Crocodile Tears
  • Published: 25 April 2013
  • ISBN: 9781448154401
  • Imprint: Transworld Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 416

Crocodile Tears

Formats & editions
EBook
25 Apr 2013
Paperback
15 Apr 2014
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Murder is an ugly business...

In the freezing winter of 2010, with the Irish recession in full flow, property tycoon Dermot Brennan is found dead at his Dublin home. Leading the murder investigation is fifty-six-year-old Detective Inspector Leo Woods, an embittered former UN peacekeeper with a drug habit, a penchant for collecting masks and a face disfigured by Bell’s Palsy. DI Woods meets his match in Detective Sergeant Helen Troy, a bright and ambitious but impetuous young policewoman with a troubled family.

A host of suspects quickly emerge – Brennan’s estranged son; two of the dead man’s former business associates with grudges against him; a young man whose life was ruined after his house, built by Brennan, was flooded; an arrogant sculptor who may or may not have been having an affair with Anna Brennan (and with their neighbour); and an ex-pat American gardener. Together, Woods and Troy weave their way through this tangled web to get to the shocking truth.

Mark O’Sullivan is an exciting new voice in literary crime fiction. Already an acclaimed children’s fiction writer, he has produced in Crocodile Tears an excellent murder mystery, which has the depth of character of Kate Atkinson combined with the plotting and ambiguous moral codes of Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse.
  • Published: 25 April 2013
  • ISBN: 9781448154401
  • Imprint: Transworld Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 416
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About the author

Mark O'Sullivan

Mark O’Sullivan has published nine novels. His work has won several awards in Ireland and France and been translated into six languages. He has also published short stories and poetry in various magazines and journals. His first crime novel featuring Detective Inspector Leo Woods, Crocodile Tears, was published to critical acclaim. Mark is married with two daughters and lives in Thurles, County Tipperary.

Also by Mark O'Sullivan

Sleeping Dogs
My Dad Is Ten Years Old
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Praise for Crocodile Tears

If there’s a better Irish crime fiction debut published this year, I’ll be very pleasantly surprised.

Declan Burke, Crime Always Pays blog

Leo Woods is a memorable character ... A sympathetically flawed rogue ... Woods is elevated above the run-of-the- mill police detective by O’Sullivan’s sublime prose, which flashes with shards of poetry when least expected. Studded with dark humour, elegant in style and clever in its execution, Crocodile Tears is a remarkably assured first outing.

Declan Burke, The Irish Times

Well written, gritty, with dark humour and some striking metaphors… a good addition to the Irish crime-fiction corpus. It reminded me of Mankel's Wallander. A satisfying read.

Irish Independent

This absorbing, dense crime novel … reveals a new and interesting talent. … Splendidly idiosyncratic and with a leading man who makes Inspector Morse look positively cheerful, this is fine crime writing.

Daily Mail

A very promising debut … skilfully plotted and populated with a fine cast of characters.

Crime Fiction Lover blog

Well written and filled with pathos, dark humour and lyrical description. An absorbing plot and an exceptional lead character combine to make Crocodile Tears a worthwhile summer read.

Katie Binns, Sunday Times