The Returned by Amanda Cassidy
When she re-lives this night, over and over, Nancy will wonder if she’d just gone upstairs a few minutes earlier, what might have been…
A devastating fire.
A grieving mother.
A picture-perfect village full of dark secrets.
And now, a son who has seemingly come back from the dead.
A detective called back to her hometown, back to the memories she thought she’d left behind…
An electrifying novel from a compelling new voice in Irish crime fiction, for fans of Liz Nugent and Claire Mackintosh.
About the author
Amanda Cassidy is a freelance journalist, commissioning editor and former Sky News reporter.
She’s a frequent contributor to national radio, print and television and holds a BA in European Studies from Trinity College Dublin. Her debut novel Breaking was shortlisted for this year’s CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger Awards.
When she’s not on a plane, you’ll find her in her cottage in Dublin where she lives with her husband and three children. The Returned, her second novel, is out in August.
Review
‘The Returned’ is a dark and gritty police procedural that takes place in Ireland! I really enjoyed Amanda’s debut ‘Breaking’ but I think this is more real and authentic in its telling. Maybe I just fell for the main characters as I was engrossed and captivated by their backstories.
DI Ally Fields is a detective in the Major Crimes team based in Dublin. She is about to have a baby and should already be off work on her maternity leave but what HR doesn't know won't hurt them. She and her partner Clark are sent back to Ally’s home town of Currolough to investigate an arson and a potential murder. Six years earlier there was another fire in the town where it is thought a baby died. However, Nancy the mother of the child insists that the child was not in the cot when she ran in to find her children. A local Garda has been linked with both cases which is why Ally has been called in. As she searches for information she is confronted with secrets and has to deal with issues from her own past as well.
I love Ally Fields! She is such a layered and complex character. I loved her story, albeit it was very sad. Her story was woven through the main narrative very skillfully and I was heartsore for her at times. No wonder she is hesitant to form bonds with people. I really liked how Amanda showed a lot of empathy when showing how her relationship with her boss came about and the issues with it. It's a difficult topic and Amanda really did it justice. The burgeoning friendship between Ally and her partner Clarke was a beautiful thing and I already have a book crush on Clarke! I really hope that this is going to turn into a series as I love these character!
I flew through this book and found it to be very compelling. Did I guess the ending to the main story, yes but it was very well done! However, when it came to Ally’s childhood I was shocked by the final reveals! This is a very layered book and I loved seeing them being peeled away so the reader could see the final truths. This was a great read, extremely well-written and I hope that there is more to come!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
