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Jack Taylor #18
Galway's Edge
A secretive vigilante group called Edge cleanses Galway of its worst criminals. But when someone starts picking off Edge members, private detective Jack Taylor steps in to investigate.
Edge, a shadow organization made up of the most powerful figures in Galway society, exists to rid the city of criminals and abusers who have evaded the law. Long wary of the organization, the Vatican is not pleased when rumors start swirling that one of the Catholic Church’s own priests has joined its ranks. And who better to ask to intercede than the whiskey-swigging ex-cop who always seems to have one foot in the pub and another among Ireland’s clergy?
Lately, Jack has been spending his days sitting at the bedside of a man he put into a coma and taking care of a little dog named Trip, bequeathed to him by a dead nun. Then an envoy to the Archdiocese shows up at his door, asking Jack to go speak to a priest named Kevin Whelan and dissuade him from any involvement with Edge. Jack accepts the mission, but the next day Father Whelan is found dead, hanging from a rope in his own backyard.
Would Edge really kill one of their own? And if not, who else would be bold enough to take on the most powerful organization in the city? As more Edge members are murdered, the Vatican grows alarmed that someone even worse will take their place. It’s up to Jack Taylor to nail the culprit before Edge is dissolved completely and Galway is thrown into chaos.
Edge, a shadow organization made up of the most powerful figures in Galway society, exists to rid the city of criminals and abusers who have evaded the law. Long wary of the organization, the Vatican is not pleased when rumors start swirling that one of the Catholic Church’s own priests has joined its ranks. And who better to ask to intercede than the whiskey-swigging ex-cop who always seems to have one foot in the pub and another among Ireland’s clergy?
Lately, Jack has been spending his days sitting at the bedside of a man he put into a coma and taking care of a little dog named Trip, bequeathed to him by a dead nun. Then an envoy to the Archdiocese shows up at his door, asking Jack to go speak to a priest named Kevin Whelan and dissuade him from any involvement with Edge. Jack accepts the mission, but the next day Father Whelan is found dead, hanging from a rope in his own backyard.
Would Edge really kill one of their own? And if not, who else would be bold enough to take on the most powerful organization in the city? As more Edge members are murdered, the Vatican grows alarmed that someone even worse will take their place. It’s up to Jack Taylor to nail the culprit before Edge is dissolved completely and Galway is thrown into chaos.
312 pages, Hardcover
Published March 4, 2025
39 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Ken Bruen
132 books850 followersKen Bruen was an Irish writer of hardboiled and noir crime fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
April 16, 2025
I have enjoyed every Ken Bruen novel I could buy - new or used.
No exception here.
Bruen created other series I enjoyed almost as much as his Jack Taylor series.
The Taylor series has had the longest run.
Ken Bruen is one of the greats.
Sadly he passed on shortly before this novel was published.
If you’re new to the series you can enjoy this entry as a standalone.
Be warned: this one ends on a cliffhanger as did the previous entry.
Hopefully the situation Jack Taylor finds himself in will be resolved satisfactorily.
I have to operate in the hope that there are at least a couple of more Taylor entries to be published posthumously.
If not, I will miss this series.
Amid the violence and the vengeance in these entries, Ken Bruen uses his character to expound on philosophies of life.
Pop Culture “best-of” lists… mini-rhapsodies on favorite crime writers, poets, singer-songwriters and music bands of various genres pepper each slim volume.
Ken Bruen was a poet.
Reading each entry in this series has been like revisiting a favorite college bar you remember from youth, warm and cheerfully familiar, each Jack Taylor adventure a pleasure to read and a harbor from reality.
No exception here.
Bruen created other series I enjoyed almost as much as his Jack Taylor series.
The Taylor series has had the longest run.
Ken Bruen is one of the greats.
Sadly he passed on shortly before this novel was published.
If you’re new to the series you can enjoy this entry as a standalone.
Be warned: this one ends on a cliffhanger as did the previous entry.
Hopefully the situation Jack Taylor finds himself in will be resolved satisfactorily.
