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Jack Taylor #1
The Guards
It’s almost impossible to be thrown out of the Gardaí, but former police detective Jack Taylor has managed it.
Following the death of his father, Jack is disgraced, unemployed, and drinking himself into oblivion, when he is asked to privately investigate a teenage suicide. The incient is not the first of its kind. Multiple suicides have happened on the same bridge in Galway — and the victims have all been teenage girls.
The Irish police, the Guards, dismiss the case as coincidental, suggesting the bridge has become a destination for depressed teens. However, when Jack is approached by the mother of one of the girls, he begins to uncover things that suggest otherwise.
The Guards, winner of the Shamus Award for Best Novel and finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel is the first title in the best selling Jack Taylor series.
Praise for Ken
‘His voice is wry and bittersweet, but somehow always hopeful.’ - Seattle Times
‘The Godfather of the modern Irish crime novel.’ - Irish Times
‘If his prose was any sharper, your eyeballs would bleed.’ - Mystery Scene
‘Filled with a glorious love of the language and an engaging protagonist who is unlike almost any other.’ - Strand Magazine
‘One sign of a winning detective series is how much fun the author has with the creation… Ken Bruen is having a shameless good time.’ - Shelf Awareness
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2001
525 people are currently reading
6798 people want to read
About the author
Ken Bruen
133 books852 followersKen Bruen was an Irish writer of hardboiled and noir crime fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 715 reviews
December 2, 2024
SENZA DISTINTIVO
Iain Glen interpreta Jack Taylor in due non memorabili TV movie del 2010 e 2013 da cui sono prese queste foto.
Don Winslow ha inserito questo libro nella sua personale classifica delle cinque top crime novel: avendo letto tre titoli su cinque, e avendoli trovati più che notevoli, mi sono fidato del consiglio di Don e ho cercato questo romanzo di Ken Bruen, che in italiano si chiama molto banalmente ‘Prima della notte,’, mentre in originale è ‘The Guards’, essendo Garda la polizia irlandese, di fama alquanto dubbia.
Ho fatto bene ad ascoltare il Don.
Mi sono trovato immerso in un noir in piena regola, addirittura di quel filone classicissimo che possibilmente si rifà a Chandler, dove l’indagine dell’occhio privato è anche indagine morale, lotta del bene contro il male (lontanissimi da Thompson, Woolrich, Leonard, lo stesso Winslow…).
A elementi di assoluta fedeltà al genere (cominciando dall’inizio, la bella donna che entra nel bar e chiede un favore allo stazzonato investigatore privato mettendo in modo l’indagine e il plot) se ne intrecciano altri nuovi, a cominciare dall’ambientazione, Galway, la più grande città sulla costa ovest irlandese pur avendo ben meno di centomila abitanti, sorta di gran paesone di fronte alla vastità dell’Oceano Atlantico, ben protetta dalla sua baia.
Iain Glen/Jack Taylor a Galway. Alle sue spalle il fiume Corrib che sfocia nell’Oceano Atlantico proprio in città.
Pub, pinte di Guinness, Jameson, Bushmills, alcol a fiumi, anzi, a oceani: il protagonista è un alcolista semicronico che risolve i casi che la sorte gli affida nelle brevi pause di lucidità tra una sbronza e l’altra.
In queste brevi pause, ma anche nei lunghi fumi dell’alcol, insegue quel brandello di giustizia che si può ottenere su questa martoriato pianeta.
Legge libri da quando era bambino, e sul potere della lettura il protagonista Jack Taylor sa dire parole molto belle ed esprimere pensieri profondi.
Ma quello che stupisce è la scrittura di Bruen, da cavallo di razza. Una prosa che qui e là arriva alla soglia della poesia, che sa destreggiarsi tra tristezza e sferzate d’humour nero e neropece, tra momenti di tenerezza e di durezza, di violenza e redenzione, con dialoghi memorabili.
Iain Glen interpreta Jack Taylor in due non memorabili TV movie del 2010 e 2013 da cui sono prese queste foto.
Don Winslow ha inserito questo libro nella sua personale classifica delle cinque top crime novel: avendo letto tre titoli su cinque, e avendoli trovati più che notevoli, mi sono fidato del consiglio di Don e ho cercato questo romanzo di Ken Bruen, che in italiano si chiama molto banalmente ‘Prima della notte,’, mentre in originale è ‘The Guards’, essendo Garda la polizia irlandese, di fama alquanto dubbia.
Ho fatto bene ad ascoltare il Don.
Mi sono trovato immerso in un noir in piena regola, addirittura di quel filone classicissimo che possibilmente si rifà a Chandler, dove l’indagine dell’occhio privato è anche indagine morale, lotta del bene contro il male (lontanissimi da Thompson, Woolrich, Leonard, lo stesso Winslow…).
A elementi di assoluta fedeltà al genere (cominciando dall’inizio, la bella donna che entra nel bar e chiede un favore allo stazzonato investigatore privato mettendo in modo l’indagine e il plot) se ne intrecciano altri nuovi, a cominciare dall’ambientazione, Galway, la più grande città sulla costa ovest irlandese pur avendo ben meno di centomila abitanti, sorta di gran paesone di fronte alla vastità dell’Oceano Atlantico, ben protetta dalla sua baia.
Iain Glen/Jack Taylor a Galway. Alle sue spalle il fiume Corrib che sfocia nell’Oceano Atlantico proprio in città.
