It’s Monday, they’re reviews, to wit: “Tough, ironically self-aware, loyal, Ed [Loy] is the perfect Chandleresque hero. But the book’s various twists, including rumours of Catholic abuse at a now-closed home for boys, wrap themselves around a dense core of Irish authenticity, all the voices pitch-perfect, all the developments dark,” says P.G. Koch at the
Houston Chronicle of THE DYING BREED (aka THE PRICE OF BLOOD). Here at
CAP, some chancing wastrel called Declan Burke agrees: “THE DYING BREED is a complex, labyrinthine, gritty, coarse (and, yes, bloody) novel that exudes a brash confidence and an ambition that lies beyond its grasp – a description, it should be said, that could easily be applied to the nation that spawned the novel.” As does Diana Pinckley at the
Times-Picayune: “THE PRICE OF BLOOD is violent yet compelling. If it’s Irish action you want, pick up this book and you’ll be off to the races.” Then there’s
Answer Girl’s hup-ya: “What [Loy] finds is a horrifying tangle of lies, abuse and perversion that owes a bit to Webster’s THE DUCHESS OF MALFI. Very well done, as disturbing as anything I’ve read in a while, and appropriate to St. Patrick’s Day only in making me feel I needed a drink after.” As for
Entertainment Weekly: “PI Ed Loy fancies himself a Dashiell Hammett throwback (picture Bogart with a brogue) … Since Declan Hughes suggests in THE PRICE OF BLOOD that those who remember Irish history are often doomed to repeat it, it’s no wonder his Dubliners are always after a drink: In Ireland, forgetfulness begets prosperity. B+,” says Jake Tracer. Onwards to Brian McGilloway’s latest: “If you like the books of Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson or other police procedurals, you’ll want to pick up the book BORDERLANDS by Brian McGilloway … I’ve just finished the advance reading copy of the second book in the series (coming in April) called GALLOW’S LANE. It’s just as good, if better not than the first book,” says
Rosalyn at
The Dewey Divas and the Dudes.
A couple of early reviews for Derek Landy’s follow-up to SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT, PLAYING WITH FIRE: “It’s a wild supernatural romp with vampires, skeletons, monsters, giant spiders, and other seriously creepy creatures. There’s plenty of action (it’s almost movie script-like in its pace) to keep even the most reluctant reader interested, but my favourite part was the snappy dialogue. Skulduggery is sarcastic, clever, and funny, which I suppose is an appropriate tone for a skeleton detective,” says Jenny at
Insert Clever Title Here. Staying with Landy,
The Siblings Scarington couldn’t really be more positive: “Landy’s strengths from the first book are back, and perfected. The pacing is spot on. There are no wasted scenes, and the book never loses steam … you’ll find yourself barrelling through the book because the action just never stops … Superior in every way to the first, SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT: PLAYING WITH FIRE is a thrill ride of excitement that never lets up and will capture a child’s imagination with its tale of danger and suspense!” Boo-ya! Meanwhile, back at
Ronan O’Brien’s ranch-shaped interweb yokeybus: “CONFESSIONS OF A FALLEN ANGEL is a fresh, highly original debut by a writer not afraid to take on the bigger issues of life. Fate and love in their many guises stalk these pages, as well as a man who, like the hero in a Greek tragedy, rails against the destiny mapped out to him, trying only to safeguard what he holds dear. It will grip you from the first paragraph,” says Maggie O’Farrell …
A quick couple of big-ups for Catherine O’Flynn’s debut: “If there is criticism to be made of WHAT WAS LOST, it’s that the storylines are too swiftly and neatly wrapped up in the conclusion … But for a debut novel, WHAT WAS LOST is amazingly accomplished,” says Pete Carvill of
3AM Magazine. The outrageously suave
Suave Harv agrees: “I thoroughly enjoyed Catherine O’Flynn’s WHAT WAS LOST. One of the best new novels I’ve read for quite a while. Splendid stuff.” They’re still coming in for Benny Blanco: “Black (pseudonym of Booker Prize–winner John Banville) is a fine writer, reminiscent of P.D. James in his care for language and his emphasis on psychologically complex characters … Black weaves his characters through a neat and original plot that descends into the dark depths of Quirke's family history and rises to the highest ranks of the Catholic church,” says Paul at
The Journal of a Good Life about CHRISTINE FALLS.
