The Making of a Detective

A Garda’s Story of Investigating Some of Ireland’s Most Notorious Crimes

The Making of a Detective follows Pat Marry’s path from rookie to Detective Inspector through the stories of key cases he worked on and investigations he led.

It includes high profile cases like Rachel Calally’s murder by her husband Joe O’Reilly. But there are also stories that have faded from public memory, such as the 1995 murder of Marilyn Rynn, which involved the first use of DNA evidence to solve a crime in Ireland. Or the 2001 murder of Mary Gough, a case solved mainly by scrutinizing her husband’s internet use – then a new investigative tool.

The Making of a Detective is a unique and gripping insight into the work of a dedicated garda operating at the very top of his profession.

‘An absolutely fascinating book … Really interesting stories and insights’ Sean O’Rourke, RTÉ Radio 1

‘An absolute must-read … as page turning as a crime novel’ Irish Examiner