Pub, pinte di Guinness, Jameson, Bushmills, alcol a fiumi, anzi, a oceani: il protagonista è un alcolista semicronico che risolve i casi che la sorte gli affida nelle brevi pause di lucidità tra una sbronza e l’altra.
In queste brevi pause, ma anche nei lunghi fumi dell’alcol, insegue quel brandello di giustizia che si può ottenere su questa martoriato pianeta.
Legge libri da quando era bambino, e sul potere della lettura il protagonista Jack Taylor sa dire parole molto belle ed esprimere pensieri profondi.
Ma quello che stupisce è la scrittura di Bruen, da cavallo di razza. Una prosa che qui e là arriva alla soglia della poesia, che sa destreggiarsi tra tristezza e sferzate d’humour nero e neropece, tra momenti di tenerezza e di durezza, di violenza e redenzione, con dialoghi memorabili.
August 20, 2020
This was different. Interestingly different!
The main character, Jack Taylor, is the usual damaged soul, sacked from the police and working in a type of private investigator role. He is more than usually damaged, being a chronic alcoholic inclined to go on benders which take him out of society for anything up to a week at a time. His attempts to stay sober are well meant but it is obvious he is never going to make it on his own.
Since the narrative is told in the first person the reader gets a lot of information about Jack's inner feelings. There is a lot of repressed anger in an otherwise sympathetic personality and when not drinking he shows himself to be intelligent and likeable. Other people in the book like him anyway despite the alcoholic binges.
The most interesting thing about The Guards is the way it is written. The style is terse and blunt, with short sentences, no flowery descriptions and all in keeping with the topic and the man. At first I struggled with it a little but as I went on it became compulsive reading.
I have to decide now when to go on to the next book. Jack is an accident waiting to happen and I am not ready to watch him crash just yet. Perhaps a rest between books will work best but I will certainly be returning to this series in the future!
The main character, Jack Taylor, is the usual damaged soul, sacked from the police and working in a type of private investigator role. He is more than usually damaged, being a chronic alcoholic inclined to go on benders which take him out of society for anything up to a week at a time. His attempts to stay sober are well meant but it is obvious he is never going to make it on his own.
Since the narrative is told in the first person the reader gets a lot of information about Jack's inner feelings. There is a lot of repressed anger in an otherwise sympathetic personality and when not drinking he shows himself to be intelligent and likeable. Other people in the book like him anyway despite the alcoholic binges.
The most interesting thing about The Guards is the way it is written. The style is terse and blunt, with short sentences, no flowery descriptions and all in keeping with the topic and the man. At first I struggled with it a little but as I went on it became compulsive reading.
I have to decide now when to go on to the next book. Jack is an accident waiting to happen and I am not ready to watch him crash just yet. Perhaps a rest between books will work best but I will certainly be returning to this series in the future!
April 28, 2023
Roman foarte bine scris, cu un personaj (Jack) memorabil. Din păcate, nu are deloc acțiune polițistă. Detectivul nu face nimic ca să-i prindă pe vinovați. Bea. Vinovații se prind și mor (toți, fără excepție) singuri. Ajutați, desigur, de un anume Sutton, un soi de Justițiar dement, prietenul dubios al lui Jack. În rezumat, acțiune polițistă foarte sumară, pretext pentru a descrie un individ interesant, un detectiv alcoolic și erudit, care citează din poetul Francis Thompson și a auzit de James Joyce.
Enigma polițistă se rezolvă întotdeauna prin eliminarea brutală a suspecților. Poți citi un thriller doar pentru umor și stil? Uite că poți.
P. S. Completez această notă minusculă cu pasajul în care Jack Taylor povestește cum a devenit bibliofil:
Enigma polițistă se rezolvă întotdeauna prin eliminarea brutală a suspecților. Poți citi un thriller doar pentru umor și stil? Uite că poți.
P. S. Completez această notă minusculă cu pasajul în care Jack Taylor povestește cum a devenit bibliofil:
„Am început cu Robert Louis Stevenson, Richmal Crompton, Hardy Boys. Fără îndoială că aș fi continuat într-o manieră aleatorie, în cele din urmă pierzîndu-mi interesul, dacă n-ar fi fost bibliotecarul-șef de pe vremea aceea, Tommy Kennedy... Nu numai că îmi plăcea la nebunie să citesc, îmi plăceau propriu-zis cărțile. Învățasem să apreciez mirosul, legătura, tiparul, felul în care volumele se simțeau în mînă. Tata îmi construise un raft foarte mare și învățasem să ordonez cărțile alfabetic și în funcție de categorie. În același timp îmi făceam de cap..., abia dădeam pe la școală. Dar, odată înapoi acasă, îmi priveam biblioteca și îmi tresărea inima. Dacă îmi plăcea cum arată și cum se simte un volum, începeam să-l citesc. Așa am început să descopăr poezia. În viața mea n-aveam s-o descopăr niciodată, dar a fost întotdeauna prin preajmă...”.
April 16, 2011
I found this book to be
predictable
boring
derivative.
(Insert a random passage from some other mystery novel here.)
The main character is the jaw-dropping original (yeah, right)
alcoholic
lonely
ex-cop.
(Insert lyrics from a random song here.)
The writer's style of using lists is
annoying
pretentious
distracting.
(Insert more random quotes here for no discernable reason other than to pump up the word count.)
I will be reading more of this author when
pigs fly
Hell freezes over
rea--
Never mind. You get the idea. The best thing I can say about The Guards is that it's short--with all the white space from those annoying lists and the large hunks of "borrowed/quoted" material, it's much shorter than its 304 pages lead you to believe. Even so, it's a waste of time.
predictable
boring
derivative.
