Detective Sean Duffy, a tough, hard-drinking, Catholic in the Protestant Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) is fatigued and considering retiring from his job. This is 1985 Belfast, Ireland, where protests and bloody riots are typical nightly events. Duffy is called to the scene of a double murder of a husband and wife. To Duffy, this appears to be a professional hit. The next day, the main suspect, Michael Kelly, who is the son of the murdered couple, is discovered at the bottom of a cliff, the victim of an apparent suicide. Duffy is not convinced by this neat, tidy package. He suggests getting more information on Kelly’s background and friends.
The investigation into Kelly’s background leads to another apparent suicide, this time Kelly’s girlfriend. Duffy’s questions multiply and nothing seems to make sense. As Duffy continues to follow the clues, he gets warned off and threatened. When MI5 Agent Kate Albright offers Duffy a position working with her that would take him off his case it only makes him more determined to find the answers he needs to solve the murders.
The investigation takes Duffy to Oxford, where he runs into resistance from both the British and American Governments. Duffy discovers Michael Kelly is a link to a case of stolen missiles currently being worked by Special Branch agents. With the reluctant cooperation of Special Branch and RUC, Duffy finds himself in the middle of gun runners, arm dealers and murders. If he makes one wrong move, it could be his last.
The plot of “Gun Street Girl” is tight and complex with lots of action. There are plenty of twists to keep the reader engrossed to the end. Fans of the Sean Duffy novels will find this a must read.
