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Black Water
I killed the boy...
Jig loves football and his dog, hates school, misses his granda and knows to lie low when his ma's blitzed on the vodka and tablets.
He's just an ordinary boy on the mean streets alongside Dublin's Grand Canal. Streets that are ruled by Ghost and his crew. And now Ghost- inked, vicious, unprincipled- has a job for Jig.
A job that no one can afford to go wrong- not the gangs, the police, the locals, and least of all not Jig.
Jig loves football and his dog, hates school, misses his granda and knows to lie low when his ma's blitzed on the vodka and tablets.
He's just an ordinary boy on the mean streets alongside Dublin's Grand Canal. Streets that are ruled by Ghost and his crew. And now Ghost- inked, vicious, unprincipled- has a job for Jig.
A job that no one can afford to go wrong- not the gangs, the police, the locals, and least of all not Jig.
- GenresFiction
312 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 19, 2018
13 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 26, 2018
‘TO EXIT GANGLAND, THERE’S A PRICE TO BE PAID…’
Black Water is the phenomenal debut novel from Irish Writer Cormac O’ Keeffe. Described as ‘fast-paced, compelling and expertly plotted’, Black Water is published by Black & White Publishing.
Writer Brian McGilloway compared Black Water to The Wire but set in Dublin. Sam Blake is quoted as saying it’s ‘a chilling thriller’. The Irish Examiner’s Sue Leonard described it as ‘violent and gritty….sings with authenticity’
I was completely blown away by Black Water….
CRIME FICTION AT IT’S BEST!!
Black Water is set in Dublin, right in the heart of the gangland crime factions, where the drug lords rule. These characters drive around in high end vehicles, like Hollywood celebrities, garnering the awe-struck attention of the youth. With a little cash just look what you can have!! These young fellas dream about escaping the dismal and depressing homes they live in. They want the flash cars, the designer gear, the wads of cash….and if they can see a way through to fulfilling these dreams, there is very little they will not do to achieve it.
In Black Water we meet young Jig. Only ten-years old, Jig already has ambitions. His brother Maggot has already taken the wrong road and his sister Donna is in a methadone clinic coming down off her addictions. His mother is a raging and abusive alcoholic and his father is the worst kind…. he is physically abusive, a very violent man. For Jig, life is very tough. At ten he has witnessed far too much and has been a whipping boy for his parents once too often. His sole companion is his dog, Bowie, who originally belonged to his beloved Granda.
But Jig sees a way out. If he can just ‘get in’ with the local kingpin, Ghost, then he would be able to get all the things he dreams of. The cool shoes, the respect, a waffle piled with ice-cream off a stand on Grafton Street, big dreams to a ten-year old boy from the inner city.
There is one very telling line in this book that stuck with me and that is…. by the time these young boys are twelve-years old, it’s too late….is it too late for Jig?
Meanwhile Detective Tara Crowe has had enough. Witnessing the aftermath of the violent attacks and the heinous crimes, committed by the so-called Canal Gang, spurs her on to clean up and clean out the scum that inhabit the area around the Grand Canal in Dublin. Tara is ambitious and is not afraid to dig deep and face up to the associates of these gangs. She crosses paths with many of these ruthless and evil characters, but is determined to not show fear and to eradicate the leaders behind the gangs once and for all. But what Tara had not reckoned on was how personal this journey would become…
Shay is the local football coach. All Shay wants is to keep the young lads busy, show them that there is an alternative life outside this ghetto. He wants to protect these children from the destruction and brutality of life on the streets. But Shay has his own demons and soon he is faced with decisions that will have a catastrophic impact on his own family life.
The title Black Water alludes to the waters of the canal and the darkness that lies beneath in the murky shadows, like the streets surrounding it. Life in the shadows of the Grand Canal is dark and dangerous. As Ghost spreads his talons out among the youth, the carnage escalates and the death toll rises.
For Shay, Tara and Jig life is about to change. Decisions are made, both good and bad, as earth shattering facts are revealed and we slowly begin to see behind the curtain of each of their lives.
Black Water is an astonishing debut that literally took my breath away. Not for the faint of heart, there are scenes that caused upset and revulsion, scenes that made me angry and disgusted, scenes that saddened me and opened my eyes to the society we now live in.
Black Water is a shockingly realistic book. It’s grim, it’s disturbing, it’s very emotional. It is uncompromising in it’s realistic depictions of a hard, difficult and violent world.
Black Water truly is a first-class 5* read and I cannot recommend it enough. All I ask is that Cormac O’ Keeffe follows up with the next book as soon as possible…I will be top of the queue!!