(Insert a random passage from some other mystery novel here.)
The main character is the jaw-dropping original (yeah, right)
alcoholic
lonely
ex-cop.
(Insert lyrics from a random song here.)
The writer's style of using lists is
annoying
pretentious
distracting.
(Insert more random quotes here for no discernable reason other than to pump up the word count.)
I will be reading more of this author when
pigs fly
Hell freezes over
rea--
Never mind. You get the idea. The best thing I can say about The Guards is that it's short--with all the white space from those annoying lists and the large hunks of "borrowed/quoted" material, it's much shorter than its 304 pages lead you to believe. Even so, it's a waste of time.
June 19, 2012
Jack Taylor has been thrown out of the Irish police force--the Garda Siochana--because his drinking got out of control. Ireland has virtually no private investigators because of the cultural abhorrence of informers, so Jack becomes the next best thing. He is an expert at finding things, that is when he can climb off of his bar stool long enough to take a job. Then one day a beautiful woman walks into the Galway pub where Jack hangs his hat and asks to hire him.
The woman, whose name is Ann, has recently lost her daughter, Sarah. The girl's death has been ruled a suicide, but Ann cannot accept that and asks Taylor to look into it. He agrees and quickly discovers that several other young women have also apparently committed suicide at the same spot. In and around some serious bouts of drinking and a couple of hospitalizations, Jack investigates Sarah's death, determined to provide some closure for the girl's mother. As is always the case in a book like this, he winds up getting more than he bargained for.
This is the first in a series of books featuring Jack Taylor and it includes any number of classic crime novel clichés, most notably the alcoholic cop who becomes the alcoholic P.I., leaving the reader to wonder no only whether Taylor will solve the case, but whether he will get sober and whether he will stay sober if he ever does. The character is strongly reminiscent of Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder who, in the early stages of his career as a P.I., met clients in bars and livened up his morning coffee with booze. Bruen also goes a bit overboard in his attempt to show how widely-read and musically hip Jack Taylor is, but those qualms aside, this is a well-written book with a number of engaging characters. It remains to be seen if Jack Taylor will have a career as long and as successful as Matthew Scudder, but The Guards is a promising start.
The woman, whose name is Ann, has recently lost her daughter, Sarah. The girl's death has been ruled a suicide, but Ann cannot accept that and asks Taylor to look into it. He agrees and quickly discovers that several other young women have also apparently committed suicide at the same spot. In and around some serious bouts of drinking and a couple of hospitalizations, Jack investigates Sarah's death, determined to provide some closure for the girl's mother. As is always the case in a book like this, he winds up getting more than he bargained for.
This is the first in a series of books featuring Jack Taylor and it includes any number of classic crime novel clichés, most notably the alcoholic cop who becomes the alcoholic P.I., leaving the reader to wonder no only whether Taylor will solve the case, but whether he will get sober and whether he will stay sober if he ever does. The character is strongly reminiscent of Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder who, in the early stages of his career as a P.I., met clients in bars and livened up his morning coffee with booze. Bruen also goes a bit overboard in his attempt to show how widely-read and musically hip Jack Taylor is, but those qualms aside, this is a well-written book with a number of engaging characters. It remains to be seen if Jack Taylor will have a career as long and as successful as Matthew Scudder, but The Guards is a promising start.
March 7, 2017
See that lover standing
Staring at the ground
He's looking for the real thing
Lies were all he found
You can get the real thing
It will only cost a pound
Down where the drunkards roll
Down where the drunkards roll *
If you're looking for chills and thrills or a sharp, investigative police procedural, this is NOT the book you're looking for. This is more a character study of a tormented man in constant struggle with his demons. It's slow-paced with virtually no action, and the crimes are solved almost by accident rather than brilliant detection. Indeed, for much of the book, our protagonist, Jack Taylor, is too hungover to do much anything but think about his next drink.
An alcoholic's greatest defect is a complete unwillingness to learn from the past.
What I knew from mine was if I drank, chaos reigned. I was no longer under any illusion. Yet I'd have given anything to crack the seal on a bottle of Scotch and fly. Or even, a feast of pints. Close my eyes and there was a table. Wooden, of course. Dozens of creamy Guinness lined in greeting. The head . . . ahhh, just perfect.
I'm still scratching my head as to why I liked this one so much. The book reminded me quite a bit of The Long-Legged Fly which featured another alcoholic detective, though in that story, James Sallis's Lew Griffin seems almost to embrace his drinking problem as part of his mystique and a necessary evil for the work he does.
But Taylor is determined to change and is willing to allow others to help him. Though I would describe him as a loner, his interactions with other characters were my favorite parts of the book - from poor wino, Padraig, to the sweet old ladies at the hotel where he stays - this is what makes this man so fascinating.
Often when I finish the first book of a series, I think to myself that maybe someday I'll read more. As soon as I turned the last page of this one, I immediately ordered the next book. Call that a recommendation, if you want. Just know that this pint of creamy Guinness may not be to your taste.
*Down Where the Drunkards Roll
by Richard Thompson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBzRz...
Staring at the ground
He's looking for the real thing
Lies were all he found
You can get the real thing
It will only cost a pound
Down where the drunkards roll
Down where the drunkards roll *
If you're looking for chills and thrills or a sharp, investigative police procedural, this is NOT the book you're looking for. This is more a character study of a tormented man in constant struggle with his demons. It's slow-paced with virtually no action, and the crimes are solved almost by accident rather than brilliant detection. Indeed, for much of the book, our protagonist, Jack Taylor, is too hungover to do much anything but think about his next drink.
