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THE SCHOLAR by Dervla McTiernan
The Ruin has received amazing reviews, but unlike so many other outstanding debuts, it was never added to my reading list. I seized the chance to read McTiernan’s second book, which features Detective Cormac Reilly, when it presented itself. I initially questioned the reason for all the commotion. Where was Reilly, and why did the scenes feel jumbled together? The pace of this mystery thriller is obviously slow, and I found several of the policing judgments to be dubious.
I had a greater appreciation for the storytelling technique as a wider picture came into focus and McTiernan’s series lead came into sharper perspective. The horrific past of Reilly and Emma is gradually revealed to readers through Cormac’s confidantes. These similarly stiff-upper-lip police investigators’ comments served as an effective and intriguing tool for characterization.
I was deeply invested in The Scholar’s story by the halfway point, but less so with its characters. In particular, Dr. Emma Sweeney lacked the impact that the book summary had promised. But I raced to the end of this book because I wanted to prove my early suspicions about the culprit and have proof that retribution was meted out to a cast of tertiary characters that were utterly unlikeable.
The Scholar felt like a squandered opportunity to create series lead characters with considerable promise, despite its satisfying criminal storyline. But take note, this book has a lot of devoted fans.
About The Book
Dr. Emma Sweeney telephones Detective Cormac Reilly when she sees the victim of a hit-and-run outside Galway University late one night. By doing so, she brings him first to the scene of a murder that would not otherwise have been assigned to him.
The deceased woman was Carline Darcy, a talented student and the heir apparent to the Irish pharmaceutical juggernaut Darcy Therapeutics, according to a security card found in her pocket. The multi-billion dollar corporation, founded by her grandfather, has a hand in everything from political parties to philanthropy to paying Emma’s own ground-breaking research. It also sponsors university research centres. The investigation into Carline’s death is expected to be public and under intense scrutiny.
As Cormac conducts his investigation, there is growing proof that Emma herself, as well as a Darcy laboratory, are to blame for the tragedy. Cormac is certain that she couldn’t be involved, but as the department and his coworkers scrutinise the way he handled the case, he is pushed to doubt his own neutrality. Could his devotion to Emma have caused him to ignore the facts? Has it rendered him unreliable?
The Review
THE SCHOLAR
9 Score
This was one of the best police procedural/crime novels I've read. And I read MANY. This held my attention start to finish. Really like how author writes. Love novels that take place in another country. Became connected with each and every character. I'd not read author's first novel (The Ruin) - something about the Reader (vs. Editorial) Reviews made me decide to read this one first.
PROS
- A good book! A good mystery!
- Excellent. A terrific second novel.
- Excellent follow up!
- Well developed plot.
- Great murder mystery!
CONS
- Predictable, dull detective story.
- Disappointing follow-up.
- Poor character development.
- Police Procedural.
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