Sean Duffy may not court trouble, but it usually finds its way onto his dance card. His police career is in its latter days and he is settling down with his small family. The winding down of his law enforcement career has him working traffic as opposed to homicide cases. However, Duffy and his friend Sergeant John McCrabban are ordered to work the murder case of an apparent carjacking victim. The case rapidly becomes complex as the victim’s identity is unknown and Duffy and McCrabban surmise that car theft wasn’t the primary motive. As the pair investigate the victim further, they learn that he is connected to a renegade faction of the Irish Republican Army. “The Troubles” have been ongoing for decades and Northern Ireland remains a powderkeg. A pension is not the only thing Duffy stands to lose if he steps on the wrong toes in his latest case.

Hang On St. Christopher is the latest release from the immensely talented and versatile Adrian McKinty(“The Island”). Sean Duffy has remained a captivating character since his introduction in “The Cold Cold Ground”, his attributes and his foibles render him a memorable creation. Adrian McKinty continues to shine as a literary talent.

If Adrian McKinty writes it, I’ll read it! I live for a good crime/suspense novel and Hang on St. Christopher hit the spot.

i've been a fan of Adrian McKinty's Sean Brody books since Rain Dogs but I pick up each new book with a feeling of dread. Though Brody is semi-retired now, living relatively peacefully in Scotland part-time, he still risks his life working for the RUC. I fear that one day, he will take a case that he won't walk away from.

In this one an apparent car-jacking ends in murder and nothing is as it seems. Brody's dogged pursuit of justice puts him up against IRA and CIA operatives who want him off their trail by any means necessary.

As always Brody is a fun character to spend time with and McKinty's writing makes me laugh--often at inappropriate times.

I'd definitely recommend this series to fans of darker mysteries but would suggest reading earlier books first.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early read. Adrian McKinty is killing it at making fast paced, twisting, and fun thrillers. This is my 3rd book by this author and they've all been 4 stars.

4 stars

I love the way this is written - he has shorter and choppy sentences that keep the story moving at a good pace and don't lead to dragging or slow waits. Great drama, great tension and a great plot wrapped with good Humor and wit. Really enjoyed this book!

Number 7 in the Sean Duffy series. Recommended for fans of the series, but you should start at the beginning rather than jumping in.

Hang on St. Christopher is the eighth book featuring Northern Ireland Detective Sean Duffy, written by Adrian McKinty. I've only read the last two in the series and am already a big Duffy fan. I didn't know much about The Troubles, but I'm learning, and it's because of McKinty's books I've taken an interest. Even more interesting is Duffy's narration--half the book is Duffy's inner monologue-- his thought process, inner turmoil, and the decisions he makes throughout the story feel uber-personal.

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for gifting me an advanced copy of Hang on St. Christopher via NetGalley.

Published by Blackstone on March 4, 2025

The eighth entry in Adrian McKinty’s Sean Duffy series takes place in 1992. Duffy has the rank of Detective Inspector in Northern Ireland, but his checkered record (lots of crimes solved but few convictions because Duffy cares more about solving problems than personal glory) caused him to join the police reserve as a prelude to retirement. He lives in Scotland with his wife and daughter but takes a ferry to his native country for the six days of work per month that he needs to maintain eligibility for a full pension.

When Duffy worked full time, he was a case officer who ran an IRA double agent. Now he shares a desk in Carrickfergus with his former partner, Detective Sergeant McCrabban, another reserve officer. Neither detective is assigned to serious cases. That changes when a homicide occurs in Carrickfergus. The head of the criminal investigation department is on vacation so Duffy and McCrabban catch the case. Duffy grumbles about having to work a few extra days (McCrabban welcomes the overtime), but he’s secretly thrilled to be doing meaningful work again.

The murder victim seems to have been killed during a carjacking, but Duffy believes the death is more consistent with an execution. Duffy’s first task is identifying the victim. A search of his house reveals a couple of original Picasso etchings, but they may have been purchased under a fictitious name. The story builds interest as Duffy trudges from clue to clue, apparently chasing a ghost, before he uncovers the victim’s true identity — and his true occupation. It is a disturbing but credible reveal.

The novel’s title comes from a suitably dark Tom Waits song of the same name. The lyrics mention a Norton motorcycle. An assassin riding a Norton is tied to the murder in Carrickfergus and then to a second. When Duffy seems to be getting close to identifying the assassin, he becomes a target.

Hang on St. Christopher blends the traditional crime-solving of a police procedural with the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The politics of the IRA provide an interesting background that moves to the forefront when internal differences in the IRA power structure suggest a motive for the murders.