I have to operate in the hope that there are at least a couple of more Taylor entries to be published posthumously.
If not, I will miss this series.
Amid the violence and the vengeance in these entries, Ken Bruen uses his character to expound on philosophies of life.
Pop Culture “best-of” lists… mini-rhapsodies on favorite crime writers, poets, singer-songwriters and music bands of various genres pepper each slim volume.
Ken Bruen was a poet.
Reading each entry in this series has been like revisiting a favorite college bar you remember from youth, warm and cheerfully familiar, each Jack Taylor adventure a pleasure to read and a harbor from reality.
April 7, 2025
Even as the 18th installment in the Jack Taylor series, Ken Bruen's Galway's Edge stands fiercely on its own and doesn't pull any punches. This isn't just fiction; Bruen fearlessly weaves in razor sharp commentary ripped from today's headlines. Think Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing saga of Donald Trump's legal battles, and the heartbreaking truth behind Ireland's cervical cancer testing cover up. This first encounter with Bruen has me hooked and eager to read the rest of the series. The premise alone is captivating: a special envoy from the Vatican enlists the unconventional Irish former cop turned PI Jack Taylor to prevent a Galway priest from joining Edge, a local vigilante group promising justice where the system fails. But the situation quickly escalates as the five pillars of Edge become targets of violent attacks, throwing the unconventional Irish PI Jack Taylor into a dangerous and compelling investigation. Set against the atmospheric beauty of Galway, Ireland, Galway's Edge has made me an instant fan of Ken Bruen and has made me eager to delve into the earlier adventures of the compelling Private Investigator Jack Taylor. 4/5
March 13, 2025
March 6, 2025
Book Review
Galway’s Edge
Ken Bruen
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
And yet again… another riveting Bruen gem featuring ex-Garda officer and present-day private eye Jack Taylor. This is the eighteenth glorious installment in this enduring and exceptional series.
While it can be enjoyed as a standalone, readers will undoubtedly want to explore the entire Jack Taylor series. Not only should they discover the pathos of Jack Taylor on the page, but I also recommend binge-watching the Netflix television adaptation. No one can read these stories without picturing the brilliant Scottish actor Iain Glen as Jack Taylor (this was before his stint as Ser Jorah Mormont on Game of Thrones).
Since his daughter was killed in his presence, Jack has teetered on the abyss, attempting to drown himself in Jameson and Xanax. He is an extremely flawed protagonist—a violent lush who cannot control his sarcastic, ballsy behavior and is a virtual pain in the ass to everyone who knows him.
A shadowy organization is operating in Galway. “The Edge” is a group of five members of local society who have taken it upon themselves to mete out justice to those who have escaped the arm of the law. Their brand of vigilante justice has, at times, gone too far. An envoy of the Vatican Archdiocese, Father Richard, arrives at Jack’s doorstep. The group has recently disposed of a pedophile named Cleon, and the Vatican is aware that one of its members is none other than Father Kevin Whelan. They enlist Jack to persuade him to stand down. The next day, Father Kevin is found dead, hanging by a rope in his backyard. One by one, members of the shadowy cabal are murdered. Who would have the audacity to eliminate these powerful figures?
As Jack investigates, hedge fund millionaire George Benson quickly arouses his suspicion. He soon learns that Benson was refused admission to the group—and he’s not a man who takes rejection lightly. Meanwhile, the local Mother Superior once again calls on Jack for help. A revered jeweled crucifix has been stolen from the church, and subtle clues point to Benson.
To complicate matters further, an abused wife of a Garda officer approaches Jack, desperate for his help in getting her husband to stand down. But when Jack confronts the officer, he is met with a punch to the face, leaving him with a broken nose and a concussion. The next day, the woman somehow falls under the wheels of a bus.
Jack’s entanglements continue to mount as chaos swirls in Galway.
Ken Bruen, with his unparalleled storytelling skills, unleashes a complex and twisted narrative that escalates into an unexpected and explosive denouement. Along the way, he stuns with his gritty, dark Irish humor and almost poetic prose. Violence abounds, but it is never gratuitous—it merely sets the stage for what is to come. As with any Bruen novel, quirky characters pop up with strange motivations and bizarre requests for Jack, propelling the narrative in unexpected directions.
