BLEED A RIVER DEEP - Brian McGilloway

The third outing for Inspector Devlin and he hasn't got any smarter. As in the first two of this series half the trouble is caused by Devlin and if not by him, by other members of the constabulary. The trouble unfortunately results in people dieing.

As a detective Devlin is just a dogged plodder and stubborn with it, his solving the crime involves quiet a bit of luck.

This story involves illegal immigrants and gold, again set in the borderlands of Ireland.  Devlin isn't the brightest but the authors plots are outstanding, 8 out of 10 and they save the books.

So, I'll keep reading them, Devlin must learn soon to think just a tad before acting. (Published 2010)

GALLOWS LANE - Brian McGilloway

The second Inspector Benedict Devlin Mystery, again set on the border of Ireland and the North.

A series of nasty murders occur including a Crucifixion done with twelve inch nails - not a common way for authors to dispatch their characters. At the same time a number of young women are being sexually assaulted and killed - all this and a dollop of police corruption thrown in.

This is another good read with lots of nasty characters just like McGilloway's first effort 'Borderlands'.

The crimes are all solved; in a logical and sensible way, no superhero antics involved but then you could never accuse Devlin of being the sharpest knife in the drawer by any stretch of the imagination. He is no Sherlock Holmes when it comes to lateral thinking, but I suppose this makes the character more human.

A good crime novel and I will follow this series. ( Published 2008)

BORDERLANDS - Brian McGILLOWAY

What a delightful surprise from the bargain bin ($3.00).

Detective Benedict Devlin has three recent murders and one old one going back 25 years to solve. It seems that a police colleague is implicated in the whole affair.

Set in Ireland right on the border with the north we have a great wee whodunit, full of totally dislikeable characters, lots of red herrings and a good plot.

This is the first outing for McGilloway and is recommended it continues to surprise right to the end. (Published 2007)

A DEATH IN SUMMER - Benjamin Black

The fourth 'Quirke' mystery with the shambling drunken Dublin pathologist. Newspaper tycoon Richard Jewel is found with his head blown off, suicide/ murder?

There are plenty of suspects if it is a murder. Quirke managers to piece it all together as well as maintaining his shambolic relationship with a young actress and an infatuation with the dead mans wife.

This is the best of the four Quirke novels written by Black, the pen name of John Banville. Its another good atmospheric tale set in 1950's Ireland where connections and money rule.

ELEGY FOR APRIL - Benjamin Black

Number three of the Quirke Dublin mysteries.

Quirke's daughter's friend April goes missing.   April,a member of the powerful and wealthy Latimer family , a family from which she is estranged.

The cone of silence from the family due to their fear of scandal regarding the disappearance causes much hindrance to the police's and Quirke's investigation. An investigation that eventually finds much more than risk of scandal.

Quirke manages to unravel the secrets and lies that have been concocted over the disappearance as well as getting himself involved with a young actress, an affair that does nothing to assist in his attempts to stay sober.

Wonderful writing, as in the previous two novels, again, very dark but that's what the author is wanting to portray and he's does it very well.

Read the stories in order or it will get a wee bit confusing. (Published 2010)

THE GINGER MAN - J P Donleavy

Published in 1955 this was the first work from J P Donleavy ( James Patrick) and hasn't been out of print since and has been described as a classic by others.

Its the mis-adventures of Sebastian Dangerfield, an American living in squalor in Dublin.

Dangerfield is a drunken, lying, wife beating waster who to me has no charm whatsoever.

The initial part of the book concerns us with our 'hero' stealing the house keeping for drink,running up huge unpayable bills for drink and totally neglecting his family while doing so. Call me strange but I didn't see any hilarity in this.

Later he seduces a boarder who he uses for her money and then a younger woman with whom he settles down with somewhat. Although I don't feel there is any redemption, he just gets more cunning.

For its time it was considered risque and was initially banned in the U S and the Republic of Ireland; - because of its 'startling nature'.

Dangerfield comes across as just a sad,desperate individual and empathy I have none.

As far as characters in literature go, Dangerfield ranks up there with Ignatius Reilly from - A Confederacy of Dunces - as totally loathsome.

It may be just me though who lacks the sense of humour because I have seen - A Confederacy of Dunces - referred to as a comic masterpiece as well.

The character Dangerfield was evidently based on a friend of Donleavy's when he first moved to Ireland after the Second World War. This friend Gainor Stephen Crist died young of alcoholism.

Now, not liking the character does not mean this isn't really well written, it is and Donleavy has gone on and written hilarious novels. He is kicking along at 84 and gives the impression of being a very naughty boy still.

If starting to read Donleavy I would recommend the Darcy Dancer trilogy; no where near as depressing or as brutal as parts of this one are and truly funny.