Synopsis
The heart-stomping follow-up to Brian McGilloway's acclaimed debut, Gallows Lanecontinues the compelling series in that captures modern Ireland and showcases a striking new voice in crime writing.
Taking its title from the name of the road down which condemned Donegal criminals were onced led, Gallows Lane once again follows Inspector Benedick Devlin as he investigates a series of murders in the Irish borderlands.
When a young woman is found beaten to death on a building site, in what appears to be a sexually-motivated killing, Devlin's enquiries soon point to a local body-builder and steroid addict. But days later, born-again ex-con James Kerr is found nailed to a tree--crucified--having been released from prison and returned to his hometown to spread the word of God.
As summer temperatures rise, the murders grow stranger and more brutal, and Devlin realizes that the case is more complex, and more sinister, than her ever imagined. Increasingly torn between his young family and his job, Devlin is determined to stop the murderers before they strike again, even as the carnage to jeopardize those he cares about most.
Author
Brian McGilloway is author of the critically acclaimed Inspector Benedict Devlin series. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. After studying English at Queen’s University, Belfast, he took up a teaching position in St Columb’s College in Derry, where he is currently Head of English.
His first novel, Borderlands, published by Macmillan New Writing, was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger 2007 and was hailed by The Times as ‘one of (2007’s) most impressive debuts.’ The second novel in the series, Gallows Lane, was shortlisted for the 2009 Irish Book Awards/Ireland AM Crime Novel of the Year. The new Devlin novel, The Rising, will be published this Spring in hardback, alongside the paperback of the third novel, Bleed A River Deep.
Brian lives near the Irish borderlands with his wife and their three sons.
