Olivia Kiernan

In a quiet Dublin suburb, within her pristine home, Eleanor Costello is found hanging from a rope. The autopsy reveals poorly healed bones and old stab wounds, absent from medical records. A new cut is carefully, deliberately covered in paint. Eleanor's husband, Peter, is unreachable, missing. Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan would have been more than happy to declare it a suicide, but can't help but feel that something doesn't fit. When another woman is found murdered, the same paint on her corpse, Frankie knows that unraveling Eleanor's life is the only way to find the murderer before he claims another victim.

Too Close to Breathe

Olivia Kiernan’s tautly written debut novel immerses readers in a chilling murder case...and the tantalizing, enigmatic victim at the center of it all. In a quiet Dublin suburb, within her pristine home, Eleanor Costello is found hanging from a rope. Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan would be more than happy to declare it a suicide. Four months earlier, Frankie’s pursuit of a killer almost ended her life and she isn’t keen on investigating another homicide. But the autopsy reveals poorly healed bones and old stab wounds, absent from medical records. A new cut is carefully, deliberately covered in paint. Eleanor’s husband, Peter, is unreachable, missing. A search of the couple’s home reveals only two signs of personality: a much-loved book on art and a laptop with access to the Dark Web. With the suspect pool growing, the carefully crafted profile of the victim crumbling with each new lead, and mysterious calls to Frankie’s phone implying that the killer is closer than anyone would like, all Frankie knows is that Eleanor guarded her secrets as closely in life as she does in death. As the investigation grows more challenging, Frankie can’t help but feel that something doesn’t fit. And when another woman is found murdered, the same paint on her corpse, Frankie knows that unraveling Eleanor’s life is the only way to find the murderer before he claims another victim...or finishes the fate Frankie only just managed to escape. Engrossing, complex, and atmospheric, Olivia Kiernan’s debut novel will leave you breathless.

A Novel

'Brave and unflinching, dark and unsentimental' LIZ NUGENT 'Truly first class' C. J. TUDOR 'Positively hums with authenticity' DAILY MAIL 'So atmospheric' CAZ FREAR 'A total triumph' RACHEL EDWARDS DCS Frankie Sheehan does not wish to linger on the grisly scene before her eyes. Two mutilated corpses. In a church. Meanwhile, a 17-year-old case is playing out on a TV documentary, historical police errors are being exposed daily. Frankie's superior, commissioner Donna Hegarty, makes no bones about who she expects to clean things up in both cases . . . But Frankie pinpoints just what is making her so nervous: the fact that anyone could be the next victim when justice is the killer. The Killer In Me is a fast-paced thriller in which lies are safer than the truth, the past is never far from the present, and the ability to kill could well, it seems, live in everyone. 'Completely gripping' PHOEBE LOCKE 'The heir to Tana French's throne' IRISH TIMES 'Exquisite writing' CLAIRE ALLAN 'Knocks it out of the park' FIONA CUMMINS 'Excellent . . . Superbly controlled' ALI LAND 'A sharp new series' MAIL ON SUNDAY

The gripping new thriller (Frankie Sheehan 2)

The Killer in Me

'Cracking . . . Taut, gripping and beautifully written' Steve Cavanagh 'An ending you definitely won't see coming' JP Delaney 'Drew me in from the first chapter . . . This should be one of the books of the year' James Delargy DCS Frankie Sheehan is experiencing a crisis of confidence - having become wary of the instincts that have led her face-to-face with a twisted killer and brought those she loves into direct jeopardy. She is summoned to the rural Wicklow mountains, where local mother of two, Debbie Nugent, has been reported missing. A bloody crime scene is discovered at Debbie's home, yet no body. Not only is foul play suspected, but Debbie's daughter, Margot, has been living with the scene for three days. Aware her team cannot convict Margot on appearances alone, Sheehan launches a full investigation into Debbie Nugent's life. And, before long, the discrepancies within Debbie's disappearance suggest that some families are built on dangerous deceptions, with ultimately murderous consequences. 'If Looks Could Kill raises the bar once more. Superb plotting, excellent character development and no one does setting better, in my opinion. Clever, stylish, cinematic. And bloody entertaining' Caz Frear 'A superior crime thriller filled with fascinating characters and laced with dark wit. The ending was both shocking and satisfying. Highly recommended' Mark Edwards 'What an absolute winner of a book. Superbly plotted, with characters I immediately want to hang out with more, and an immensely satisfying yet real conclusion. Five stars from me' Gytha Lodge

Innocence is nothing. Appearance is everything. (Frankie Sheehan 3)

