Blood Sisters (5) (Katie Maguire)

First, I really wanted this to be a great read, being set in Ireland. Unfortunately, it is an utter failure as a police procedural, as it pretty much ignores reality. Things happen that in context would have been virtually impossible, like some one shooting a rifle from a moving car and hitting someone in another cat that was also moving, or a stranger managing to walk into a closed community of Travelers and plant explosives in a caravan. Further, there is virtually no local color, no descriptions of the environment or surroundings, which was disappointing. The various parallels among the characters are so on ious and labored it felt like literary bludgeoning. Not my pot, or even cup, of tea.

This is really good writing. I was introduced to the series by being offered a chance to try this book for $1 on Amazon Kindle through Bookbub.com, one of the greatest services around for introducing readers to new authors at a low cost of entry. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of writing, got hooked immediately and enjoyed it immensely. Needless to say that, thanks to BookBub, Mr. Masterton has now acquired a reader who will pay retail for the rest of the series. It is somewhat gruesome as a plot (one has to wonder from what dark places in his mind the author conjures up all the various tortures described) but a terrific read with well developed characters. Issues dealt with include a number of women's issues, such as both present and past attitudes toward pregnancy out of wedlock, lesbian attraction between policewomen, The long term effects of childhood abuse among others, all within a really packed police detective story. You almost feel sorry for the main villain, she is so well thought out. Some reviewers have complained about the use of Irish slang as being difficult to read - well there is some, it does take place in Ireland (I suppose it could have been written in Irish instead of colloquial English, but then neither this American reader nor the Americans who submitted that criticism would ever have read it) but come on, folks, do Europeans complain about pervasive American slang in novels and movies coming out of the US, or simply accept it as being true to life? I had little trouble understanding the slang, so I would not be put off by that critique.

The latest in the series of the Katie McGuire series. Katie is the intelligent & attractive Superintendent of the Garda in Cork. She battles personal loss, the death of her baby son, the murder of her no account husband, the murder of her police partner and her lover leaving to pursue a career in America. Her job is tough as some will never accept a woman Superintendent. She battles crooked cops, pimps, the Catholic Church all in the name of justice. In this book Katie investigates the brutal murders of elderly nuns. Also on the agenda are the numerous tiny skeletons found in the septic tank in the yard of a convent. Who is connected to whom? Very suspenseful & you cheer Katie on . But Katie being Katie suffers more loss. You may shed a tear but you will be looking forward to the next book!

Another superb addition to the Katie Maguire series. A total page turner, well developed but intrinsically detailed without being boring. Awesome the way this series has developed the attractive Katie as a likeable but formidable character. Graham Masterton is a master of his craft. Highly recommended for very intelligent material. Recommended follow up: SILVER... one beautifully intense tale.Also, if you have any problems with the vernacular in the Katie Maguire series, go to the Katie Maguire web site and you can get a free rundown on the Cork slang ( unlike Lady of Fortune, a great book as well, but Graham, Dear Graham, we need an explanation of the Scottish vernacular , please !! :-) )

I am not of the Catholic religion; nevertheless, it was horrible the way he vilified some leaders of that religion. Furthermore, I do not understand why some writers seem to think that the sex act must be treated like a sporting event with a move by move description of the action!!! Is it because they have no love life and are living vicariously through their characters? I can see no other reason for it. I have added Graham Masterton to my list of authors to NEVER read again and returned this filthy book as I do not want such tripe in my library!

I did not finish this book. Although the characters were well drawn and the writing was good, the plot was much too grisly and just plain sick in some spots. I gave up when the murderers were performing a particularly horrendous torture on one of their victims, described in horrifying detail. Not my idea of entertainment.

Oh my gosh, *cringe factor*! One thing I can say about Masterton's writing - he mixes horror with thriller! Seriously, some of it is gut-churning, yet I find myself unable to stop reading this series. Did not see the end coming, either. If you can handle the 'ugh' factor, it's a great story.

I was amazed by this book. So much going on all the time. Actually worn me out at times. First murder mystery where I caught myself rooting for the killer. I laughed, I cried. Very emotional for me. I love Ireland and most of all the Irish people. There are some really good ones in this story. If you have never been to Ireland or never seen the movie THE QUITE MAN you may have problems with the Irish use of the English language. But this story is worth the trouble of trying to figure out what is being said at times. HA. Just remember it is us in America who have raped the English language and not them altogether on the other side of the Atlantic. Thanks again so.

