A new series and a new author for me. I absolutely loved it. Couldn't put it down. It was full of mystery and intrigue throughout. I can't wait for the next one. Thanks a million Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this. The start of a new relationship.

Finnigan Beck is in disgrace. He has been demoted from his post as Detective Inspector & sent to the sleepy town of Cross Beg. He decides that if his drinking habit don't kill him, then boredom probably will!

When a young girl is found strangled in the woods Beck decides he is going to sit back & just do the minimum he is asked to do. However his instincts as a detective soon prove too much to ignore & he is soon deep into the case along with Claire, another young detective who insists on making sure they both search for the truth in spite of the seeming opposition of their superiors.

This was a bit slow to start but picked up & turned into a good read I liked Beck- warts & all- & look forward to our paths crossing again.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Where She Lies is a Irish crime thriller that will grip you from the start. Fantastic new series and well written. I can't wait for the next one.

Where She Lies, which was titled with the more interesting title The Quiet Hours when I received it, has been set up as the first in a series. Detective Finnegan Beck has a backstory we obviously have yet to learn. I found it wasn't as important to understanding the character as I thought it would be. It was all tied up very quickly. What we know is that Beck was an Inspector disgraced, demoted, and sent from Dublin to a small town as punishment, He's not welcomed there by his fellow officers.

This is where we come in. Beck finds himself on the scene of a young girl's murder. Strangled to death and left in the woods. He's not in charge of this investigation; still paying the price for whatever he has done. He's just trying to keep quiet, do his time, keep his head down, and do only what he has to do. No more. No less. Somehow, we know that won't really be possible.

The case turns in a lot of directions and we watch Beck trying to ruin his life and career. This is a flawed character. But we enjoy watching his struggle and we truly want him to succeed. I look forward to further books in the series and watching the character grow. Thanks to Michael Scanlon, the publisher, and Netgalley for the copy.

In this novel set in Ireland, the murdered teen is called Tanya. Tanya is found strangled in the woods, but is this a random kill, or is there more to it? What ensues is a gritty, atmospheric story that focuses on the lead investigator, Finnegan Beck. Beck may be a brilliant detective but he is also a troubled man with quite a few personal demons and perhaps not enough courage, and/or not enough incentive, to try and slay them. The short chapters propel the story forwards, I once again suffered from the oh-just-one-more-little-chapter syndrome and at about 100 pages from the end I just wanted to cancel all the birthday plans I’d made so I could carry on reading ( for the record: I didn’t, but oh that dreaded social life 😉)
This was an enjoyable read emanating a rather dark vibe and featuring a very interesting protagonist. I’m looking forward to the next Beck novel.

Thanks to Michael Scanlon, Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC for free in exchange for an honest and unbiassed review.

Thank you for the free review copy of Where She Lies!

I'm a huge fan of crime fiction staring in countries such as English, Scotland or Ireland as there is always an underlying humor within the characters. Where She Lies (Previously The Quiet Ones) was a fast paced read that started fast right from the beginning! I thought that it was well put together and kept me on the my toes.

Oh what a devilishly fantastic start to a new series ‘Where She Lies’ is and I didn’t even know until I was starting this review it’s actually a debut novel for Michael Scanlon.
Detective Finnegan Beck finds himself relocated to the small town of Cross Beg after being demoted from his high-powered job in Dublin. We don’t find out why he’s been demoted until further on in the story but it’s quite clear that Beck is a troubled man, he’s a flawed character and likes to drink a bit too much but he’s a good detective and a good character.
Beck doesn’t have much to go on with this case, there doesn’t seem to be many clues which is frustrating, for Beck and for me. I couldn’t figure out who it could be which is good, I like to be kept on my toes and I was, right the way through the book. Beck gets partnered up with Garda Claire Somers who’s just as determined as Beck is and they made a good pairing.
‘Where She Lies’ is a twisty dark story that was totally gripping, I flew the book desperate to find out what happened but it’s one of those that you’re desperate to get to the end but don’t want to rush and savour every page. I’m really looking forward to book two and finding out a bit more about Beck, I think this is going to be an exciting series and I’m hoping we don’t have too long to wait.
So if you like a story that draws you in, keeps you guessing, has more twists than a twisty thing then ‘Where She Lies’ is definitely for you and I will most certainly be recommending it. Fabulous.

WHERE SHE LIES in the first in a brand new Irish crime series by Michael Scanlon. It was previously published as THE QUIET HOURS.

