Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsThe Missing and Murdered
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2022
What would you do if your daughter, sister, wife, mother, loved one went missing? Would you leave it up to the police or would you try and help. This is the story of the missing and murdered women in Ireland in the 90’s. The author, Claire McGowan, was born in Newry, County Down, Ireland. During her time in Ireland, and, indeed, up to this day, Ireland is still separated into the North and South as it was during The Troubles.
Claire left Ireland, but she found a fascination in the numbers of missing and murdered women in Ireland. She feels that women are still second class citizens, and if you were white, with a prominent family your missing child had a better chance of being found or at least investigated. Class is still alive. As it is in this country, the USA, where color and poverty play a part in who is investigated. Class matters. Claire looks at eight cases that were never solved, and tells us their stories.
This is an invigorating book in that these missing women and their families come alive. We learn about the different names for police in the north and south. The names, dates, families and suspects are evident. The 1990’s were the times of The Troubles, and missing women were not always a high priority. If you have seen the 2022 film, ‘Belfast’ you will have a better idea of what I speak. Claire McGowan does not give up. She explores these stories, u til we want to know the truth as she does.
The author goes into the psyche of the killers and of those involved. It was partly the times, but it was also that those missing were women. Today there are many missing men and the search for them is as exhaustive as the rest. .We come to learn of the history of Ireland in the 90’s and before. The life of a typical Irish lass.
The organizational qualities of the Gardia is as importantvas their work.
We also learn of missing people all over the world who were found or set free. What was their plight, how did they re-enter society, and how are they doing today. However, the most important aspect of this story is the quest for a serial killer, was there one, many? Exquisite writing sets the stage, and then we are drawn into the stories. Not a tale to take lightly, and a particularly fascinating look into the lives of the missing, murdered and their families.
Recommended. prisrob 04-01-2022
