Inspector Benedict Devlin is the first person on the scene where an old and a young man are stuck in a burning barn. He managed to save the old man only for him to die later; Devlin is struck with guilt and a need to resolve the case of what happened. Initial investigation points that the man was a drug dealer and this was a random killing to take the competition out. As Devlin investigates further, he is lead to a group of paramilitaries going by the name, The RISING, with questionable pasts who are instigating and encouraging the annihilation of drug dealers. A couple of other suspected drug dealers also seem to have mysteriously disappeared.

Alongside Devlin's old partner calls him up to find her missing son. The case seemed to resolve when she receives a text from her son only for his body to be washed up on a nearby beach the next day. Soon after, the body of another drug dealer is washed up from a rain flood. Each body somehow links to THE RISING but without any solid evidence. Partially distracted by an old nemesis of Devlin's, who is back in town and his ex-partner's sorrow, he is on the clock to solve the case to provide closure to everyone involved. But when tragedy strikes close at home, he is torn between duty and family. Will he solve the case in time?

THE RISING is the fourth book in the Inspector Devlin series and the first I have read. The story is fast-paced, gritty and told in first person POV. On a personal, home front level I did not like Inspector Devlin at all especially how he ran away from confrontations and when his family needed him most. A number of times I agreed with what his wife, Debbie said about him. The only moment I liked him when he finally showed some emotion on his daughter's condition and grudgingly admitted to himself for not being a better person for his family. Again, his concern more for his ex-partner as compared to his family and solving the case lowered my liking for him. On a professional front, his tenacity and instinct makes him an excellent detective. Working so closely in crime and going after the bad guys, I understand his need to mistrust them on every level but sometimes his bullheadedness had me wanting to smack him. His compassion for the victims, their families and sensitivity while investigating makes him a very likable officer and naturally influences loyalty from his mates.

Overall, THE RISING is a very interesting story based on an Inspector in Ireland. I loved the new setting and reading about the country and its laws which are so foreign to me. The story has all the elements from death and mayhem to personal crisis. I really liked the secondary characters especially Morrison and Patterson. They added depth and entertainment to; otherwise, what would have been a boring story. The unravelling of the case was very interesting and pretty unexpected which kept me hooked since I kept thinking half the time Devlin was just holding grudges. Looking forward to reading more cases of Inspector Devlin and hope he learned something from the personal crisis he faced in this story. Especially loved the ending.

Book Summary

From the New York Times bestselling author of Little Girl Lost comes a compelling new series …

Inspector Devlin is called to investigate a case of arson: a burning barn and, inside, the charred remains of a local drug dealer.

Suspicions quickly fall on a local vigilante group that calls itself "the Rising."

But Devlin stumbles onto a more pressing case when his old partner's teenage son goes missing. With quiet determination, he attempts to make sense of the boy's disappearance …

That is, until another drug dealer is killed and Devlin realizes that the case goes far deeper and darker than he ever imagined.

Gripping, heartbreaking, and always surprising, The Rising is a tour de force from one of Ireland's greatest crime writers.