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The Wrong One cover art

The Wrong One

By: Dervla McTiernan
Narrated by: Neil Hellegers,Michael Crouch
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Publisher's Summary

In this new novella from the number one internationally best-selling author of The Sisters and The Murder Rule, Dervla McTiernan, a mother and son fighting to prove her innocence are reunited with an estranged friend—a detective who may hold the key to her freedom—as they’re forced to put their differences aside to uncover the shocking truth behind the crime. 

When Clara Coleman is taken into custody, her teenage son, Sebastien, wastes no time before calling Simon Miller: an estranged family friend and detective in their old hometown of Hartford, Connecticut. Clara’s been arrested for the murder of Rachel Stapleton, a wealthy housewife and prominent figure in Lavender Valley, their well-to-do New Jersey suburb. But she swears she did not commit the crime. 

Simon knows that Clara is not capable of murder and will do anything he can to prove her innocence—he’s felt indebted to the Coleman family since her husband, Will, Simon’s best friend, passed away years before. He arrives in Lavender Valley and hits the ground running on the case. With time, details surrounding the crime as well as the Colemans’ family history are revealed, unravelling the complex web of cause and effect that will finally bring the truth to light. 

Please note: this audio contains strong language, distressing situations and descriptions of violence that some listeners may find upsetting. Discretion is advised. 

©2022 Dervla McTiernan (P)2022 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.

What listeners say about The Wrong One

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Loved it

Guessable, but good listen.
Good narration esp Seb. Nice touch that the house was a character

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great story

really enjoyed this novella. the characters felt realistic and it wasn't obvious right at the start like some other mystery stories. it was well read too.

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3 people found this helpful

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Didn’t see that coming

I have read all of her books and this didn’t disappoint shirt but sweet excellent

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2 people found this helpful

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Excellent

This was an enjoyable short story. Didn't see the twist coming right till the end. Excellent writing by the author with good narration. . Worth a listen.

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2 people found this helpful

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Dervla is marvellous …..a super writer

I’ve been waiting for a new Dervla McTiernan book for a year to me she is my favourite author. As you listen your feelings constantly change. Most books are obvious but not with Dervla McTiernan.

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2 people found this helpful

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A really great unique novella

Really enjoyed everything about this book. Great narration and great story. Loved how we were taken for a ride along with the characters

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1 person found this helpful

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Good story

Enjoyed this. Kept me on my toes. Great imagination. Would recommend to others to read.

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Definitely didn’t see that coming!

A great story with a totally unexpected twist at the end! It sort of takes you in, makes you feel like he’s a good person, until the last few chapters!

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Good fun story

I loved this, just a good story, not deep. The narrator for Simon I wasn’t sure about, he sounded like a Raymond Chandler caricature and I never figured out if he was satirising the character. If he was he did it well.

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Loved the twists

not what I expected, but I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and the unlikely hero. Will be looking for more stories by this author.

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  • Mary Loo
  • 01-04-2022

Wow!

I’ve started this review almost 10 times now, but I’m having trouble finding the right words to describe this story! It was fun to listen to, but not funny. Rather, it is very suspenseful and had several tight twisty-turny moves that really surprised me. Just long enough to tell the story well, but only a few hours long, this novella should be on everyone’s reading list! I read my first Dervla McTiernan book just a bit over a week ago, and now I’m reading everything by her that I can find. She does an excellent job with developing characters, and her writing is so clear, it flows so well, that following the story effortless and massively entertaining. My new favorite author.

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15 people found this helpful

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  • Elizabeth Jones
  • 01-04-2022

Huge Plot Holes

Part way through, I gave up and skipped to the end quarter. ???? Really sad exploration of the unreliable narrator. Legally ridiculous. Could not suspend my disbelief long enough to care. Female character is a cypher. However, maybe that's just the POV. The ghost story stuff reminded me of Stephen King at his most arbitrary, insisting on sticking the otherworldly very awkwardly into a very worldly story.
The narration seemed adequate. what was lacking was a believable or compelling narrative. Not worth the time.

