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The Mountains Wild (Maggie D'arcy, Bk 1)
The Mountains Wild - Maggie D'arcy, Bk 1
Author: Sarah Stewart Taylor
Set in Dublin and New York, homicide detective Maggie D'arcy finally tackles the case that changed the course of her life. — Twenty-three years ago, Maggie D'arcy's family received a call from the Dublin police. Her cousin Erin has been missing for several days. Maggie herself spent weeks in Ireland, trying to track ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9781250796141
ISBN-10: 1250796148
Publication Date: 6/15/2021
Pages: 416
Rating:
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 3

3 stars, based on 3 ratings
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 4
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review
Read All 3 Book Reviews of "The Mountains Wild Maggie Darcy Bk 1"

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cyndij avatar reviewed The Mountains Wild (Maggie D'arcy, Bk 1) on + 1030 more book reviews
I was attracted to the title of this book because I like mysteries set in the outdoors. But when I saw it was Dublin, I passed. But there were those glowing reviews, so I checked it out, and glad I did, it was excellent. Alternating between 1993 and 2016, entirely from Maggie's POV, there are a few smaller flashbacks to when Maggie and Erin are quite small as well. Almost all the characters came to life for me, good sense of place and believable dialogue. It does take a while to get going though, and maybe you wonder why the Dublin cop was so accomodating to her back in 93. Nice twisty plot with an ending I did not see coming although as I think back there was something I should have picked up on. I guess this is the start of a new series, and I would read the next one.
reviewed The Mountains Wild (Maggie D'arcy, Bk 1) on + 1528 more book reviews
The Mountains Wild is a police procedural novel featuring Maggie D'arcy. Erin Flaherty, Maggie's cousin, disappeared from Ireland twenty-three years ago in 1993. The only thing that was found was her silver claddagh necklace where Erin had been walking that day. Maggie's uncle, Daniel Flaherty gets a call that the scarf Erin had been wearing was found with blood on it. Maggie heads to Dublin determined to get the answers they have been seeking. The Mountains Wild turned out to be different from what I expected after reading the blurb. It turns out that several women have gone missing over the years with the latest being Niamh Horrigan. While the police were searching for Niamh, they found Erin's bloody scarf. I can tell from the author's writing and descriptions that she loves Ireland. Her word imagery brings Dublin and the surrounding to life. She weaves in Ireland's history, literature, language, and politics into the story. Maggie D'arcy is a good detective and she has solved several high-profile cases. Looking into Erin's disappearance in 1993 led Maggie to become a police officer. Maggie is now a lieutenant leading a team in the homicide division. The story is told from Maggie's point-of-view. We are taken back to 1993 to see how the initial case played out. As Maggie investigates in 2016, we get a glimpse of Erin and Maggie's growing up years. I found the pacing to be slow with just a slight uptick near the end. The mystery was convoluted with a âtwistâ near the end. I found the investigation to be tedious. It was long and drawn out. It lacked excitement and suspense. Whether you find the twist surprising, depends on how many mysteries you have read. I felt that over a hundred pages could have easily been edited from this book. I did like DI Roland Byrne and Griz. They were great characters. There is repetition of information and too many characters. A pronunciation guide would have come in handy for the Irish names. Maggie's romance felt out of place considering what was happening. I also did not feel there was chemistry between Maggie and her love interest. The Mountains Wild was just not a good fit for me. I suggest you obtain a sample to see if it is your type of mystery. The Mountains Wild is a whodunit with a curious cousin, exiguous evidence, a distraught dad, and a rare romance.
cathyskye avatar reviewed The Mountains Wild (Maggie D'arcy, Bk 1) on + 2257 more book reviews
The Irish setting of Sarah Stewart Taylor's The Mountains Wild is wonderful, but although I did enjoy the setting and the main character of strong, determined Maggie D'arcy, that's about all that I did enjoy.

The story needed tightening, and the plot didn't hold any real surprises for me. Due to something Erin did as a small child, I couldn't even drum up much sympathy for her or the desire to have her found. All in all, my response was decidedly lackluster, but your mileage may certainly vary.

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)


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