An alcoholic's greatest defect is a complete unwillingness to learn from the past.
What I knew from mine was if I drank, chaos reigned. I was no longer under any illusion. Yet I'd have given anything to crack the seal on a bottle of Scotch and fly. Or even, a feast of pints. Close my eyes and there was a table. Wooden, of course. Dozens of creamy Guinness lined in greeting. The head . . . ahhh, just perfect.
I'm still scratching my head as to why I liked this one so much. The book reminded me quite a bit of The Long-Legged Fly which featured another alcoholic detective, though in that story, James Sallis's Lew Griffin seems almost to embrace his drinking problem as part of his mystique and a necessary evil for the work he does.
But Taylor is determined to change and is willing to allow others to help him. Though I would describe him as a loner, his interactions with other characters were my favorite parts of the book - from poor wino, Padraig, to the sweet old ladies at the hotel where he stays - this is what makes this man so fascinating.
Often when I finish the first book of a series, I think to myself that maybe someday I'll read more. As soon as I turned the last page of this one, I immediately ordered the next book. Call that a recommendation, if you want. Just know that this pint of creamy Guinness may not be to your taste.
*Down Where the Drunkards Roll
by Richard Thompson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBzRz...
August 13, 2019
This had an unusual writing style that I enjoyed. It was relatively short, so a quick read. Not a murder mystery, but more a character driven story. Jack Taylor is a raging alcoholic, but there’s still goodness in him. I will be reading another in this series just to see what has angered Jack so badly.
September 30, 2019
This is the second time I read the first book in a series that I had grown to really enjoy because of the TV version.
And, this is the second time I was disappointed. Every thing about THE GUARDS was sad--Jack Taylor, the people, the situations, the structure of the book--it was depressing!
I've not been lucky enough in life to make it to Ireland, but I'll bet it is beautiful and the people are wonderful.
And, this is the second time I was disappointed. Every thing about THE GUARDS was sad--Jack Taylor, the people, the situations, the structure of the book--it was depressing!
I've not been lucky enough in life to make it to Ireland, but I'll bet it is beautiful and the people are wonderful.
January 23, 2022
Jack Taylor cumple todos los estereotipos del hard-boiled: detective, expulsado del cuerpo de policía, alcohólico y autodestructivo, pero que se hace querer porque en el fondo es buena persona.
Está situada en Galway, Irlanda pero hay mucha influencia de la novela negra americana. En general está bien escrita y tiene algunos toques originales. Los personajes son auténticos y capta muy bien la atmósfera del lugar. El tono general es muy duro y cínico, sin concesiones.
Es una novela que ha recibido muchos premios y ha sido muy elogiada por los amantes del género. Creo que seguiré con la próxima de la serie, La matanza de los gitanos.
3,5*
Está situada en Galway, Irlanda pero hay mucha influencia de la novela negra americana. En general está bien escrita y tiene algunos toques originales. Los personajes son auténticos y capta muy bien la atmósfera del lugar. El tono general es muy duro y cínico, sin concesiones.
Es una novela que ha recibido muchos premios y ha sido muy elogiada por los amantes del género. Creo que seguiré con la próxima de la serie, La matanza de los gitanos.
3,5*
March 31, 2025
Heartbroken over the death of author Ken Bruen. I love his writing. His wit, humor, and irreverence were there for me at times when I had very little else. It's hard when you lose a favorite writer... the magic stays on the paper, in the soul, but the future is stilled. I felt this loss with the passing of Elmore Leonard and then Tony Hillerman.
I can only hope to buy him a round when I reach where he's gone.
RIP. Sláinte, Ken. Thank you.
I can only hope to buy him a round when I reach where he's gone.
RIP. Sláinte, Ken. Thank you.
March 13, 2014
At first I found this book
Annoying
Pretentious
Frustrating
but then in spite of myself, I started to like Jack, warts and all, and had to smile at his affectations and his horrible, flawed behaviors.
I felt like the story was more of a character study than a mystery or thriller, but I liked it that way. What went on in Jack's head and in his life was more interesting to me than the mystery he was investigating. Jack's internal struggles and interpersonal relationships were more compelling than many a thriller I have read of late. I will definitely sign on for more of this series.
Annoying
Pretentious
Frustrating
but then in spite of myself, I started to like Jack, warts and all, and had to smile at his affectations and his horrible, flawed behaviors.
I felt like the story was more of a character study than a mystery or thriller, but I liked it that way. What went on in Jack's head and in his life was more interesting to me than the mystery he was investigating. Jack's internal struggles and interpersonal relationships were more compelling than many a thriller I have read of late. I will definitely sign on for more of this series.
March 11, 2010
The blurbs on the back of Ken Bruen's novel The Guards are impressive: Boston Teran, James Crumley, and T. Jefferson Parker, who all weigh in with thumbs up. And these are wonderful writers who have written fine books that I really admire. So I'm mystified over their enthusiasm. In contrast, what I found in The Guards was a loosely told story about a drunk cop who pretty much stays that way. Oh, there's a story nibbling around the edges regarding some missing women and the bad men who did them in, but that's pretty much it, though you could probably toss in some mid-life crisis moments as an extra yawn subplot. Justice comes around, as you know it must, but only as a kind of remember-to-burp afterthought. The novel has virtually no inner tension. It's part joke and valentine to a genre. There's local Galway color -- with various characters who seem to be either members of the Pogues (in particular Cathy B. -- who I wanted to see more of), older Irish thugs (Sutton -- who may or may not be Irish), or stock figures such as quipping Irish priests and iron willed martyed Irish mothers. The love interest (and not-to-be-believed grieving mom), Ann, is more a sketch of a character than a character. Ian Rankin delivers similar Local Stuff in a far more substantive way. With Rankin, you know you've read a story. In comparison to any Rankin novel, The Guards reads like something hastily written out on a bar napkin. Dialogue is supposed to a big deal with this novel, and it is pretty good. But comparisions to Elmore Leonard, who always remembers he needs a story to go with the dialogue, is simply name-dropping and nothing more. Where the book excels is in its various what-to-read and what-to-listen to suggestions. (Bruen does have good tastes in those areas.) But that's not enough to escape the ripped-off feeling one feels after reading this mess.