When Duffy ventures into the Republic of Ireland to talk to an IRA leader, tension grows. The novel’s best action scene involves a shootout between IRA assassins and cops on the Republic’s side of the border. McKinty deserves credit for describing a credible clash without elevating the aging Duffy to the status of superhero.

Duffy’s characterization is familiar — apart from resisting the sedate joys of retirement, Duffy drinks quite a bit, thinks about cheating on his wife, and ignores orders that he regards as inconsistent with crime solving — but there’s no need to reinvent the wheel when you’ve got one that rolls. Duffy stands apart from other disgruntled cops in his ability to quote classic literature, identify all sorts of music, and discuss the details of history. He’s not afraid to admit that he’s afraid of death, now that he has a daughter who gives him a reason to live. That doesn’t stop him from exercising questionable judgment when he charges toward danger.

Fictional cops on the other side of the Atlantic (at least those in Great Britain and Ireland) tend not to be as insufferably self-righteous as their American counterparts. Hang on St. Christopher is an excellent choice for police procedural fans who would enjoy spending time with a snarky Irish cop working in a difficult time.

RECOMMENDED

Being upfront, as this is my first in the series, but this was sort of meh for my taste. And since, I’m being upfront, not a huge fan of books set across the pond - weird I know. I found the pacing on this one slow…. Like turtle-like.

I love McKintys The Chain and I was really hoping for more like that. The time period was full of 90s nostalgia for me which was fantastic. However that was the saving grace in the plodding nature of this novel. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

In Detective Sean Duffy book #8 'Hang on St. Christopher', Sean is a part-time officer waiting to retire and get his pension. He keeps his head down and takes the ferry home to wife and child as often as possible to maintain his sanity. But Sean being Sean, he has a hard time staying away from trouble and this time his lead detective is on holiday in Spain when a body turns up. The old team of Duffy and the "crab-man" get called to the scene. Superiors want to close the case as a carjacking gone wrong but Sean finds some interesting art in the home of the dead man that leads him into dangerous waters. Will Sean make it out this time with his life? Hard to say but he's also very hard to kill. I love this series so much and can't wait to read more!

HANG ON ST. CHRISTOPHER : SEAN DUFFY #8 by Adrian McKinley
Published: 3/4/2025 by Blackstone Publishing
Page Count: 306
Audio Version by Blackstone Publishing
Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
Unabridged running time: 10 hours


Multiple Award Winning Belfast born writer, Adrian McKinty returns with his eighth novel in the popular Detective Sean Duffy series, set in the turbulent times of the “Troubles” of the 1990s in Ireland. No better way to jump on the Sean Duffy train than immerse yourself in the audio version narrated by the magnificent Gerald Doyle. His ability to supply various Scottish and Irish accents and nuances for the multiple characters bring the historical noir to a gritty and dark life in the theatre of your mind. Even if you’ve missed the previous installments in this highly acclaimed series, you will be immediately transported and enamored with the unique grumpy, sarcastic, and highly principled Detective Sean Duffy. He loves music, poetry, and drinking in the pub. This tale will be enjoyed as a standalone, but leaving the reader with a thirst for the earlier novels. Sean is no Sherlock Holmes, but what he is … is persistent in an OCD fashion. Like the proverbial dog with a bone.
Sean is the ultimate outsider, being a Catholic cop, surrounded by the mostly Protestant members of the Carrickfergus RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary ) and its constituents. He has survived the 80’s with its turmoil of riots, bombings and assassination attempts led by either the IRA or its brethren paramilitary groups. He can now qualify for his pension by working part time, returning to Belfast six days a month. He now lives in Scotland with his wife and daughter in a rather sedate fashion. However, still when on the job, he always looks under his car for the presence of a car bomb. His usual duties are mundane paperwork, however upon returning to work a new murder case falls into his lap. His successor is away on vacation in Spain. He is beseeched by his superiors to take over the case, and only agrees if he’s paid overtime and is aided by his previous partner, Sergeant Detective McCrabban. A middle aged artist has been brutally murdered and it’s initially believed to have been a random carjacking. Sean quickly surmises other possibilities. With his usual tenacity, he uncovers that the victim was actually an IRA assassin. Bringing up the glaring question …. Who would kill an assassin and why? The truth will involve the machinations of the CIA, MI5 and Special Branch force of the government. In his attempts to follow the assassin and bring him to justice, he will risk the lives of all he holds dear, as well as himself. The dog with the bone will be tenaciously on the trail as it courses over many continents.
McKinty is a marvelous storyteller as he weaves together a complex narrative with multiple unexpected twists and turns and escalating suspense. He effortlessly injects a heavy dose of dark humor, filled with wit and pitch perfect sarcasm, that envelops the incomparable and unforgettable Detective Inspector Sean Duffy.
Thanks to NetGalley, and Blackstone Publishing for providng an Uncorrected Proof and Advance Audio version of this tale in exchange for an honest review. Hopefully we will be rewarded soon with another glimpse into the life of Sean Duffy.

