The Unquiet Grave is intense. I listened to the audio version and narration throughout is absolutely superb. Brilliant pacing and accents and I was hooked within the first few minutes. It start off simply enough when a German family on holiday discover human remains in the bog. Not an anxpcient relic, but a more recent murder victim and Cormac is leading the investigation.
This is the fourth book in the series and I’ve only read one other, but I like Cormac as a character and the way he interacts with colleagues and his former girlfriend. He’s very relatable and not blessed with a huge range of hang ups so often found in a lead detective! But the joy of this story is the multi layered plotting which builds and builds. First there’s one body, a suspect, then another body then a diversion as Cormac has to help is former girlfriend. It goes along at a pace, with characters who feel real and reactions that resonate. Really well written and I cleaned this up in a couple of sittings. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The Unquiet Grave is the fourth novel in the Cormac Reilly series by Irish-born Australian author, Dervla McTiernan. The audio version, brilliantly narrated by Aiofe McMahon, is an utter joy to listen to. DS Cormac Reilly and Garda Peter Fisher are called away from reading the riot act to a harassing ex-husband when a body is discovered in a bog near Monivea.

While the body displays some unusual mutilations, police pathologist Dr Yvonne Connelly quickly disabuses them of the notion that it is an ancient bog body: this is a recent murder victim. Follow up with the current owner of the bog field and the attached cottage reveal that the tenant of that cottage went missing two years earlier. Might this be local secondary school headmaster, Thaddeus Grey?

As Cormac and Peter try to learn what they can about him, many they speak to depict him as a strict authoritarian who wasn’t well-liked, but the one parent who confronted him has an ironclad alibi. Two years on, the students he picked on most are at college or on an Asian gap year, and not responding to calls and messages: are they being evasive, or just typically self-absorbed teens?

Distracting Cormac from the case is the Commissioner of the Garda Siochana’s urging that he apply for promotion to Inspector: Kevin Matheson needs him to head up the Complaints section of Gardai’s Internal Affairs, investigating other garda when warranted. It would mean less time in the field, more time behind a desk, and would make him even less popular. But the role needs someone who believes in it, and Cormac is probably that man.

Also distracting him is the visit from his ex-girlfriend, Emma Sweeney, now married and pregnant. Emma begs for his help in finding her husband, Finn O’Ceallaigh, a fifteen-year Irish Army veteran who failed to return home from Paris on the previous Friday evening. The Gardai have no jurisdiction in Paris, while the French police have a policy of not actively searching for missing adults, leaving Emma feeling helpless. Of course, Cormac will do what he can, call in favours from influential friends.

When two more bodies turn up in bogs in quick succession, the case is handed to a young Dublin DI more determined to track down a serial killer than listen to input from his team, even though there are some significant differences between how the bodies have been damaged. And after a slow start, Cormac finally has strong suspicions about who murdered Grey, if only the DI would let him go back to Galway for a face-to-face interview…

With this fourth instalment, McTiernan yet again gives the reader a terrific dose of fast-paced crime fiction: an excellent plot, twists and red herrings to keep the reader guessing, an exciting climax or two (Peter gets to be a hero), and a very satisfying resolution. Luckily this is fiction, so the reader can darkly delight in the way a certain nasty character is meted out just deserts. With each instalment, McTiernan develops her regular characters a little further and adds new ones. It will be interesting to see what’s in store for Cormac. Irish crime fiction at its best.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Bolinda

This crime novel set in Ireland is well-written with strong characters and an intriguing plot. The complex narrative kept me in suspense throughout. The dynamic between detectives was interesting but Cormac stood out to me and was my favorite. I loved Peter’s empathy though.
This book is part of a series but can be enjoyed as a standalone. As this is the first one I've read, I didn't feel like I missed any important context.
It took some time to get accustomed to the multiple accents, but once I did, I found the narrator to be very entertaining as well as incredibly skilled.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In the fourth book in this series by Dervla McTiernan a German family on holiday in Galway has found a body whilst digging peat. Not a 'bogbody' as initially thought but a murder victim. Cormac and Peter are brought in to investigate. There is a lot more going on in this book though for both men. Both are looking at monumental changes to their lives and their relationship with each other and this has an effect on how they handle the investigation. The author writes a good story as always. The narrative flows well and holds the readers interest throughout. The characters are well established and are developed further over the course of the book. I have both read and listened to Dervla McTiernan's books in the past and and enjoyed both styles of presentation however I did find on this recording the narration irritated me somewhat. It seemed very slow and drawn out. So much so I speeded it up. Something I've never done before. I'm aware Aoife McMahon has narrated other Dervla McTiernan books so this might just be me and this particular book. Other than that, a great story and great to have Cormac's story progress. I hope there's more to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