This gripping tale will appeal to aficionados of detective noir crime novels, particularly fans of Adrian McKinty and James Ellroy. Personally, I alternated between my Kindle and the audiobook, narrated by John Keating. I quickly became enamored with his authentic Irish accent, which breathed life into this immersive crime fiction journey. Keating has received multiple accolades for his captivating renditions of a diverse array of literature.
.... Published at MysteryAndSuspenseMagazine.com ....
Thanks to NetGalley, Mysterious Press, and HighBridge Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and an advance audio version in exchange for an honest review of this five-star gem.
Book Review
Galway’s Edge
Ken Bruen
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
And yet again… another riveting Bruen gem featuring ex-Garda officer and present-day private eye Jack Taylor. This is the eighteenth glorious installment in this enduring and exceptional series.
While it can be enjoyed as a standalone, readers will undoubtedly want to explore the entire Jack Taylor series. Not only should they discover the pathos of Jack Taylor on the page, but I also recommend binge-watching the Netflix television adaptation. No one can read these stories without picturing the brilliant Scottish actor Iain Glen as Jack Taylor (this was before his stint as Ser Jorah Mormont on Game of Thrones).
Since his daughter was killed in his presence, Jack has teetered on the abyss, attempting to drown himself in Jameson and Xanax. He is an extremely flawed protagonist—a violent lush who cannot control his sarcastic, ballsy behavior and is a virtual pain in the ass to everyone who knows him.
A shadowy organization is operating in Galway. “The Edge” is a group of five members of local society who have taken it upon themselves to mete out justice to those who have escaped the arm of the law. Their brand of vigilante justice has, at times, gone too far. An envoy of the Vatican Archdiocese, Father Richard, arrives at Jack’s doorstep. The group has recently disposed of a pedophile named Cleon, and the Vatican is aware that one of its members is none other than Father Kevin Whelan. They enlist Jack to persuade him to stand down. The next day, Father Kevin is found dead, hanging by a rope in his backyard. One by one, members of the shadowy cabal are murdered. Who would have the audacity to eliminate these powerful figures?
As Jack investigates, hedge fund millionaire George Benson quickly arouses his suspicion. He soon learns that Benson was refused admission to the group—and he’s not a man who takes rejection lightly. Meanwhile, the local Mother Superior once again calls on Jack for help. A revered jeweled crucifix has been stolen from the church, and subtle clues point to Benson.
To complicate matters further, an abused wife of a Garda officer approaches Jack, desperate for his help in getting her husband to stand down. But when Jack confronts the officer, he is met with a punch to the face, leaving him with a broken nose and a concussion. The next day, the woman somehow falls under the wheels of a bus.
Jack’s entanglements continue to mount as chaos swirls in Galway.
Ken Bruen, with his unparalleled storytelling skills, unleashes a complex and twisted narrative that escalates into an unexpected and explosive denouement. Along the way, he stuns with his gritty, dark Irish humor and almost poetic prose. Violence abounds, but it is never gratuitous—it merely sets the stage for what is to come. As with any Bruen novel, quirky characters pop up with strange motivations and bizarre requests for Jack, propelling the narrative in unexpected directions.
This gripping tale will appeal to aficionados of detective noir crime novels, particularly fans of Adrian McKinty and James Ellroy. Personally, I alternated between my Kindle and the audiobook, narrated by John Keating. I quickly became enamored with his authentic Irish accent, which breathed life into this immersive crime fiction journey. Keating has received multiple accolades for his captivating renditions of a diverse array of literature.
.... Published at MysteryAndSuspenseMagazine.com ....
Thanks to NetGalley, Mysterious Press, and HighBridge Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and an advance audio version in exchange for an honest review of this five-star gem.
January 25, 2025
Galway Edge
JackTaylor is a private investigator in Galway. However much of his work involves righting wrongs and solving problems rather than investigating.