This is a review of the audiobook.

Loved it. Dufy is a great hero and Mckinty’s writing, as always , sparkles. Literate, fast paced, exciting and complex this last Duffy novel(supposedly) is a great capstone to his career. Read it.

Always great to have another entry in the Duffy series. More great writing here, even tho Duffy is reduced to 6 days a month as he coasts towards retirement there are many good personal moments here. Of course circumstances arise with a case he gets stuck with that turns out to be waaay more than it seems. Some great intense action scenes to go along with the always great inner musings of our dog with a bone Duffy. One of the best, 4 + stars and thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy, much appreciated.

Hang on St. Christopher by Adrian McKinty keeps you hooked till the very end.
A well written suspense filled with twists that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
A quick and fun read that I finished in a few hours.
The characterization was superb, the writing pacey and flowing, and the tension delivered in a series of shocks and twists along the way.
This is a tightly written story, with well developed characters and enough suspense to keep you reading.

Fans of Adrian McKinty’s Sean Duffy mystery series, celebrate! The eighth installment, Hang on St. Christopher, is out, and it’s well worth the wait. My endless thanks go to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the review copy. This book will be available to the American public tomorrow, March 4, 2025.

When we rejoin Duffy, he’s a part-timer with the Royal Ulster Constabulary, driving a desk:

“Until a year ago, doing boring paperwork had only been my cover, because I’d really been a case officer in charge of handling an IRA double agent in the police, who we’d turned into a triple agent working for us: feeding the IRA false intelligence and trying to pick up tips. But the stress of playing for us and them had finally taken its toll on Assistant Chief Constable John Strong, who had a coronary event in his back garden, where he’d been pruning his pear tree with a chainsaw. The chainsaw had avoided killing him, but it had laid waste to several of his prized garden gnomes before the cutoff switch kicked in. It had taken him an hour to die out there, gasping for breath in the summer heat among the severed heads of his gnome army, and those of us who knew about his crimes and betrayals had considered that justice.”

For the uninitiated, this is typical of McKinty’s writing style, providing essential information in a tightly worded space, but also including, now and then, some unexpectedly hilarious tidbits. It prevents his prose from becoming too dark to be a fun read.

And dark it does become. You see, Detective Sergeant Lawson, who was once Duffy’s underling and whom Duffy still outranks, is on vacation—sorry, holiday—on the Continent, and wouldn’t you know that a particularly interesting and urgent sort of murder takes place while he’s gone? Duffy is on his way out the door, ready to retire to his suburban home in Scotland where his girlfriend and daughter await, when he’s tapped to go to the scene. Of course, he can turn the whole thing over to Lawson once he’s home; it’s only for a couple of days.

As if.

There are two things that as a reader, I rarely do anymore, and one of them is to stay up late to finish a book. Why should I? I’m retired. I can finish it in the morning if I choose, when I’m rested. The other is to feel sorrow when a good book has ended. I always have dozens sitting in my queue, so even a good book that’s finished is a title I can check off my list, right? But just like Duffy’s tranquil—okay, boring—suburban idyll, all that goes out the window for this one. I stayed up long after my light is usually extinguished, and I mourned when I realized there was no more of it to read.

Once the adrenaline had faded, I wondered where my usual cynicism had gone. I’m a tough customer when it comes to mysteries, and in this one, Duffy does about a million things that cops never do in real life, taking all sorts of crazy risks, doing things at his own expense and on his own time. Why do I believe this story? Because I do. I believe every stinking word of it. And then I realize that it’s the character. McKinty has developed Sean Duffy so well that I know that while cops in general don’t do these things, Duffy absolutely does. Part of it is his thirst for justice; part of it is his inner darkness, a slight, or not so slight, death wish.

If I could change one thing, it would be to have the 9th Sean Duffy mystery available now. Right this minute. I have some excellent books in my queue, but there’s not a single one that I wouldn’t drop like a hot coal if I were given another Duffy book.

Can you read it as a stand-alone? You can, but it would be silly, because when you finish, you’ll be online searching for ways to get the first seven in the series. Do what you gotta do, but read this book.

