Crime/Thrillers Reviews

The Imitation of Patsy Burke by John J Gaynard (Createspace, 2011)

Patsy Burke, a famous Irish sculptor in Paris, wakes in a small apartment hungover, battered and bruised and with a broken arm. He’s somewhat confused and has little recollection of the night before. Over the course of a morning, and with the aid of the cast of voices residing in his head (including The Scandal Man, Caravaggio, Goody Two-Shoes, Forget Me Not, The Chopper, The Observer) and Khadija, one of his lovers, he starts to piece together what happened and to situate it within the narrative of his life, which includes a boarding school in the north of England, the death of his sweetheart, three marriages, five daughters, a series of lovers, a kidnapping, squabbles with gallery owners, fights in bars, and an infamous sculpture that offended the Church and sold for millions of euro. Despite everything that has happened in his eventful life, it seems that the previous night he may have gone too far.

It took me a little while to get into The Imitation of Patsy Burke - both the storyline and the style. The story is an in-depth character study and the story unfolds through the various voices in Patsy’s head as it tries to reconcile the morning after with recollections of the afternoon and night before and the back story to the artist’s life. At first, I found the style somewhat awkward and contrived, but as the story progressed the style made more sense and I got drawn further and further into the narrative and by the end I was truly hooked, staying up way past when I would normally shut a book and turn off the lights, devouring pages until I reached the end. And a very nicely resolved end it is too, both somewhat inevitable and slightly out of left field. Whilst Burke is a character for which one feels little sympathy, the characterization and its unfolding is very well done, with the story well layered. The voices in Patsy’s head each have a distinctive voice and message and their bickering has an authentic tone (if voices in a head can have such a thing). The prose is nicely expressive throughout and is peppered with philosophical insights. If you like in-depth characterization, then The Imitation of Patsy Burke will provide good, if a little unusual, reading fodder.

Review by Rob Kitchin who blogs at The View from The Blue House

The Point by Gerard Brennan (Kindle edition and Pulp Print Edition)

Paul Morgan is a young criminal always on the hunt for any easy score and a party. He’s brash, cocky and ballsy, and he drags his reluctant brother, Brian, in his wake. When Paul pushes a local hippy-gangster, Mad Mickey, a little too far, he does the sensible thing and flees Belfast, taking his brother with him. Their getaway vehicle though is Mickey’s van, which they then duly torch. Settling into their new life in Warrenpoint, a small seaside town, Brian meets Rachel, a slightly psychotic lass who’s a keeper, and Paul inveigles his way into the local drug dealing scene. And whilst Brian gets a job in a lumber yard, Paul convinces the local kingpin that he can rob cars to order. All Brian wants to do is work and be with Rachel, but he can’t escape the Paul’s vortex of crime and self-destruction. And then there’s Mad Mickey, a man who loved his van.

The Point is a novella. And whilst it’s a relatively short book - I flew through in a couple of hours - it packs one heck of a punch. The writing is tight, each scene crafted and shorn of flab, and the pace is electric and never lets up. What really struck me about The Point was that it managed to work at a number of different levels - it has crime and violence, warmth and tenderness, humour and pathos - and it had gritty realism to the anarchic arc of the Morgan brothers freewheeling lives. I believed in the characters and their relationships to each other, and the dialogue was spot on. Paul, Brian and Rachel are fully formed and come alive on the page. I would love to see this adapted into a movie or two hour TV show. If you want a gritty shot of Irish noir then order up this fine fare.

Review by Rob Kitchin who blogs at The View from The Blue House

The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty (Serpent’s Tail, 2012)

Detective Sergeant Sean Duffy is a Catholic cop in Northern Ireland in 1981 in a force dominated by protestants and targeted by paramilitary republicans. A few weeks after being posted to the CID in Carrickfergus, the Maze hunger strikers start to die, the whole province erupting into violent protest. Between having to don riot gear to help his beleaguered colleagues, Duffy has two new cases to investigate - the death of a homosexual man, his hand severed, and the apparent suicide of an ex-wife of a Maze hunger striker. This is quickly added to by the murder of a second known homosexual man. It seems that Duffy might be investigating the first known serial killer on the island, one that is taking advantage of the limited police resources. As Duffy works away at the case he has to negotiate the complex terrain of IRA, loyal paramilitaries and the security forces, none of whom prove cooperative. Duffy though has the bit between his teeth and is unwilling to let the case slide into the unsolved pile.

