First Sentence: Dear Mr. Taylor, Please forgive the formality.
Jack Taylor has sold his apartment and is ready to head to the US when his friend, Ridge, announces she has malignant breast cancer, so he stays to help her. He then receives the letter stating two guards, one nun, one judge and a child will die and he is to be witness.
His once friend, now enemy, Guarda Superintendent Clancy, doesn't give it any credence, but Jack does follows up, with the help of now-recovered Ridge and other friends.
I begin each new Bruen book afraid the quality won't be has high as the last. I had nothing to fear. Bruen is not for everyone: Jack is a character you don't necessarily like, but about whom you do care.
The story is hard-edged, violent and emotional. The alternating voices of conversational first person and chilling third person is extremely effective.
Bruen's descriptions of the city, observations on the changes prosperity have wrought on Galway, as well as dark humor and sensitivity make him a remarkable writer. The story and writing are spare, brutal, physically and emotionally harsh, tragic and brilliant.
