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Too Close to Breathe

By: Olivia Kiernan
Narrated by: Brona C. Titley
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Publisher's summary

Olivia Kiernan's tautly written debut novel immerses listeners in a chilling murder case...and the tantalizing, enigmatic victim at the center of it all.

In a quiet Dublin suburb, within her pristine home, Eleanor Costello is found hanging from a rope.

Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan would be more than happy to declare it a suicide. Four months ago, Frankie's pursuit of a killer almost ended her life and she isn't keen on investigating another homicide. But the autopsy reveals poorly healed bones and old stab wounds, absent from medical records. A new cut is carefully, deliberately covered in paint. Eleanor's husband, Peter, is unreachable, missing. A search of the couple's home reveals only two signs of personality: a much-loved book on art and a laptop with access to the Dark Web.

With the suspect pool growing, the carefully crafted profile of the victim crumbling with each new lead, and mysterious calls to Frankie's phone implying that the killer is closer than anyone would like, all Frankie knows is that Eleanor guarded her secrets as closely in life as she does in death.

As the investigation grows more challenging, Frankie can't help but feel that something doesn't fit. And when another woman is found murdered, the same paint on her corpse, Frankie knows that unraveling Eleanor's life is the only way to find the murderer before he claims another victim...or finishes the fate Frankie only just managed to escape.

Engrossing, complex, and atmospheric, Olivia Kiernan’s debut novel will leave you breathless.

©2018 Olivia Kiernan (P)2018 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

“Dublin makes a formidable background for a tense police procedural that introduces a strong heroine in Too Close to Breathe. Irish author Olivia Kiernan imbues Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan with intelligence and unusual sleuthing skills in the exciting debut.... Kiernan's insights into Frankie's emotional and physical recovery are skillfully woven into the plot.... While the serial killer is often overused, Kiernan finds a unique twist to this trope, where Dublin's streets and neighborhoods receive a fresh view. Too Close to Breathe excels with realistic characters, from Frankie and her police colleagues to the surprising villain.” (Associated Press)

“Olivia Kiernan pulls no punches in the tense, atmospheric Too Close to Breathe.... In a setup that’s equal parts Fiona Barton and Gillian Flynn.... A crime thriller extraordinaire.” (Providence Journal)

“As much a procedural as a character study of coming to terms with one's own capacity for perseverance in the face of tragedy, this will hopefully not be the last time readers encounter Kiernan's tough heroine.” (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about Too Close to Breathe

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A good listen.

The performance was done well. The story was pretty good overall, if not a bit frustratingly slow every so often. Overall, I’m happy with the time spent!

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Unique storyline

An intriguing listen with a lot of twists and turns that never seemed contrived. The heroine was likeable without being perfect. Only in the final pages was the ending apparent. Well done

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wish I'd never picked this one.

could not get past 4th chapter uninteresting to me. picked it based on a referral somewhere and wish I had not.

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2 people found this helpful