In this book, the 18th in the Jack Taylor series, he gets requests from the Vatican, nuns in a local convent, the wife of an abusive Garda as well as a terminally ill man who wants Jack to kill him on his birthday.
The Edge began as a vigilante group of powerful citizens of Galway. The Vatican is concerned with the involvement of a local priest and asks Jack’s help. Then the priest and other members of the group turned up dead. The sole surviving member of the Edge is a wealthy, powerful businessman who wants to change the goals of the group.
The book is filled with current events like child abuse among the clergy, Ukrainian refugees flooding the country of Ireland and the trials of Donald Trump in the US.
This is the first book I have read by this author. I was impressed with use of dialogue and the hero whose modus operandi is to “retaliate first”.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest opinion.
JackTaylor is a private investigator in Galway. However much of his work involves righting wrongs and solving problems rather than investigating.
In this book, the 18th in the Jack Taylor series, he gets requests from the Vatican, nuns in a local convent, the wife of an abusive Garda as well as a terminally ill man who wants Jack to kill him on his birthday.
The Edge began as a vigilante group of powerful citizens of Galway. The Vatican is concerned with the involvement of a local priest and asks Jack’s help. Then the priest and other members of the group turned up dead. The sole surviving member of the Edge is a wealthy, powerful businessman who wants to change the goals of the group.
The book is filled with current events like child abuse among the clergy, Ukrainian refugees flooding the country of Ireland and the trials of Donald Trump in the US.
This is the first book I have read by this author. I was impressed with use of dialogue and the hero whose modus operandi is to “retaliate first”.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest opinion.
May 28, 2025
Jack Taylor books are always a quick read for me.
I'm wondering if it's in this book he finally self destructs....drinks too much....goes too far beating some criminal with his hurling stick etc.
He does spend some time in Hospital in this book (a usual occurence)...and Jack has a lot to deal with ..an elite Galway group of citizens who think they run the city....a businessman who knows he runs the city.....a dead criminal who Jack feels he's to blame and plenty of women.
Marvellous creation.
I look forward to every book.
I'm wondering if it's in this book he finally self destructs....drinks too much....goes too far beating some criminal with his hurling stick etc.
He does spend some time in Hospital in this book (a usual occurence)...and Jack has a lot to deal with ..an elite Galway group of citizens who think they run the city....a businessman who knows he runs the city.....a dead criminal who Jack feels he's to blame and plenty of women.
Marvellous creation.
I look forward to every book.
August 20, 2025
This was really interesting - found it at the library and read it. I shouldn’t have started with #18 in the series though… I was a little confused.
April 29, 2025
Due to Ken Bruen’s passing in March, Galway’s Edge is most likely going to be the last of his published works. As such, I wanted to savor it, enjoying every word and every sentence. But like all of his writing, especially the Jack Taylor books, it reads so quickly that turned out to be impossible.
Galway’s Edge is there with the best of the Jack Taylor books. Although I love the entire series, there were a couple in the middle that seemed as if they could have been dashed off in about as long as it took me to read them; that is to say, just a couple of days. But this book includes everything we love about Taylor - dogs, failed love affairs, beatings, nuns, murdered friends, and hurlies. There are also several simultaneous crimes happening, plenty to keep Jack busy.
There will be a lot of Jack Taylor questions left unanswered, to be sure. Would he ever have made it to America, which for some reason, he seemed determined to visit.
But in a way, it’s also a good finale.
There are still a handful of Ken Bruen books I haven’t read and I hope to get to those soon. I still felt a sense of melancholy as I finished Galway’s Edge. If you like Bruen’s writing, especially the style employed in the Jack Taylor series, you’ll love this book. If not, well, what’s wrong with you?
Galway’s Edge is there with the best of the Jack Taylor books. Although I love the entire series, there were a couple in the middle that seemed as if they could have been dashed off in about as long as it took me to read them; that is to say, just a couple of days. But this book includes everything we love about Taylor - dogs, failed love affairs, beatings, nuns, murdered friends, and hurlies. There are also several simultaneous crimes happening, plenty to keep Jack busy.
