Where to Start Reading Brian McGilloway
For readers new to Brian McGilloway’s atmospheric Northern Irish crime fiction, there are two primary entry points. You can start with his debut novel, Borderlands, which introduces Garda Inspector Benedict Devlin and establishes McGilloway’s signature blend of lyrical prose, complex moral dilemmas, and rich geographical settings. Alternatively, you can begin with Little Girl Lost, the bestselling launchpad for his DS Lucy Black series, which offers a slightly more urban perspective based in Derry.
Because each series follows distinct character arcs and developments in the characters' personal and professional lives, it is highly recommended to read each individual series in publication order. However, because both series are set within the same geographic region and share the same cross-border policing context, reading the books in order of release across the entire bibliography is also a popular path for fans who want to watch the author's writing style evolve.
The Inspector Benedict Devlin Series
Inspector Benedict Devlin is a Garda Inspector based in Lifford, County Donegal, right on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Devlin is a reflective, dedicated investigator who is deeply rooted in his local community. The series is celebrated for how it uses the liminal space of the borderlands as a metaphor for the psychological and political divisions remaining after the Troubles.
To follow Devlin's personal journey and his navigating of cross-border politics, read the series in this order:
- Borderlands (2007) – Devlin investigates the murder of a teenager found on the border, forcing him to confront local secrets and historical divides.
- Gallows Lane (2008) – A public execution-style murder on a remote border road draws Devlin into a web of corruption, old crimes, and domestic tragedies.
- Bleed a River Deep (2009) – When a gold mine owner is targeted, Devlin is forced to investigate illegal border trade and the high stakes of environmental exploitation.
- The Rising (2010) – A suspicious fire and a missing person case threaten to reignite political tensions and uncover buried paramilitary histories.
- The Nameless Dead (2012) – Focusing on the search for the "disappeared" from the Troubles, Devlin works alongside the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains.
- Blood Ties (2021) – Returning after a nearly decade-long hiatus, Devlin investigates a cold case murder that strikes close to his own home and family.
The DS Lucy Black Series
Detective Sergeant Lucy Black is a PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) officer based in Derry (Londonderry). Lucy's character is complex, marked by a difficult relationship with her mother—who happens to be the Assistant Chief Constable—and her own struggles with loneliness and the high-pressure environment of post-conflict policing.
Note that some books in this series were published under different titles in the US and the UK. The recommended reading order is:
- Little Girl Lost (2011) – Lucy finds a traumatized, lost young girl wandering in the woods during a snowstorm, exposing a dark conspiracy involving local elites.
- Hurt (US Title: Someone You Know) (2013) – The discovery of a young girl's body in a public park pulls Lucy into an investigation involving systemic neglect and vulnerable teenagers.
- Preserve the Dead (US Title: The Forgotten Ones) (2014) – Lucy investigates an elderly man's body found embalmed in the River Foyle, leading to dark secrets hidden within local care homes.
- Bad Blood (2017) – A brutal murder in an affluent Derry suburb exposes the fragile peace and lingering animosities of modern Northern Ireland.
Standalone Novels and Recent Works
Aside from his recurring police procedurals, McGilloway has written highly acclaimed standalone novels that deal directly with the legacy of the Troubles, grief, and family dynamics. These standalones can be read at any point and do not require prior knowledge of his other books.
- The Last Crossing (2020) – A profound look at memory, guilt, and reconciliation. The story follows three former republican operatives who are sent to locate and exhume the body of a man they executed and buried in Scotland thirty years earlier.
- The Empty Room (2022) – A tense domestic thriller focusing on Dora Condron, a mother who launches a desperate search when her teenage daughter disappears, exploring the lengths to which a mother will go for answers.
- The One You Least Suspect (2025) – A gripping standalone novel centered on a woman named Katie, whose quiet life in Derry is disrupted by dark secrets from the past.
Anthology Contributions
For completionists, McGilloway has also contributed short stories to notable crime anthologies that highlight Irish writers:
- Requiems for the Departed (2010) – Features McGilloway's short story "Fisherman's Blues," which combines crime writing with elements of Irish mythology.
- Belfast Noir (2014) – Features his short story "The Undertaking," set near Belfast's Roselawn Cemetery, exploring the legacy of the Troubles in a transitioning city.
Reading Order Caveats & Crossover Notes
A common question among readers is whether the Ben Devlin and Lucy Black books cross over. While both series are set in the same geographical region and share the same cultural backdrop of post-agreement Ireland, they are written as independent series. Characters from the Devlin books do not headline Lucy Black cases, nor does Lucy appear in Devlin's investigations.
Therefore, you do not need to alternate between the series. You can read all of the Devlin books, followed by all of the Lucy Black books, or vice versa, without spoiling any major plot points. The only real connection is the atmospheric tone, the thematic focus on policing the Irish border, and the lingering shadow of historical conflict.