As an Irish police procedural, The Cold, Cold Ground is right up there with Brian McGilloway’s Inspector Devlin and John Brady’s Matt Minogue series. In fact, it might just be the best example of a police procedural so far produced on the island. It’s pretty difficult to pick holes in any aspect of the story, with perhaps the exception of forgetting to return a submachine gun left on the hall table back to the barracks for two whole weeks (not the kind of item that would escape one’s attention). McKinty immerses the reader in Carrickfergus and Belfast in 1981 - its politics, its riots, its policing, its fashions, music and social relations, its sense of place, without it ever swamping the narrative. The attention to detail is excellent. Sean Duffy is a complex, flawed and bright lead character, out of his depth and desperately trying to stay afloat amongst paramilitary groups and police and security service politics, and determined to solve the two cases. He’s surrounded by a well realised support cast, some of whom are real figures, other fictional characters. The plot twists and turns and is nicelyy paced, and McKinty shows his usual flair for poetic prose. A great read from an author who consistently turns out interesting and insightful books. The only let down - I have to wait for the next Duffy book to be published.

Review by Rob Kitchin who blogs at The View from The Blue House

The Chosen by Arlene Hunt

On a hot summer’s day in the sleepy American town of Rockville, Jessie Conway, a teacher at the local high school, notices a car driving slowly around the school grounds. Twenty minutes later Jessie is fighting for her life and Rockville is plunged into living nightmare after a gun-toting student unleashes bloody mayhem.

But for Jessie the horror is just beginning. Chosen by serial killer Caleb Switch, when Jessie is abducted from her home, her elderly dog killed, she has to face her worst nightmares…

John Connolly says “Arlene Hunt may just be the best female crime writer to have emerged from these islands in recent years”, and he isn’t far wrong. In the first half of 2011, the best Irish crime novel by far was Niamh O’Connor’s Taken, The Chosen is undoubtedly one of the best of the second half.

With a litany of best sellers behind her, The Chosen is a departure from the QuicK Investigations series and in my mind is Arlene Hunt’s best book yet. Getting right inside the heads of her characters so smoothlythat it comes as a surprise to some that Hunt is a Dubliner, and not a resident of the Deep South, this is a fast paced thriller that is compulsive reading. Brilliantly crafted complex characters, from the ambitious Darla Levine to the morose and shady Ace, Hunt has nailed the rural American voice brilliantly. Keeping me hooked to the last page, The Chosen is tightly written with not a word out of place. Ideal for anyone who reads thrillers or crime, or who just loves a damn good read, The Chosen will not disappoint. Now I want to see Ace and his dog Captain return in the next book…

Find out more about Arlene Hunt here: www.arlenehunt.com,

Read our interview with her here:

Review by Vanessa O'Loughlin

Killer á la Carte by Gerry Galvin

Killer á la Carte throws up a few surprises.  It is definitely leaning more toward Thriller than Crime (although plenty of crimes are committed). It follows the story of (in)famous restaurant critic James Livingston Gall.  Gall is feared by chefs for his lyrical damning of their food; his mix of verbosity and cruelty has seen him become the benchmark of food critiquing.  Beneath his impeccable and foppish behaviour, James Livingston Gall has a dark side.  He is consumed by his perceived failure as a chef and some very complex mother issues.  His dark side is matched when Carla Catalano enters his life with a proposition.  

This book is not a whodunit, it is a who-is-he.  It is a character study of James Livingston Gall; his motivations, his past and his actions, to fully understand how he became the man that he is.  The book keeps you guessing by having Gall as an unreliable narrator, your reality in reading the book is dependent on his perception of it.  It is not unlike Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho in that respect.  

