O’Connor’s latest Ireland-set novel is darker than her previous titles, but will still work for her many fans. Steadfast, kind veterinarian Dr. Dimpna Wilde is back, and this time life in her hometown, tourist hot-spot Dingle, Co. Kerry, is repeating itself in a macabre way. Only locals remember that 29 years ago, a cult centered around two men’s obsession with pregnant women ended in death and the men being sent to prison. They’re out now, and horrifyingly seem to be at it again, as a pregnant woman is found dead in a bog near the town and another is missing. A local child has been snatched, too, and Dimpna’s love interest, Detective Inspector Cormac O’Brien, is on the case, desperate to find the missing locals. An officer who worked the previous case threatens to destroy this one with her fixation on the just-released men. The best and the worst of small-town life come together here to great effect, and the nail-biting chronicle of the missing duo’s ordeal, with the pregnancy clock ticking, makes for an engrossing read that’s topped off by an exciting, satisfying ending. A realistically portrayed deaf protagonist adds texture to the story. While you’re waiting for this terrific read, watch a documentary with elements of similarity: Gloriavale: New Zealand’s Secret Cult.