As a lifelong fan of Irish crime fiction—and a proud native of the Emerald Isle—I can honestly say The Unquiet Grave is the cream of the crop. Dervla McTiernan delivers a masterclass in authentic storytelling, with narration that feels true to the characters and to the Irish setting that pulses beneath the surface of every chapter.

What really stood out to me was the seamless switch between male and female perspectives. The voices felt distinct and genuine, never forced, and this fluid narrative style added depth and momentum to an already gripping plot. The tension builds slowly, but with such skill that I found myself diving in deeper with every chapter—I finished it in just two days.

The characters are fully fleshed out and entirely believable, with emotional layers that kept me invested throughout. The interwoven storylines never felt contrived or confusing; instead, they added richness to the central mystery. Best of all, the ending managed to surprise me without tipping into the unbelievable—a rare feat in crime fiction.

Whether you’re new to McTiernan’s work or a returning fan, The Unquiet Grave is a must-read. It’s a beautifully written, emotionally charged, and expertly plotted novel that showcases the best of Irish crime writing.

4.5 stars
Ah, it was so good to catch up with Cormac O’Reilly! It’s been a few minutes since the previous installment so I appreciated the background catch up from where we last left everyone. I liked that there were multiple things afoot so we could follow along as events unfolded in the course of time. Dervla has a skill for fully fleshing out even the minor characters. This would make a great TV series. I hope her next book is another case for O’Reilly to solve! As ever, Aoife’s narration was superb!
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley

*Many thanks to Dervla McTiernan, Bolinda Audio, and NetGalley for a free audiobook inexchange for my honest review.*
This was my second book of the Reilley series, and despite not remembering the details of Cormac's beginnings, I had no difficulty getting into the story. Accidentaly discovered remains open an investigation which at first offers only questions, however, with time, more becomes known of the man's identity, and Reilly and his team face twists after twists. There are three subplots, linked by the main character, one of which I found really intriguing even though a little predictable. The finale was rather unexpected but well prepared.

The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan
Narrated by Aoife McMahon
Provided by NetGalley

Although I’ve read all previous Cormac Reilly instalments, this police procedural could be read as a standalone.

Ms McTiernan has once again delivered in the Cormac Reilly series with The Unquiet Grave. A well plotted, tightly written page turner with an unexpected ending --which is quite the feat. I’ve read over 500 mystery/suspense/thrillers, so it’s quite difficult to come across one that is unpredictable. It really did keep me guessing.

Aoife McMahon gives another fabulous performance. And I don’t say this lightly. Very rarely do I find it easy to listen to a narrator deliver a performance where the main character is of a different gender. But Aoife McMahon does a sterling job. Her interpretation of Cormac gives him a gruff edge that well suits him.

*Drums fingers on table waiting for book 5*

This is the fourth installment in the DS Cormac Reilly series, but it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. I personally skipped a book in the series and had no trouble following along. The series has consistently featured Aoife McMahon as the audiobook narrator, and she continues to deliver an excellent performance. Her skill with accents and ability to distinguish each character adds depth, making for an immersive listening experience.

The story weaves together three distinct plotlines, which can make it a bit tricky to keep track of the characters early on. However, as the narrative unfolds, everything starts to come together smoothly. The book carries a lingering, melancholic tone, with dark undertones and unexpected twists that will keep you on your toes.

Thank you to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for this ALC. This is my honest review.

5* The Unquiet Grave - Dervla McTiernan. A gem of a police procedural.

