Where to Start with Anthony J. Quinn
If you are new to the lyrical and atmospheric crime fiction of Anthony J. Quinn, the best place to begin is with his debut novel, Disappeared (2012). This book introduces Inspector Celcius Daly and sets the tone for Quinn's signature style, which critics describe as 'Ulster Noir.' Starting here allows you to follow Daly's personal evolution and understand the complex political and historical landscape of Northern Ireland's borderlands as the series progresses.
For readers who prefer historical thrillers over contemporary police procedurals, The Blood Dimmed Tide (2014) is an excellent alternative starting point. It features the legendary Irish poet W.B. Yeats in a supernatural mystery, offering a completely different flavor of Quinn's writing. His standalone novels, such as Turncoat and the genre-bending Murder Memoir Murder, can be read at any time without prior knowledge of his other works.
The Inspector Celcius Daly Series in Publication Order
The Inspector Celcius Daly series is Anthony J. Quinn's flagship work. Set along the rugged, boggy borders of County Tyrone and neighboring counties, the series follows an insomniac, melancholic detective navigating the lingering scars and unresolved secrets of the Troubles. We highly recommend reading these books in their original publication order to appreciate the chronological development of the characters and recurring subplots:
- Disappeared (2012) – Inspector Celcius Daly investigates the disappearance of a former IRA informer, leading him into a web of old betrayals and modern cover-ups in the dark borderlands.
- Border Angels (2013) – Daly is drawn into a dark case involving human trafficking, illegal immigration, and the exploitation of vulnerable women along the Irish border.
- Silence (2015) – The abduction of a young boy in border country forces Daly to confront local conspiracies, silent witnesses, and the shadows of his own family's past.
- Trespass (2017) – Daly investigates a mysterious death linked to a controversial road project, revealing deep-seated tensions over land, inheritance, and historical grievances.
- Undertow (2017) – In this fast-paced installment, Daly is caught in a web of espionage, cross-border intelligence operations, and personal betrayal.
The W.B. Yeats Historical Crime Series
In addition to his contemporary crime fiction, Anthony J. Quinn has explored historical settings. Most notable is his work featuring the famous Irish poet W.B. Yeats as an investigator:
- The Blood Dimmed Tide (2014) – Set in 1918, this atmospheric novel follows W.B. Yeats as he returns to Ireland and becomes embroiled in a chilling investigation involving a young girl's death and occult forces along the Atlantic coast.
While often categorized as the beginning of a W.B. Yeats historical series, it remains a unique entry in Quinn's bibliography. It pairs well with his other historical thriller, Blind Arrows (2015), which is set in Dublin in 1919 during the Irish War of Independence and features journalist Martin Kant navigating a dangerous game of espionage and political murders.
Anthony J. Quinn's Standalone Novels
Quinn has written several standalone thrillers and experimental works that highlight his versatility as a writer. These books do not require any background reading and can be enjoyed in any order:
- Blind Arrows (2015) – A historical spy thriller set in 1919 Dublin, focusing on British intelligence, the IRA, and the hunt for a killer targeting women connected to the republican movement.
- The Listeners (2018) – A contemporary psychological thriller set in the Scottish Borders, dealing with themes of high-tech surveillance, manipulation, and psychological control.
- Turncoat (2021) – A metaphysical thriller set in the late 1990s leading up to the Good Friday Agreement. It follows Desmond Maguire, a Catholic detective in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), who survives a deadly ambush and searches for the truth on the holy island of Lough Derg.
- Murder Memoir Murder (2022) – A unique, genre-blurring work that combines elements of true-crime memoir and fiction. Quinn reflects on two real-life unsolved murders from his home parish in South Tyrone (from 1922 and 1982) while weaving in a fictionalized narrative about a hunt for an informer.
What to Know Before You Start
Anthony J. Quinn's books are known for their poetic, lyrical prose and deep sense of place. Unlike fast-paced, action-heavy thrillers, these stories prioritize mood, psychological depth, and the weight of history. The landscape of Ulster—its damp bogs, persistent mists, and isolated borderlands—acts almost as a character itself, reflecting the moral ambiguity and unresolved traumas of the characters. Expect stories that are melancholic, reflective, and deeply human rather than neat, formulaic mysteries.