If you enjoy anything Irish, you will very much like this nice little mystery. Chief Inspector McGarr, know for his innate ability to think like a criminal and thus anticipate their moves, a trait the French considered uniquely Irish (you’ll have to read the book to understand why that little section brought a smile.)
Some very nice, evocative images: “The beach of pulverized oyster shells made one color with the seafoam, driving mist, ashen skies, and cottages in Kilronan: a grey as glossy as from a tube of oil paint. Upon this background, the beach boat, the tanned faces and wet woolen clothes of the crew, oars over their shoulders, seemed to be imposed starkly in too sharp a focus.”
Lots of references to the troubles and the relationship of the British police to the native Irish. When we visited there two years ago, a friend noted the community we intended to visit had been a hotbed of Protestant/Catholic tension and the shuttered police fortress was a reminder of the ill-feeling toward the British that existed in Northern Ireland.
I liked the Irish feel, the images, and the characters but found the plot to be a bit convoluted and excessively devious. Good read, nevertheless. Probably 3.5 stars.First in a series. I will read more.
Originally published in 1977, I suspect this new Kindle version has been expurgated and changed to update it to a more recent time.
'via Blog this'
No comments:
Post a Comment