Hang on St. Christopher by Adrian McKinty, the eighth installment of the Sean Duffy series, is set to be released by Blackstone Publishing on 4 March. Duffy is a brilliantly conceived and sensitively executed character, exquisitely nuanced. Crime fiction has few police detectives that are also poets; I can only think of Adam Dalgliesh, and Dalgliesh didn’t toss around historical references and cite obscure musical recordings the way Duffy does. Dalgliesh could manage his career, however, which Duffy can’t, despite his innate detective skills and impressive literary knowledge. “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward” might be Duffy’s motto.
What crime fiction does have plenty of is jaded star detectives, burned-out and tired of bureaucratic nonsense. McKinty doesn’t just breathe new life into this classic trope, he plugs it into a 220-volt outlet and turns the power on high.
It’s 1992 and the bloody Northern Ireland conflict known euphemistically as The Troubles continues, perhaps with not quite as much fervor as in years past. But Duffy, a Catholic and a policeman, doubly undesirable characteristics in Northern Ireland, still routinely checks his vehicle for bombs and sets small traps in his house to learn if someone has broken in. He has managed to move his wife and small daughter 20 miles across the Irish Sea to Scotland and relative safety. He works three days every two weeks in the provincial police station in Carrickfergus, on the eastern coast of Ireland a short ferry ride from his home in Scotland, working traffic and administrative duties while he marks time to be eligible for full pension. He knows his career is all but over, yet he can’t find another interest like his fellow part-timer Sergeant John McCrabban has. McCrabban’s invitations to Duffy to assist with his dairy farm are promptly declined.
His replacement is on leave when a shooting is reported so the investigation falls to Duffy. It looks like a carjacking but Duffy’s instincts say something else. In no time at all, he’s up to his ears in organized crime (who else would have the nerve to crash a wake for a mobster?) and IRA thugs.
The hard-driving action is as relentless as Duffy’s pop culture quips. Strong plot, elegant writing, subtly powerful setting, an incredibly good read. We’ll be seeing this book mentioned often in the major award nominations for 2025. Highly recommended.

Detective Inspector Sean Duffy has moved to Scotland with his girlfriend and their young child. He now works in Belfast only 6 days a month, just so he can earn his pension. (It seems odd that such a work arrangement is permitted, for continuity reasons, but I’ll buy it for plot purposes.). During his most recent stint on duty, an artist is killed in a carjacking and Duffy is assigned to the case. The first challenge is identifying the victim. I enjoyed the way that the identity was traced through a bespoke suit and some Picasso prints. It turned out that the victim’s death was intentional. Duffy had to find out who had killed an IRA assassin, and why. But his 6 days had to keep getting extended.

This is the 8th book in the Duffy series. I read the first 2 books in the series and thought that they were just OK, but I liked this one much more. The plot took unexpected turns (through several countries) and I particularly liked how the book ended. The book gave details of police work during The Troubles, including competing law enforcement agencies and cross-border investigations. (Duffy had to check for a bomb under his car each time he entered it.) The book was fast paced and held my interest throughout. The narrator of the audiobook did a good job, although I occasionally struggled with his Irish accent.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

4 stars
This is book 8 in the Sean Duffy series and I have NOT read the previous 7 books. I would maybe recommend that you read the other ones first.
I thought Duffy was a character with questionable morals BUT overall a likeable person. I will definetly be reading the other books in this series and then circling back.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars. (When will I be able to add a half-star option?!?)

This one was a bit of a tough read for me. I am a huge fan of Adrian McKinty! I devoured The Chain and The Island. The Island was actually a 5-star read for me! With Adrian being 2/2 for smash hits with me, I immediately requested this when I saw it on NetGalley. I hoped my love for McKinty would overrule my impatience with detective stories. I was, unfortunately, wrong.

I haven't read any of the other Sean Duffy novels, so I'm sure I'm missing out on some of the backstory. However, it didn't feel like I was missing anything too important to the plot. The main thing that lowered the rating for me was the pacing. It felt so slow. Compared to the fast pace of his thrillers, this couldn't keep me hooked. I found myself dragging my feet until I finally decided just to sit down and finish it. I've read 4-5 other books while simultaneously sludging through this one.

I love the setting. I love books set in the 90s, and the threat of the IRA added a little thrill to the atmosphere. However, it wasn't quite enough to pull the book to a full 4-stars for me. I'm sorry, Adrian (insert crying face)! I'll be patiently awaiting your next thriller!

I want to thank NetGalley, Adrian McKinty, and Blackstone Publishing for gifting me a free copy of Hang on St. Christopher. I can't wait to see what Adrian comes out with next!

*Hang on St. Christopher* by Adrian McKinty is a gripping and intense thriller set against the backdrop of Northern Ireland's turbulent past. Detective Sean Duffy is a compelling, complex character, navigating both personal and professional turmoil in a world rife with political tension and danger. McKinty's writing is sharp, weaving a tight plot that is both thrilling and thought-provoking, as Duffy uncovers secrets that threaten not just his life, but the future of peace itself. The novel's raw depiction of violence, loyalty, and moral ambiguity makes it a must-read for fans of gritty crime fiction and historical thrillers. A powerful, page-turning addition to the Duffy series!