When a body is found in a peat bog, showing potential ritualistic traits, Cormac Reilly is called in to lead the investigation. He is making limited inroads when a second and then a third body are found, one of which is also dumped in a bog. Are the cases connected and how? Added to which Cormac's former girlfriend's husband has disappeared without a trace in Paris and, frustrated that the French Police won't help, she turns to Cormac.

The Unquiet Grave absolutely sizzles. The plot is brilliantly crafted, tight, keeps you guessing and fits together very smartly. The pace will keep you up all night! I love the character of Cormac (and it was great to have Emma back). Every one of the books in this series is a fantastic and I was a little worried that Dervla's amazing standalone, What Happened to Nina, might be the end for the Cormac Reilly series. Thankfully that hasn't proved to be the case.

This is a hum-dinger of a book with fantastic characters and I would highly recommend it. While it is the 4th with Cormac, each would be a fine standalone.

I listened to the audiobook with superb narration from Aoife McMahon.

Thanks to Bolinda Audio and Netgalley for an advance copy.

I was so pleased to see Cormac Reilly return, I love McTiernan's writing and it was such a treat to return to this series.

A body is found in the boglands in rural Galway and as the police investigate other bodies are found in similar circumstances. This was so tightly plotted and there were several storyline running throughout which all interweaved brilliantly. Loved the setting, the characters and pacing. Dervla McTiernan fans are in for a treat and while this is the fourth book in a series, it would absolutely work as a standalone for people who have come to this author from her more recent reads.

Wholly recommend and the narration was super, a brilliant listen.

The Unquiet Grave is my first read by Dervla McTiernan. As this is the fourth book in the Cormac Reilly series, it means I’m coming to the series blind, treating it as a standalone.

DI Cormac Reilly has a lot on his plate right now. A historic body found in a bog, turns out to be not as historic as initially thought, sadly this won’t be the only grim discovery. An old flame then asks for help, her husband has disappeared, but the authorities don’t seem overly interested.

This complex, multi layered story was intricately plotted, all the delicate strands drawing together beautifully. There were a good mix of characters, some I really felt for, whilst others I railed against. I really enjoyed Cormac and Peter, they grew on me as the book progressed. Aiofe McMahon’s narration gives a strong sense of place.

I’m sure I have missed a huge amount of back story and character development, by starting with book four. I genuinely didn’t feel that I was left guessing about anything though, but I plan to circle back to book one, The Ruin. I want to read What Happened to Nina, also written by Dervla, which has received great reviews.

I loved the ending of the book, it just felt right, very satisfying. That alone put the book up by half a star to a 4.5⭐️ read for me, and has really piqued my interest for the next in the series.

I’d read The Murder Rule by this author and absolutely loved it, although I hadn’t realised this one was part of an existing series rather than a standalone.

Whilst I did enjoy this one, and liked getting to know the detectives, I didn’t find it as compelling as The Murder Rule. I enjoyed the way the multiple stories which didn’t seem connected all wove together in the end, and thought the narration was great, but it just didn’t capture me in the same way as the standalone novel.

Actual rating 3.5.

The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan

The Unquiet Grave is book four in the DS Cormac Reilly series. I have read all of Dervla's books, and I am a huge fan. The series has kept the same audiobook narrator, Aoife McMahon, throughout. Aoife's wonderful lilting accent is pleasing to listen to.

The Unquiet Grave establishes a slow-building tension and continues Cormac's relentless pursuit of justice. A corpse is found in a bog in Galway; at first, it's presumed that it's a well-preserved relic, and the unusual injuries suggest human sacrifice and torture. Right when Cormac is sure that he has found the killer, another mutilated body is discovered, and then another. Is this a serial killer at work?

Set several years after The Good Turn, Cormac still hasn't put down roots in his new home; following his break-up, his girlfriend, Emma, contacts him seeking help to find her missing husband. This side story helps humanise Cormac, and the two stories intertwine at the end, and some closure on Cormac's relationship with Emma.

I started to believe there might be a new off-shoot series when Cormac's side-kick Garda Peter Fisher contemplates a move to the Australian outback (come on! That would be AWESOME), something happens at the end of the book that would either throw a spanner in that or speed it along but SPOILERS.

