Fenian Street: A Mystery

Written by Anne Emery

Narrated by Ashley O’Connell

An unsolved murder investigation in 1970s Ireland from “one of Canada’s finest novelists.” — Ottawa Review of Books

Shay Rynne grew up in the Corporation Flats — public housing — in Fenian Street, Dublin. He has always toyed with the idea of joining the Garda Síochána, the Irish police. But in the early 1970s, young fellows from the tenements of Dublin have not been welcomed in the police force. When his friend Rosaleen is killed and the case goes unsolved, Shay decides to put on the uniform of a Dublin garda and sets out to find the killer.

The murder inquiry makes an enemy of the detective who failed in the first investigation. Shay knows Detective McCreevy is just waiting for the chance to get revenge. But the violent death of a prominent politician gives Shay the opportunity to prove himself, perhaps even be promoted. Shay works with the lead detective on the murder inquiry and his star is rising, until suspicion falls on a member of Shay’s own family. So Shay is off the case. Officially. Determined to clear his family name, his under-the-radar investigation takes him from an opulent mansion in Dublin to Hell’s Kitchen in New York. And his good friend Father Brennan Burke has some surprising contacts for Shay in the shadowy world of New York’s Irish mob.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ECW Press
• Release date: Sep 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781778520778

Reviews for Fenian Street

[B4iwascrzy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC. This review is for the book in audio format.

Anne Emery's Fenian Street isn't merely an audiobook; it's a haunting melody that reverberates through the dimly lit alleys of Dublin. Narrated by the talented Ashley O'Connell, this noir thriller grips your senses and refuses to let go.

In the heart of 1970s Dublin, where cobblestone streets echo with whispered confessions and secrets fester like old wounds, we meet Shay Rynne. Born in the shadow of the Corporation Flats on Fenian Street, Shay dreams of donning the uniform of the Garda Síochána—the Irish police. But justice in Dublin isn't a straightforward path; it's a labyrinth of allegiances, vendettas, and murky alliances.

When Rosaleen, Shay's childhood friend, is brutally murdered, he steps into the role of an unlikely avenger. His quest for truth leads him from the rain-soaked streets of Dublin to the smoky pubs where secrets are traded like contraband. Along the way, he encounters Detective McCreevy—a man with his own demons—and the enigmatic Nora, whose past intertwines with Shay's in unexpected ways.

Emery's prose drips with rain, whiskey, and the melancholy of a city that wears its scars like badges. The listener becomes a silent witness to the fog-shrouded nights, the clinking of glasses, and the desperate whispers in dimly lit doorways.

Shay Rynne is no cookie-cutter detective. His flaws—etched with ink-black shadows—are what make him compelling. O'Connell's narration breathes life into Shay, capturing his vulnerability and determination.

Dublin pulses with life, its heartbeat echoing in the creaking trams, the laughter of dockworkers, and the cries of street vendors. Dublin isn't a backdrop; it's a living, breathing entity.

Ashley O'Connell's voice is a sepulcher of emotions. She dances between characters—the grizzled detective, the grieving mother, the elusive informant—with finesse. Her pacing is a symphony, crescendoing during tense moments and slowing to a mournful dirge when tragedy strikes. O'Connell's narration is a masterclass in auditory storytelling.

Occasionally, the plot meanders like a lost soul in Temple Bar. Yet, perhaps that's intentional—a deliberate echo of Dublin's labyrinthine streets.

Fenian Street isn't a mere audiobook; it's a whispered secret shared over a pint of Guinness. It's the taste of rain on your lips, the scent of betrayal in the air. So, put on your headphones, step into the fog, and let Ashley O'Connell guide you through the shadows. You'll emerge with Dublin's secrets etched into your soul. ?️?