A former inspector in Dublin, Detective Finnegan Beck finds himself not only demoted back to Detective Sergeant but transferred to a sleepy backwater town called Cross Beg situated in County Galway. His main objective? To do his job, keep his head down and not get too involved in whatever goes on in the village. The less involved he is, the quicker he can return to Dublin and his life there.

But then 15 year old Tanya Frazzali is found dead in the woods and Beck cannot sit back and watch his superiors lay the crime at the feet of an innocent man. Beck instinctively believes that there are darker motives at play and it isn't long before more deaths follow - despite their differing methods. However, police politics dictate that Beck must tow the line and refer to his superiors with regard to the case, who look down on him with somewhat distaste. However, Beck finds an ally in his detective constable Claire Somers as they question the Frazzali family and possible suspects.

Beck also has somewhat of an ally in forensic pathologist Dr Gumbell, and together they seem to spend several nights in one of the town's many pubs. This was the part I grew weary of. So many police prodeural mysteries see cops drinking themselves into oblivion most nights, and for me it isn't an integral part of the story. I get tired of it and it could well do without it.

WHERE SHE LIES moves along at a relatively good pace - not fast but not slow either. Just enough to keep you interested and reading for more. The suspect pool changes along the way as suspicion moves from one to another...until the reveal in the end.

Apart from the mystery, WHERE SHE LIES is as much about Beck and his story, as we learn pieces of information about him along the way. He has his own troubles but it doesn't stop his ability to solve the case. He is rather likeable as is his DC Claire Somers. They work well together and are a likeable team.

WHERE SHE LIES is an enjoyable debut with lots of thrills and twists. I definitely recommend it though I cannot compare it to any other series as to me, Finnegan Beck is one of a kind. I certainly hope to read more of him in the future.

I would like to thank #MichaelScanlon, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WhereSheLies in exchange for an honest review.

Where She Liespreviously titled The Quiet Hours, is an impressive police procedural novel set in Galway, Ireland, by a first time author, featuring a damaged alcoholic detective with an odd name tracking a serial killer. Yes, you’ve read it all before, but the points of difference are the small town Irish rather than British or American setting, and the evocative writing.

Finnegan Beck, demoted from Inspector and exiled to the run-down town of Cross Beg after a Garda operation in Dublin went horribly wrong, doesn’t really want to get involved when a teenager is strangled in the woods, but his instincts that the lonely alcoholic who found her body can’t be the murderer mean he can’t help himself. When the body count starts rising rapidly, and the victims get closer to home, Beck will need all his wits to defeat the killer.

I enjoyed this and while I suspected who the killer was as soon as they were introduced, I did not work out the twist or their motives. Beck is not a likeable hero and I had hoped for more explanation of the demons that plague him, which I suspect will come in later books. I liked his partner Clare and there were some intriguing minor characters, and enough suspects to keep me interested.

I do have a few quibbles: at one point the detectives are given a suspect through the evidence, but we are not told who - to me this is cheating, we should get the name when they do, it wouldn’t have altered the plot. There is a stomach-churning but fortunately brief scene of animal brutality towards a dog (tbh had it been a cat I would’ve abandoned it there and then), which is then referenced again, purely for ick factor. There’s mention of historical torture of a cat but it’s not described, and another scene where a character threatens to assault their dog. Somehow I don’t think the author likes animals much, as while there is violence towards humans, it’s not described anywhere as graphically. Finally another body is discovered, that has been buried for years, completely coincidentally, just when the killer is escalating: this is lazy writing but I’m more forgiving with a first time author.

Despite these, which I fully acknowledge are my particular bugbears and probably wouldn’t bother most readers, I would be keen to continue this series and find out what happens. My thanks to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review, and my apologies that it is late. Where She Lies is available now.

I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately I found it quite boring and repetitive. All the actin seemed to be picked in to the last few chapters. I won’t be following this author in the future but thank you for letting me read this book

Brilliant plot, excellent main characters that you invest in. I read this book in one sitting and I would highly recommend it.

Ooooooo what a nifty little read this is!! I am genuinely surprised that 'Where She Lies' is a debut novel - the strength of the storyline was so intense and so impressive for an author's first book. I mean, if this is the calibre of Michael Scanlon's first book, I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next!

The beauty of this book is that, not only is it a debut novel, it's also the start of a new series featuring Detective Finnegan Beck, an Irish officer who seems to have his own story to tell. The backstory of Beck is quite intriguing and we don't get the finer details of his situation straight away. All we know is that he has been demoted and that he's good at getting people's backs up.