Black Water is the phenomenal debut novel from Irish Writer Cormac O’ Keeffe. Described as ‘fast-paced, compelling and expertly plotted’, Black Water is published by Black & White Publishing.
Writer Brian McGilloway compared Black Water to The Wire but set in Dublin. Sam Blake is quoted as saying it’s ‘a chilling thriller’. The Irish Examiner’s Sue Leonard described it as ‘violent and gritty….sings with authenticity’
I was completely blown away by Black Water….
CRIME FICTION AT IT’S BEST!!
Black Water is set in Dublin, right in the heart of the gangland crime factions, where the drug lords rule. These characters drive around in high end vehicles, like Hollywood celebrities, garnering the awe-struck attention of the youth. With a little cash just look what you can have!! These young fellas dream about escaping the dismal and depressing homes they live in. They want the flash cars, the designer gear, the wads of cash….and if they can see a way through to fulfilling these dreams, there is very little they will not do to achieve it.
In Black Water we meet young Jig. Only ten-years old, Jig already has ambitions. His brother Maggot has already taken the wrong road and his sister Donna is in a methadone clinic coming down off her addictions. His mother is a raging and abusive alcoholic and his father is the worst kind…. he is physically abusive, a very violent man. For Jig, life is very tough. At ten he has witnessed far too much and has been a whipping boy for his parents once too often. His sole companion is his dog, Bowie, who originally belonged to his beloved Granda.
But Jig sees a way out. If he can just ‘get in’ with the local kingpin, Ghost, then he would be able to get all the things he dreams of. The cool shoes, the respect, a waffle piled with ice-cream off a stand on Grafton Street, big dreams to a ten-year old boy from the inner city.
There is one very telling line in this book that stuck with me and that is…. by the time these young boys are twelve-years old, it’s too late….is it too late for Jig?
Meanwhile Detective Tara Crowe has had enough. Witnessing the aftermath of the violent attacks and the heinous crimes, committed by the so-called Canal Gang, spurs her on to clean up and clean out the scum that inhabit the area around the Grand Canal in Dublin. Tara is ambitious and is not afraid to dig deep and face up to the associates of these gangs. She crosses paths with many of these ruthless and evil characters, but is determined to not show fear and to eradicate the leaders behind the gangs once and for all. But what Tara had not reckoned on was how personal this journey would become…
Shay is the local football coach. All Shay wants is to keep the young lads busy, show them that there is an alternative life outside this ghetto. He wants to protect these children from the destruction and brutality of life on the streets. But Shay has his own demons and soon he is faced with decisions that will have a catastrophic impact on his own family life.
The title Black Water alludes to the waters of the canal and the darkness that lies beneath in the murky shadows, like the streets surrounding it. Life in the shadows of the Grand Canal is dark and dangerous. As Ghost spreads his talons out among the youth, the carnage escalates and the death toll rises.
For Shay, Tara and Jig life is about to change. Decisions are made, both good and bad, as earth shattering facts are revealed and we slowly begin to see behind the curtain of each of their lives.
Black Water is an astonishing debut that literally took my breath away. Not for the faint of heart, there are scenes that caused upset and revulsion, scenes that made me angry and disgusted, scenes that saddened me and opened my eyes to the society we now live in.
Black Water is a shockingly realistic book. It’s grim, it’s disturbing, it’s very emotional. It is uncompromising in it’s realistic depictions of a hard, difficult and violent world.
Black Water truly is a first-class 5* read and I cannot recommend it enough. All I ask is that Cormac O’ Keeffe follows up with the next book as soon as possible…I will be top of the queue!!
April 20, 2018
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.Slightly different to the type of fiction I usually read, Black Water is a convincing novel about gangland crime in Dublin. There is no doubt, the subject matter is a grim one. Gang hierarchy from the leader right down to the newest recruits, the children who are being recruited for their cause. The child in question in this book is Jig.
Jig is a ten-year old footballer who should be dreaming of playing for an English team, encouraged by Shay his football coach. Instead he is thrilled and excited to be recognised by Ghost, an important member of the gang. His older brother Maggot is already a member and is out of control. His family doesn’t care, the only one who can try to get him away from gang culture is Shay.
But Shay is not as he appears, he has a secret and is desperate to be away from the Grand Canal streets. I was completely wrong in my thoughts about what his secret was, it was much more complex than I thought.
A police officer, Tara Crowe, is determined not to back down in the fight against the gang, especially when the battle becomes more personal. I found her brave, loyal and a little naive but she was determined to get a positive result.
I found this novel fascinating, but at times difficult to read. The characterisation was among the best that I have read. There were many I wouldn’t like to know, especially Maggot and Jig’s Ma. A lot of it is grim, but in a believable way. Parts of it I had to skim over, parts I read in fear of what could happen. Fortunately not all of it did. But the grimness has some relief from some of the one-liners and the description of some minor characters everyday antics.
Black Water is a novel that opened my eyes and broke my heart.
Jig is a ten-year old footballer who should be dreaming of playing for an English team, encouraged by Shay his football coach. Instead he is thrilled and excited to be recognised by Ghost, an important member of the gang. His older brother Maggot is already a member and is out of control. His family doesn’t care, the only one who can try to get him away from gang culture is Shay.
But Shay is not as he appears, he has a secret and is desperate to be away from the Grand Canal streets. I was completely wrong in my thoughts about what his secret was, it was much more complex than I thought.
A police officer, Tara Crowe, is determined not to back down in the fight against the gang, especially when the battle becomes more personal. I found her brave, loyal and a little naive but she was determined to get a positive result.
I found this novel fascinating, but at times difficult to read. The characterisation was among the best that I have read. There were many I wouldn’t like to know, especially Maggot and Jig’s Ma. A lot of it is grim, but in a believable way. Parts of it I had to skim over, parts I read in fear of what could happen. Fortunately not all of it did. But the grimness has some relief from some of the one-liners and the description of some minor characters everyday antics.
Black Water is a novel that opened my eyes and broke my heart.
March 5, 2020
This was a friends recommendation and I am glad they took the time to do so. It was a riveting read. Even reading it on my phone's kindle app did not diminish the pleasure I got from this book. This book should be fiction, but in far too many communities, its fact. Evil men take advantage of the innocent to line their own pockets. It's a great read and I don't hesitate to recommend it myself.
If I had any criticism it would be that the author paints Dublin as a totally lawless place, which it's not. There are spots which are this bad, but even in the worst places there are glimmers of hope where community tries to rise above the base motives of its worst member.
The best thing about this book for me was, Jig. I think the author did a great job describing the world from the eyes of a child; with nobody to guide him, nobody to show him compassion. Looking at him from afar he is nothing but a thug, but viewed from his point of view he was just doing what he knew he could. It is a real, Lord of the Fly's, existence.
If I had any criticism it would be that the author paints Dublin as a totally lawless place, which it's not. There are spots which are this bad, but even in the worst places there are glimmers of hope where community tries to rise above the base motives of its worst member.
The best thing about this book for me was, Jig. I think the author did a great job describing the world from the eyes of a child; with nobody to guide him, nobody to show him compassion. Looking at him from afar he is nothing but a thug, but viewed from his point of view he was just doing what he knew he could. It is a real, Lord of the Fly's, existence.
March 18, 2018
Thank you Netgalley and Black & White Publishing for the eARC.
Black Water packs one heck of a punch. The book is intense and unputdownable ... what a read. It's an unflinching look at gang life in Dublin. Horrifying, scary and with parts that made me uncomfortable, it also made me sad and angry. But it's so well written, the story so engrossing and eye-opening, I couldn't stop reading.
Kids as young as 9 or 10 are recruited by the gangs. Coming from criminal families who can't or won't look after them, they are left to roam the streets while their parents drink or drug themselves into oblivion - easy pickings for the gangs. One of the boys, 10-year old Jig, is recruited by Ghost. Smacked around by his parents, with no supervision, the boy's only love is his dog, Bowie, left to him by his late grandfather. Being singled out by Ghost makes him feel important and like a man. One of his tasks is to leave a message for a woman whose son owes the gang money. She ends up dead. The Guardia's Tara Crowe gives her it her all to bring down Ghost, endangering her home life. When one of her fellow officers is killed along with a young girl, putting another officer in a coma, all hell breaks loose.
This book is a real eye opener, shining a light on the horrors of drugs and the people who make their living from dealing. They are utterly ruthless and the cruelties they commit sickening and terrifying.
The ending isn't necessarily a happy one, but a realistic one. This was an excellent read, highly recommended!
Black Water packs one heck of a punch. The book is intense and unputdownable ... what a read. It's an unflinching look at gang life in Dublin. Horrifying, scary and with parts that made me uncomfortable, it also made me sad and angry. But it's so well written, the story so engrossing and eye-opening, I couldn't stop reading.
Kids as young as 9 or 10 are recruited by the gangs. Coming from criminal families who can't or won't look after them, they are left to roam the streets while their parents drink or drug themselves into oblivion - easy pickings for the gangs. One of the boys, 10-year old Jig, is recruited by Ghost. Smacked around by his parents, with no supervision, the boy's only love is his dog, Bowie, left to him by his late grandfather. Being singled out by Ghost makes him feel important and like a man. One of his tasks is to leave a message for a woman whose son owes the gang money. She ends up dead. The Guardia's Tara Crowe gives her it her all to bring down Ghost, endangering her home life. When one of her fellow officers is killed along with a young girl, putting another officer in a coma, all hell breaks loose.
This book is a real eye opener, shining a light on the horrors of drugs and the people who make their living from dealing. They are utterly ruthless and the cruelties they commit sickening and terrifying.
The ending isn't necessarily a happy one, but a realistic one. This was an excellent read, highly recommended!
May 12, 2019
Visit the locations in the novel
Well this takes you right to the underbelly of Dublin! Right to where the drug lords and their gangs hang out, guarding their patch. where the drug lords rule. They’ve got the fancy cars and strut around as if on a high-end fashion catwalk. No wonder kids in the area want to be like them so getting more youngsters to join their gang and ferry drugs around.
Jig and brother Maggot. Even that name made my skin crawl and that was before I read anything about them! Jig is headed down the same wrong path as his brother and sister Donna is already there too. Parents not much better. The scenes surrounding him and his family are very upsetting.
Jig is one of those who sees a way out. A way out….at ten years old. God my heart stopped beating for a second.
Suffice to say this book is not for the faint-hearted. There are heartbreaking chapters and even when the police get involved and seek to bring down the notorious gangs, the reading doesn’t get any easier. But it’s raw, gripping and punch full of emotion.
There’s many interesting characters, all broken and ruined to various degrees but there’s something about them, their raw qualities and interactions with each other.
This is gritty, dark, unforgiving fiction.
July 2, 2020
https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2019...
First off, thank you to BW Publishing for sending me a copy to read, I’ve been in a thriller mood the past couple of months so this fit right into my ‘mood.’ I’m giving an honest review in exchange for this gifted copy!
I would say comparing it to ‘The Wire set in Dublin’ was a really accurate comparison and if you love shows like ‘Law and Order’ or movies like ‘The Departed’ then you’ll probably really enjoy reading this, I know I did!
The pacing was great the whole way through, nothing was stretched out too long and the chapters were kept short and concise as to allow O’Keeffe to give us the whole picture of what was going on. You get the inside of Gangland feel, a great look at the Garda and those whose lives are affected by the gang violence, whether by contributing to it or being witnesses of information.
I wasn’t always a fan when the chapters might change part-way in, to another character’s situation but I thought it was done well enough that it didn’t end up bothering me and I got used to it but fair warning it could feel a bit jumpy if you’re not used to that.
The last 100 pages were just hard to put down, I needed to know what was going to happen, I felt like the clock was ticking and I was on the edge of my seat! Who was going to make it, who wasn’t, it was just making me push forward to know all the answers about the endgame.
First off, thank you to BW Publishing for sending me a copy to read, I’ve been in a thriller mood the past couple of months so this fit right into my ‘mood.’ I’m giving an honest review in exchange for this gifted copy!
I would say comparing it to ‘The Wire set in Dublin’ was a really accurate comparison and if you love shows like ‘Law and Order’ or movies like ‘The Departed’ then you’ll probably really enjoy reading this, I know I did!
The pacing was great the whole way through, nothing was stretched out too long and the chapters were kept short and concise as to allow O’Keeffe to give us the whole picture of what was going on. You get the inside of Gangland feel, a great look at the Garda and those whose lives are affected by the gang violence, whether by contributing to it or being witnesses of information.
I wasn’t always a fan when the chapters might change part-way in, to another character’s situation but I thought it was done well enough that it didn’t end up bothering me and I got used to it but fair warning it could feel a bit jumpy if you’re not used to that.
The last 100 pages were just hard to put down, I needed to know what was going to happen, I felt like the clock was ticking and I was on the edge of my seat! Who was going to make it, who wasn’t, it was just making me push forward to know all the answers about the endgame.
April 9, 2018
A solid and gritty crime thriller that really gives a flavour of the criminal gangland scene in Ireland, as well as the difficulties facing the police in trying to deal with them. One of the real highlights of the book is the way the author develops his characters, going to great lengths to give them depth and dimension. While some of the "baddies" are clearly evil, what impressed me more were the characters like Shay, a former guard with a violent streak, who were struggling to overcome the darker sides of their nature. I also felt a strong connection to Jig, a young boy on the fringes of the gang, slowly drawn in by a combination of family circumstance and the glamour of power and money. This book did a really great job of showing how those on the fringes sometimes suffer the worst consequences.
May 9, 2018
Cormac is a new to me author and I hope to see a lot more of him in my bookish future!
Black Water is his first novel, based in Dublin in what I’m guessing the darkest corners, with their gangs, crime and drugs this book is certain to open your eyes. Gripped from the get go Cormac has a very detailed read that jumps right into the nitty gritty and shows his years of knowledge in the field.
I was fully engrossed in this book and finished within only a couple of days. My eyes were opened at how easily people are sucked into gang life and how ruthless the drug lords can be….. truly terrifying at times!
Its dark, edgy and at some points it made me shudder but I truly loved every page and some of those pages with stay with me forever!
If you enjoy your crime books dark then I highly recommend Black Water….. maybe read it with the lights on!!
Black Water is his first novel, based in Dublin in what I’m guessing the darkest corners, with their gangs, crime and drugs this book is certain to open your eyes. Gripped from the get go Cormac has a very detailed read that jumps right into the nitty gritty and shows his years of knowledge in the field.
I was fully engrossed in this book and finished within only a couple of days. My eyes were opened at how easily people are sucked into gang life and how ruthless the drug lords can be….. truly terrifying at times!
Its dark, edgy and at some points it made me shudder but I truly loved every page and some of those pages with stay with me forever!
If you enjoy your crime books dark then I highly recommend Black Water….. maybe read it with the lights on!!
April 20, 2018
O'Keeffe pulls you into the dark underbelly of Dublin city with great characters, chilling dexterity and unflinching truth - it is harsh, but tender, steely and authentic.
May 1, 2018
Black Water packs a punch right from the opening pages. It takes us away from the tourist strewn streets of Dublin to its back streets and canals. The playground of many, the streets and canals are host to numerous gangs all vying for control. The Canal Gang rule the roost, and provide the gritty characters that dominate the novel. Head of the gang is the Lock Man, rich on his profits, hiding in his mansion, leaving the dirty work to others. His henchman is the charismatic Ghost, who lets nothing stand in his way, using young lads to carry out his errands, do his running, taking advantage of their poor backgrounds. It is his hold over ten year Jig that stirred so many emotions, that made me loathe him from the outset, that hoped he would meet a suitably nasty ending at some point in the novel!
O’Keeffe’s characterisation of Jig is brilliant. He is so wonderfully multi dimensional, tugging at my heartstrings, frustrating me the next. His is a world with no love or nurturing, no positive role models for him to look up to. I wanted to shake his parents, to make them show him some love, to look after him and protect him, but they themselves are a victim of circumstance, of their own up bringing and their environment. The only thing that shows Jig any love is his dog, Bowie and his absent Grandad. It is no wonder that Jig falls under Ghost’s spell and into the clutches of the Canal Gang.
On the other side is Shay, struggling to keep his family together, to protect his children from the violence on their doorstep. From the outset I knew that Shay didn’t belong on the back streets of Dublin, that he might be not who I thought he would be. He is a character that I instantly rooted for, wanted things to work out for, but knew that his journey would be a tough one. Shay’s role as the community football coach is his opportunity to try and give his young team a way out of the violence and the gangs, one that he tries so hard to show Jig. O’Keefe’s portrayal of Shay and Jig’s relationship is well done. I could feel Shay’s frustration and at times desperation with Jig as he tried so hard to steer him away from the Canal Gang. His sense of responsibility and need to save Jig from harm when others see Jig as mere collateral, was perhaps a way to save himself to prove that he is a good person, a way to atone for a past he wishes never happened.
Black Water is a heavily male dominated novel and I was pleased that the main female protagonist, Garda officer, Tara Crowe was more than a match for her male counterparts. Tara is portrayed as tough, hardworking and ambitious and not afraid to put herself in danger, yet never lost her femininity, or her ability to feel emotion.
Black Water may be a character driven novel but it is also a novel of our times. Every day we read of gangland killings, of younger and younger kids being pulled into drugs and knife crime, and this novel does not shy away from these matters. O’Keeffe’s background as a security correspondent adds a realism to the novel, his understanding of how gangs work, of the way of life for many families in the deprived areas of Dublin, emanated from his narrative. The imagery was bleak and dark, the tension palpable as I read and the depths to which gang members will go to protect their turf and themselves brutal to read.
There was not much opportunity to pause for breath, the pace unrelenting, the tension building to a truly explosive ending. I held my breath at one point wondering who would emerge alive, wandering what the future might hold for Jig, Shay and Crowe.
Black Water is dark, gritty and at times grim reading but it is definitely not just another crime thriller in a vastly saturated market. It is a novel that stands out from the rest, with real depth and intensity, and a narrative heavy with brilliant imagery. It cleverly balances social comment with a deftly realised plot that is intense and fast paced.
O’Keeffe has a bright future and I look forward to his novel.
I would like to thank Lina Langlee and Black and White Publishing for inviting mybookishblogspot to participate in the blogto
O’Keeffe’s characterisation of Jig is brilliant. He is so wonderfully multi dimensional, tugging at my heartstrings, frustrating me the next. His is a world with no love or nurturing, no positive role models for him to look up to. I wanted to shake his parents, to make them show him some love, to look after him and protect him, but they themselves are a victim of circumstance, of their own up bringing and their environment. The only thing that shows Jig any love is his dog, Bowie and his absent Grandad. It is no wonder that Jig falls under Ghost’s spell and into the clutches of the Canal Gang.
On the other side is Shay, struggling to keep his family together, to protect his children from the violence on their doorstep. From the outset I knew that Shay didn’t belong on the back streets of Dublin, that he might be not who I thought he would be. He is a character that I instantly rooted for, wanted things to work out for, but knew that his journey would be a tough one. Shay’s role as the community football coach is his opportunity to try and give his young team a way out of the violence and the gangs, one that he tries so hard to show Jig. O’Keefe’s portrayal of Shay and Jig’s relationship is well done. I could feel Shay’s frustration and at times desperation with Jig as he tried so hard to steer him away from the Canal Gang. His sense of responsibility and need to save Jig from harm when others see Jig as mere collateral, was perhaps a way to save himself to prove that he is a good person, a way to atone for a past he wishes never happened.
Black Water is a heavily male dominated novel and I was pleased that the main female protagonist, Garda officer, Tara Crowe was more than a match for her male counterparts. Tara is portrayed as tough, hardworking and ambitious and not afraid to put herself in danger, yet never lost her femininity, or her ability to feel emotion.
Black Water may be a character driven novel but it is also a novel of our times. Every day we read of gangland killings, of younger and younger kids being pulled into drugs and knife crime, and this novel does not shy away from these matters. O’Keeffe’s background as a security correspondent adds a realism to the novel, his understanding of how gangs work, of the way of life for many families in the deprived areas of Dublin, emanated from his narrative. The imagery was bleak and dark, the tension palpable as I read and the depths to which gang members will go to protect their turf and themselves brutal to read.
There was not much opportunity to pause for breath, the pace unrelenting, the tension building to a truly explosive ending. I held my breath at one point wondering who would emerge alive, wandering what the future might hold for Jig, Shay and Crowe.
Black Water is dark, gritty and at times grim reading but it is definitely not just another crime thriller in a vastly saturated market. It is a novel that stands out from the rest, with real depth and intensity, and a narrative heavy with brilliant imagery. It cleverly balances social comment with a deftly realised plot that is intense and fast paced.
O’Keeffe has a bright future and I look forward to his novel.
I would like to thank Lina Langlee and Black and White Publishing for inviting mybookishblogspot to participate in the blogto
October 24, 2018
"Set in the parts of Dublin that the tourists are better off not knowing about ... 'Black Water' depicts a city where the ruthless enlist the desperate to prey on the vulnerable. A terrific debut" - Gene Kerrigan
Yeah ayy I reckon dis book aight ay innit.
Yeah ayy I reckon dis book aight ay innit.
March 24, 2018
Black Water, a debut novel by journalist Cormac O'Keefe is hard to read -- in a good way. The story is one of a drug gang's omnipresent grip on a poor neighborhood in Dublin and an all out effort by the Guardai to take them down after a traffic stop gone horribly wrong, it is also about individual struggles and perspectives on what it means to live in the midst of chaos, violence, generations of poverty and crime, with virtually no way out, lack of engagement and those who for one reason or another have the job or a passion to do something about it. While it is similar to other novels about poor neighborhoods and the characters that inhabit them, O'Keefe's characters and their stories ultimately make this one to read and possibly to reread. O'Keefe manages to avoid stereotyping while writing a book about easily stereotyped people and neighborhoods. I find myself chewing on the stories and back stories of at least eight of the characters (your list might be different from mine) and feeling deeply satisfied that I understand -- not where they are going -- but what makes them tick. Jig, a ten year old boy is well on his way to the gang side, running their errands and skipping school with no one much caring or at least caring enough. But he's also a promising soccer player and he keeps on showing up for practice. And, he has a dog he loves and cares for that once belonged to his Granda, who was a loving spot in a dark life. He joins in his friends' boisterous bonfires and longs for the attention of one of the neighborhood girls, all the while watching the time for his next meet up with Ghost, his handler from the gang and a former soccer player. O'Keefe's story of Jig's family is a novel within a novel. One of domestic violence, family loyalty and adherence to the view that one never rats, even when a family member's safety is at risk. At times, you might feel lost but if you stick with it, the pieces are all put in place just where they should be. As an USA reader, some of the terminology was new but that's part of the fun of a good book about a different country and culture. Keep reading. Do not let that get in your way. Google the terms. Flow with the incredible dialogue. Will you be satisfied at the end? Probably not. But was it the "right" ending? I think so. O'Keefe never lets go of the complexity of his subject and that is most satisfying.
April 30, 2018
FROM ITS VERY FIRST LINE, Cormac O’Keeffe’s debut novel, Black Water, reels us in – and there is no option other than to stay the course of this fast-paced tale, set in the underbelly of Dublin. The black water of the title refers to a stretch of the city’s Grand Canal, where locals war with the gangs that scoop up and spit out their youth. The twin gods of money and power are all the more attractive when you have neither, and 10-year-old protagonist Jig, who’s lost his beloved granda, and whose moral compass is awry, is perfect fodder for local crime boss Ghost and the gang he heads up, even with Shay, Jig’s football coach, tugging hard to keep him on the straight and narrow. But Ghost offers the possibility of a different life when Jig’s family situation seems hopeless.
But it’s not just Shay who wants to stop the gangs preying on kids like Jig. Young detective Tara Crowe is desperate for a chance to bring down Ghost and his crew, but every time she seems to get close, he’s one step ahead of her.
In Black Water, journalist O’Keeffe recreates Dublin’s underworld, informed by first-hand professional and personal knowledge. He gives us insight into the reasons why people turn to violence, crime and drugs. His skilful writing, sharp dialogue and tight plot, along with some beautifully measured characterisation give his cast of players authenticity. We’re on their side, rooting for Jig, wanting him to find a way through this shockingly brutal world, just as we want things for Shay to come right. But what are the odds they will?
This is a great debut – all the more so, when one considers that even among the stellar crime fiction that’s been published recently, Black Water stands out.
Read it and try not to weep – while we look forward to what the author does next.
FULL REVIEW ON THE LITERARY SHED:
http://www.theliteraryshed.co.uk/read...
Thanks to B&W publishing for supplying a review copy. All opinions are our own.
February 22, 2019
Set in inner city Dublin, Black Water is Cormac O’Keeffe’s assured debut novel. The focus is very much on poor, working class communities dominated by a drugs gang that operates largely with impunity, the police struggling to exert any control. The story revolves around four main characters – Jig, a ten year old boy living in an abusive household who has already started to work for the drugs gang as a gofer; Ghost, the ruthless visible power in the drugs gang; Shay, a local football coach and reluctant police informer; and Tara, an ambitious detective who wants to make her mark. The catalyst for the story is a job by Jig going wrong, with an elderly lady who is being intimidated for her son’s drug debt dying. The strength of the story is the strong sense of place through the portrayal of a poor neighbourhood being ruled by a drugs gang and the struggle of local actors and the police to counter their influence and the effects of the drugs, as well as depiction of the dysfunction of Jig’s family and his upbringing. My sense is that there's a strong degree of realism in all the social relations – the family situation of Jig, Shay and Tara, the operations and effects of the local gang, and the power games inside the police. The result is a well-told, engaging - if somewhat depressing - story of a cat-and-mouse game between a criminal gang and the police, with local folk caught in the middle and suffering the consequences.
June 2, 2018
*Review by Nicola*
Cormac is a new to me author and I hope to see a lot more of him in my bookish future!
Black Water is his first novel, based in Dublin in what I’m guessing the darkest corners, with their gangs, crime and drugs this book is certain to open your eyes. Gripped from the get go Cormac has a very detailed read that jumps right into the nitty gritty and shows his years of knowledge in the field.
I was fully engrossed in this book and finished within only a couple of days. My eyes were opened at how easily people are sucked into gang life and how ruthless the drug lords can be….. truly terrifying at times!
Its dark, edgy and at some points it made me shudder but I truly loved every page and some of those pages with stay with me forever!
If you enjoy your crime books dark then I highly recommnd Black Water….. maybe read it with the lights on!!
*Advanced copy supplied by Black and White Publishing*
Cormac is a new to me author and I hope to see a lot more of him in my bookish future!
Black Water is his first novel, based in Dublin in what I’m guessing the darkest corners, with their gangs, crime and drugs this book is certain to open your eyes. Gripped from the get go Cormac has a very detailed read that jumps right into the nitty gritty and shows his years of knowledge in the field.
I was fully engrossed in this book and finished within only a couple of days. My eyes were opened at how easily people are sucked into gang life and how ruthless the drug lords can be….. truly terrifying at times!
Its dark, edgy and at some points it made me shudder but I truly loved every page and some of those pages with stay with me forever!
If you enjoy your crime books dark then I highly recommnd Black Water….. maybe read it with the lights on!!
*Advanced copy supplied by Black and White Publishing*
April 11, 2018
I received an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This book is unputdownable! Make sure that you have lots of time to dedicate to this book because you will not want to put it down once you start it.. I definitely recommend that you pick this one up but don't blame me when you stay up way past your bedtime because you just can't stop reading. Happy reading! #BlackWater #NetGalley
Read
June 4, 2019Cormac absolutely nails the gangland situation in Dublin. Black Water is terrifyingly authentic. It is a book you will devour in a few hours and leave you waiting for a new installment!
Black Water has tremendous pacing with well developed characters. It shows the depressing reality of gangland membership while also revealing the professional jealousy of those tasked with bringing them to justice.
Ireland has a tremendous crime writing scene and Cormac is a welcome new addition to the group.
Black Water has tremendous pacing with well developed characters. It shows the depressing reality of gangland membership while also revealing the professional jealousy of those tasked with bringing them to justice.
Ireland has a tremendous crime writing scene and Cormac is a welcome new addition to the group.
May 6, 2018
This book and it's mix of realty and fiction made it feel believable. You can almost see how an innocent child can gradually become caught up in drugs and violence. The story was gripping and focused a lot on the community we rarely meet and are sometimes intimidated by. It's raw and it sucked me in and I just had to keep reading. Well done to the author for this fantastic book.
June 4, 2018
Enjoyed reading this book immensely. A real page-turner from beginning to end. I looking forward to reading the sequel to see how the characters develop. Can strong characters become stronger, yet some of them I don't want to?
February 10, 2019
Really enjoyed the book about gang land violence and drug dealing in Dublin. In particularly I liked how it focused on how young people are lured into and used in criminality. Well written and original.
May 2, 2019
Great book.
Read in our book club.
A Summary in numbers
6 of the 10 already have recommended it to friends.
8 of the 10 want to read the sequel.
Nice to see an Irish author doing so well on his first book.
Read in our book club.
A Summary in numbers
6 of the 10 already have recommended it to friends.
8 of the 10 want to read the sequel.
Nice to see an Irish author doing so well on his first book.
kindle
April 16, 2018This book was amazing! I read it in one sitting, it was that good.
May 16, 2018
Pure shite. The author tried too hard and failed miserably.
July 28, 2018
Brilliant!
September 13, 2018
An absolute masterpiece and gripping portrayal of Dublin's criminal underworld. A rare writing talent.
October 7, 2018
Very believing story about gangland crime in Dublin. And so well written that you empathise with one of the main characters even though he is no angel
May 14, 2019
Enjoyable Read
A grim and gritty drama set in Dublin. The harsh realities of drugs and gang warfare brought to life. A very enjoyable read.
A grim and gritty drama set in Dublin. The harsh realities of drugs and gang warfare brought to life. A very enjoyable read.
June 12, 2019
4.5 stars x
August 17, 2025
I really enjoy crime fiction with a twist. I finished Black Water this morning but though I enjoyed it, there were two aspects of the story that disturbed me.
One was the utter pointless life of the (seemingly) uneducated, drinking classes in Dublin - I never, ever want to meet or mix with this type of low-life who have no respect for or interest in anything apart from T.V., cigarettes, bullying, drugs, fighting and money.
The second one is the depiction of the awful, disgusting, sadistic revenge-burning of an innocent horse. I almost gave it up at that stage, it's very disturbing to think that some depraved minds actually believe that that is an acceptable way to get revenge on someone. Horrible and unnecessary.
One was the utter pointless life of the (seemingly) uneducated, drinking classes in Dublin - I never, ever want to meet or mix with this type of low-life who have no respect for or interest in anything apart from T.V., cigarettes, bullying, drugs, fighting and money.
The second one is the depiction of the awful, disgusting, sadistic revenge-burning of an innocent horse. I almost gave it up at that stage, it's very disturbing to think that some depraved minds actually believe that that is an acceptable way to get revenge on someone. Horrible and unnecessary.
August 31, 2025
I can take a fair amount of criminality and violence if it's in a book told about policing and protecting the community. This book is almost all from the point of view of nasty little gits who swear, burglarise and take drugs, with violence as an expected cost of doing business. There are gardai, in small doses. There are arms as well and a headline 'Teen beaten to a pulp in drugs row', which seems irresponsible, and unlikely given how it would upset the teen's relatives.
I would like a book about Ireland to show some good sides of life here. The back cover blurb says the main character is a normal boy, when drug abusers are anything but normal. if the author thinks this is normal, he needs to move somewhere quieter.
Some readers may enjoy the story. It's not for me.
I would like a book about Ireland to show some good sides of life here. The back cover blurb says the main character is a normal boy, when drug abusers are anything but normal. if the author thinks this is normal, he needs to move somewhere quieter.
Some readers may enjoy the story. It's not for me.
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