weaves elements of Finn’s personal life, namely her relationship troubles with boyfriend Davy into the main body of the plot so that every detail feels relevant and not surplus to requirements. I ended up feeling as invested in this area of her life as I was in identifying Mandy Breslin’s killer.

If like me you’ve only just stumbled across this series it matters not one bit. Cruel Deeds can be enjoyed perfectly well as a stand-alone but in my opinion once you have a flavour of Catherine Kirwan’s style of writing you’ll be hooked. I’m over the moon to have discovered such a fantastic crime series especially as they’re not normally “my thing.” However Finn is an exceptionally good character, flawed and intriguing and one I know I’m going to enjoy spending time with. This woman has already managed to get under my skin and for that reason I’m already excited for book 3. In the meantime I’m off to catch up on Ms Fitzpatrick’s first investigation. Highly recommend for anyone who fancies themselves as a bit of a super sleuth! 5⭐️all the way.

My thanks as always to the publisher Hachette Books Ireland and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Cruel Deeds is the second in Catherine Kirwan's series featuring Cork based lawyer Finn Fitzpatrick. When Finn's colleague Mandy is found murdered Finn launches her own investigation. As she digs deeper into Mandy's life she discovers the secrets in her personal and work life. This is a well paced and compelling thriller that is beautifully written with great characterisation and sense of place. The author really drew me into Finn's world and she is a hugely appealing character. I haven't read the first in the series and I don't think it's necessary to do so to enjoy this novel. However I will be reading it now! Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! I have only just discovered it is second in a series. I loved the main character Finn and I am delighted to discover there is another book with Finn. When Finn's colleague in law firm where she works is found murdered, Finn makes it her mission to find out who and why. Finn is brilliant and will nothing will stop her investigation. This book is dark and funny at times. My favourite mix. Hugely recommended xx