NO SPECIAL HURRY

In Conroy’s mystery, a detective investigates the death of a young girl while navigating his own grief and alcoholism.

The story opens in California: Seamus Shea has recently been let go from the San Francisco Chronicle due to working under the influence of alcohol—he is divorced and lives with his mother. Seamus’ childhood friend Pedro, a respected teacher and coach, is accused of murdering a student named Monique Profit. Seamus visits Father Ryan seeking insight and support for Pedro. Father Ryan discloses concerns about a local figure known as Kratos, the leader of a drug syndicate, who might be involved in Pedro’s situation. Seamus uncovers evidence suggesting Pedro might have been framed as part of a larger scheme involving local gangs and corrupt officials. The investigation eventually leads Seamus to Monique’s mother, who reveals that Kratos is Monique’s father. As Seamus pulls back layer after layer of this mystery, he goes on a parallel journey of personal growth, eventually attending his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and starting down the road to recovery. Conroy is a talented storyteller; the narrative is well paced, includes engaging, fully dimensional characters, and feels like an episode of one’s favorite crime drama. These virtues make it all the more disappointing when the author opts for character descriptions centered around the male gaze. Regardless of the main character’s point of view, to describe a female character with phrases like, “She crossed her arms under her breasts, which were noticeably large for her small frame” feels reductive and lazy in a way that doesn’t do justice to the other elements of the book, which are treated with care and nuance. Still, the characters demonstrate immense depth, and Seamus’ struggle with alcoholism is portrayed with both incredible detail and potency. Finally, the plot entails multiple twists that are sure to keep even the most avid murder mystery fans on their toes.

A well-crafted detective story.