jentheotherone's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kayann's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
beledit's review against another edition
3.0
A stylish thriller in the classic tradition. Banville is an excellent writer and this bears his hallmark strong writing, pacing and characterisation. He's a master of the trade.
That said, I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I liked Snow or other Banville novels I've read. Or indeed as much as some other Quirke novels, written as Benjamin Black, that I've read in the past. I can't really put my finger on why... I was not fully engaged with any of the characters and not very emotionally invested in the outcome.
That said, I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I liked Snow or other Banville novels I've read. Or indeed as much as some other Quirke novels, written as Benjamin Black, that I've read in the past. I can't really put my finger on why... I was not fully engaged with any of the characters and not very emotionally invested in the outcome.
jaswanson22's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
5.0
Libro.fm audiobook, John Lee narrator
tethompson3's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
charliek_1970's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
lizokeefe's review against another edition
2.0
Beautiful writing, but very slow. Also, Quirkes inability to enjoy anything makes him tedious and annoying.
jfl's review against another edition
4.0
Elegant writing. Complex character descriptions. Slow plot resolution.
nonna7's review against another edition
5.0
This latest in the quirky Dr Quirke series harkens back to an earlier book about the death of Quirke's daughter's friend, April Lartimer. A body is never found but her brother confesses to her murder and then commits suicide. There is incest and darkness in the family and when the father of April and her brother also commits suicide it's good riddance as far as the rest of Dublin and the extended family is concerned. However it's a few years later. April had been a doctor and Quirke sees her - or isn't quite sure if he sees her - in a hospital in the town in which he and his new wife, a psychiatrist, are staying for a holiday. It's northern Spain, Basque Country, and his wife laughingly says he will feel more at home there because it rains more often. Quirke is feeling restless. Long enforced relaxation is not his thing. Then he sees the doctor who is identified as Dr. Angela Lawless. He calls his daugher, Phoebe, who first approaches April's uncle then a local police inspector who has worked with Quirke on cases in the past. Phoebe comes to Spain accompanied by Detective Stratford who had appeared in another novel. He is a Protestant and a somewhat enigmatic character. Evenlyn, Quirke's wife, thinks he and Phoebe are magnets presently turned on the wrong side. I guess we'll see. There is a hit man involved who Phoebe first sees in Dublin and notices his clothing doesn't quite fit. Then she sees him again in Spain and wonders. Banville wrote most of the Quirke novels under a pseudonym, Benjamin Black. However he has abandoned that conceit. His previous novel was about Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as children. I enjoyed it but I'm glad to see another Quirke novel. This one has an unexpected ending. It should be interesting to see if Banville picks up where he left off.