Somebody Knows

I loved Michelle McDonagh's previous book, There's Something I Have to Tell You, so I was very excited to see her new book Someone Knows available on Netgalley, and thrilled to be given access. And once again, this writer has delivered in spades!

Cara has always known she was adopted, and never felt the need to search for her birth mother. After all, in a 20th century Ireland that had values that would've been more appropriate for 19th century Ireland, a woman might have any number of good reasons to give up a child.

But when her mother dies unexpectedly early, as a young mother herself, Cara feels the void keenly. And when she accidentally finds out that her birth mother was a murder victim in one of the most publicised cases in recent history, she tumbles down a rabbit hole that seems almost endless.

Her search for answers not only jeopardises her relationship with the loving family in which she has grown up, it potentially puts Cara herself in danger, and opens an incredible can of worms which shows the excoriating impact of secrets, conservative values, and corruption - both financial and moral.

This is a gripping, beautifully-crafted novel with characters that spring vibrantly to life. It will linger in the reader's mind long after they have finished turning the pages.

Michelle MCdonagh has written another wonderful story ,full of mystery and drama ,it pulls at the heart strings in so many ways .It will keep you reading and forgetting all else .

From the opening chapter this book hooks you in, then prologue further entraps you...
Told over dual timeline in the third person POV we hear from Cara and Lucia as the past comes back to haunt to the present.
With a strong cast of characters written with style and flair the writer takes on us on a journey full of secrets and dark lies interwoven with topical news worthy social observations and told in my favourite voice, an Irish one, although it doesn't have the same amount of dark humour as say a Graham Norton novel it does have the same amount of Irishness that makes these books that bit special, and to be honest the tone matches the serious of the plot.
This books works as both a mystery whodunit and as a family sage character novel. While I worked some of the twists the ending still packed a punch.
The writer captures the relationship between mother and child beautifully, furthermore she tackles the subject of dying with tenderness and care.
This is a book that will keep you reading long into the night and will stay with you long after reading.
If you haven't read the authors other work I highly recommend "There Something I Need To Tell You" along with this novel.

I loved this book. Cara always knew she was adopted, when her Mum dies she finds out that her mother was murdered. She then begins to investigate what really happened her Mum and the twists and turns keep on coming, A brilliant read

I was delighted to get the opportunity to review the newest book by Michelle McDonagh as I had loved her previous book. As a Galway native, I loved all the local mentions in the story. I found the plot gripping from the start and I read the book over the course of a day. McDonagh is a talented Irish author that is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers. I can’t wait to read more books from her in the future!