There will be a lot of Jack Taylor questions left unanswered, to be sure. Would he ever have made it to America, which for some reason, he seemed determined to visit.
But in a way, it’s also a good finale.
There are still a handful of Ken Bruen books I haven’t read and I hope to get to those soon. I still felt a sense of melancholy as I finished Galway’s Edge. If you like Bruen’s writing, especially the style employed in the Jack Taylor series, you’ll love this book. If not, well, what’s wrong with you?
February 25, 2025
Entering Jack Taylor’s world is an invitation to spend time in a beautiful city on the edge of Ireland with a man, living on the edge of society, who walks the streets cleansing the city of its evil. His “clients” vary from Church representatives to the homeless. Occasionally he saves the animals. He drinks too much, scorns all institutions, uses violent solutions and is compassionate to those who deserve it. Ken Bruen’s style is sparse and powerful. Throughout his work he alludes to literature, music and current events, enriching his message and proving less is better when telling a story. He is a favorite author of mine; he never disappoints.
March 21, 2025
Taylor is called on to resolve a series of cases, starting with bringing down Edge, a vigilante group operating at the highest levels of society.
Darkly humorous in places, with some interesting work for the alcoholic former Guard. Bruen plots well and so many of his characters seethe with impotent rage. Jack Taylor is a triumphant character from a must-read writer.
Darkly humorous in places, with some interesting work for the alcoholic former Guard. Bruen plots well and so many of his characters seethe with impotent rage. Jack Taylor is a triumphant character from a must-read writer.
September 11, 2025
Farewell, Jack, thanks for the great times
December 15, 2025
In reviewing Bruen's Galway Confidential, I remarked that I did not like the book as much as some of the others but was sure that better stuff was on the way. Little did I know that Galway's Edge would be Bruen's last Jack Taylor book. And it is a fine ending, though I wish Ken had lived to write more. Jack is an acquired taste, a boozing, unsentimental lout who still has a bright spark of humanity hiding in his brutal nature. This book shows his merciless way with those he deems unreachably evil. And it shows his soul as caring, reluctantly, for many of his fellow outcasts, and even some nuns! Love these books. RIP, Ken.
December 22, 2025
Great reading experience. Great to spend time once again with Jack Taylor, one of my favorite series.
Library Loan
Library Loan
April 10, 2025
3.5 stars
In this 18th book in the 'Jack Taylor' series, the sleuth takes on a variety of cases. The novel can be read as a standalone.
*****
Jack Taylor was an officer in the Garda Síochána (Irish Police) until he was dismissed from the force. Jack is now a private detective in Galway, known for his addiction to Jameson Irish Whiskey, his skills as a private investigator, and his ability to get things done.
Jack is also the appreciative owner of a Shih Tzu pup called Trip, bequeathed to Jack by a former nun.
The beginning of Galway's Edge made me think of the 1983 movie 'Star Chamber'. In the film, a secret society of Los Angeles judges administer punishment to criminals who escape courtroom justice.
In Galway's Edge, a group of Galway citizens, who call themselves 'Edge', administer justice to perps who evade the law. For instance, a child molester who couldn't be convicted was burned up in his car.
Though Edge tries to fly under the radar, the Vatican learns a Catholic priest called Kevin Whelan belongs to the group.
This could cause a scandal for the church, and Jack is hired to persuade Father Whelan to leave Edge. Jack speaks to the priest, and the next day Whelan is found dead, hanging from a rope in his backyard.
The homicide leads Jack to look into Edge, whose membership is a closely kept secret. Jack "knows people" though, and he manages to get a list of Edge participants. These are:
1. Lukas Ortiz - literary agent
2. Philomena Dunphy - real estate mogul
3. P.J. Duggan - billionaire
4. Martin de Breen - best-selling author
5. Kevin Whelan - Catholic priest (now deceased)
After Father Whelan is killed, other Edge members are murdered one by one, and it seems someone has a grudge against the group. Jack comes to suspect the vindictive person is a British millionaire named George Benson, who tried to join Edge but was rejected. When Jack goes to Benson's office for a chat he's promptly thrown out, and more trouble follows.