If Looks Could Kill

Some games can be deadly 'So dark and so clever -- a thrilling puzzle for the reader to solve. I loved it' Lucy Foley 'Kiernan's best yet. You'll be gripped from the minute you open The Murder Box . . .' Cara Hunter 'A real page-turner with an ingenious plot' Patricia Gibney At first, Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan believes the murder mystery game sent to her office is a birthday gift from one of her colleagues. But when Frankie studies the game's contents, she notices a striking resemblance between the 'murder victim' and missing twenty-two-year-old Lydia Callin. As Frankie and her team investigate, a series of grisly crimes connected to the game are discovered across Dublin city and Lydia's involvement with a shadowy network of murder mystery players becomes clear. On the hunt for Lydia's murderer, Frankie is drawn more deeply into the game. Every successful move brings her closer to the killer. But the real question is not what happens should she lose -- but what happens if she wins. 'A superior police procedural' Sarah Vaughan 'Pin-sharp prose, brilliant characters and a hook to die for' Phoebe Locke 'Tight, tense, pacy and full of twists. A cracker' Neil Lancaster 'Very clever, chilling and brilliantly written! LOVED it!' Karen Hamilton 'Clever, shocking, and psychologically astute - this deserves to be huge' Caz Frear 'Grabs you by the throat from the first page and doesn't let go until the last' Araminta Hall 'An original concept that kept me utterly gripped from start to finish' Nikki Smith 'Sleekly written, atmospheric, and beautifully macabre' Charlotte Philby 'Authentic, taut, intriguing storytelling' Mari Hannah 'You won't be able to close it until you've solved the puzzle' Trevor Wood 'The Murder Box is compulsive reading - and has the most genius twist' Sam Blake 'A genius premise and beautiful writing. Loved it' Susi Holiday 'A masterful and original thriller' Rachel Edwards 'Line of Duty fans, here's your next obsession!' Amanda Reynolds 'Olivia's Kiernan's The Murder Box cements her position as one of the rising stars of crime fiction' Fiona Cummins

some games can be deadly...

The Murder Box

Murder convict Sean Hennessy is released from prison to return to a seaside community in Dublin. He has always professed his innocence. But within months of his release, two bodies appear in the peaceful suburb of Clontarf. With a TV documentary pushing the public's sympathies in Hennessy's direction, the original evidence against him is called into question and Detective Frankie Sheehan finds herself doubting her original analysis of the case. But when another, fresh victim connects the two cases and the threat closes in around her family, Sheehan must look deep within herself in order to spot the killer who hides in plain sight.

This novel was previously published as Too Close to Breathe. Perfect for fans of Tana French, Jane Casey and Gillian Flynn 'Truly first class. Just knock-out' C. J Tudor, author of The Chalk Man 'Fantastic . . . Compelling, chilling and brilliant' Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend 'Mesmerizing . . . murder, betrayal, and secret lives . . . Everything you need in a great thriller' Lisa Gardner, author When You See Me Respected scientist Dr Eleanor Costello is found hanged in her immaculate home: the scene the very picture of a suicide. DCS Frankie Sheehan is handed the case, and almost immediately spots foul play. 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. Olivia Kiernan's debut is a bold, brilliant thriller that will keep you guessing and leave you breathless.

A heart-stopping crime thriller (Frankie Sheehan 1)

Play Dead for Me

The spectacular new standalone thriller from the author of the critically acclaimed Frankie Sheehan novels 'Brilliantly paced with constant twists and turns' Woman & Home 'A real rollercoaster' Prima It all started to go wrong the day the Wrights moved in next door Myles and Lana Butler live on a gorgeous new development in Wimbledon, leaning on a mortgage that is just within reach. When one of Myles' investments fails they are bound to lose everything. Gabriel and Holly Wright have just moved in next door. The Wrights are sophisticated, ambitious and apparently very wealthy. At an after-dinner drink with their new neighbours, Myles and Lana share their worries and a solution is suggested between the couples. Life Insurance fraud. For a cut of the pay out, the Wrights would help them. No one thought they were being serious. No one agreed they'd actually go through with it. And no one mentioned it would involve murder. Then, one night, Lana doesn't come home. Praise for The End of Us 'Witty, dark, unpredictable, well-written and with great insight into the darker side of human nature. A book to be devoured in one sitting' Karen Hamilton 'It reminded me of Hitchcock at his best. Tense, twisty, dark and so unpredictable. My favourite Olivia Kiernan book yet!' Claire Douglas 'The End Of Us is that rare book - beautifully written and impossible to put down. A dark, complex and nuanced thriller' Fiona Cummins 'I loved it - easily Kiernan's best yet' Cara Hunter 'I absolutely loved The End of Us. So clever, so twisty and so moreish. It was terrifically compelling. And that last line. Oh my. That is how a book should end' John Marrs 'Dark and twisty and kept me guessing right to the end. A superbly written tangled web of utter brilliance' Joanna Cannon

a dark and unpredictable thriller

The End of Us

Innocence Is Nothing. Appearance Is Everything. (Frankie Sheehan 3)