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11 people found this helpful

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  • Jamie Calzini
  • 07-04-2022

Terrible

I usually love this author, but not this time. Unbelievable story and ending. The cadence of the narration was so weird, made it hard to listen to. Glad it was included!

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9 people found this helpful

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  • Susan Nash
  • 01-04-2022

Surprising, loved it!

All I can say is Wow! Ms. McTiernan does not disappoint that's for sure. totally unexpected!

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  • Junebreeze
  • 01-04-2022

Subtle clues

Dervish McTiernan hit a home run with a slow ball!
This short story was woven with skill with gaps so small U may miss a clue. Beware listener.

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  • nancyvan
  • 01-04-2022

Intriguing

This book Kept me on the edge of my seat. I Love the unexpected plot twists

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 01-04-2022

suprizing small novella

A well written short story with nice twists and turns that kept it interesting.

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  • Chantal Noordeloos
  • 26-04-2022

I feel a little cheated

There will be spoilers in this review, so don’t read on if you haven’t read it yet, or if you don’t want to read spoilers.
I think I would have enjoyed this book if it wasn’t written from the killer’s perspective, pretending to investigate the whole thing. We were in his damn head, and not once did we get a suspicion that it was him? It felt as if the guy in the end was a completely different character. That just makes me feel cheated. A good ‘whodunnit’ has a fair amount of ‘hiding the gun’ and this just let me down. The whole haunted house part also felt incredibly forced. The writer had a great idea, but in the end the story was just very disappointing.

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  • Lisa Reed
  • 13-04-2022

A Good One

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Short and direct. Yet, still took the time to build a good climactic plot.
I will be loading more from this author.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 09-04-2022

Very enjoyable and suspenseful story!

I really enjoyed listening to this story. The narration of the characters had me paying close attention for any signs of deception. The story was thrilling and had me in suspense to the very end. Well done!

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  • JoP
  • 11-06-2022

Disappointed

Dervla McTiernan is one of my favourite crime authors, but sadly I was not convinced by this story. I don't want to give anything away, but perhaps this was because it was too complex a plot for the novella format and so I never felt that I got to know the characters. There also seemed to be too many loose threads at the end. In comparison, I feel that 'The Roommate' was a masterclass in the short crime novella format.

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  • Teresa
  • 19-08-2023

Not great

The narration of Simon smd Clara was oe of the worst I've listened to. I normally love Dearbhlas books but I'm afraid this one was not for me.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 04-06-2023

Entertaining

it was entertaining but her other books are 5 stars. Would recommend as an easy listen.

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  • John Duffy
  • 19-05-2023

Not great

I have enjoyed the authors other novels but found this novella predictable and the narration grating, total misfire for me I’m afraid….

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 04-04-2023

No disappointment here

A very different setting, a very different story, but equally compelling central characters, particularly Sebastian. My only reserve is the pace which shifts too awkwardly towards the end. I would have preferred the space of a full-length book to develop the suspicions, the atmosphere and the tension more naturally.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Eileen McGowan
  • 19-02-2023

Enjoyed this

Good well written short story with some surprises! Not at all predictable ! Interesting characters with depth to them

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  • Margaret S.
  • 15-01-2023

Great short story

very well narrated, great short story, pulls you in and appears much longer than it is.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 21-12-2022

Not McTierrnan's usual quality

Unpleasant characters, repulsive story. I have liked all other of her books but this one is different.

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  • mattyA
  • 11-12-2022

Alright

Nice twist at the end but meh came a little out of no where and didn’t feel right

I like the author and enjoy other books

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  • Julie-Anne
  • 09-10-2022

Odd departure

I just didn’t get it. I understand an author’s desire to try something new, but I kept feeling that I’d missed something so spent a lot of time rewinding. But no - just not for me. Luckily it was free. Narration was good, story just … odd.

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