The Rúin is a terrific fiction debut from Australian author Dervla McTiernan. Set on the west coast of Ireland, this is a gripping procedural drama where investigative work is inexorably tangled with the mess of real lives.

Here is a collection of testimonials from booksellers who have read, and adored, The Rúin.

‘If you’re on the hunt for a crime story that’s going to consume every other thought in your head, wring you out like a wet towel, and then deposit you back in the real world with your nerves fried to crisp… You’re in luck. The Rúin is the kind of book that you will inevitably find yourself recommending to every person you know, and probably also that lovely person who makes you coffee. It’s blisteringly good.’

– Bronte Coates, digital content coordinator

‘After moving from fast-paced Dublin to the much more sedate city of Galway, Detective Cormac Reilly is handed a cold case that he remembers from the very beginning of his career. This long-ago mystery rapidly spirals into multiple, seemingly unrelated directions, making it all that much more satisfying when the puzzle comes together. If you enjoy gritty crime thrillers with big, intriguing plots, The Rúin should be on your TBR pile. Dervla McTiernan had me reading in every spare minute I could find – at the stove, on my walk to the tram, waiting for my computer to boot up.’

– Ellen Cregan, marketing and events coordinator

‘ The Rúin is an extraordinarily well-written debut. Featuring complex and believable characters, an immersive setting, and a riveting mystery, it’s perfect for fans of Jane Harper and Tana French. Dervla McTiernan already deserves to be counted as one of the most talented writers in the crime genre, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.’’

– Lian Hingee, digital marketing manager

‘I vastly prefer crime fiction that’s written by women or that centres on female characters, so naturally I found myself drawn to a crime fiction debut by an Australian woman. Though, when I found out that The Rúin was set in Ireland, I did feel slightly guilty, as if I was cheating on my favourite Irish crime fiction author, Tana French (Sorry Tana!). The Rúin is thoroughly gripping and, despite the characters and setting being standard for a police procedural, reads as fresh and unique. I found myself heavily invested in the success and survival of the two main characters, Detective Cormac Reilly and surgical resident Aisling Conroy. Internal police politics, intergenerational trauma, the Irish legal system, and the ambitious world of a surgery resident twist together in a mystery that is troubled, fascinating and emotionally harrowing. Impossible to put down.’

– Leanne Hall, children’s book specialist

‘This is a superior and somewhat non-traditional crime fiction story that put me in mind of The Dry by Jane Harper. Delving into dark social and political issues of contemporary Ireland, the plot is complex and interesting, and there’s plenty of depth to the central character, Detective Cormac Reilly.’

– Jan Lockwood, human resources manager

‘I stayed up until the early hours of the morning in the grip of this tale set in Galway, Ireland. A young man is found dead by suicide (or perhaps not), and Detective Cormac Reilly reopens a case from 20 years ago. Somehow the two incidents are connected but you’ll need to read the book to find out how. The Rúin had me in its clutches, with its twists and turns, and its intelligent prose, great characters, and superb plot. I didn’t want it to end, but I also couldn’t stop turning the pages… Reilly’s a fabulous character and I hope to see more of him. I read a lot of crime fiction and this debut is up there with the best of them.’

– Deborah Crabtree, bookseller at Readings Carlton

‘If you only read one crime novel this year then make sure it’s this one! The Rúin is a brilliant, well-crafted, unputdownable and unsettling debut. I really loved how Dervla McTiernan handled the dynamics and politics of a small town and its police force when Cormac, an experienced detective from Dublin, joins the team after moving in support of his partner’s career.’

– Judi Mitchell, editorial assistant for the Readings Monthly