The Cold, Cold Ground cover art

The Cold, Cold Ground

Detective Sean Duffy, Book 1

 Preview
Free with 30-day trial
A 30-day trial plus your first audiobook free.
1 credit/month after trial—to buy any title you like, yours to keep.
Listen all you want to a selection of thousands of Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.

The Cold, Cold Ground

By: Adrian McKinty
Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
Free with 30-day trial

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $19.99

Buy Now for $19.99

About this listen

Fast-paced, evocative, and brutal, The Cold Cold Ground is a brilliant depiction of Belfast at the height of the Troubles — and of a cop treading a thin, thin line —from The New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author Adrian McKinty.

“McKinty is one of the most striking and most memorable crime voices to emerge on the scene in years.” —Tana French

Northern Ireland, spring 1981. Hunger strikes, riots, power cuts, a homophobic serial killer with a penchant for opera, and a young woman’s suicide that may yet turn out to be murder: on the surface, the events are unconnected, but then things—and people—aren’t always what they seem. Detective Sergeant Duffy is the man tasked with trying to get to the bottom of it all. It’s no easy job—especially when it turns out that one of the victims was involved in the IRA but was last seen discussing business with someone from the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force. Add to this the fact that, as a Catholic policeman, it doesn’t matter which side he’s on, because nobody trusts him, and Sergeant Duffy really is in a no-win situation.

©2012 Adrian McKinty (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Crime Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Fiction Murder

Critic Reviews

“McKinty is a streetwise, energetic gunslinger of a writer, firing off volleys of sassy dialogue and explosive action that always delivers what it has promised.” ( Irish Times)
“What makes McKinty a cut above the rest is the quality of his prose. His driven, spat-out sentences are more accessible than James Ellroy's edge-of-reason staccato, and he can be lyric.” ( The Guardian)
“If Raymond Chandler had grown up in Northern Ireland, The Cold Cold Ground is what he would have written.” ( The Times, London)
All stars
Most relevant
This book was a cracker, lots of detail, real characters and kept me enthralled. Lovely Irish accents.

Found a new favourite author!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
For is in us other countries it is interesting to understand what life was like for families during Margaret Thatcher and the IRA

an interesting Irish story in a time of conflict.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
So pleased to have discovered this series. The characters are compelling, the setting hugely interesting, and the 70s nostalgia a bonus. The narrator is the best. I could and listen to him for hours

The start of a wonderful series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great insight into the troubles in Ireland and an entertaining way to learn the history. I listened to more recent books in the Sean Duffy series before this one but it didn’t really matter. Colorful characters and excellent authentic narration.

Glad I found this author!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved this book... Kept me guessing, the anticipation, the intrigue... Loved it!! Pure escapism, highly recommend :) Now onto book 2 I can't wait!!

Really enjoyed this!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
the mix of recent history intertwined with a detective story, plus a great narrator, makes it a very entertaining listen.

first in a good series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
great writer..love see the whole series in film or an eight episode series on netflix or the movies

deadly

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This was an interesting story captured the essence of the times. I loved the way the main character is often internally conflicted and the popular music referred to; of bands and songs that I grew up listening to. I have never been to Ireland but I feel like I have a visual understanding of the place and time.

Great story and narrator

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A few laughs and an incredible who dunnit, edge of your seat story and descriptions that made me feel like I was there. Can’t believe that Belfast was like that in a terrible time

Loved it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel- the writing, the action, the characters and most importantly the narrator. I am about to download the next in this wonderful series.

Must listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.