In the meanwhile, Jack gets other cases.
Jack's acquaintance, Mother Superior Therese, asks Jack to retrieve a gold cross encrusted with jewels that was stolen from the convent.
A battered woman - who can't go to the police because her husband is a garde - asks Jack to intervene with her spouse.
A man who's dying from cancer hires Jack to kill him, so he can avoid a lingering painful death.
As usual in Jack Taylor novels, the book is filled with violence: shootings, stabbings, beatings with a hurling stick, amputations, being thrown off roofs, and more - and Jack finds himself on the wrong end sometimes. Nevertheless, Jack always gets some modicum of justice, which makes the books satisfying.
Jack is a very entertaining character, with his constant yen for a shot (or two or three) of Jameson; his clothing purchases in thrift stores for EVERY occasion; and his trouble with women. In one amusing scene Jack's three female acquaintances end up in his apartment at the same time, which doesn't go too well.
At heart, Jack is a good guy who'll give 20 pounds to a homeless man, and help almost anyone who needs assistance.
As a dog lover, I also appreciate that Jack bathes Trip, takes him to the dog park, and has canine treats on hand.
This is an engaging thriller, recommended to readers who enjoy the genre, especially Jack Taylor fans. (Sadly, author Ken Bruen died in March 2025, so we might not see more of Jack Taylor.)
Thanks to Netgalley, Ken Bruen, and Mysterious Press for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
August 24, 2025
RIP Ken Bruen and your wonderful creation Jack Taylor.
August 21, 2025
A quick read - violent, humorous, and mostly entertaining. Enjoyed the cultural references to what was going on in Ireland and around the world.
March 17, 2025
Happy Birthday...even though it isn't until September Ken Bruen gave me the early gift of "Galway's Edge" in honor of my upcoming another year "younger". Boom. It doesn't get any better than this (but I bet it will!) The great Jack Taylor bleeding, drinking, saving souls and taking out those whose presence is simply not necessary took me away on another magic carpet ride of fun and frolic with himself and his cronies. Lots of bad guys, the Guard still wants the coat back, he's got a new neighbor once again and then he doesn't. I do not know how I can last another year before Mr. Bruen's #19 in the series is published and dropped into my awaiting hands and heart once again. Sliante Jack and watch your step.
March 20, 2025
“I’m sorry I called you an arsehole. I thought you already knew.” Thus begins the 18th entry in Ken Bruen’s Jack Taylor series. A new Jack Taylor novel is one of my great pleasures in life.
The ubual intertwined stories are here, but I don’t read Jack Taylor for the stories, which are always dark, messy and oddly redemptive.
I read them as much for Bruen’s own clipped style and for his own unique grammar. Of Irish descent myself, I know that the Irish pride themselves on speaking English in a way that quietly insults England and the English Invaders who once oppressed them. Ken Bruen’s version of English is worth the price of admission.
Pay the admission, read the book and revel in some of the best use of the English language ever put to paper.
The ubual intertwined stories are here, but I don’t read Jack Taylor for the stories, which are always dark, messy and oddly redemptive.
I read them as much for Bruen’s own clipped style and for his own unique grammar. Of Irish descent myself, I know that the Irish pride themselves on speaking English in a way that quietly insults England and the English Invaders who once oppressed them. Ken Bruen’s version of English is worth the price of admission.
Pay the admission, read the book and revel in some of the best use of the English language ever put to paper.
March 25, 2025
So many edges - in life, in literature. This is another outstanding Jack Taylor mystery and walk around Galway. There are a few old friends from earlier books in the series and many new characters, some especially despicable. There are three strong reasons to read this (and other) Jack Taylor books: for the characters, for the story, and especially for how the author puts words on paper. Add to that noir humor and you won’t want to put this book down until you reach the last word.
This can be read as a standalone; however, reading every book in this series is such a treat to give yourself. All highly recommended.