The language of the book is equally as effusive as the language of Gall, this is a book that requires careful reading to fully appreciate its lyrical qualities.  And it is not one to be read on an empty stomach.  The finest food is lovingly described, highlighting Gerry Galvin's past as a chef.  It is the preparation passages that really get the taste buds going; evoking the smells and tastes of a bustling kitchen.  

Nine Inches by Colin Bateman

There are some things you can always be certain of when it comes to a Dan Starkey novel; nobody is telling the complete truth, nothing is ever what it seems and Dan Starkey will always be in the wrong place, at the wrong time and say - with great purpose - exactly the wrong thing.  It has been five years since we heard from Starkey and the years have not been kind to him.  The success, and the lifestyle, he enjoyed with 'Belfast Confidental' was short lived. He is broke, having wasted all his money, and alone, with the long suffering Patricia finally running out of patience.  

In order to keep himself busy and make use of his talents Starkey is now running a 'boutique, bespoke service for important people with difficult problems'.  Essentially, he aims to make tricky situations quietly and discreetly disappear for is famous clients.  Those who have been following Dan Starkey over the years know that his version of discrete normally results in an explosive conclusion.  His first client is radio shock-jock Jack Caramac.  Jack's son was kidnapped and returned with a note warning him to 'Shut Up'.  He wants Starkey to find out which, of the many enemies he has made with his on-air antics, is threatening him.  

Dan takes to the case with his usual approach, almost more likely to talk himself into trouble that out of it.  His determination to have the last word or squeeze in one last quip is the hook that never disappoints.  The plot twists and turns without ever leaving the reader behind; as with all Bateman books, the ending will always be a surprise without making any ridiculous leaps of logic. It will all make perfect sense.  Amid all the humour is a classic crime thriller plot.  In many ways, Starkey is the classic noir cop, armed except with his wit instead of a gun.  If you want a book that will keep you gripped and gripping your sides with laughter, look no further than Nine Inches.

Absolute Zero Cool by Declan Bukre

Absolute Zero Cool is a book that defies categorising. Its a crime/psychological/self aware/meta thriller. In truth it belongs in a genre of it's own, I have not read anything else quite like it. it is tough to give a preview of the storyline without giving too much away.  Absolute Zero Cool is a book about writing a book and, more importantly, about the books that are never finished.  One such writer is visited by Billy Karlsson, a man claiming to be a character from a book the writer never finished.  Karlsson has a life, he works as a hospital porter, but he stuck in limbo. Karlsson's life cannot go on until the writer finishes the story and his plan to blow up the hospital.  

The writer and Karlsson work together, meeting each morning to develop the story to its bombastic conclusion.  I will not say anymore than that on the plot, it needs to be discovered as you read. The book has many sides to it; noir, social commentary and character profile to name but a few.  Burke manages to hold everything together, plot progression never loses out to any of the additional strings and, importantly, the plot remains grounded in the tradition of the crime genre.  Buke goes to great lengths to test the boundaries of the genre to introduce new elements.  

The Affair by Lee Child

There are a few masters of the crime thriller, and Lee Child is one of them. The Affair is his 16th novel, and takes us right back to where Reacher began, to before his first smash hit novel The Killing Floor which won the Anthony Award in 1999. The day The Affair was released was the day One Shot, Child's 9th novel, much to the delight of Child's fans, commenced filming with a solid gold A-list cast, including Tom Cruise as Reacher.

After 15 books, you might think Child knows all there is to know about Reacher, that the books might follow a similar path. But there really is no danger of this with Child, and The Affair is definitely one of his best, gripping, packed full of plot twists and turns. The dialogue jumps off the page - Reacher's sardonic wit is deliciously funny in places, Child's economy of phrase a joy to read. Like every Reacher book, he's in a tough no holds barred situation, life or death with no middle way. And it is Reacher's attention to detail, his incredible retention of that detail that gets him through. Here's a classic Reacher moment:

He was a civilian, white, heavy, wearing a T-shirt with the sleeve rolled above a thick arm covered in fur and ink. He had long hair that hadn't been washed for a week or more.

