Customer Reviews
Borderlands - Brian McGilloway - By: S. Lloyd, 03 Jan 2009 
Waiting for new releases from the regular crime writers that I read, I came across "Borderlands" & bought it on the strength of the reviews.
I was not disappointed & will be reading the 2ndin the series before the 3rd is releasedin April!
The plot moves along at a strong pace, with enough clues being teased out to ensure interest is maintained with surprises towards the end. I agree that at the end of the novel a number of twists & turns come tumbling out too quickly that damages the former credibility. However the realisic sense of police work & detection throughout the novel easily lets you forgive this.
Benedict Devlin is a great character - essentially a moral & good man - he has human failings where his own emotions & temptations side track him. McGilloway put across an honesty to Devlin's character which brings his character alive.
I did have to check the setting on a map but that is due to my own lack of geographical knowledge & not the fault of the author. The setting is strongly portrayed & convincing. At times the writing is powerful & poetic, ie. "the sky is bruised purple & yellowin the dying sun" as a young girl is found dead with bruising on her chest.
I'm glad that I have found this author.
Great New Talent - By: Steve G, 01 Aug 2008 
Borderlands will keep you on the edge of your seat.It makes you feel like your standing beside the crime sceen.Could not find anything wrond with it.A+1 all the way.
A bit disappointing, really - By: Jeff, 27 Jul 2008 
I'm afraid I couldn't get into this book at all. Didn't like the main character [Devlin] or the story much. I've been to Donegal & love the area but [unlike a number of crime witers] I don't feel he captures any atmosphere. Sorry.
Tightly plotted thriller with heart of a poet - By: D. Kelly, 16 Apr 2007 Ben Devlin is a unique copperin the ranks of murder mystery writing; with a (mostly) happy family life & an easy familiarity with his small community which never borders on the arch, he still evidences the kind of common sense thinking & popular misconceptions about the modern world that make him instantly relatable & much more than just a device for the author's omniscience. He's incredibly likeable, but has enough of the poet about him that he remains compelling enough to follow,in this short debut novel from McGilloway. The plot is tightly structured & meticulously paced for the most part; the first two thirds of the book follow an almost linear & procedural progression which keeps the seasoned reader happily immersedin their own suspicions. If the book has a flaw it isin the final pages, where possibly too many twistsin too short a time stretch the believability slightly. Still, I didn't see the end coming. A wonderful subplot with the family dog provides an elegant allegory for the larger issuesin the book & shows just how sophisticated a writer McGillway is & how good this ongoing series should prove to be (He's written the second & been signed upfor three more after that). Highly recommended.