January 8, 2015
This is the third time I've read THE GUARDS and it just keeps getting better.
Jack Taylor, dishonorably discharged from the guards after having physically assaulted a member of high standing succumbs further to the allure of the drink; that bottomless pit of clouded reality seen through shot and pint glasses alike.
It's this downfall that leads to his new profession, albeit and informal one - that of a private detective. His office; the pub. His clientele; the downright desperate. Enter Ann, an attractive woman who is wanting justice for her deceased 16yr old daughter - a suspected suicide which turns out to be anything but once Jack does a little digging. The patterns emerge, the guilty are judged, and Jack has blood on his hands.
There is something about the Jack Taylor series that keeps me coming back for more. Jack, a tainted soul with good intentions (when it suits) is an addictive character - both literally and fictionally. His constant ability to made bad from good makes for an enthralling read. You know he's going to fall off the wagon - the only question is, how hard? Plenty hard.
THE GUARDS could easily be a one-and-done read but I'm pleased Ken Bruen continued Taylor's slow self inflicted demise over many volumes. Next up in my Jack Taylor series re-read THE KILLING OF THE TINKERS.
Review first appeared on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
Jack Taylor, dishonorably discharged from the guards after having physically assaulted a member of high standing succumbs further to the allure of the drink; that bottomless pit of clouded reality seen through shot and pint glasses alike.
It's this downfall that leads to his new profession, albeit and informal one - that of a private detective. His office; the pub. His clientele; the downright desperate. Enter Ann, an attractive woman who is wanting justice for her deceased 16yr old daughter - a suspected suicide which turns out to be anything but once Jack does a little digging. The patterns emerge, the guilty are judged, and Jack has blood on his hands.
There is something about the Jack Taylor series that keeps me coming back for more. Jack, a tainted soul with good intentions (when it suits) is an addictive character - both literally and fictionally. His constant ability to made bad from good makes for an enthralling read. You know he's going to fall off the wagon - the only question is, how hard? Plenty hard.
THE GUARDS could easily be a one-and-done read but I'm pleased Ken Bruen continued Taylor's slow self inflicted demise over many volumes. Next up in my Jack Taylor series re-read THE KILLING OF THE TINKERS.
Review first appeared on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
March 5, 2008
Rarely, if ever, do I give a series opener 5 stars, but I just couldn't help myself. I started this book last night, stayed up way too late and finished it and was totally blown away. What a great book; what a great author. I would recommend this to anyone looking for something different in the mystery field, but with a caution: the plot isn't the central focus here -- it is most definitely the characters, especially that of Jack Taylor, the main character.
Jack Taylor lives in Galway, Ireland, is a serious alcoholic and has lost his job with the Gardia. He has set himself up as a private detective, knows his is prone to self-destruction, has issues with his mother, and may be one of the most darkly-tormented individuals in crime fiction. But on the other hand, he turns to reading and poetry for comfort and has a soft spot for people he truly cares about.
His office a pub, he gets involved in the case of a suicidal teen whose mother hires him to prove that her daughter's death was murder rather than self-inflicted. The only real lead he has is that she worked in a place with other girls, a few of whom have also committed suicide.
But as I noted above, the plot is not the real story here, so this novel shouldn't be read for the mystery storyline. Jack Taylor stands out as an incredibly fascinating character, one for whom you can't help but feel sorry. The other characters surrounding him really help to draw out Jack's personality; they are also very well drawn. And the writing ...the book is divided into very short chapters that don't always have very much to say, but what's there is to the point and absolutely necessary. I love how the author is able to be very understated yet can get Jack's story out just as if Jack was a real-life, personal friend and the author's telling you all about him. The style is very original; sparse, but yet packs a punch.
I definitely, most highly recommend this book and plan to read all of the Jack Taylor series here shortly. A great read!
Jack Taylor lives in Galway, Ireland, is a serious alcoholic and has lost his job with the Gardia. He has set himself up as a private detective, knows his is prone to self-destruction, has issues with his mother, and may be one of the most darkly-tormented individuals in crime fiction. But on the other hand, he turns to reading and poetry for comfort and has a soft spot for people he truly cares about.
His office a pub, he gets involved in the case of a suicidal teen whose mother hires him to prove that her daughter's death was murder rather than self-inflicted. The only real lead he has is that she worked in a place with other girls, a few of whom have also committed suicide.
But as I noted above, the plot is not the real story here, so this novel shouldn't be read for the mystery storyline. Jack Taylor stands out as an incredibly fascinating character, one for whom you can't help but feel sorry. The other characters surrounding him really help to draw out Jack's personality; they are also very well drawn. And the writing ...the book is divided into very short chapters that don't always have very much to say, but what's there is to the point and absolutely necessary. I love how the author is able to be very understated yet can get Jack's story out just as if Jack was a real-life, personal friend and the author's telling you all about him. The style is very original; sparse, but yet packs a punch.