Having read all five, I now feel very ambivalent about this series, though I started as a fan.I like Katie and I like the dialogue; the plots are inventive and exciting, and we get a vivid sense of Ireland. However, it’s getting way too far-fetched. The inevitable graphic descriptions of highly sadistic torture now seem gratuitous; and I have learnt to skip the astonishingly tedious detail we are treated to every time Katie has sex. Also, Katie seems like a very dangerous person to know, as more and more colleagues and others close to her get killed by baddies aiming at her (with suprisingly little effect on her well-being). I see that Graham Masterton writes in the Horror genre, and this seems to be rubbing off on his crime fiction — I know we must suspend belief to some extent when reading, but he takes it much too far.I suppose I will read the next in the series, but I don’t feel very enthusiastic.

Ignoring the annoying habit that this author has of insisting on referring to the majority of Officers by full rank pretty much every time - full rank, not even initials - and glossing over the very frequent use of Irish words and terms - most pages but thankfully easy to guess with context - then I really enjoyed this book. I can even forgive Katie's very dubious personal life so delicious were the crimes in the book. It is definitely not one for the faint-hearted!So, an elderly Nun is found dead in a nursing home. No just suffocated, the killer seems to have left something of a message too. On a visit to the Convent that the Nun used to belong to, part of a child's jaw bone is handed in. With incidents within the Catholic Church still recent, are the two connected. Then another Nun is found, her death also seeming to provide a message, Katie and her team pull out all the stops to investigate the Convent further. Going back to the days when the Convent "helped" young "unfortunates".And then there's the horses...I have read and enjoyed all the books in the series. Where I have found all the stories to be brilliant insofar as the crimes are concerned, sometimes the parts "outside the crimes" leave a bit to be desired but, as already mentioned, the crimes are well plotted, innovative and original so in my opinion, the series is still worth continuing with despite the annoyances. I wonder though, if the author feels that other readers wouldn't be so inclined because this book also contains something that I really, really hate. A huge great cliffhanger. It's a good job that I had already decided that I was continuing with the series (and already have the next book to read) otherwise that might have tipped me the other way.Wow, It does seem like I really shouldn't be giving this four stars. But again, the story is good, the characters (Katie's personal life aside) are good. The descriptions of Ireland interesting rather than distracting and the pacing is good and the whole thing held my attention nicely. All things that, to me, make for a good read. In fact I started and finished in just over a day. And, with the next book already on my Kindle, the cliffhanger is just a mild annoyance.

A story of vengeance and deception within the convent community, with some quite nasty endings and the hands of those they once helped. And links to dodgy goings on with the horse training fraternity. As well written as ever, and an undercurrent of back stories that link to previous books and will draw you into forthcoming parts of the story, making the whole set-up engrossing. Some great dialog and descriptions. The only concern is the number of colleagues past and present falling by the wayside, but very enjoyable. I can see how the continued reference to full job titles can annoy slightly.The saga continues and I'm looking forward to it.

Typical Katie Maguire, if you read her other books you will know what she's about, Katie comes across some rather bizarre murders whilst already investigating the discovery of several bones (well a lot), Could the two be linked or are they two separate incidents? Katie does her thing and solves clue after clue but the mystery of what and why leaves you guessing till the end. If your a Katie Maguire fan you won't be disappointed!

I have read about 80 Graham Masterton books starting with the Manitou and this one [Blood Sisters], being the latest. I enjoyed the book but I am only writing this review out of curiosity. You see, for the first time ever with one of Mr Masterton's books, I am not sure that mine ends at the right time. Is the last page in the book number 463? Are the very last words "Cold," said Kyna.? I am referring to the hardback edition here. The back of page 463 is blank. But there are also four more blank pages after that one. A few of his books end on a cliff-hanger even if there is no follow up story. I can appreciate that. But somehow this is more of a sudden end. Please, anyone, let me know if that is truly the end or do I need to ask Amazon?I have given the book three stars as I am sure I have not read it all yet. But if it turns out I have then the three stars will do.