Like I said above, I was very impressed by the storyline and I loved how the gritty events exacerbated the intensity of the novel. I did find several of the characters to be a little flat, and I couldn't help but wonder what they were actually bringing to the overall storyline. I would be intrigued to see which characters come back in book two (hence why I'm not naming any names haha).

All in all, 'Where She Lies' is a gritty, addictive debut novel which shows such promise for future books in the series - I'm excited!!

This is the first book of the Detective Finnegan Beck series. Set in the west of Ireland, this is the first time we meet Finnegan Beck, who I loved as a character. He is a flawed man who has been demoted and sent to Cross Beg from the lights of Dublin. After he arrives a young girls body has been found in the woods. Beck and his partner, Claire Somers, have discovered that Tanya was meeting somewhere there that she shouldn't be involved with. This opens up a lot of questions. Not long after the man that found her body is pulled from the river. Beck knows there is more happening in this small town than meets the eye. His history however does not sit well with the top brass so his hunches are not going down too well, even though the bodies are mounting up. We eventually find out what happened in Dublin which explains a lot about this character.

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more about Finnegan.

Many thanks to the publishers Bookouture, the author Michael Scanlon and NetGalley for the ARC.

Where She Lies is the first instalment in a brand-new Irish crime series featuring Detective Finnegan Beck. A former inspector, Beck finds himself demoted to Sergeant in the small Irish town of Cross Beg. His main objective is to return to Dublin and not get too involved in whatever goes on in Cross Beg. But when a young girl is found murdered in the woods, Beck can’t help digging deeper.

Cross Beg isn’t exactly what Beck imagined it to be. For a town so small, where everyone seems to know everyone else’s business, there are a lot of secrets and skeletons in the closets and everyone seems to have something to hide. The murdered girl too was up to all sorts. She may have had a boyfriend but nobody knows who it is. Is he responsible for her murder? Police zero in on a suspect but when this person is found dead as well, does this mean the case is closed or is it merely the start of something far more sinister?

The investigation is a frustrating one. There are no clues to speak of so where does one even begin to look for a killer? With a lot of the town residents acting shifty and suspiciously, I had no idea whatsoever as to who was responsible or why. I must admit that I didn’t particularly connect to any of these characters. Yet Michael Scanlon managed to hold my attention because he gives very little away and I felt compelled to keep reading until the truth was revealed.

Finnegan Beck stands out from the crowd with an intriguing backstory as to why he ended up in this town in the first place. Beck is damaged, flawed and has a drinking problem. But he also has that fascinating copper’s nose and is immensely perceptive. I think he might be one of those characters that will get increasingly more interesting when the reader gets to know him better.

All in all a solid start to a new series and it’ll be interesting to see where Michael Scanlon takes Beck next.

Well when I heard that Where She Lies by Michael Scanlon was the start of new gripping Irish Detective series, I knew that was a blog tour I HAD to join. Thanks Bookouture for making my wish happen.

First Line of Where She Lies by Michael Scanlon

“She cursed herself for having agreed to meet him in the forest.”

My Thoughts on Where She Lies by Michael Scanlon

I thought this was a cracking debut novel, with lots of potential for further development of the characters. Beck has been shuttled off from a busy Dublin Garda Station, to a small town station and demoted a few rungs on the ladder too. Then, we left hanging on for the reason why, which made me tear through the pages as I was intrigued.

I will say that Beck represents a detective we have seen in many other books and films. Quirky, clever, fond of a drink, murky past, willing to bend the rules to get his man. But I still attached quickly to him, and enjoyed watching him trying to resist getting involved in the murder investigation, but being pulled in anyway.

The death count mounts quickly in this sleepy town and while I thought I knew whodunnit it. I wasn’t even close! And I love when an author catches me out like. The atmosphere was dark and gristly, with some scenes causing shivers to run up and down by back.

Overall I really enjoyed it, and look forward to more in this police procedural series. And more time with Beck.

Who Should read Where She Lies by Michael Scanlon?

I’d recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers with gripping plots, or if you like Irish settings and to those who like to be kept guessing. Fans of With Our Blessing by Jo Spain and Can Anybody Help Me by Sinead Crowley should also enjoy.

Thanks to Bookouture for giving me for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.

"To follow the crow one must first become a hawk."