"At first, Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan believes the murder mystery game sent to her office is a birthday gift from one of her colleagues. But when Frankie studies the game's contents, she notices a striking resemblance between the 'murder victim' and missing twenty-two-year-old Lydia Callin. As Frankie and her team investigate, a series of grisly crimes connected to the game are discovered across Dublin city and Lydia's involvement with a shadowy network of murder mystery players becomes clear. On the hunt for Lydia's murderer, Frankie is drawn more deeply into the game. Every successful move brings her closer to the killer. But the real question is not what happens should she lose - but what happens if she wins."--Publisher.

Perfect for fans of Tana French, Jane Casey and Gillian Flynn 'Truly first class. Just knock-out' C. J Tudor, author of The Chalk Man 'Fantastic . . . Compelling, chilling and brilliant' Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend 'A hard-boiled take on Tana French . . . a talent to watch' Irish Times 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. Olivia Kiernan's debut is a bold, brilliant thriller that will keep you guessing and leave you breathless.

"Intelligenter Plot. Herausragende Charaktere. Alles was man für einen großartigen Thriller braucht." #1 New York Times Bestsellerautorin Lisa Gardner Die angesehene Wissenschaftlerin Eleanor Costello ist tot. Erhängt in ihrem Schlafzimmer. Frankie Sheehan, Detective im Dubliner Police Department und schwer gezeichnet von ihrem letzten Fall, glaubt nicht an Selbstmord. Jemand war bei Eleanor, als sie starb. Jemand, der sadistische Lust an brutalen Spielchen hat. Schon bald wird eine zweite Leiche gefunden: eine junge Frau - zu Tode gefoltert. Ein Wettlauf mit der Zeit beginnt, und für Frankie geht es erneut um Leben und Tod. Packend. Überraschend. Nervenaufreibend. "Eine extrem interessante Newcomerin mit einem furiosen Debut. (...) ́Good job ́, Mrs. Kiernan! Freue mich auf Nr. 2." Krimi-Couch "Dublin bildet einen fantastischen Hintergrund für das spannungsgeladene Krimi-Debüt »Zu nah« der irischen Autorin Olivia Kiernan. Sie hat mit Detective Frankie Sheehan eine starke, intelligente Heldin mit ungewöhnlichen Ermittlungsmethoden geschaffen." Washington Post "Kiernans Beschreibungen von Frankies emotionaler und körperlicher Heilung nach einer Attacke sind meisterhaft in die Handlung eingewoben. Obwohl der Serienkiller ein oft bemühter Bösewicht ist, findet Kiernan doch einen neuen Zugang zu diesem Genre, und der Leser sieht Dublins Straßen und Viertel mit neuen Augen. »Zu nah« zeichnet sich durch seine realistischen Charaktere aus, angefangen von der Protagonistin Frankie, über ihre Kollegen im Police Department bis hin zu dem überraschenden Täter." Washington Post "Faszinierend. Olivia Kiernan entfaltet ein komplexes Geflecht aus Mord, Verrat und Geheimnissen, während die Bedrohung für ihre knallharte Ermittlerin immer weiter steigt, bis sich alles in einem furiosen Finale entlädt." #1 New York Times Bestsellerautorin Lisa Gardner "Zu nah präsentiert eine aufregende neue Stimme in der Spannungsliteratur. Pointiert und mutig, intelligent und düster. Frankie Sheehan ist eine brillant gezeichnete Polizistin. Olivia Kiernan schickt sie auf eine Spurensuche voller Irrungen und Wirrungen, die den Leser bis zuletzt rätseln lassen." New York Times Bestsellerautorin Linda Fairstein "Zu nah ist ein furchtloses und rasantes Debüt, das den Leser in die Welt der Dubliner Polizistin Frankie Sheehan katapultiert. Sheehan ist die perfekte Mischung aus Zerbrechlichkeit, wilder Entschlossenheit und Furchtlosigkeit. Der schwarze Humor und die fesselnde Stadtatmosphäre machen es zu einem Buch, das Liebhaber irischer Krimis nicht verpassen dürfen. Olivia Kiernan ist eine Autorin, die ihren Lesern den Atem stocken lässt." Jess Kidd, Autorin von Freund der Toten

Olivia Kiernan

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