Closer than You Think

A Mags Munroe Story, Book 4

By: Jean Grainger

Narrated by: Jean Grainger

If you think nothing interesting ever happens in a small Irish town, think again.

Ballycarrick is changing rapidly and not everyone is happy. No more a sleepy backwater, where everyone knows everyone else, and their business, the expansion of cities and towns into rural Ireland means opportunity for some undoubtedly, but not for everyone.

Sergeant Mags Munroe finds herself faced with a situation so unlikely it's almost laughable, but as things unfold, what seemed like a joke, is no longer funny, as sinister influences from much further afield take a keen interest in Ballycarrick, but why?

This, combined with millennial new Garda recruits, obstreperous teenagers, octogenarian parents, and a husband with an infuriating new hobby, all contrive to test Mag’s patience like never before.

©2024 Jean Grainger (P)2024 Gold Harp Media Ltd

Like listening to a diary

I think Jean Grainger did a wonderful job reading her own book. Knowing she was the reader almost made me feel like she was Mags and this was her story.

This particular book was not as engaging as some of her others, but I really enjoy Mags, her family and pets and how she deals with people on her job. It is enjoyable to revisit this character and be a fly on the wall in her world.

Thanks Jean!

I love Mags

I love this series, and enjoy Jean's writing, but I wasn't keen on Jean's narration (sorry, Jean), Siobhan Waring is the only narrator for me for these books, she's wonderful. Also, editing quality was a bit iffy, which was disappointing.

Love this series

Fun, intrigue, a peak in to Irish culture and the joy of an exceptional person in the protagonist Mags Monroe

Mags is amazing .. Love this book

Some times the reader seemed bored reading.. not like the previous books. I wish she was a little more enthusiastic.

SO HAPPY TO HAVE ANOTHER JEAN GRAINGER BOOK TO READ❣️

I was SOOOOO excited to find another Jean Grainger book was out — I pounced on it the second it was available!

I have to say I struggled to stick with it through the first two chapters, but things picked up in Chapter 3 and got better from there.

There were a few spots in which I felt the story got bogged down a bit (the meetings regarding Russian spies that might have been in town), but the rest of the book pertaining to other characters in the book ((Rosein, Jerome, Delia, Zoe, Kieran, Sharon and all the rest were really good).

There were many places in which I found myself laughing out loud (my family kept looking at me oddly as I had my ear buds in and they had no idea why I was laughing)…

Knickers the Bearded Dragon Lizard, a pet belonging to one of their girls, learned how to let himself out of his cage. He kept popping out all over the house at both Mags and Kieran, neither of whom were fans of the giant lizard — popping out of cupboards and closets unexpectedly. The reactions of each had me in stitches. There was also Rolo the dog who, for unknown reasons, lived in abject terror of Mags although she had never done anything to the dog. The dog’s reactions to Mags were hilarious.

I love Ms. Grainger’s sense of humor. Sometimes it is quite obvious, but at other times, it is dry and subtle — you have to pay attention if you are going to “get it,” but it’s always well worth the effort.

Jean Grainger did a fine job narrating the book, but I must admit, I was sad that it wasn’t the BRILLIANT Siobhan Waring narrating. Ms. Waring has narrated so many of Ms. Grainger’s books, and together, the two ladies are an unbeatable team. I was looking forward to hearing her voice again, but it was also nice to hear Ms. Grainger reading her own work for her audience.

While I was not as engrossed in this book as I have been in some other of Ms. Grainger’s books, I’m such a big! fan of her work, I’d be happy to just read her grocery list!

I gobbled up this book in one day (I TOLD myself to pace my reading over a few days and make the pleasure last, but I just couldn’t do it). So now that I devoured the whole book like a pig, I’m already clamoring for Ms. Grainger’s next work and hope she is back at her computer hard at work.

If nothing else Ms. Grainger, publish your grocery list and your list of Saturday errands and I’ll buy them!💕