Reviewed By: Lynn Harnett
The Silver Swan
Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Benjamin Black
Class/Genre: Mystery Historical Noir
Henry Holt, March 2008
A sequel to Black’s first Quirke novel, this second Dublin 1950s noir tale takes place two years later. And if you start with this one, a certain amount of confusion is inevitable. The repercussions from “Christine Falls” still echo through the lives of Quirke and his family, their relations (and circumstances, for some) forever changed. This is more of a continuing series than most and readers should begin with “Christine Falls.”
That said, Quirke has given up alcohol. It’s been six months and his thirst still rages, becoming almost crippling at times. Sobriety does not seem to have helped his judgment any though.
An old school acquaintance, Billy Hunt, comes to him, asking Quirke to forego an autopsy on his young wife. She has drowned herself and he can’t bear the thought of her being cut open. Though Quirke doesn’t for a second believe Billy killed her, he discovers she was indeed murdered – drugged, not drowned – but does not report his findings to the inquest.
He does, however, continue investigating. And he tells his friend (not that they socialize) Inspector Hackett. Point of view switches between several of the characters, allowing the dead woman to relate her own increasingly lurid (and somewhat farfetched) story and exploring several other dangerous sexual relationships.
Sex, in its darkest and most repressed form, is at the heart of this tale of blackmail, degradation and jealousy. Upon reflection, some elements of the plot seem strained, but Black (pseudonym of award-winning novelist John Banville) weaves a spell that brings grim Catholic Dublin and its social strata to life and most readers will be too absorbed to notice. Quirke now feels fully established in the pantheon of great, flawed crime-series protagonists.
Lynn Harnett
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Lynn Harnett
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