God’s Away on Business Audiobook By Adrian McKinty cover art

God’s Away on Business

Sean Duffy: Year 1 (The Sean Duffy Series)

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God’s Away on Business

By: Adrian McKinty
Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
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From the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author Adrian McKinty comes the origin story of his most famous creation, Detective Sean Duffy.

Belfast, 1980, is the apocalypse. Bombings, riots, army on the streets, low flying helicopters, and ever-present rain. The grinding Northern Irish civil war between Protestants and Catholics has been going for a decade now. Hated by both sides are the police.

Sean Duffy Year 1 takes us into that world. Newly promoted Detective Sergeant Sean Duffy is given his first command at Carrickfergus CID.

In this prequel novella, McKinty takes listeners through Duffy’s first two weeks on the job. A case to solve and a chance to impress his bosses, if, of course, he can get out of it alive.

©2023 Adrian McKinty (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing Crime Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedurals Witty
Fantastic Narration • Vivid Storytelling • Enjoyable Origin Story • Brilliant Writing • Perfect Delivery • Great Prose
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I was so excited about getting to read/listen to this short little snippet of Duffy's life. (I was honestly a little appalled that it was only 1.5 hours long and Audible wanted $8+ for it--or a whole credit--but I bought it anyway.) I'm not sorry that I listened to this, but I'm not really happy that I did either.

Mostly, it was Duffy being Duffy, which is fine. I like Duffy. That's why I've listened to the whole series at least three or four times now. (I listened to the whole thing again before listening to the brand-new novel, Hang on St. Christopher this week.)

There was just something about this little story that bothered me. It kind of felt like McKinty wrote it for the money and not to really explore anything new with our favorite RUC DI. Like I said, it was Duffy being Duffy. I laughed a few times. I enjoyed seeing him move into 113 Coronation Road. But it wasn't new.

I also seem to be the outlier on this, but there's a part where Duffy takes some acid (Duffy likes his alcohol and his recreational drugs, so again, nothing new) and he talks to a dog. And then a tree. On the socials, I saw that a lot of people seemed to really enjoy that. I thought it was ridiculous and was a little peeved that so much of the 1.5 hours of the story was this scene. (However long it lasted, it was too long for me.)

Oh, well. Art is what it is. Subjective.

Gerard Doyle was aces, as usual.

I wanted something ... more

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My mistake for not catching that before spending a whole credit. I will be more wary in the future. I gave it the amount of stars it deserved as if it were the beginning of a decent book all the same.

The story was less than two hours long

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It’s almost impossible to not like Sean Duffy. The Troubles and Northern Ireland are an enigma. Hope that is really done and over.

Love Gerard Doyle

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I’ve listened to just about all of Mckinty’s books available on Audible. Following his success with Forsythe and Duffy series, I believe I read that another well known artist influenced McKinty to write books with plots that supposedly Americans would enjoy more. Unfortunately, two of his later books reflected that advice and in my opinion were not good.

All that to say: give me more Sean Duffy and Michael Forsythe!

More Duffy!

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If there is one thing in this godforsaken world we live in that I genuinely like from the bottom of my heart, it is this series. And this novella is a wonderful link in the chain.
It is 2025 and I live in Israel. It doesn’t take a genius to know that my mood is terrible. It seems like death is all around here. This war has ruined my soul, but this latest edition to Sean Duffy is uplifting me. Witty, interesting, with accurate descriptions and believable dialogues. And the musical references are exactly to my taste: Johnny Mitchell, Elvis Costello, The Kinks, Cocteau Twins, Led Zeppelin, Gary Newman.
Thank you, Mr. McKinty, you have made me happy for almost 2 hours.

Once again, a real jem

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If you’re already a fan of Duffy this little amuse-bouche will tickle you pink. Where it all began. Sort of.

If you haven’t been listening to this series you’re losing out but maybe this little nugget will change that.

Gerard Doyle is absolute perfection delivering McKinty’s goodness.

EARLY DUFFY

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Never lets me down , definitely excited for what’s in store next. I’m starting to talk with an Irish accent.

Perfect writing, balance of humor, and plenty of believable characters

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Funny, smart - great prose, great characters. Brilliant as McKinty’s Duffy stories always are. Highly recommended.

Terrific

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I hope there will be more prequels like this one— we all have our little questions about Sean’s origins, and this unlocks a few with great merriment.

Sean Duff-heads, Get in Formation

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Delightful illustration of the Mamet line, “You never open your mouth until you know what the shot is.” And we get to meet young Crabby! As for the inevitable dad jokes, they say a mime is a terrible thing to waste…

Gerard Doyle perhaps should get co-writing credit for the way he brings the story vividly to life. And check out McKinty’s sure hand with craft, like the early bit of business where Duffy changes an LP because it doesn’t quite fit his mood and gives us a fun detour into Thelonious Monk. McKinty knows how to tell a tale.

Great Sean Duffy prequel

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