Three choices.

First, stop and chat.

Second, step into the weeds between the pavement and the ditch, and pass him by.

Third break his arm.

I chose the first option. I stopped. But I didn't chat. Not immediately. I just stood there.

There was a second man in the passenger seat. Same type of a guy. Fur, ink, dirt, grease. But not identicial. A cousin, maybe but not a brother. Both men looked right at me, with the kind of smug, low-wattage insolence some kinds of strangers get in some kinds of bars. I looked right back at them. I'm not that kind of stranger.

The driver said, "Who are you and where are you going?"

I said nothing. I'm good at saying nothing. I don't like talking. I could go the rest of my life without saying a word, if I had to.

The driver said, "I asked you a question."

I thought: two questions, actually. But I said nothing. I didn't want to have to hit the guy. Not with my hands. I'm no hygiene freak, but even so, with a guy like that, I would feel the need to wash afterwards, extensively, with good soap, especially if there was pie in my future....

So where does The Affair take Reacher this time?

It's 1997, Reacher's orders are: go undercover, keep your distance, monitor the investigation.

The local sheriff is Elizabeth Deveraux, a beautiful woman and an ex-Marine MP. She has all the skills she needs, but she's making no progress. Why not? Is there a reason she doesn't want the killer identified? And there's constant pressure from the Pentagon, too. Shadowy figures from the world of politics want the killer unmasked—but only if he's a civilian. Any other result would be a catastrophe. Reacher and Deveraux can't get near the base. There's a shadow force in the woods, enforcing a quarantine zone around the fence. But side by side they piece together the evidence—and their partnership becomes more than professional. Eventually the army's official investigation produces a cast-iron prime suspect—and so does Reacher's undercover search. But Reacher's answer is not the same as the army's.

If he keeps quiet, will he be able to live with himself? And if he speaks out, will the army be able to live with him?

If you enjoy a damn good page turner, a fast paced, great read, this book is for you. And if you haven't read Lee Child, you've got a treat in store...start now, and you can catch up before the One Shot movie comes out...

Grid Lock by Sean Block

If you like Lee Child's Jack Reacher, you'll love Sean Black's ex Royal Marine investigator  turned personal protection expert Ryan Lock. He has a similar background to Reacher,  but unlike Lee Child's creation, Ryan Lock doesn't work alone. Lock has a business partner Ty - Tyrone -  cool, black and as tough as they come, and is engaged to newspaper reporter, Carrie.

So what was it about the story that had me hooked?

This is the run down: THE CITY OF ANGELS HAS A STALKER. ONLY ONE MAN CAN STOP HIM BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN.

As events spiral out of control, Lock is drawn into a dangerous world where money rules, where sex is a commodity to be bought and sold, and where no one can be trusted, least of all his beautiful new client. But what he cannot know is the terrifying price he's about to pay - just for getting involved...

Taken by Niamh O'Connor

I loved Niamh O'Connor's first novel If I Never See You Again, was left frantically trying to finish it at the heart stopping ending - so I was really looking forward to what happend next to the ballsy DI Jo Birmingham. But I really wasn't expecting the way O'Connor's new novel Taken keeps surprising the reader right to the last page - I couldn't put it down!

Grabbing you in the first page, O'Connor plays on every mother's fears and hooks you into a plot that twists and turns so fast you just have to keep reading to find out what happens next. The sense of confusion at a murder scene where the facts presented and the evidence just don't add up was masterfully executed - it's easy for us readers who watch cop dramas to think that gut instinct and forensics will throw up the killer everytime. As O'Connor knows from her job as True Crime editor of the Sunday World, real life and real policing isn't like that - and you can't trust anything you see.