I've got my ticket to see Dervla McTiernan in Conversation with JP Pomare at the end of the month, I can't wait to ask her about a Peter Fisher spin-off.

A big thumbs up 👍

Body count: 3

Thank you to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for giving me an ALC to review; The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan, narrated by Aoife McMahon, is out on April 30 2025.

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Oh how I've missed hearing DS Cormac Reilly through the wonderfully warm and clear-voiced narrator, Aoife McMahon. With its well-paced, slow-burn tension and sharp writing, I was just as gripped as I was with the previous three. As always Aoife McMahon provides a fabulous narration that carefully imbues some of the mood of the characters and setting while being neutral enough for a listener to get their own reading experience.

This book continues an exploration on justice - what is it and how do those enforcing it nagivate the grey areas? Cormac doggedly pursues it, but it came at the expense of his career and relationship with Dr Emma Sweeney. Two years on, he's living like a student without the social life, and distrusted by his colleagues. Emma reappears, now pregnant and needing his help to find her missing husband. While Cormac gets some closure, this plot felt gratuitous and pulled focus from the main action, especially given the resolution was pretty flat.

With its atmospheric descriptions Ireland (I ended up looking up what bogs were), I think Dervla McTiernan is at her best. She manages to capture a slight melancholy mood which permeates this series. Cormac is also such a compelling lone wolf hero that keeps me coming back. Will we get more Cormac? I certainly hope so.

Thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

Achieving a just outcome and solving a crime are not always the same. In ‘The Unquiet Grave’ Dervla McTiernan is interested in this question as she returns to Ireland for her fourth book in her Cormac O’Reilly series. We find Cormac working in Galway with his friend and partner Peter. He is ‘living to work’ outside of the camaraderie he finds in his team. The brief reappearance of Emma and a visit to his sister Lili in London are poignant points of contrast here. The mystery is intricately plotted, travelling along a spiral of scenes and characters until the final point of discovery. The characters are fascinating and perceptively drawn, made even more so by the impeccable narration of Aoife McMahon on the audiobook. The book ends with both Peter and Cormac at turning points. One makes a brave and life affirming decision, the other …. hmm.

The Unquiet Grave, although an excellent police procedural, will appeal to a wider readership. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance listening copy.

🎧4.25⭐️

Cornac Reilly book 4

I had the audiobook read by Aoife McMahon I love her narrating skills.

Crime series with Cormac Reilly. I haven’t read the previous books, but it reads well as a standalone.

The plotting is cleverly done using several threads for interest. A body is found in a bog, and it’s not historical. Cornac’s ex girlfriend contacts him asking for help to find her missing husband in France. Anither body turns up. It’s got a clever plot device, plenty going on throughout.
My favourite character is Peter, who is a bit of an unsung hero in my eyes, he is brilliant.

I enjoyed this crime thriller.

So. I was positive I had read all of the titles in this series. Including the novella’s/prequels. (I think they may be undergoing a change of publishers atm) Which of course I had, they just predated me being on goodreads so now that I’ve rectified that, on with the review.

Dervla McTiernan is at her finest with the Cormac Reilly series, and the much anticipated fourth book in the series did not disappoint. If you follow my reviews you’ll know I’m prone to falling in love with fictional men, Cormac is definitely hovering somewhere at the top of the list, and on finishing this title I’ve got a definite soft spot for Pete. I’ll leave you to discover why.

This time around Cormac is dealing with what initially seems like a very cold case, a historical murder preserved by the peat bogs of Athen Rye, that is until they notice the Dunnes Stores underpants the victim is wearing - got to have some humour with your gore. The historic detail provided in the unravelling of the story is excellent, and I think McTiernan excels in this area, it’s not just a regular police procedural.

Emma’s back too, pregnant, but only for Cormac’s help in finding her missing husband.

There are a few stories running alongside the main theme each of them well played out, there are obviously trigger warnings in this type of novel, particularly for me there’s one of stalking/domestic violence, incase that’s a particular trigger for you.

Aoife McMahon is one of my favourite audio narrators and as usual she’s given a brilliant performance.

Huge thanks to Bolinda Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC in return for an honest review 🎧