Of Books and Bicycles likes THE SILVER SWAN: “I enjoyed the book for its plot, but even more so for the relationships the novel describes; as happens in some of the other crime novels I’ve read, the crime seems almost like an excuse to throw some characters together in difficult circumstances to see how they behave themselves.” Back to Rosalyn at
The Dewey Divas and the Dudes for her verdict on Cora Harrison’s debut: “If you like historical mysteries, you’ll love MY LADY JUDGE, the first book in a new series by Cora Harrison set in the 16th century in the remote region of Ireland called The Burren. Fans of Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma series will enjoy …”
Apis Mellifica likes Gerard Donovan’s JULIUS WINSOME: “Is this a descent into madness or a reasoned response to calculated conspiracy involving his former lover? In its neatness, the ending disappoints, but the journey there is a wild ride poetically blanketed in the onset of winter’s weather.” Over at
Hour, MJ Stone is impressed with Liam Durcan’s debut: “Once I cracked open GARCIA’S HEART, I couldn’t put it down … Durcan’s debut novel was both captivating and eloquent.” Chris at
The Book Swede likes DB Shan’s PROCESSION OF THE DEAD: “Written well, funny in places, and a captivating read … This is a good book, and the characterisation was one of the best bits. Sadly, though, there seemed to be a sudden change in many characters attitudes towards the end of the book, but on the whole, I was surprised by just how good this was.”
Critical Mick has come out swinging on behalf of IN THE WOODS: “Tana French has put her name to a book worth stealing, and worth fighting over.” Thank you, Mr Mick …
A couple of strong reviews for Sam Millar’s latest: “This is a tale of revenge, greed and hate, and Kane is surrounded by people he cannot trust. The writing is bleak and raw, best accompanied by a stiff drink or two. BLOODSTORM does what is says on the cover, and bludgeons you with the grime and fury of an existence you can be relieved is either in fiction, or belongs to somebody else,” says Adrian Magson at Crime Reports in
Shots Magazine. Shelley Marsden at The Irish World (no link) agrees: “Brutal language and bleak, darkly comic undercurrents … powerful and unsettling writing, that seeps into your bones like Belfast rain … Recommended reading by the NI Tourist Board this is not, but as a straight-talking crime thriller, it’s at the top ...” They’re still coming in for Eoin Colfer’s ARTEMIS FOWL AND THE LOST COLONY: “I really enjoy [the Artemis Fowl series] because it’s the anti-Potter. It’s a series that’s just as intriguing and well-written as Harry Potter, but without all the baggage that’s been attached to it,” reckons
The Pew Reviews. The inevitable Ken Bruen big-up runneth thusly: “The prolific Bruen has three series going: Galway, London and America are the settings. And his Irish gift for words is in full flower, portraying loneliness with a description of Taylor charging his cell phone every day, even though no one ever calls him on it: “Carried it like a sad prayer in my jacket,”” says Diana Pinckley at the
Times-Picayune. Over at
The Telegraph, Dinah Hall laments Siobhan Dowd’s untimely death: “Siobhan Dowd died shortly after writing her third novel, BOG CHILD, which makes reading it a painful pleasure because you can’t help wondering what other great books might have been … Dowd’s lightness of touch allows humour and poignancy to shine through.” Finally, a couple of hup-yas for Lord John of Connolly: “This glorious novel is built about the Irish author’s love of storytelling and the supernatural …
A wonderful book to read aloud to the family or hug to yourself which embraces not just the Celtic tradition but the Brothers Grimm,” says Lorri Amsden at
Poisoned Pen Fiction Review of THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS. And over at Entertainment Weekly (via
Powell’s Books), they’re impressed with THE UNQUIET: “Gimmicks aside, complex hero Parker is the chief draw in THE UNQUIET – he’s got a revenge-inspired evil streak to him, but metes out justice freely to those who truly deserve it. (Grade: B)”. Erm, Lord John? We know a few elves who merit some justice, if you wouldn’t mind calling around with your velvet cat o’nine tails …
It’s Monday, they’re reviews, to wit: “As ever with [John] Connolly, the macabre narrative is couched in prose that is often allusive and poetic a combination far more destabilising for the reader, wrong-footing us before that moment when all the stops are pulled out … THE REAPERS affords unusually bracing doses of Stygian delights,” says Barry Forshaw at The Independent. It’s a big-up verdict at Material Witness too: “Overall the story is well told and pacey and the sense of trouble rises uneasily throughout. Connolly steps up the series characterisation process several notches here, and future instalments will be all the better for it. For three quarters of the book, I wondered if this was not perhaps the best of the series. But the grisly, explosive ending seemed a little too contrived and over-dramatic … Nonetheless, a fine piece of work from Connolly, a tier-one mystery writer somewhere near the height of his powers.” Rumour Man likes it too: “It’s a touching, absorbing and brilliantly plotted book. I think it may even be one of his finest - if not the finest - even though it’s not a Parker novel like the bulk of his work! I can’t wait to wade through all the other books I have to read, so I can go back and read this again.” Lindsay Jones at the Barking and Dagenham Recorder pulls out all the stops: “John Connolly’s genial hitmen Louis and Angel are similar in lots of ways to Pulp Fiction’s Vincent and Jules, except that they’re gay … Connolly’s characters are well-drawn, his writing is lyrical and funny. This is an absorbing page-turner, whether you’re one of the millions who devour his every novel, or you’re a Connolly first-timer, as I was.” And Geoff Hamlin at Tampa Bay Online doesn’t buck the trend: “The plot could easily be summed up as ‘Male bonding story. No women. Lots of bodies.’ But Connolly, as befits his Irish heritage, is a fine storyteller and manages to weave his tale in dark and compelling language.” On to Ken Bruen, and Margaret Cannon at the Toronto Globe and Mail reviewed CROSS: “It’s a good thing this novel is short enough for me to read in one long day. I couldn’t put it down. I love Ken Bruen’s Irish books with detective Jack Taylor, but this one, set in Galway, is simply the best yet … As always, Bruen doesn’t use a single extraneous word. His style is as clear and crisp as his mood is dark and clouded. The end of this one comes with a snap that left me wanting more, lots more.” Over at Reviewing the Evidence, Denise Pickles likes Julie Parsons’ I SAW YOU: “When I arrived at the denouement, I was surprised to find myself holding my breath and it’s a long time since I had to admit to anything like that when reading a book. Parsons deserves full marks for the way she sustains the suspense … it displays quite a lot of polish in its construction as well as its characterisation. On the whole, it’s a good, if somewhat claustrophobic, read.” Seana Graham at the Santa Cruz Sentinel had a gander at David Park’s THE TRUTH COMMISSIONER: “What Park makes so beautifully clear is that what really catches up with them is only life, ordinary life … While, in reality, there is no ‘Commission for Truth and Reconciliation’ in Northern Ireland, this novel has created a kind of imaginative space for one to exist. If illuminating some aspect of the bad old days helps heal Northern Ireland, Park has done his bit and then some.” A swift pair for Siobhan Dowd’s THE LONDON EYE MYSTERY: “Strong, memorable characters combine with a suspenseful mystery that readers will have difficulty putting down,” says Kendal Rautzhan at The Day, while Icokolat at The Latest Sccoop likes it too: “This riveting read offers not only a deliciously tricky puzzle to solve, but great characters, too.” 
And now a brace of hup-yas for Tana French’s IN THE WOODS: “Tana French, winner of the 2008 Edgar award for Best First Novel, has a descriptive and intense style that makes her writing very compelling and readable. Her portrayal of the Dublin police and towns makes you feel as if you are there in the flesh,” says Mary Menzel at Book Hunters Blog. Over at A Coupla Things, Carl agrees: “I recommend IN THE WOODS, an Edgar nominee by Tana French. Excellent writing, outstanding plotting – a whoop of a psychological thriller.” Nice … And now for something spooky ‘n’ supernatural: “The characters are complex and interesting, the supernatural aspects completely unique and the references to our own world and times are thought-provoking … The supernatural components slowly float to the top of the story which jumps from a noir-ish crime novel to something entirely different in a couple of chapters. Shan is an excellent author with a flair for language and detail,” says the Cairns Post (via DB Shan’s interweb malarkey) of PROCESSION OF THE DEAD. As for Shan’s literary nemesis, Derek Landy: “Full of hilarious banter, scythe fights, and close encounters with all manner of evildoers, this book will keep readers turning those pages. It’s a true confection of a Young Adult novel. Enjoy!” proclaims Cynthia Bartek at Books and More of SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT. She won’t be falling out with Amy over at Amy’s Book Nook: “This series is a fun paranormal action-adventure, full of twists and turns. Any fans of Harry Potter or for that matter, Harry Dresden, should give this book a try. It may be written for ages 10 and up, but it doesn’t talk down to the reader, leaving it a fun series truly for all ages.” Marcel Berlins, in the Sunday Times, likes BLEEDING HEART SQUARE: “Andrew Taylor has long been in the top rank of British crime writers, never disappointing, particularly strong on depth of characterisation and moody atmosphere. In BLEEDING HEART SQUARE he excels himself.” Finally, a brace for Adrian McKinty’s THE BLOOMSDAY DEAD: “The author has contrived to provide a balance and a contrast with the permeating violence by means of the almost lyrical opening lines of many of the chapters … 
THE BLOOMSDAY DEAD will keep you on the edge of your seat, will entertain, will disconcert and will ultimately leave you looking for more of the same,” reckons The Irish Emigrant, voting TBD Book of the Month, while chancing wastrel Declan Burke was breathlessly earnest over in the Sunday Business Post: “McKinty is a rare writer, one who can combine the often limiting staccato rhythms of crime fiction with a lyrical flair for language … The violence is etched into the page, but McKinty never forgets that his first priority is to entertain, and he leavens the bleakness with flashes of mordant humour.” Ah yes, but is humour, mordant or otherwise, really a leavening agent? YOU decide!