I definitely, most highly recommend this book and plan to read all of the Jack Taylor series here shortly. A great read!
May 27, 2019
4.5 stele
Excelentă. N-am mai citit o carte cu o asemenea plăcere de la „Soare în miez de noapte” a lui Jo Nesbo. Iar până la ea... trecuse ceva vreme, poate de la un roman cu Montalbano?
Ancheta polițistă pălește cu totul în fața poveștii lui Jack Taylor, un alcoolic la fel de înveterat ca Harry Hole, care, ca și el, renunță uneori la băutură, cuprins de remușcări de diverse soiuri (nu și de grija că ar putea muri după ce-i vor ceda ficatul sau rinichii). Schimbăm Australia, Thailanda și Norvegia cu Irlanda cea care-i înjură în continuare pe englezi și-i acuză de toate relele de pe lumea asta. Și dăm de un val de sinucideri în rândul adolescentelor, care, printr-o coincidență bizară, fuseseră toate angajate în același loc. Și Jack Taylor, dat afară din Garda (poliția irlandeză) după nenumăratele probleme cauzate de alcool și scandaluri și transformat acum în detectiv particular ce-și pierde vremea în barul preferat, este însărcinat să afle mai multe detalii despre una dintre „sinucideri”. Va fi „ajutat” de un prieten (nu, nu paharul) pe nume Sutton, pictor în timpul liber și mai bețivan decât Jack Taylor, dacă așa ceva ar fi posibil, la cât toarnă în el personajul principal.
Un personaj fascinant, de care m-am atașat de la primele rânduri. Finalul, unul perfect firesc, m-a lăsat mască. Mai multe, pe FanSF: https://wp.me/pz4D9-2WN.
Excelentă. N-am mai citit o carte cu o asemenea plăcere de la „Soare în miez de noapte” a lui Jo Nesbo. Iar până la ea... trecuse ceva vreme, poate de la un roman cu Montalbano?
Ancheta polițistă pălește cu totul în fața poveștii lui Jack Taylor, un alcoolic la fel de înveterat ca Harry Hole, care, ca și el, renunță uneori la băutură, cuprins de remușcări de diverse soiuri (nu și de grija că ar putea muri după ce-i vor ceda ficatul sau rinichii). Schimbăm Australia, Thailanda și Norvegia cu Irlanda cea care-i înjură în continuare pe englezi și-i acuză de toate relele de pe lumea asta. Și dăm de un val de sinucideri în rândul adolescentelor, care, printr-o coincidență bizară, fuseseră toate angajate în același loc. Și Jack Taylor, dat afară din Garda (poliția irlandeză) după nenumăratele probleme cauzate de alcool și scandaluri și transformat acum în detectiv particular ce-și pierde vremea în barul preferat, este însărcinat să afle mai multe detalii despre una dintre „sinucideri”. Va fi „ajutat” de un prieten (nu, nu paharul) pe nume Sutton, pictor în timpul liber și mai bețivan decât Jack Taylor, dacă așa ceva ar fi posibil, la cât toarnă în el personajul principal.
Un personaj fascinant, de care m-am atașat de la primele rânduri. Finalul, unul perfect firesc, m-a lăsat mască. Mai multe, pe FanSF: https://wp.me/pz4D9-2WN.
December 21, 2017
Superb
I gave this 5 stars despite the conversion to e-book being frankly dreadful. Missing punctuation all over the shop - an judge incredibly shoddy job by the publisher's. Still Bruen is a magician with words and he creates a brilliantly emphatic character. Galway itself comes alive and Jack Taylor is a character you like a lot more than he likes himself.
I gave this 5 stars despite the conversion to e-book being frankly dreadful. Missing punctuation all over the shop - an judge incredibly shoddy job by the publisher's. Still Bruen is a magician with words and he creates a brilliantly emphatic character. Galway itself comes alive and Jack Taylor is a character you like a lot more than he likes himself.
September 7, 2023
I knew Jack Taylor from the tv series and Ken Bruen from his cult collaboration with Jason Starr. The guards were a treat
November 19, 2022
останні сторінок п'ятдесят догортала просто по діагоналі, бо дуже знудилася. мені не сподобався ні головний герой, ні злочин, ні атмосфера загалом. більшою мірою я не викупала ірландський контекст, бо, наприклад, згадується, що матір героя з якогось графства, ніби це мало щось пояснювати в її характері, а мені це ніц не пояснює. можливо, у розрізі безрезультатної боротьби з алкоголізмом ця книжка могла б бути цікавою, але не мені.
January 10, 2022
Complicado y duro de leer. Pero no por lo que cuenta o el cómo lo cuenta, que literalmente te “bebes” el libro sino por de lo que habla. El protagonista lucha contra si mismo pero, la batalla que tiene perdida contra el alcohol y las sensaciones que transmite son duras.
Muy bien ambientadlo. Te recomiendo este libro como enlace entre dos novelas cuando para coger la siguiente quieres desengancharte de la anterior. Para ese punto Intermedio, Jack Taylor es tu hombre.
Muy bien ambientadlo. Te recomiendo este libro como enlace entre dos novelas cuando para coger la siguiente quieres desengancharte de la anterior. Para ese punto Intermedio, Jack Taylor es tu hombre.
November 14, 2023
What an amazing start to a series and I'm so happy to see there's already 16 Jack Taylor books available. If you look at the ratings and reviews of The Guards it's very clear that you will either love or hate the series. I absolutely adored the writing - raw, edgy and perceptive - literary crime fiction at it's best.
