Megan Malone, US Army veteran, has become embroiled in another unexpected killing. The swanky Royal Dublin golf course on Bull Island in Dublin Bay, is the venue where our intrepid driver for Leprechaun Limousine Service discovers the latest tragedy. DEATH ON THE GREEN is not a hundred per cent accurate, as the late lamented Lou MacDonald lies dead in a water hazard.

Megan is here as driver for PGA touring golfer Martin Walsh, and his wife who at first is just another rich, younger, American trophy wife, but gradually becomes a hugely sympathetic character. Catie Murphy, an American author long embedded in Ireland, can really write women. Megan gained a cheer from me, in particular, for her refusal to accept that the old-fashioned golf club has no women members and therefore no ladies’ showers. This is relevant, as Megan is considerably wetter than she was before plunging into the pond to recover the stricken man.

This spring I spent considerable time on Bull Island taking photos and I’m acquainted with the environmental controversy which arises during the story. All the strongest location descriptions are clearly written by someone who has walked there, or sat there, and felt where the force of the wind is full strength or broken; seen the seals hauled out on the sand and read the signs about the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Catie Murphy similarly enriches her adventure with strong characterisations of women. The predicaments which can arise simply by marrying, or by playing golf, or defending nature, while being considered by some to be a second class citizen.

The ‘Dublin Driver’ mysteries featuring Megan Malone open our minds as well to a wide variety of secondary characters, from the irascible female taxi firm owner Orla Keegan, to Achojah, a cheerful Nigerian limo driver, and the most persistent female sports reporter RTE has ever produced. The only really unbelievable part for me is that someone would name two pups Dip and Thong. I may have mentioned this before. Imagine yelling ‘Thong!’ on the beach or in the park. But some dogs do have strange names. I strongly recommend that you drop whatever plans you had made, sit down with DEATH ON THE GREEN, and catch up with the deeds of Megan Malone, who is fast becoming my favourite amateur sleuth on my side of the Atlantic.