This is a fabulous read, exposing the tragic dark side of wealth and celebrity, a fast paced thriller that will leave you thinking next time you open Hello! Magazine, and keep you guessing to the end. Couldn't recommended it highly enough. Sam Blake

Carte Blanche: The New James Bond Novel by Jeffrey Deaver

'In the world of espionage, giving an agent carte blanche on a mission comes with an enormous amount of trust and constantly tests both personal and professional judgement. Part of the nonstop suspense in the novel is the looming question of what is acceptable in matters of national and international security.

Are there lines that even James Bond should not cross? 'The novel will maintain the persona of James Bond as Fleming created him and the unique tone the author brought to his books, while incorporating my literary trademarks: detailed research, fast pacing and surprise twists.'

- Jeffery Deaver CARTE BLANCHE takes place in the present day over a short period of time, and sees Bond visit three or four exotic locations around the globe, one of which is Dubai.

Reviewed by Dubray Books

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

"The Clifton Chronicles" is a multi-generational family saga, from the epic master storyteller. "The Clifton Chronicles" is Jeffrey Archer's most ambitious work in four decades as an international bestselling author.

The epic tale of Harry Clifton's life begins in 1920, with the chilling words, 'I was told that my father was killed in the war'. But it will be another twenty years before Harry discovers how his father really died, which will only lead him to question: who was his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who worked in Bristol docks, or the first born son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?

"Only Time will Tell" covers the years from 1920 to 1940, and includes a cast of memorable characters that "The Times" has compared to "The Forsyte Saga". Volume one takes us from the ravages of the Great War to the outbreak of the Second World War, when Harry must decide whether to take up a place at Oxford, or join the navy and go to war with Hitler's Germany.

In Jeffrey Archer's masterful hands, the reader is taken on a journey that they won't want to end, and when you turn the last page of this unforgettable yarn, you will be faced with a dilemma that neither you, nor Harry Clifton could have anticipated.

Reviewed by Dubray Books

Plugged by Eoin Colfer

Dan, an Irishman who's ended up in New Jersey, finds himself embroiled in a world of murder, kidnapping and corrupt cops. Dan works as a bouncer in a seedy club, half in love with hostess Connie.

When Connie is murdered on the premises, a vengeful Dan finds himself embroiled in an increasingly deadly sequence of events in which his doctor friend Zeb goes mysteriously missing, a cop-killing female cop becomes his only ally, and he makes an enemy of ruthless drug-dealer Mike Madden.

Written with the warmth and wit that make the Artemis Fowl novels so irresistible, though with additional torture and violence, PLUGGED is a brilliant crime debut from a naturally gifted writer with a huge fanbase.

Paul Morgan is a young criminal always on the hunt for any easy score and a party. He’s brash, cocky and ballsy, and he drags his reluctant brother, Brian, in his wake. When Paul pushes a local hippy-gangster, Mad Mickey, a little too far, he does the sensible thing and flees Belfast, taking his brother with him. Their getaway vehicle though is Mickey’s van, which they then duly torch. Settling into their new life in Warrenpoint, a small seaside town, Brian meets Rachel, a slightly psychotic lass who’s a keeper, and Paul inveigles his way into the local drug dealing scene. And whilst Brian gets a job in a lumber yard, Paul convinces the local kingpin that he can rob cars to order. All Brian wants to do is work and be with Rachel, but he can’t escape the Paul’s vortex of crime and self-destruction. And then there’s Mad Mickey, a man who loved his van.

The Point is a novella. And whilst it’s a relatively short book - I flew through in a couple of hours - it packs one heck of a punch. The writing is tight, each scene crafted and shorn of flab, and the pace is electric and never lets up. What really struck me about The Point was that it managed to work at a number of different levels - it has crime and violence, warmth and tenderness, humour and pathos - and it had gritty realism to the anarchic arc of the Morgan brothers freewheeling lives. I believed in the characters and their relationships to each other, and the dialogue was spot on. Paul, Brian and Rachel are fully formed and come alive on the page. I would love to see this adapted into a movie or two hour TV show. If you want a gritty shot of Irish noir then order up this fine fare.