If you are wanting a hard-core whodunit then skip this one as this is more of a character study of Jack Tayler, a complex and multi-faceted anti-hero. I'm impressed that I could become so deeply invested in his choices in such a short book. The dialogue, descriptions and supporting characters are all exceptionally well written and I can't wait to listen to the rest of the series. I highly recommend that you get the audible version narrated by Gerry O' Brien as it's perfection.
If you are wanting a hard-core whodunit then skip this one as this is more of a character study of Jack Tayler, a complex and multi-faceted anti-hero. I'm impressed that I could become so deeply invested in his choices in such a short book. The dialogue, descriptions and supporting characters are all exceptionally well written and I can't wait to listen to the rest of the series. I highly recommend that you get the audible version narrated by Gerry O' Brien as it's perfection.
May 31, 2009
A good book. By an obviously skilled writer. But flawed in its choices. The book has a great reputation, a Shamus Award Winner, but I don't think I saw what those other readers saw. To me, it was good, not great.
More Bukowski than Chandler. To call this a Private Eye novel is a stretch, as his profession (like his "case") is an afterthought. I liked that aspect of it. To put the genre story on the fringes and to let it be about something else.
But the book was just too thin. Don't let the 280 pages fool you. This is damn near a novella. But it's not the length that makes it thin, I just couldn't find the depth. The first person drunk/recovering drunk is problematic for a number of reasons.
And the slew of literary references is way to wink-wink for my taste. Adding nothing to the story, except to constantly remind you that you are reading a book by someone who has read books.
Bruen's strength is in his terse fiction. He says a lot with few words. Light on description, he lets the characters and actions play out the story. His skill as a writer is clear, but not all of his choices played to the strength of the story.
More Bukowski than Chandler. To call this a Private Eye novel is a stretch, as his profession (like his "case") is an afterthought. I liked that aspect of it. To put the genre story on the fringes and to let it be about something else.
But the book was just too thin. Don't let the 280 pages fool you. This is damn near a novella. But it's not the length that makes it thin, I just couldn't find the depth. The first person drunk/recovering drunk is problematic for a number of reasons.
And the slew of literary references is way to wink-wink for my taste. Adding nothing to the story, except to constantly remind you that you are reading a book by someone who has read books.
Bruen's strength is in his terse fiction. He says a lot with few words. Light on description, he lets the characters and actions play out the story. His skill as a writer is clear, but not all of his choices played to the strength of the story.
June 20, 2019
Excelent roman de început de serie, întunecat, poetic deseori, plin de umor negru și ironie. Plus sute de trimiteri către muzică, filme noir sau cărți polițiste, practic o întreagă enciclopedie de referințe pentru cei care sunt cititori ai genului.
Jack Taylor e un personaj bine construit, aflat tot timpul undeva la limita de jos a supraviețuirii. Fost polițist, actual detectiv, deși meseria de bază e băutul. Amplasat în Irlanda, cu pub-urile și clienții lor fideli, Garda e un roman care introduce mai degrabă personajul central. Acțiunea cărții nu e grozavă, însă scriitura, listele nenumărate de orice și vocea sictirit-autocompătimitoare a lui Jack Taylor sunt punctele forte ale cărții.
Încă un plus pentru editura Crime Scene Press, care pare că traducă unele dintre cele mai bune cărți polițiste de pe piață din ultimii ani.
Jack Taylor e un personaj bine construit, aflat tot timpul undeva la limita de jos a supraviețuirii. Fost polițist, actual detectiv, deși meseria de bază e băutul. Amplasat în Irlanda, cu pub-urile și clienții lor fideli, Garda e un roman care introduce mai degrabă personajul central. Acțiunea cărții nu e grozavă, însă scriitura, listele nenumărate de orice și vocea sictirit-autocompătimitoare a lui Jack Taylor sunt punctele forte ale cărții.
Încă un plus pentru editura Crime Scene Press, care pare că traducă unele dintre cele mai bune cărți polițiste de pe piață din ultimii ani.
September 10, 2007
Ousted from the Guards, Ireland’s police force, Jack Taylor is asked by the mother to look into the supposed suicide of her daughter.
I read the first three of Bruen's books together: The Guards, The Killing of the Tinkers and The Magdalen Martyrs.
I found myself needing to read these books together to see what would happen with Jack. There are references in them I know I didn’t quite understand, being American, but I could feel my Irish friends nodding in the background The character of Jack may not be particularly likeable, but he is compelling, as is the writing.
I read the first three of Bruen's books together: The Guards, The Killing of the Tinkers and The Magdalen Martyrs.
I found myself needing to read these books together to see what would happen with Jack. There are references in them I know I didn’t quite understand, being American, but I could feel my Irish friends nodding in the background The character of Jack may not be particularly likeable, but he is compelling, as is the writing.
February 18, 2011
This is hard-boiled private detective with an Irish lilt--and alcoholic slur. Jack Taylor was once in the Garda Siochana--the Irish police--but self-destructed with the aid of drink. As he himself describes his life and behavior, "I could say it was the booze, but that's not true. There's a self-destruct button in me. I keep returning to it." He does--throughout the book, and the novel is as much about that--in fact more about that--than his investigation of a young teen who seemingly committed suicide.
The book is set in Galway, where, kicked off the force, Jack works intermittently as a "finder." As he puts it:
There are no private eyes in Ireland. The Irish wouldn't wear it. The concept brushes perilously close to the hated "informer"... What I began to do was find things.
