New York, 1987. Rory is a likeable career thief originally from war-torn Belfast, planning out his next big score.

A serial killer is murdering women in the city. But no bodies are ever found; just missing girls and cryptic plaques left on benches in Central Park.

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When the killer strikes too close to home, Rory becomes unhealthily obsessed with tracking him down. The cops begin to suspect Rory due to his lengthy criminal history, the press just want a sensational story, Rory’s partners in crime don’t want any heat, and the killer flourishes in the chaos.

‘Sometimes it takes a thief to catch a killer’

My Review

The Wolf Is At Your Door is set in 1987. I was 34, with a baby and a toddler. My favourite TV programmes were Thirtysomething and LA Law. I didn’t ‘do drugs’ or drink more than the odd glass of wine. I certainly didn’t partake in any armed robberies. The ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland were news items. I have nothing in common with Rory’s world. But I loved that this book was set in the 1980s.

I didn’t recognise much of the music either as Rory is a blues fan, whereas I listened to Police, Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran (how Rory would have hated the New Romantics).

Rory hangs out in dodgy nightclubs with his dubious friends, plotting their next criminal engagement. You can’t help liking Rory though – he’s really quite a loveable character. His mate Jimmy is also OK but fellow ‘gang member’ Dave is horrible. ‘Fence’ Winston is seriously cool in a Huggy Bear kind of way (those old enough to remember Starsky & Hutch). Alice is also Rory’s friend, though they don’t have any kind of intimate relationship.

In the meantime a serial killer is murdering women in the city but the bodies are never found. Then ‘when the killer strikes too close to home’, Rory becomes obsessed with finding him. The NYPD, however, are less than helpful – in fact they won’t even admit that there is a serial killer on the loose. And the press just wants a story. Jimmy and Dave don’t want the cops to look too closely at them, but Rory isn’t giving up, even though it might put his own life at risk.

What an exciting, well-paced story! You know you shouldn’t be rooting for Rory as he is a career criminal, but you can’t help it. He is written so well.

There’s a lot of political incorrectness in this book, so be warned. And a lot of swearing. But it was the 1980s and no-one cared a jot about some of the racist taunts being slung at each other, amongst other things. It all adds to the authenticity of the story.

Many thanks to @zooloo2008 for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Author

Simon Maltman is the author of novels, novellas and short stories, released with various publishers. An Amazon Bestseller from Northern Ireland he writes a range of crime fiction thrillers. A regular guest at festivals and events, he is the tour guide for Belfast Noir, and also a well known book reviewer for the likes of ITV and online journals. An established ‘Ulster Noir’ author, he also writes American-set high concept thrillers.

Follow him at:
Twitter : @simonmaltman
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/SimonMaltman
Goodreads – Not on Goodreads but I have followed up with the publisher
Buy Links – https://geni.us/5XAkBB