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 🎧