This is written first person with great style and voice. Somehow it kept me sympathetic and rooting for Jack despite him being a screwup. And the ending involves a frequent, even cliche element in hard-boiled detective fiction that usually is a deal breaker, and in a strange way it's because Jack is so damaged, it comes off less cold-blooded than it usually would. Jack's voice, the overall pacing and short chapters full of snappy dialogue made this a fast read at one sitting and left me feeling I wouldn't mind more, despite this being that dark and cynical blend you find in hard-boiled fiction that usually leaves me cold. But there's a wit and humor in the narrator that somehow made that darkness bearable.
The book is set in Galway, where, kicked off the force, Jack works intermittently as a "finder." As he puts it:
There are no private eyes in Ireland. The Irish wouldn't wear it. The concept brushes perilously close to the hated "informer"... What I began to do was find things.
This is written first person with great style and voice. Somehow it kept me sympathetic and rooting for Jack despite him being a screwup. And the ending involves a frequent, even cliche element in hard-boiled detective fiction that usually is a deal breaker, and in a strange way it's because Jack is so damaged, it comes off less cold-blooded than it usually would. Jack's voice, the overall pacing and short chapters full of snappy dialogue made this a fast read at one sitting and left me feeling I wouldn't mind more, despite this being that dark and cynical blend you find in hard-boiled fiction that usually leaves me cold. But there's a wit and humor in the narrator that somehow made that darkness bearable.
April 8, 2008
It isn't often that you get to read a book by someone who writes in a completely original manner, yet is still intelligible. Ken Bruen has such an interesting writing style and gets so much across with so few words, that I was kept turning pages just from enjoying his style. That said, the stories are also great in the manner of hard-boiled ex-cop alcoholic down-and-out private eyes. His other book that I have read, The White Trilogy, was a little harder to get into but worthwhile once I was there (different characters and set in England).
August 31, 2016
Ken Bruen's first novel featuring former policeman Jack Taylor is full of sharp dialogue & humour. At times there are too many book & music references, but it's good enough to make me want to read the next book in the series.
April 6, 2018
The Guards by Ken Bruen is my first exposure to Bruen's writing, which was convenient as it is his first Jack Taylor mystery. I'd watched the TV series. Iain Glen plays Jack Taylor and now, having read the first book, he did an excellent job.
Taylor is an ex-Garda (the story is set in Ireland), who was drummed out for bad behaviour and now he works as an independent investigator. Well, he actually spends most of his time soaking up booze but he still tries to help people when he can. In this case, his client is Ann Henderson, who wants Taylor to prove his daughter, Sarah, did not commit suicide. Taylor doesn't want to take the case, but ultimately, decides to help Ann.
How much help does he provide Ann? Well, that's debatable as Taylor spends quite a bit of this book in a state of constant drunkenness. But he does investigate and manages, after a stint in the drunk tank, to find out that other girls have also 'committed suicide' in similar circumstances. Now I won't get into the details too much, rather I'll mention the style of the story.
I liked very much how it was written; a very much stream of consciousness, but still easy to read. At times, very poetic or maybe more like song lyrics. It flowed very nicely, from scene to scene. The story is peopled with interesting characters, some threatening, some lovely. It was an easy read and a book that was difficult to put down. How much help was Taylor to Ann? You'll have to check it out. I liked this a lot and will move on to the next book now that I've tried Bruen's work. (4 stars)
Taylor is an ex-Garda (the story is set in Ireland), who was drummed out for bad behaviour and now he works as an independent investigator. Well, he actually spends most of his time soaking up booze but he still tries to help people when he can. In this case, his client is Ann Henderson, who wants Taylor to prove his daughter, Sarah, did not commit suicide. Taylor doesn't want to take the case, but ultimately, decides to help Ann.
How much help does he provide Ann? Well, that's debatable as Taylor spends quite a bit of this book in a state of constant drunkenness. But he does investigate and manages, after a stint in the drunk tank, to find out that other girls have also 'committed suicide' in similar circumstances. Now I won't get into the details too much, rather I'll mention the style of the story.
I liked very much how it was written; a very much stream of consciousness, but still easy to read. At times, very poetic or maybe more like song lyrics. It flowed very nicely, from scene to scene. The story is peopled with interesting characters, some threatening, some lovely. It was an easy read and a book that was difficult to put down. How much help was Taylor to Ann? You'll have to check it out. I liked this a lot and will move on to the next book now that I've tried Bruen's work. (4 stars)
January 6, 2013
I liked it. It is quirky and dark and poetic. Set in Galway Ireland, it has the flavor and language of the Irish culture which I find fascinating. It is a tale of addiction, alcohol and violence but it also has a poignant feel to the characters expressed in the poetry vignettes at the beginning of each rather short chapter.
November 13, 2009
An ocean of drink and a small chaser of plot.
Not really a mystery in the usual sense since the culprit (well the one responsible for the ostensible crime) is evident early on. The protagonist spends much of the novel drinking, recovering from drinking, or attempting to refrain from drinking. The reader's interest in this subject will determine their enjoyment of the book.
Don't be fooled by the positive blurb by James Crumley on the back; The Guards is nowhere near as good as any of his books.
August 25, 2019
This is my first time reading Ken Bruen and I have watch Jack Taylor tv show and enjoyed it alot. I loved this first book in the series The Guards and it gave a great background to Jack as a character. The only down fall I found was the murder took a back set and we got more information about Jack struggle with alcoholics, which in itself was an interesting read.
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