One Line Summary

Set against the uneasy calm of early 1990s Belfast, a routine murder draws Sean Duffy into a case where political compromise proves deadlier than violence.

Opening Impression

Hang On St. Christopher opens with exhaustion rather than chaos. Belfast is quieter now, but the quiet carries weight. McKinty delivers a reflective, politically alert novel focused on consequence rather than spectacle.

Synopsis

In 1992, a painter is shot after a carjacking. What appears routine quickly becomes politically sensitive. As intelligence agencies circle, Sean Duffy uncovers a case bound to compromises already made in the name of peace.

Analysis

Character: Duffy is older, sharper and more restrained.

Structure: Clean, report-like chapters maintain pace and tension.

Themes: Moral compromise, memory and the price of stability.

Verdict

Hang On St. Christopher is a controlled, politically aware crime novel that balances procedural clarity with historical gravity.