Detective Finnegan Beck has been demoted to Sergeant in the Garda pending an investigation up at his former precinct in Dublin. Sent to Cross Beg to lick his wounds, Beck feels out of place and out of time in the tiny town in South Galway. He soon finds himself in the middle of an extremely complicated case involving a series of murders. Partnered with newlywed Detective Garda Claire Somers, they pair start looking a bit closer into the townspeople, especially those connected to the first victim, 15-year-old Tanya Frazzali. Her body was found in Cool Wood; she'd been strangled, had recent sexual intercourse, and was rumored to have a secret, much older boyfriend. Beck and Somers try to get going on the investigation but are hampered because of Beck's disgrace and he is kept away from the case. No matter, he is good at what he does, and he's going to find a work around. Make no mistake, there's evil roaming the streets and alleys of Cross Beg and Beck is on the job. NO SPOILERS.

I enjoyed this first of a new series featuring Beck though he is indeed another messed up tortured detective who is prone to depression and the bottle without much to redeem him except that he happens to be good at his job. Policing is what he does, he lives alone, and doesn't suffer fools. It will be interesting to see how and if he grows and changes in the next books. The only "off" note to me was the constant dream sequences -- I'm not a fan. We do hear the voice of the killer in italics narration interspersed through the chapters, but really only get vague suggestions of what caused his psychopathy -- severe as it was. It was an interesting plot with a lingering tease as the author doled out clues and hints. I am a fan of a good police procedural and look forward to reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. The title on mine was different -- THE QUIET HOURS -- and actually, I prefer that to the new one. Though actually neither really fits the book plot. The cover is great!

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

A Gripping Thriller

In a town full of liars, No one is safe.

Where She Lies is the first book of the Detective Finnegan Beck series. Set in Ireland, this one is an exciting atmospheric thriller and an excellent debut for Detective Beck.

Detective Finnegan Beck is demoted from his high-powered job in Dublin and relocated in disgrace to the small & forgotten town of Cross Beg. Treated with disdain by his new superiors and ridiculed by his new colleagues, things couldn’t get any worse for him.

But when a teenage girl is found dead in the woods a mile from town, Beck has an instinct that someone with far darker motives is behind the crime. It seems that everyone in Cross Beg has something to hide though. Wading through layers and layers of lies, Beck believes he’s finally getting closer to the truth….. Until the killer strikes again.

As a story, Where She Lies pulls you in, from the very beginning right till the end. This is the debut of Irish crime novelist Michael Scanlon. (it’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel) He's an employee of the An Garda Siochana (the Irish police force), so his documenting of police procedure and the depiction of internal politics in the force is top notch. Michael Scanlon’s writing style and the pace is perfect for this type of story. The action moves along a brisk pace and the story flows smoothly, which makes it immensely readable (I breezed through the novel in a couple of days).

The setting of a small Irish town, the mystery that keeps you guessing till the end, the unrelenting pace of the story and the excellent writing are some the best things about the book. The needle of suspicion keeps moving from one suspect to another, till the reveal in the end. The characters, even the secondary ones are well written and have depth to them

Apart from the mystery, Where She Lies is as much the story of Finnegan Beck. Finnegan Beck reminds me a lot of Harry Bosch. A brilliant detective who has ability to crack even the most impossible cases but also has a broken personal life. Finn Beck is a likeable character even though he may appear a bit cold at times. He has his own troubles & his own nightmares to fight but he is determined to solve the case, which makes you root for him. We learn a lot about Beck's past as the story moves along and we will hopefully learn a lot more in the future instalments. Having said that, at no point the main mystery is over shadowed by Beck’s story.

Overall, Where She Lies is an impressive debut by Michael Scanlon, with lots of thrilling twists. If you loved the detective series of Harry Bosch or Cormoran Strike, you will enjoy this one. I hope to read a lot more of Finnegan Beck in the future.

Many thanks to the publishers Bookouture, the author Michael Scanlon and NetGalley for the ARC.

Another new crime series. This one featuring Detective Finn Beck. Beck has recently been demoted from his post as DI in Dublin and sent to a small town in Galway where nothing ever happens! The body of a young girl, Tanya, is found in the woods, she has been strangled. Beck is partnered with Claire, a young female detective and they start to uncover lots of secrets that the.local people are hiding. When more bodies turn up the suspicion fall on a local man who found Tanya’s body but Beck thinks he is innocent. Beck has lots of issues, one being a heavy drinker and also suffers from dreadful nightmares. I thought this book was a good debut novel, fast paced and good characters, a good crime thriller. I look forward to learning more about Beck in the next book in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The start of a new series, a debut novel and set in Ireland - what’s not to like!?
This is a good read with a great twist. I liked the characters and feel they have a lot more to offer
Exiled from Dublin to a small Irish town and demoted too Beck tries to keep his head down but he just can’t help doing things his way. His past both personal and professional haunt him and his old demons accompany him. A great debut novel