The Silver Swan

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W S Krauss, January 9, 2013 (view all comments by W S Krauss)
This is the second book in the series by Irish writer Benjamin Black, AKA John Banville (the Sea, for which he won the Man Booker prize in 2005). This book follows the further adventures of Dublin pathologist Quirke and his complicated family. Quirke has quit drinking, which has made him grumpier than usual and on edge, as he confronts the circumstances of an old acquaintance from college. His curiosity gets the better of him when he is pulled into the mystery of the apparent suicide of this man's young wife. His daughter is involved in the events as well, which puts her in great danger. The descriptions of Dublin's streets, atmosphere and climate combine with the action and mystery to create a haunting sense of place. The writing is brilliantly suited to the crime genre, yet a step above most I've read. I look forward to following these characters in many books to come.

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Chris Horne, April 2, 2009 (view all comments by Chris Horne)
Dublin Pathologist Garret Quirke is back in a book that is even darker than Christine Falls as if that could be possible. Quirke is no longer drinking, but he's still as moody, broody and, well, as quirky as ever and we now know his niece is really his daughter, if you haven't read Christine Falls, please stop right here, go out and get it, you won't be disappointed as it's a thoroughly enjoyable read. You can read this book as a stand alone if you want and enough is explained so you won't feel like you're missing too much, but you will be.

It's two years since Quirke investigated the death of Christine Falls when he has Deirdre Hunt on the slab. She washed up, an apparent suicide, by Dalkey Island, by Dublin Harbor. Quirke knew her husband Billy in school and when Billy asks him not to do an autopsy, because he didn't want his wife cut up, also he didn't want her death ruled a suicide, because he didn't want her denied Catholic rites, remember it's Ireland in the 50's. Quirke agrees, but does the autopsy anyway.

And, of course, Quirke finds evidence of murder, this is a mystery after all. But unlike some of the other mysteries you'll find on the shelf, Black does it differently, his characters are not only all too real, but they're steeped in a mire of moods and darkness, but there's a heart in them too. The live and breath as real people. Somehow John Banville has managed to channel both Earnest Hemingway and Raymond Chandler at the same time when he writes as Benjamin Black, let them take control of his fingers and the result isn't just art, but a dark and brooding affair with a soul that is all too real.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780312428242

Author:

Black, Benjamin

Publisher:

Picador USA

Subject:

Mystery & Detective - Hard-Boiled

Subject:

Literary

Subject:

Mystery & Detective - Historical

Subject:

Mystery & Detective - General

Subject:

Mystery

Subject:

Detective/Hard-Boiled

Subject:

Mystery-A to Z

Copyright:

2009

Edition Description:

Trade Paper

Series Volume:

No. 2

Publication Date:

20090231

Binding:

TRADE PAPER

Grade Level:

General/trade

Language:

English

Pages:

320

Dimensions:

8.27 x 6.39 x 0.9 in