Maggie D’arcy is back in the A Distant Grave. This is the sequel to the 2020 release The Mountains Wild, which you can see my review HERE. Detective mystery series are my bread and butter. When I’m stuck in a reading rut, they’re my go too, so I was very excited when my friends over at Minotaur Books, sent me a copy of A Distant Grave.
In Taylor’s newest installment, we pick back up where we left off. Detective Maggie D’arcy and her daughter Lilly are still recovering from the events of book 1. In an effort to get away from it all, D’arcy and Lilly are set to vacation back in Ireland, that is until a Irish national is found murdered on a Long Island Beach. The case may take D’arcy away from vacation but it’s putting her right in the middle of another murder that has taken place across the pond, in Ireland. As she follows the case, D’arcy stumbles the hidden adoption of Irish children and begins to understand the dangers humanitarian aid workers can sometimes face.
Once again I really enjoy this series and just like the first book, this is a great atmospheric novel. The research that Taylor must do to prepare for these stories is intense and it really make me interested in looking more into a few different areas.
The characters in these books are rich and deeply human. I enjoy the relationships that D’arcy builds not only with her family and partners but also to the victims. Her compassion is really a stand out quality for the character. She’s determined, smart, and has all the realistic struggles of a single parent.
This books has a ton of layers and while murder is the central plot point, I really enjoyed how Taylor tied everything together while also educating the readers on some lesser known topics.
I highly recommend this series to my fellow mystery lovers and I can’t wait for the next book!
A Distant Grave is out now. Huge thank you to Minotaur books for my advanced copy for my honest review. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof_books.
