Too Close To Breathe by Olivia Kiernan – Blog Tour Review.

About the Book

TOO SOON TO SEE

Polished. Professional. Perfect. Dead. Respected scientist Dr Eleanor Costello is found hanged in her immaculate home: the scene the very picture of a suicide.

TOO LATE TO HIDE

DCS Frankie Sheehan is handed the case, and almost immediately spots foul play. Sheehan, a trained profiler, is seeking a murderer with a talent for death.

TOO CLOSE TO BREATHE

As Frankie strives to paint a picture of the killer, and their victim, she starts to sense  they are part of a larger, darker canvas, on which the lines between the two blur.

My Review

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
When I read Irish fiction, I always tell myself I should make more of an effort to read more. Even though this was crime fiction with a subject matter that was quite dark it was also a refreshing read with just the right amount of humour. The type of humour that is wry, and just a general observation on everyday life. The type of humour that can describe a person truthfully but (probably) without causing offence.
Frankie Sheehan, recently back on duty after receiving a horrific injury while apprehending a suspect is adamant that she wants to work on the latest case. At first glance it looks like suicide but it is soon revealed that it was murder.
When the body count rises, and Frankie knows one of the victims she is more determined than ever to solve the case. With pressure from above, the team are trying everything they can to get the case solved. The author demonstrates that a case isn’t solved overnight. I was quite surprised by how quickly time was passing whilst the team tried to solve the case.
There is no doubt, the link to the dark web is convincing and unsettling. It’s not something I fully understand, I wouldn’t have any idea how to find the web pages that are mentioned, thankfully. But some do, and you do hear about it on the news occasionally.
I loved the relationship between Frankie, Baz and Clancy. An understanding and friendship that could only come from deep trust, loyalty and openness. Especially between Frankie and Baz, they have the type of friendship where they can say what needs to be said without causing offence.There are others in the team, but they are not as close.Frankie is insistent that they maintain a distance in respect to her rank. I also liked her nurturing of a bonsai tree, something small but important in showing how she needs to accept what happened to her.
A brilliant debut novel with characters I would love to meet again.