Book Review: Who Took Eden Mulligan? by Sharon Dempsey

AD* | "They’re dead. They’re all dead. It’s my fault. I killed them."

Those are the words of Iona Gardener, who stands bloodied and staring as she confesses to the murder of four people in a run-down cottage outside of Belfast.

Outside the cottage, five old dolls are hanging from a tree. Inside the cottage, the words “WHO TOOK EDEN MULLIGAN?” are graffitied on the wall, connecting the murder scene with the famous cold case of Eden Mulligan, a mother-of-five who went missing during The Troubles.

But this case is different. Right from the start.

Because no one in the community is willing to tell the truth, and the only thing DI Danny Stowe and forensic psychologist Rose Lainey can be certain of is that Iona Gardener’s confession is false...

Set in Belfast, this thriller boasts an intriguing crime, with a suspect who has confessed and a mysterious link to a decades-old unsolved disappearance. 

Who Took Eden Mulligan? is a dark and gritty read. The case combines two crimes into one, with DI Stowe and Rose Lainey, a forensic psychologist, tasked with solving the crimes, finding the answers, and neatly tying up both cases. The pair certainly have a difficult job, made all the harder by the political backdrop of The Troubles during the time of Eden Mulligan's mysterious vanishing act. 

This book has all the right elements for a gripping thriller, but sadly, they did not seem to gel together very well. The cases seemed disjointed and the motives were unclear. Additionally, the pace was slow to pick up, with nothing much happening for large portions of the book. This is a shame as the cases were intriguing - particularly with the link between the two - however, the execution lets this story down. 

That being said, the two main characters, Rose and Danny, are interesting and it would be good to read more about them. Both have their personal demons, yet are highly skilled professionals and also great friends. They were definitely the highlight of the book for me! 

Who Took Eden Mulligan? is a dark and disturbing crime thriller with an unexpected twist at the end. 

Rating: 2 stars 

Who Took Eden Mulligan? is available to buy now. 

If you like the sound of this book, you might also enjoy...

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Will you be reading the book? Share your thoughts in the comments below!