When six human bodies are discovered in the process, building work on a derelict site in Cork grinds to a halt. And then a seventh is discovered. Although the first six are men who died centuries ago, the seventh body is different – female, for a start, and much more recent.
What began as a historic find is now a crime scene.
Detective Garda Alice McCann is determined to track down the killer, even though she knows her superiors don’t want her anywhere near such a high-profile case. Not after what happened before.
But at every turn, her investigation reveals more questions than answers, more lies than facts. And someone powerful is watching her every move. Can Alice uncover the truth before she’s taken off the case – and before the killer strikes again?

‘The Seventh Body‘ was a pleasant surprise. It was more complicated and more character-driven than the police procedural that I’d expected. 

The story was told mostly from the point of view of Detective Garda Alice McCann. She is recovering from some mental health issues and is struggling to establish herself in Cork, which she transferred to from an elite team in Dublin after a debacle of her own making. 

McCann’s account is cut across by two other voices who, initially, are unidentified but who are closely linked to the murder being investigated. 

I liked the strong sense of place. I got a feel both for Cork as it is now and for how it was in the mid-i990s.

The book had a much bigger emotional impact than most police procedural novels, mostly because it was focused more on the people than the mystery.

Even so, the mystery was an engaging one. The ending surprised me in a good way, making the whole book richer. 

‘The Seventh Body’ was a fine standalone novel but I’m hoping it will continue as a series. In the meantime, I’ll be going back to read Catherine Kirwan’s Finn Fitzpatrick mysteries.

I recommend the audiobook version of ‘The Seventh Body‘ narrated by Roisin Rankin. Click on the YouTube link below to hear a sample

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Catherine Kirwan grew up on a farm in Fews, Co Waterford. She studied law at at University College Cork; took a traineeship in Dublin, before heading for Munich where she taught English. On her return to Ireland, she served as a board member of Corcadorca Theatre Company for many years.

She is best known for her mystery series featuring Cork solicitor, Finn Fizpatrick, ‘Darkest Truth’ (2019), .’Cruel Deeds‘ (2022) and ‘A Lesson In Malice‘ (2023) which is set in Catherine’s Alma Mater. ‘The Seventh Body’ (2025) is her first standalone novel.