The Deadly Steps, is a Police Procedural thriller that is set in Cork City, Ireland. Detective Inspector John Cahill is originally from Cork City but circumstances brought him to Northern Ireland in the mid 1990's. D.I. Cahill joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary and progressed through the ranks as the R.U.C transformed into the Police Service of Northern Ireland. After fifteen years working in Belfast, D.I. Cahill is presented with the opportunity to work with the Garda in his native Cork City. John and his wife Jules return to Cork City, where soon John finds himself investigating, what appears to be the unsolvable homicide of an innocent woman who is randomly attacked by gang members as she tries to get home after a long evening at work in Cork City's North Side.

The author introduces the reader to the mostly unknown world of physical and electronic surveillance, and the murky world of wire-taps and undercover police work. Reaching deep into his own experiences as a homicide investigator, John O'Donovan lays out this complex investigation, step by step and makes the reader feel that they are part of the team.

Throughout the story, O'Donovan not only takes the reader through the beautiful old historic city of Cork, but he also brings the magical West Cork coastline to life, in this 300+ page novel.