Tadhg Coakley

Review

Praise for Before He Kills Again

4 May 2023

I’m delighted with the response to Before He Kills Again. Here is some praise and reviews: Michelle Dunne, in the Irish Examiner: Before He Kills Again feels to me like a glimpse into the realities of a murky criminal world and the battle of wills taking place within the ranks of those investigating. Coakley’s portrayal of Cork City gives such a strong sense of place, and his simple but elegant prose keeps the story moving, sweeping the reader along and keeping us gripped from start to finish. What we also have here is a rather shocking double climax which is very satisfying. I’m ready for much more of Tim Collins and could easily see myself watching this Cork Rebus-esque detective onscreen. It’s an expertly crafted, unflinching, and creepy-as-hell thriller. Tadhg Coakley is at the top of his game. Full review here.  Gráinne McGuinness, in The Echo: Before He Kills Again grabs

Great Review of Before He Kills Again in the Irish Examiner

25 March 2023

A stunning review of my book Before He Kills Again by author Michelle Dunne in the Irish Examiner. You can read it here.  ‘It’s an expertly crafted, unflinching, and creepy-as-hell thriller. Tadhg Coakley is at the top of his game.’

Review of Before He Kills Again in The Echo

24 March 2023

Thrilled with this review of my new book Before He Kills Again in  The Echo by Gráinne McGuinness. You can read it here. ‘Like The Game last year, I would not be surprised to see Before He Kills Again appear on best-of lists of Irish crime fiction at the end of the year. A gripping read.’

Review of The Game in Tuairisc

26 August 2022

A lovely review of The Game as Gaeilge in Tuairisc, a news service in Irish for the Irish speaking community in Ireland and abroad. Bridget Bhreathnach wrote: ‘Saol rúndiamhair é saol an spóirt domsa ar go leor bealaí. Tuigim an áilleacht, tuigim an díograis, tuigim an chomrádaíocht, tuigim fiú tarraingt na hiomaíochta. Ina dhiaidh sin féin, tá go leor gnéithe de shaol an spóirt a chuireann as dom. Ní thuigim cén fáth go bhfuil níos mó meas ar spórt na bhfear ná spórt na mban, ná cén fáth go mbíonn daoine in aighneas lena chéile mar gheall ar chluiche amháin nó eile.  Déanann Coakley machnamh ar chuid de na ceisteanna seo sna haistí chomh maith le machnamh ar ghnéithe áille spreagúla an spóirt. Tá cur chuige tuisceanach, pearsanta, umhal aige sna haistí, cuid acu ar nós ‘Kisses’ agus ‘Miracles’ a tharraingeodh deoir as cloch eibhir.’ As Béarla: ‘The world of sport is a world of

Review in An Cosantóir

15 August 2022

I was delighted with the review of The Game in An Cosantóir, the magazine of the Defence Forces of Ireland by Ruairí de Barra. He wrote: ‘[Sport] can be passionate and tribal; joyous and devastating; the essential trivial pursued with all-consuming intensity. This unmissable work explores it all. It truly isn’t often these days you read a work which is so thoughtfully written, it can move one to tears. Entertaining, honest, and thoughtful writing which lingers with you in the days after and makes it one you will always remember. The Game is such a book.’  

Review in The Irish Times

31 May 2022

This review of The Game in The Irish Times by Rory Kiberd blew me away.  An extract: “This multi-faceted book ponders how sport teaches us about our own limitations, how winning is foundational on losing, losers being in far greater supply than winners; how defeats and victories are ephemeral. All lessons essential to life. Indeed, sport is like a more concentrated version of life, a microcosmic intensification of its vagaries. So, it’s fitting then that this book transcends its remit. It’s an enquiry into the philosophy of sport with universal application. Even people who’ve never kicked a ball or roared in triumph in the stands will love this. My absorption never faltered.” Full review here.  

Fertile Retelling of Homer’s Epic Poems is Revived

3 November 2018

Joint Review of The Silence of The Girls by Pat Barker and Country by Michael Hughes in The Irish Examiner. Both these books are retellings of Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad and both are very successful in different ways. Click here to read.

Longing, Loss, Regret, Reparation … a Family Package

19 March 2018

Longing, Loss, Regret, Reparation … a Family Package Review of Markus Zuzak’s new novel: Bridge of Clay in The Irish Examiner. This is Zuzak’s follow-up to the hugely successful The Book Thief. It’s an interesting and entertaining read, playful and tender. Photo of the review here.

Learning to Die by Thomas Maloney

19 February 2018

Novel Comes to Life in its Second Half as Emotions Pitch. Review of Learning to Die by Thomas Maloney in The Irish Examiner. A novel in three parts, two of which are really rewarding. Five lives intersect in modern day England. Photo of review here.

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