This can be read as a standalone; however, reading every book in this series is such a treat to give yourself. All highly recommended.
May 13, 2025
And with a sad heart these books end.
Beautiful, brutal, cold and loving.
Contradictions abound. A series that shouldn't work. A protagonist that shouldn't be so likable. A use of prose style that would be mocked if another used it.
And yet?
And yet, it works better than any explanation can offer. Jack, like Ken himself is imbued with Galway, is in fact Galway writ large.
Now, one wonders if Alan Hayes of Arlen House will republish Ken's earlier works, I know he's busy looking after his mother in Baldoyle.
Beautiful, brutal, cold and loving.
Contradictions abound. A series that shouldn't work. A protagonist that shouldn't be so likable. A use of prose style that would be mocked if another used it.
And yet?
And yet, it works better than any explanation can offer. Jack, like Ken himself is imbued with Galway, is in fact Galway writ large.
Now, one wonders if Alan Hayes of Arlen House will republish Ken's earlier works, I know he's busy looking after his mother in Baldoyle.
May 18, 2025
A good dose of Jack Taylor for the road now that Ken Bruen has gone. The plot held together better than some have in recent years and should make fans happy.
Otherwise, my second reason to love reading Ken Bruen's work is that he uses turns of phrase I've only ever heard from my Irish-born grandmother - in spite of the fact that I don't know that she ever set eyes on the city of Galway. More's the Irish pity.
Otherwise, my second reason to love reading Ken Bruen's work is that he uses turns of phrase I've only ever heard from my Irish-born grandmother - in spite of the fact that I don't know that she ever set eyes on the city of Galway. More's the Irish pity.
March 10, 2025
Irish noir from a great writer. Jack Taylor’s is an ex cop who turns revenge into a profession. He is hired by the church, nuns, people whose pets were stolen and battered wives. His motto is “retaliate first.”
This is elite Irish literature. In some places this reads more like poetry than crime fiction. A top notch writer
This is elite Irish literature. In some places this reads more like poetry than crime fiction. A top notch writer
July 4, 2025
I love how the books in the Jack Taylor series aren't sequential. There's one mystery; another one pops up; another is resolved; another pops up.
I also appreciate the spare prose. They make me feel like the author has sat me down in a pub, ordered me a Jameson, and has some things he wants to recount. Phew-oh.
I also appreciate the spare prose. They make me feel like the author has sat me down in a pub, ordered me a Jameson, and has some things he wants to recount. Phew-oh.
March 27, 2025
Jack’s Back! Yes I know he returned in Galway Confidential, but he was a little off his game in that one. This book was much more like Cross or Sanctuary. Jack is beset by the clergy, hangin with nuns, and for the first time ever, loaded (with money, not just booze and pills).
April 16, 2025
I really enjoy the writer’s style! Quick, efficient, clear. He gets the job done, without being superfluous or messy. I wonder how I have not heard of these novels until now. Looks like I have 17 more to read!
April 18, 2025
While reading this book I first heard of Bruen's passing. To date I have no idea how it came about.
Fortunately, we have this, his recently and last published work to remember him by.
To my mind, he remains the Godfather of Irish Noir.
...go dtí go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís...
Fortunately, we have this, his recently and last published work to remember him by.
To my mind, he remains the Godfather of Irish Noir.
...go dtí go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís...
May 8, 2025
Entertaining as usual. I have read all of Ken Bruen’s books. I really like the commentary on the news and world events happening at the time the book was written. Jack Taylor is a complex and interesting PI. Bruen’s attitude towards the Vatican and Irish clergy is a large part of the story.
August 1, 2025
Perfect Jack Taylor.
April 13, 2025
Heartbroken to learn that this is the last Jack Taylor. RIP Ken Bruen.
March 14, 2025
i would read Ken Bruen in monthly installments just to have more of his writing. Magnificent. Now I have to wait again. aaah
March 14, 2025
A perfect St. Patrick's Day read. Walking the streets of Galway with an old friend and many toasts with Jamesons!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews