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Jack Taylor #16
A Galway Epiphany
In the newest novel in Bruen's thrilling series, ex-cop turned private eye Jack Taylor is pulled out of his quiet new life on a farm by three mysteries that soon prove dangerously linked
Jack Taylor has finally escaped the despair of his violent life in Galway in favor of a quiet retirement in the country with his friend Keefer, a former Rolling Stones roadie, and a falcon named Maeve. But on a day trip back into the city to sort out his affairs, Jack is hit by a truck in front of Galway's Famine Memorial, left in a coma but mysteriously without a scratch on him.
When he awakens weeks later, he finds Ireland in a frenzy over the so-called "Miracle of Galway." People have become convinced that the two children spotted tending to him are saintly, and the site of the accident sacred. The Catholic Church isn't so sure, and Jack is commissioned to help find the children to verify the miracle or expose the stunt.
But Jack isn't the only one looking for these children. A fraudulent order of nuns needs them to legitimatize its sanctity and becomes involved with a dangerous arsonist. Soon, the building in which the children are living burns down. Jack returns to his old tricks, and his old demons, as his quest becomes personal.
Sharp and sardonic as ever, "the Godfather of the modern Irish crime novel" (Irish Independent) is at his brutal and ceaselessly suspenseful best in A Galway Epiphany.
Jack Taylor has finally escaped the despair of his violent life in Galway in favor of a quiet retirement in the country with his friend Keefer, a former Rolling Stones roadie, and a falcon named Maeve. But on a day trip back into the city to sort out his affairs, Jack is hit by a truck in front of Galway's Famine Memorial, left in a coma but mysteriously without a scratch on him.
When he awakens weeks later, he finds Ireland in a frenzy over the so-called "Miracle of Galway." People have become convinced that the two children spotted tending to him are saintly, and the site of the accident sacred. The Catholic Church isn't so sure, and Jack is commissioned to help find the children to verify the miracle or expose the stunt.
But Jack isn't the only one looking for these children. A fraudulent order of nuns needs them to legitimatize its sanctity and becomes involved with a dangerous arsonist. Soon, the building in which the children are living burns down. Jack returns to his old tricks, and his old demons, as his quest becomes personal.
Sharp and sardonic as ever, "the Godfather of the modern Irish crime novel" (Irish Independent) is at his brutal and ceaselessly suspenseful best in A Galway Epiphany.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2020
169 people are currently reading
295 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 143 reviews
November 4, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up for another story in the Jack Taylor series. Jack Taylor is a man with demons, and he uses drugs and booze to quiet them. He is now living a quiet life on the farm of his friend, Keefer. Keefer has a hunting falcon, and Jack enjoys time with the falcon. but then goes on a day trip into Galway and is hit by a Mack Truck. He is in a coma for several weeks and miraculously awakens with not a scratch--stretching reality just a bit. This seems to happen a lot in this series, where Jack is attacked and beaten, but recovers completely. Locals call this a miracle--A Galway Epiphany. Jack is a man of violence and he thought that he was over that when he went to live on Keefer's farm. But he is drawn back into violence, when he comes into contact with a lethal arsonist and an evil woman pretending to be a teenager.
Bruen's stream of consciousness style of writing made this book hard to read.
This series has Jack drinking, using drugs and profanity. It is not suitable for cozy mystery fans.
However, if you are a fan of this series, you will like it. Jack is a reader and frequently quotes from various authors/poets. He also has some sharp comments on Irish/world politics and the Catholic church.
Some quotes:
"The miracle of Jack Taylor. It is perfect, a former lost soul, an alcoholic, a drug addict, prone to extreme violence, the cause of grief to so many, and God chose you, the most wretched of his creatures to bestow his grace upon."
Jack on the world: "I think the world is so f**cked. Trump has America literally shut down, Brexit is a mess beyond belief, Venezuela is becoming the new Syria in the worst way, so people are desperate for something miraculous."
Jack again: "Sherry is what you drink in Lent, for bl**dy penance."
#AGalwayEpiphany #NetGalley
Thanks to Grove Atlantic/Mysterious Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
Bruen's stream of consciousness style of writing made this book hard to read.
This series has Jack drinking, using drugs and profanity. It is not suitable for cozy mystery fans.
However, if you are a fan of this series, you will like it. Jack is a reader and frequently quotes from various authors/poets. He also has some sharp comments on Irish/world politics and the Catholic church.
Some quotes:
"The miracle of Jack Taylor. It is perfect, a former lost soul, an alcoholic, a drug addict, prone to extreme violence, the cause of grief to so many, and God chose you, the most wretched of his creatures to bestow his grace upon."
Jack on the world: "I think the world is so f**cked. Trump has America literally shut down, Brexit is a mess beyond belief, Venezuela is becoming the new Syria in the worst way, so people are desperate for something miraculous."
Jack again: "Sherry is what you drink in Lent, for bl**dy penance."
#AGalwayEpiphany #NetGalley
Thanks to Grove Atlantic/Mysterious Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
November 4, 2020
EXCERPT: 'Your name came up in another case.'
I said, 'I have the perfect alibi: a coma.'
He asked, 'You ever meet . . . wait, I'll check my notes. 'Took out a battered Garda notebook. I felt the familiar pang of regret at having been thrown out of the force. He double checked, then continued, 'Renee Garvey?'
It sort of rang a bell, but elusive. I said, 'Why?'
He said, 'She has a young daughter who is obviously a victim of abuse but is in some sort of shock and not talking. The mother, Renee, was apparently thrown through a third-floor window, worse, a closed window.'
I asked, 'Did she survive?'
He gave me a withering look, said 'No miracle for her, she's dead as dirt.'
I felt terrible. Now I remembered her desperation and how flippant I had been. More points on the guilt sheet.
I said, 'I failed her.'
ABOUT: 'A GALWAY EPIPHANY (JACK TAYLOR #16) Jack Taylor has finally escaped the despair of his violent life in Galway in favor of a quiet retirement in the country with his friend Keefer, a former Rolling Stones roadie, and a falcon named Maeve. But on a day trip back into the city to sort out his affairs, Jack is hit by a truck in front of Galway’s Famine Memorial, left in a coma but mysteriously without a scratch on him.
When he awakens weeks later, he finds Ireland in a frenzy over the so-called “Miracle of Galway.” People have become convinced that the two children spotted tending to him are saintly, and the site of the accident sacred. The Catholic Church isn’t so sure, and Jack is commissioned to help find the children to verify the miracle or expose the stunt.
But Jack isn’t the only one looking for these children. A fraudulent order of nuns needs them to legitimatize its sanctity and becomes involved with a dangerous arsonist. Soon, the building in which the children are living burns down. Jack returns to his old tricks, and his old demons, as his quest becomes personal.
MY THOUGHTS: All the time I was reading A Galway Epiphany by Ken Bruen, I was writing the review in my head. It was a blinder, probably the best thing I have ever written. By the time I closed the cover on Jack Taylor in the early hours of this morning, it consisted of two words: I'm speechless.
I'm still kind of speechless; all the thoughts I'd had, vanished. I feel like I have been dropped down the laundry shute, put through the washer, the wringer, the dryer, then, instead of being neatly folded and put away, I have been tossed in a heap in the corner.
Jack Taylor can in no way be considered 'ordinary.' He is irreverent, yet strangely obsessed by religion. At one point he recites the Our Father daily, even adding the Protestant rider to it just in case God does, in fact, turn out to be Protestant. He is the child of generations of superstition, belief in seers, omens, signs, second sight and the seventh son of the seventh son deeply ingrained. He knows how pathetic it is, but as he says, 'When you're hardwired to this shite, it's difficult to shake.'
He is a devotee of the 'good stiff drink', Jameson, no ice, a nice frothy pint of Guinness, and the occasional, or sometimes more frequent, Xanax. He is not a fan of being hugged, which everyone seems to be doing these days and which, he concedes, makes a change from being shot at and beaten, although he is somewhat more comfortable with the latter.
Jack is not good at personal relationships. Just like his behaviour has no bounds, his mouth has no filter, and what he is thinking more often than not is said. He is angry at the world, and not afraid to show it.
In A Galway Epiphany, Taylor has two 'miracle' children to find, an arsonist who needs extinguishing, an asshole husband who killed his wife, a cyber bully to locate, and Father Malachy to contend with.
Interspersed with the 2019 storyline are world events, literary, and musical references, and even a reference to box sets.
Bruen has never been a smooth writer. It's just not his style. It works, usually. And usually I love it. But A Galway Epiphany seems even choppier than usual. More disjointed. Almost frenzied in places. A little harder to read. In the past I could hear the voices of Bruen's characters in my head. It didn't happen. And yet I enjoyed (if that's the right word; I can't at the moment think of another) A Galway Epiphany, despite the choppiness, despite the cliffhanger ending.
Is there going to be more Jack Taylor? I don't know. I hope so.
Btw, Mr Bruen, I thought the killer eating his scrambled egg with the murder weapon was a brilliant touch.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#AGalwayEpiphany #NetGalley
'It is said that an epiphany is most likely to occur in a cemetery, though it helps if you're the mourner rather than the deceased.'
'The power of positive drinking.'
THE AUTHOR: KEN BRUEN was born in Galway, Ireland in 1951. The award-winning author of sixteen novels, he is the editor of Dublin Noir, and spent twenty-five years as an English teacher in Africa, Japan, Southeast Asia and South America. He now lives in Galway City. (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Galway Epiphany by Ken Bruen for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I said, 'I have the perfect alibi: a coma.'
He asked, 'You ever meet . . . wait, I'll check my notes. 'Took out a battered Garda notebook. I felt the familiar pang of regret at having been thrown out of the force. He double checked, then continued, 'Renee Garvey?'
It sort of rang a bell, but elusive. I said, 'Why?'
He said, 'She has a young daughter who is obviously a victim of abuse but is in some sort of shock and not talking. The mother, Renee, was apparently thrown through a third-floor window, worse, a closed window.'
I asked, 'Did she survive?'
He gave me a withering look, said 'No miracle for her, she's dead as dirt.'
I felt terrible. Now I remembered her desperation and how flippant I had been. More points on the guilt sheet.
I said, 'I failed her.'
ABOUT: 'A GALWAY EPIPHANY (JACK TAYLOR #16) Jack Taylor has finally escaped the despair of his violent life in Galway in favor of a quiet retirement in the country with his friend Keefer, a former Rolling Stones roadie, and a falcon named Maeve. But on a day trip back into the city to sort out his affairs, Jack is hit by a truck in front of Galway’s Famine Memorial, left in a coma but mysteriously without a scratch on him.
When he awakens weeks later, he finds Ireland in a frenzy over the so-called “Miracle of Galway.” People have become convinced that the two children spotted tending to him are saintly, and the site of the accident sacred. The Catholic Church isn’t so sure, and Jack is commissioned to help find the children to verify the miracle or expose the stunt.
But Jack isn’t the only one looking for these children. A fraudulent order of nuns needs them to legitimatize its sanctity and becomes involved with a dangerous arsonist. Soon, the building in which the children are living burns down. Jack returns to his old tricks, and his old demons, as his quest becomes personal.
MY THOUGHTS: All the time I was reading A Galway Epiphany by Ken Bruen, I was writing the review in my head. It was a blinder, probably the best thing I have ever written. By the time I closed the cover on Jack Taylor in the early hours of this morning, it consisted of two words: I'm speechless.
I'm still kind of speechless; all the thoughts I'd had, vanished. I feel like I have been dropped down the laundry shute, put through the washer, the wringer, the dryer, then, instead of being neatly folded and put away, I have been tossed in a heap in the corner.
Jack Taylor can in no way be considered 'ordinary.' He is irreverent, yet strangely obsessed by religion. At one point he recites the Our Father daily, even adding the Protestant rider to it just in case God does, in fact, turn out to be Protestant. He is the child of generations of superstition, belief in seers, omens, signs, second sight and the seventh son of the seventh son deeply ingrained. He knows how pathetic it is, but as he says, 'When you're hardwired to this shite, it's difficult to shake.'
He is a devotee of the 'good stiff drink', Jameson, no ice, a nice frothy pint of Guinness, and the occasional, or sometimes more frequent, Xanax. He is not a fan of being hugged, which everyone seems to be doing these days and which, he concedes, makes a change from being shot at and beaten, although he is somewhat more comfortable with the latter.
Jack is not good at personal relationships. Just like his behaviour has no bounds, his mouth has no filter, and what he is thinking more often than not is said. He is angry at the world, and not afraid to show it.
In A Galway Epiphany, Taylor has two 'miracle' children to find, an arsonist who needs extinguishing, an asshole husband who killed his wife, a cyber bully to locate, and Father Malachy to contend with.
Interspersed with the 2019 storyline are world events, literary, and musical references, and even a reference to box sets.
Bruen has never been a smooth writer. It's just not his style. It works, usually. And usually I love it. But A Galway Epiphany seems even choppier than usual. More disjointed. Almost frenzied in places. A little harder to read. In the past I could hear the voices of Bruen's characters in my head. It didn't happen. And yet I enjoyed (if that's the right word; I can't at the moment think of another) A Galway Epiphany, despite the choppiness, despite the cliffhanger ending.
Is there going to be more Jack Taylor? I don't know. I hope so.
Btw, Mr Bruen, I thought the killer eating his scrambled egg with the murder weapon was a brilliant touch.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#AGalwayEpiphany #NetGalley
'It is said that an epiphany is most likely to occur in a cemetery, though it helps if you're the mourner rather than the deceased.'
'The power of positive drinking.'
THE AUTHOR: KEN BRUEN was born in Galway, Ireland in 1951. The award-winning author of sixteen novels, he is the editor of Dublin Noir, and spent twenty-five years as an English teacher in Africa, Japan, Southeast Asia and South America. He now lives in Galway City. (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Galway Epiphany by Ken Bruen for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 14, 2020
3.5
Hey Jack,
I was so happy to read that you were back. Not that were friends or anything, you know that those who befriend hounding last very long. Good to see you were your usual irascible, irreverent, hard drinking self. A miracle huh! Bet you never saw that one coming. As usual I enjoy your bookish quotes, and here your Galway epiphanies. I don't know how violence manages to find you no matter where you are, but it does. Always the good with the bad. Think I'd take up drinking too!
This one though seemed to have too much going on, seemed kind of rushed. Still, you are a nice change of pace, one I always appreciate. Don't know how you manage to survive the things you do, though that may be a moot point.
I sincerely hope I see you again and in better conditions.
Till next time. Fingers crossed.
ARC from Edelweiss.
Hey Jack,
I was so happy to read that you were back. Not that were friends or anything, you know that those who befriend hounding last very long. Good to see you were your usual irascible, irreverent, hard drinking self. A miracle huh! Bet you never saw that one coming. As usual I enjoy your bookish quotes, and here your Galway epiphanies. I don't know how violence manages to find you no matter where you are, but it does. Always the good with the bad. Think I'd take up drinking too!
This one though seemed to have too much going on, seemed kind of rushed. Still, you are a nice change of pace, one I always appreciate. Don't know how you manage to survive the things you do, though that may be a moot point.
I sincerely hope I see you again and in better conditions.
Till next time. Fingers crossed.
ARC from Edelweiss.
March 31, 2024
This is the sixteenth book in Bruen’s series featuring former Irish cop Jack Taylor. As I already knew from the one book in this series I’d previously read, Jack is a typical hard boiled front man: scarred, prone to acts of violence and fond (very fond) of a tipple. When the story opens, we find him living a comfortable life on a farm outside of Galway, with a close friend and a falcon he’s very fond of. But on a trip into the city he’s hit by a truck and awakes in hospital weeks later with little recall of the event and nary a scratch on him. A miracle? Some think it is and whispers around town seem to link the incident to the ‘Miracle of Galway’, a recent event involving two children who also, it seems, appeared at the site of Taylor’s accident.
Following a visit from a mysterious church investigator, Jack finds himself on the hunt for the children, thought to be refugees recently arrived in the country. But it appears that he isn’t the only one looking for this pair, a fraudulent order of nuns also have eyes out for them and a sinister arsonist – a really scary guy, this one – then enters the scene. One senses this isn’t all going to end well.
The way the story is told is jerky and interspersed with odd anecdotes from the author and numerous literary references. I was really pleased to see a few of my favourite American crime fiction writers rate a mention, including: James Lee Burke, Lawrence Block, and Dennis Lehane. I’d seen this approach when I’d read book 12 The Emerald Lie so I didn’t find it off-putting, for me it just added another element of quirkiness to an already slightly strange book.
The focal point of the story is cleverly changed as unexpected events transpire, and I really liked this. Just as I was settling into the flow of the tale, I was shocked out of my reverie by a totally unanticipated twist. Clever. And the ending had me wondering, too, though you’ll have to read the book to find out why. Bruen is a class act, I’m sure of that. His writing is at times brutal, but he has a very distinct voice, and I don’t come across that too often in mystery novels. Flawless, it isn’t, but it’s certainly good enough to bring me back to his books again in the not too distant future.
My thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Following a visit from a mysterious church investigator, Jack finds himself on the hunt for the children, thought to be refugees recently arrived in the country. But it appears that he isn’t the only one looking for this pair, a fraudulent order of nuns also have eyes out for them and a sinister arsonist – a really scary guy, this one – then enters the scene. One senses this isn’t all going to end well.
The way the story is told is jerky and interspersed with odd anecdotes from the author and numerous literary references. I was really pleased to see a few of my favourite American crime fiction writers rate a mention, including: James Lee Burke, Lawrence Block, and Dennis Lehane. I’d seen this approach when I’d read book 12 The Emerald Lie so I didn’t find it off-putting, for me it just added another element of quirkiness to an already slightly strange book.
The focal point of the story is cleverly changed as unexpected events transpire, and I really liked this. Just as I was settling into the flow of the tale, I was shocked out of my reverie by a totally unanticipated twist. Clever. And the ending had me wondering, too, though you’ll have to read the book to find out why. Bruen is a class act, I’m sure of that. His writing is at times brutal, but he has a very distinct voice, and I don’t come across that too often in mystery novels. Flawless, it isn’t, but it’s certainly good enough to bring me back to his books again in the not too distant future.
My thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2020
In my review of the previous book, I wrote that I thought Jack had found a like-minded individual. I was wrong. Keefer is good for Jack. He’s provided a country home away from Galway where Jack, I think, finds the most peace he’s ever had. Readers will know from experience that neither the peace nor the friendship will last.
I believe fans of this series will get everything they expect in this book. All the trademark features of a Jack Taylor book are here: references to books, poetry, music, politics, religion, current events, social commentary. Jack is still drinking, smoking, using Xanax and oxy. But he seems to function in spite of the physical and emotional knocks he takes. However, changes are afoot. I’m very curious where Ken Bruen is going with the next book.
I believe fans of this series will get everything they expect in this book. All the trademark features of a Jack Taylor book are here: references to books, poetry, music, politics, religion, current events, social commentary. Jack is still drinking, smoking, using Xanax and oxy. But he seems to function in spite of the physical and emotional knocks he takes. However, changes are afoot. I’m very curious where Ken Bruen is going with the next book.
January 2, 2023
I have a lot of stuff to say about this one.
Maybe I'll review it proper like tomorrow.
Possibly the best "Jack Taylor" entry since the 1st one.
Some of it's heartbreaking ...mostly it's a perfect thriller.
Hopefully I'll be able to write a more coherent review tomorrow like - as previously promised.
SPOILER ALERT
END SPOILER ALERT
If you haven't read any of Ken Bruen's "Jack Taylor" novels please go back to book one and start with THE GUARDS.
I recommend this series to fans of James Lee Burke's "Dave Robicheaux" novels. Jack Taylor is not a dry drunk like Robicheaux - Jack's drunker than Dylan Thomas 70% of the time. If he's not drunk, he's drinking.
It's a beautifully written series. There's action and there's heartbreaking beauty and sentimentality. Sixteen books in the series. You can read the entire series in two and a half weeks.
They're fast reads and you can read each entry in a day and a half.
Highest recommendation!
Maybe I'll review it proper like tomorrow.
Possibly the best "Jack Taylor" entry since the 1st one.
Some of it's heartbreaking ...mostly it's a perfect thriller.
Hopefully I'll be able to write a more coherent review tomorrow like - as previously promised.
SPOILER ALERT
END SPOILER ALERT
If you haven't read any of Ken Bruen's "Jack Taylor" novels please go back to book one and start with THE GUARDS.
I recommend this series to fans of James Lee Burke's "Dave Robicheaux" novels. Jack Taylor is not a dry drunk like Robicheaux - Jack's drunker than Dylan Thomas 70% of the time. If he's not drunk, he's drinking.
It's a beautifully written series. There's action and there's heartbreaking beauty and sentimentality. Sixteen books in the series. You can read the entire series in two and a half weeks.
They're fast reads and you can read each entry in a day and a half.
Highest recommendation!
December 7, 2020
Reading a Jack Taylor novel is like riding a roller coaster. I can't catch my breath as everything happens so fast. The book opens with a bang. Taylor is hit by a truck and lucky to be alive. After months in the hospital, it turns out he was supposedly helped by two refugees. The search is on to find these two miracle children. A priest is sent from Rome to investigate the "miracle." The children have disappeared.
After Taylor magically recovers he gets involved in several cases. He is approached by a woman who says her abusive husband is now turning his attention to his daughter. She pleads for help. A father is heartbroken when his daughter kills himself after being trolled on the Internet. He asks Taylor for help in finding the culprit. Then an arsonist is running around killing people in truly despicable fashion. There is a hint that he may be involved with the fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Taylor works his way through these cases with the help of his friend, Keefer, a former Rolling Stones employee. Keefer is one terrific guy who introduces Taylor to falconry. He stands by his side and is so supportive. It's just that getting close to Taylor is dangerous.
Another spellbinding novel that kept me captivated from beginning to end. I love all the literary references most of which I have never heard of but I hope to investigate. Taylor is one of the more unique characters out there. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
After Taylor magically recovers he gets involved in several cases. He is approached by a woman who says her abusive husband is now turning his attention to his daughter. She pleads for help. A father is heartbroken when his daughter kills himself after being trolled on the Internet. He asks Taylor for help in finding the culprit. Then an arsonist is running around killing people in truly despicable fashion. There is a hint that he may be involved with the fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Taylor works his way through these cases with the help of his friend, Keefer, a former Rolling Stones employee. Keefer is one terrific guy who introduces Taylor to falconry. He stands by his side and is so supportive. It's just that getting close to Taylor is dangerous.
Another spellbinding novel that kept me captivated from beginning to end. I love all the literary references most of which I have never heard of but I hope to investigate. Taylor is one of the more unique characters out there. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
February 14, 2024
Well, the book was entertaining for sure, but hardly what I'd call quality literature. Interestingly enough though, the main character constantly refers to ...eeeer..quality literature and quotes poetry and all, which is a positive aspect. Yeah, it happens in Galway and shows a great knowledge of the city, even if it is not at all credible that so much in terms of dramatic crime and suspense would really go on there in a city of only 85000 people. I get the hard drinking, rough life detective ...but why he has to keep plugging one particular commonly available brand of Irish whiskey I don‘t get, when there are so many others, and better ones, too. Also, as another reviewer wrote, many of the things said would simply not be used in speech in Ireland and that annoyed me. Still, I am giving it the benefit of the doubt with my 3 stars-because it is the only one in the series I have read, and also I like when it puts in bits in the Irish language, and here and there has such amusing phrases thrown it.
September 10, 2021
Thanks for the ride ;)
"Shit just got real Jack"
Cheers Bruen, its been emotional.
X
"Shit just got real Jack"
Cheers Bruen, its been emotional.
X
April 26, 2021
One of my favorite characters is Ken Bruen's Jack Taylor. He first appeared in 2001's "The Guards" as (maybe) Galway's first private eye, an ex-guard who drinks too much and has no trouble speaking his mind or resorting to violence to settle things. He is haunted by the ghosts of his past, ghosts he feels responsibility for in one way or the other. On the surface Jack can seem mean and sarcastic but he has an unrelenting conscience pushing him to do the right thing. This is often his Achilles' heel as characters will exploit his trust to his detriment.
"A Galway Epiphany" is the sixteenth appearance of Jack Taylor. It opens with him being in a relatively good place, for once. The trauma of the recent death of his young daughter is ever present, but he is coping with it the best he can with his recent buddy Keefer and life in the countryside. In Galway a reported religious miracle is suddenly all the rage and Jack is literally shoved into the hoopla. The Church sucks Jack into investigating the children who are involved and there are other players looking to use Jack for their own ends.
Jack occasionally drops the names of his favorite writers and books and will quote lyrics from songs or poems. He often frames the time period with the current social topics like Brexit and his loathing and abhorrence of Trump. He has humor and personality-- this is not just your wooden vigilante or Dirty Harry. Then, as you are pulled into his world, you are stung by the violence and death which are always just one shot glass away.
"A Galway Epiphany" is a great continuation of the Jack Taylor journey, but one has to wonder where things go from here. Jack is like the friend or relative who you always worry about, the one who seems to be his own worst enemy. There are a few jaw dropping developments near the end that have you wondering where Ken Bruen will steer us. I will be there waiting to see.
#AGalwayEpiphany #NetGalley
"A Galway Epiphany" is the sixteenth appearance of Jack Taylor. It opens with him being in a relatively good place, for once. The trauma of the recent death of his young daughter is ever present, but he is coping with it the best he can with his recent buddy Keefer and life in the countryside. In Galway a reported religious miracle is suddenly all the rage and Jack is literally shoved into the hoopla. The Church sucks Jack into investigating the children who are involved and there are other players looking to use Jack for their own ends.
Jack occasionally drops the names of his favorite writers and books and will quote lyrics from songs or poems. He often frames the time period with the current social topics like Brexit and his loathing and abhorrence of Trump. He has humor and personality-- this is not just your wooden vigilante or Dirty Harry. Then, as you are pulled into his world, you are stung by the violence and death which are always just one shot glass away.
"A Galway Epiphany" is a great continuation of the Jack Taylor journey, but one has to wonder where things go from here. Jack is like the friend or relative who you always worry about, the one who seems to be his own worst enemy. There are a few jaw dropping developments near the end that have you wondering where Ken Bruen will steer us. I will be there waiting to see.
#AGalwayEpiphany #NetGalley
April 27, 2021
Having finally come to some equilibrium in his life, Jack Taylor tries to get along in peace. When he is run over by a lorry near the site of a religious apparition and survives without serious injury, he comes once more under the scrutiny of the church and is enlisted in what will be the most dangerous investigation he has ever undertaken.
Darkly humourous and disturbingly terrifying at the same time, Bruen manages to evoke the dread of 'The Exorcist' and 'The Omen' as his hapless hero once more confronts demons both internal and external.
Darkly humourous and disturbingly terrifying at the same time, Bruen manages to evoke the dread of 'The Exorcist' and 'The Omen' as his hapless hero once more confronts demons both internal and external.
November 14, 2020
Didn't finish, gave up. The characters are too wooden, too violent, too insignificant. The story line is so bizarre as to be comical. No thanks
December 15, 2020
Due to creative spacing and having invented his own system of paragraphing, Bruen has managed to take 200 to 250 pages worth of text and spread it out to 385 pages. I think this was intended to be a funny book, but I found nothing humorous at all in it. The nicest thing I can say about the book is that it has shown me I'll never have to read another Ken Bruen book.
December 16, 2020
More of the usual Taylor drama,heartache,violence and death. However, as always, done very well. And though at this point in the series all plot points are predictable, still rates 4 stars for the writing.
December 3, 2020
Those of you who have followed Jack Taylor for very long understand that he is a decent man prone to violence whether under the influence of drink or not. The breadth of his nature can be from fully unkind to graciously loving to brutally rude to murderously vengeful. But the bedevilment of JT is not only the vexations of his nature first-hand, but that of the second-hand arc of death that stalks him. He suffers from the fact that whether it is his actions or his inactions, death is his sidekick. Each book asks the reader the question: do you want to keep following this man? I've always enjoyed Bruen's stop-motion style. His gift of lavishing us with anecdotes, quotes, reams of songs and poems and writers is a loving gift. I beam when I recognize a song or singer or poet or writer; and mutter when the recognition escapes me. I almost stopped reading JT books a while ago when he suffered a devastating calamity (followers will know what I'm talking about), but I've kept up. Whether this is in awe of the story-telling or similar to not averting one's eyes at a traffic accident - who knows? Maybe I'll never know. But if I stop reading, I might begin to fall and never begin to glide.
January 17, 2021
Bruen's books are generally centered around a horrific act or a series of horrific acts...and this is no different.
His central character Jack Taylor has been through so much horror and suffering in his series through the years..its hard to place in a realistic context.
I do love Bruen's writing style and an added bonus is all his book/tv/ movie mentions that are thrown out in each book.
The books are very politically current and I'm eagerly waiting for Bruen's take on Covid in Ireland....although after that last paragraph!!???!!
His central character Jack Taylor has been through so much horror and suffering in his series through the years..its hard to place in a realistic context.
I do love Bruen's writing style and an added bonus is all his book/tv/ movie mentions that are thrown out in each book.
The books are very politically current and I'm eagerly waiting for Bruen's take on Covid in Ireland....although after that last paragraph!!???!!
March 11, 2021
Not his best Jack book but any new book by Bruen is always a good read. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
May 31, 2020
And yet again .... another riveting Bruen gem featuring ex Gard officer and present day private eye, Jack Taylor. Since his daughter was killed in his presence, Taylor has teetered on the abyss ... attempting to drown himself in Jameson and Xanax. Jack is an extremely flawed protagonist .. a violent lush, who cannot control his sarcastic ballsy behavior ... and a virtual pain in the ass to all who know him. He's attempting to bring solace to his life by living a country life on his friend Keefer's farm along with the falcon named Maeve. Keefer is quite the character ... a life-long roadie of the Rolling Stones ... who acts and dresses like a biker and dances to his own drum beat.
Jack returns to Galway, hopefully for a brief visit to sort out personal affairs. While there he is hit by the proverbial Mack truck and awakens in a hospital bed weeks later ... apparently rather unscathed. Ireland finds itself in a religious frenzy over the "Miracle of Galway". ... during his ordeal , two children were observed tending to his unconscious body ... they have been deemed "saintly". (actually they were robing him). The Catholic Church wants Jack to investigate and verify the miracle or fraud. He eventually learns the children are Sara and Salazar ... Sara has always appeared to be younger than she actually is .. a virtual chameleon and able to blend into her surrounding unnoticed .... her true nature is miscalculated by Jack ... until he reaches his many epiphanies. Jack finds his investigation to be three prong. Explore the ongoing arsons committed probably by Benjamin .... obtain proof of the heinous acts of a wife beater/ killer and lastly find the "Miracle" children. One of Jack's many mottos: the law was for courts, justice was in the alley.
Ken Bruen with his magical skills as a storyteller unleashes a complex and twisted narrative that escalates into an unexpected and explosive denouement. Along the way he astounds with his gritty dark Irish humor and almost poetic prose. Violence abounds but is not gratuitous ... but rather sets the stage for what is imminent. As usual in any Bruen incursion ... many quirky characters keep popping up with strange motivations and weird requests for Jack which propels the narrative in unexpected directions.
Although this certainly can be enjoyed as a stand alone ... readers will want to explore the entire Jack Taylor series. I was late to the party in discovering the enjoyable pathos of Jack Taylor. I not only went back to read the previous tales but also binge watched the Netflix television series. No one can read these tales without visualizing the amazing Scottish actor, Iain Glen as Jack Taylor. (even before his stint as Ser Jorah Mormont on Game of Thrones)
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com )
Jack returns to Galway, hopefully for a brief visit to sort out personal affairs. While there he is hit by the proverbial Mack truck and awakens in a hospital bed weeks later ... apparently rather unscathed. Ireland finds itself in a religious frenzy over the "Miracle of Galway". ... during his ordeal , two children were observed tending to his unconscious body ... they have been deemed "saintly". (actually they were robing him). The Catholic Church wants Jack to investigate and verify the miracle or fraud. He eventually learns the children are Sara and Salazar ... Sara has always appeared to be younger than she actually is .. a virtual chameleon and able to blend into her surrounding unnoticed .... her true nature is miscalculated by Jack ... until he reaches his many epiphanies. Jack finds his investigation to be three prong. Explore the ongoing arsons committed probably by Benjamin .... obtain proof of the heinous acts of a wife beater/ killer and lastly find the "Miracle" children. One of Jack's many mottos: the law was for courts, justice was in the alley.
Ken Bruen with his magical skills as a storyteller unleashes a complex and twisted narrative that escalates into an unexpected and explosive denouement. Along the way he astounds with his gritty dark Irish humor and almost poetic prose. Violence abounds but is not gratuitous ... but rather sets the stage for what is imminent. As usual in any Bruen incursion ... many quirky characters keep popping up with strange motivations and weird requests for Jack which propels the narrative in unexpected directions.
Although this certainly can be enjoyed as a stand alone ... readers will want to explore the entire Jack Taylor series. I was late to the party in discovering the enjoyable pathos of Jack Taylor. I not only went back to read the previous tales but also binge watched the Netflix television series. No one can read these tales without visualizing the amazing Scottish actor, Iain Glen as Jack Taylor. (even before his stint as Ser Jorah Mormont on Game of Thrones)
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com )
May 20, 2020
Jack Taylor has finally escaped the despair of his violent life in Galway in favor of a quiet retirement in the country with his friend Keefer, a former Rolling Stones roadie, and a falcon named Maeve. But on a day trip back into the city to sort out his affairs, Jack is hit by a truck in front of Galway's Famine Memorial, left in a coma but mysteriously without a scratch on him.
When he awakens weeks later, he finds Ireland in a frenzy over the so-called "Miracle of Galway." People have become convinced that the two children spotted tending to him are saintly, and the site of the accident sacred. The Catholic Church isn't so sure, and Jack is commissioned to help find the children to verify the miracle or expose the stunt.
I have read all 16 books by Ken Bruen in the Jack Taylor Series over the last roughly 20 years. Hey, whats not to like in a series about private investigator who is disgraced former police officer in Galway, Ireland who is also an alcoholic and a drug abuser.
Like most books in the series the mood is dark and involves numerous crimes and people of questionable character. I have to admit that Bruen is an acquired taste as an author as ther really is no middle ground. You love him or you don’t. His writing style is very unique, there is no one that writes quite like him.
I enjoy his style, he addresses political ans social issues that are in vogue at the point in time that each book takes place. Over 20 years there has been a lot of targets for his political/social commentary He also refers to musical acts, books of the times and tv’s and movies. Thanks for some great material leads over the years.
I’m getting the feeling that this may be the last we see that Mr. Bruen is getting a little tired of carrying the weight of Jack Taylor as a lot of his friends and enemies have been killed off over the last few books. Maybe he feels it’s time to start with a newer lead. Jack Taylor will be missed if that is the case and I’ll certainly have a shot and a beer to commemorate his passing. And certainly read what ever next comes from Ken Bruen.
When he awakens weeks later, he finds Ireland in a frenzy over the so-called "Miracle of Galway." People have become convinced that the two children spotted tending to him are saintly, and the site of the accident sacred. The Catholic Church isn't so sure, and Jack is commissioned to help find the children to verify the miracle or expose the stunt.
I have read all 16 books by Ken Bruen in the Jack Taylor Series over the last roughly 20 years. Hey, whats not to like in a series about private investigator who is disgraced former police officer in Galway, Ireland who is also an alcoholic and a drug abuser.
Like most books in the series the mood is dark and involves numerous crimes and people of questionable character. I have to admit that Bruen is an acquired taste as an author as ther really is no middle ground. You love him or you don’t. His writing style is very unique, there is no one that writes quite like him.
I enjoy his style, he addresses political ans social issues that are in vogue at the point in time that each book takes place. Over 20 years there has been a lot of targets for his political/social commentary He also refers to musical acts, books of the times and tv’s and movies. Thanks for some great material leads over the years.
I’m getting the feeling that this may be the last we see that Mr. Bruen is getting a little tired of carrying the weight of Jack Taylor as a lot of his friends and enemies have been killed off over the last few books. Maybe he feels it’s time to start with a newer lead. Jack Taylor will be missed if that is the case and I’ll certainly have a shot and a beer to commemorate his passing. And certainly read what ever next comes from Ken Bruen.
May 19, 2020
I’m not sure what to say about this book. I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series, so maybe I’m missing too much of the backstory.
I had high hopes as it’s a mystery (?) set in Galway, one of my favorite places in the world. However, it was confusing to read. The ARC copy seems to be very early. There are no chapters. There are some random quotes strewn throughout that don’t alway make sense to the story. The language switches between typical Irish slang and sayings to more American ones (social security instead of dole, etc.) that I had to stop and wonder if I misread the last few pages. The flow was choppy, changing frequently with no delineation between different POVs. Major antagonists that features prominently in the beginning were hastily discarded with little more than a paragraph or two. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t good.
DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had high hopes as it’s a mystery (?) set in Galway, one of my favorite places in the world. However, it was confusing to read. The ARC copy seems to be very early. There are no chapters. There are some random quotes strewn throughout that don’t alway make sense to the story. The language switches between typical Irish slang and sayings to more American ones (social security instead of dole, etc.) that I had to stop and wonder if I misread the last few pages. The flow was choppy, changing frequently with no delineation between different POVs. Major antagonists that features prominently in the beginning were hastily discarded with little more than a paragraph or two. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t good.
DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2021
What did I just read? Should have been a graphic novel. 2nd novel in a row where the antagonist is a teen age girl! Sorry there was nothing redeeming in this book.
Hope the author gets some mental health. Scary. Nothing good here.
Hope the author gets some mental health. Scary. Nothing good here.
February 28, 2021
Další díl „kriminálek“ s Jackem Taylorem v hlavní roli. Tady fakt už musím dát kriminálku do uvozovek, protože, jak je zvykem, je i nový díl složený z popisování toho, co Ken Bruen zrovna viděl, četl nebo co se kolem děje. A samozřejmě, zkoušením, co všechno jeho hrdina může snést. Zkušení čtenáři už vědí, že jakmile si Taylor najde někoho, s kým bude mít nějaký vztah, už si tragédie obléká kabát, aby vyrazila do akce. Co se týče Bruenových přátel, známých či dětí, tak Ken Bruen pokračuje v systematické genocidě.
Co se týče příběhů, tak to na začátku vypadá jako klasická kriminálka. Máte tu žháře s konexemi ve vyšších vrstvách, náboženskou sektu, vatikánské vyšetřování místního zázraku, holku dotlačenou k sebevraždě, zabitou manželku, zmizelé děti… ale pokud čekáte nějakou elmoreleonardovskou strukturu, tak zřejmě neznáte Bruena. Autor na začátku rozdá karty, úhledně je vyloží na stůl – a pak stiskne knoflík a stůl vyletí do povětří. Asi nejlepší literární simulace stroboskopického efektu.
Romány Kena Bruena jsou v podstatě proti všemu, co u kriminálek uznávám. On hrdina vlastně ani moc nepátrá, nepokládá otázky (v těchhle románech mezi sebou vůbec lidi mluví krátce a spíš v útočných holých větách). Pachatelé za ním obvykle chodí sami, aby se mu představili, což hrdina ignoruje, a pokud už má dojít na nějakou akci, nejspíš se nestaví, protože je na šrot. Na věci jako příčinu a následek či zločin a trest se tu vůbec nehraje – spíš na náhlé a překvapivé záchvaty brutality.
Ale přesto je tu něco, co mě na Kenu Bruenovi přitahuje. Styl? Atmosféra? Zuřivost? To kašlání na čtenáře a hlazení proti srsti? Nebo snad i to, že je studnicí knižních doporučení? (Není někde na netu soupiska knih, seriálů a filmů co Jack Taylor četl a viděl?)
P.S. Podle všeho by tohle mohl být poslední román s Taylorem. Což je možná dobře, protože se série dostala už na hranici, za kterou se moc jít nedá, na krok od epileptického záchvatu. A navíc asi autora už bolí nohy, od toho, jak do svého hrdiny zuřivě kope.
Co se týče příběhů, tak to na začátku vypadá jako klasická kriminálka. Máte tu žháře s konexemi ve vyšších vrstvách, náboženskou sektu, vatikánské vyšetřování místního zázraku, holku dotlačenou k sebevraždě, zabitou manželku, zmizelé děti… ale pokud čekáte nějakou elmoreleonardovskou strukturu, tak zřejmě neznáte Bruena. Autor na začátku rozdá karty, úhledně je vyloží na stůl – a pak stiskne knoflík a stůl vyletí do povětří. Asi nejlepší literární simulace stroboskopického efektu.
Romány Kena Bruena jsou v podstatě proti všemu, co u kriminálek uznávám. On hrdina vlastně ani moc nepátrá, nepokládá otázky (v těchhle románech mezi sebou vůbec lidi mluví krátce a spíš v útočných holých větách). Pachatelé za ním obvykle chodí sami, aby se mu představili, což hrdina ignoruje, a pokud už má dojít na nějakou akci, nejspíš se nestaví, protože je na šrot. Na věci jako příčinu a následek či zločin a trest se tu vůbec nehraje – spíš na náhlé a překvapivé záchvaty brutality.
Ale přesto je tu něco, co mě na Kenu Bruenovi přitahuje. Styl? Atmosféra? Zuřivost? To kašlání na čtenáře a hlazení proti srsti? Nebo snad i to, že je studnicí knižních doporučení? (Není někde na netu soupiska knih, seriálů a filmů co Jack Taylor četl a viděl?)
P.S. Podle všeho by tohle mohl být poslední román s Taylorem. Což je možná dobře, protože se série dostala už na hranici, za kterou se moc jít nedá, na krok od epileptického záchvatu. A navíc asi autora už bolí nohy, od toho, jak do svého hrdiny zuřivě kope.
July 18, 2024
Dark even for a Jack Taylor book. It occupied a long car ride, so there's that.
May 9, 2021
A great addition- maybe the last- Jack Taylor novel? Jack loses everyone we have come to know throughout his novels, and in the end he is stabbed and possibly killed himself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2020
There is a point in A GALWAY EPIPHANY when Jack Taylor compares his life’s miseries to those visited upon Job, who is regarded by a number of the world’s major religions as a man tested by God. Taylor’s woes, as chronicled by author Ken Bruen over the course of what is now 15 novels, give Job a run for his money, even though some of those trials and tribulations are the result of self-inflicted friendly fire.
Taylor’s life is a train wreck that you cannot help but watch, in large part because of Bruen’s beautifully bruised prose, which careens across the page in a stream-of-consciousness, where Bruen and Taylor (the lives of both seem conjoined at times) maintain at least a finger on the wheel, if not a grasp. The result has been --- and remains --- one of contemporary genre fiction’s most unique series.
Taylor is a former garda turned Galway private investigator who has a reputation for helping people in need. A GALWAY EPIPHANY finds him surrendering to substance abuse and in no shape to effectively help anyone, though that does not stop him from attempting to do so. Taylor finds himself with four problems here: He involves himself with a father whose daughter committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying. A brilliant but deranged arsonist is running loose in Galway and taunting Taylor. However, the most significant problem is a girl at the center of a religious miracle who may not be what she seems.
Taylor solves one of these matters rather quickly and handily, and finds that another is expeditiously taken care of by a friend. A third is ended by a deus ex machina of sorts that is ironically created by the target. The fourth...let us say that there may or may not be divine intervention involved. All of these stories play out gradually in one way or another over the course of A GALWAY EPIPHANY.
Futhermore, a long-standing acquaintance of Taylor’s is stricken with a debilitating disease and asks Taylor to kill him, a request that he is reluctant to fulfill. The narrative also takes several side alleys into music, literature, politics and social commentary, all of which are interesting and diverting (as opposed to distracting) as the plots continue to move along at Taylor’s staggering pace toward an ending that is foreshadowed but nevertheless chilling.
At least one long-running character bites the dust, as do a couple of individuals introduced in the recent past. Bruen has no qualms about taking people off the board, no matter how beloved they may be, and no doubt hears the shrieks of readers in his ears at night upon the publication of each new book. We keep coming back, though, and for excellent reasons. His battered, broken and troubled protagonist will crawl toward the finish line if need be, with a grim rejoinder on his lips, and is an inspiration to us all, even if he is the best of all bad examples. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Taylor’s life is a train wreck that you cannot help but watch, in large part because of Bruen’s beautifully bruised prose, which careens across the page in a stream-of-consciousness, where Bruen and Taylor (the lives of both seem conjoined at times) maintain at least a finger on the wheel, if not a grasp. The result has been --- and remains --- one of contemporary genre fiction’s most unique series.
Taylor is a former garda turned Galway private investigator who has a reputation for helping people in need. A GALWAY EPIPHANY finds him surrendering to substance abuse and in no shape to effectively help anyone, though that does not stop him from attempting to do so. Taylor finds himself with four problems here: He involves himself with a father whose daughter committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying. A brilliant but deranged arsonist is running loose in Galway and taunting Taylor. However, the most significant problem is a girl at the center of a religious miracle who may not be what she seems.
Taylor solves one of these matters rather quickly and handily, and finds that another is expeditiously taken care of by a friend. A third is ended by a deus ex machina of sorts that is ironically created by the target. The fourth...let us say that there may or may not be divine intervention involved. All of these stories play out gradually in one way or another over the course of A GALWAY EPIPHANY.
Futhermore, a long-standing acquaintance of Taylor’s is stricken with a debilitating disease and asks Taylor to kill him, a request that he is reluctant to fulfill. The narrative also takes several side alleys into music, literature, politics and social commentary, all of which are interesting and diverting (as opposed to distracting) as the plots continue to move along at Taylor’s staggering pace toward an ending that is foreshadowed but nevertheless chilling.
At least one long-running character bites the dust, as do a couple of individuals introduced in the recent past. Bruen has no qualms about taking people off the board, no matter how beloved they may be, and no doubt hears the shrieks of readers in his ears at night upon the publication of each new book. We keep coming back, though, and for excellent reasons. His battered, broken and troubled protagonist will crawl toward the finish line if need be, with a grim rejoinder on his lips, and is an inspiration to us all, even if he is the best of all bad examples. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
January 7, 2021
I have read only half of the 16 books in this series, several times really hating the books with the scale tipping toward liking the books because they are always a reading experience. Some of the quotes and observations are intensely piercing to the soul and some of the behavior is unbearably obtuse. There is a fascinating story contained within these pages, however, so one forges onward, gritting teeth at times. Is it feasible someone awash in Jamesons, Xanax and oxycontin can think clearly enough to plan redeeming acts? Its Bruen's world and his rules. I don't expect another book, but go ahead and surprise me. For now, I do hope my next read is more cheering.
"During my last case, mourning the death of my child, I'd been truly certifiably insane. I'd bundled up all my prized books, wrapped them in a cotton bag, gone down to the beach, and burnt them all."
"I now had 3 problems. The guy who left me the long match. Was he the arsonist, and why was he contacting me? The woman who'd come to me for help with her abusive husband. She was now dead and the husband had a solid alibi. The children of the miracle. Where were they and how would I find them?"
And then there were many references to other books, such as The Last. In fact, Bruen is a pretty good salesman dropping books names and product references throughout his books. He states for the best Katrina writing to read The Tin Roof Blowdown
Thank you, Library Loan
"During my last case, mourning the death of my child, I'd been truly certifiably insane. I'd bundled up all my prized books, wrapped them in a cotton bag, gone down to the beach, and burnt them all."
"I now had 3 problems. The guy who left me the long match. Was he the arsonist, and why was he contacting me? The woman who'd come to me for help with her abusive husband. She was now dead and the husband had a solid alibi. The children of the miracle. Where were they and how would I find them?"
And then there were many references to other books, such as The Last. In fact, Bruen is a pretty good salesman dropping books names and product references throughout his books. He states for the best Katrina writing to read The Tin Roof Blowdown
Thank you, Library Loan
August 12, 2020
Jack Taylor, an ex Guard and current private investigator, decided to retire to the farm of his friend, Keefer outside Galway. Keefer had been a roadie with the Rolling Stones and now raised falcons. On the day, when Jack returned to Galway city to settle his affairs, he was hit by a large truck. He spent weeks in a coma but woke up without a scratch on him.
Right before the accident, two children claimed a miracle had taken place nearby. Then while Jack was lying on the ground after his accident, the same two children turned up appearing to help him. Jack’s recovery was seen by some as the Galway Miracle. However the children disappeared and Jack was hired to find them.
A group of women from California declared themselves a religious order. These “nuns” felt that if they could find the children, they could use them to legitimize the religious order and even raise funds. One of the women became involved with a wealthy arsonist who also was interested in finding the children.
Jack finds the girl, Sara, after the boy and two of the “nuns” are burned in a fire. Sara tells him that the fatal fire is the work of the arsonist so Jack decides to move Sara to Keefer’s farm for safety. He realizes much later that Sara is as innocent as she appears to be.
This is the 16th book in the Jack Taylor series.The writing in this book is crisp and the text is interspersed with literary quotes and musical references. Jack is a memorable character and this series has been quite popular.
September 17, 2020
Ken Bruen’s Jack Taylor series should probably have finished years ago. Since the Galway titles the books have become parody. It’s as if he’s taken the 2 preceding books and cut them up Burroughs style, mixed in a section of the Irish Times and a list of Crime fiction reviews. The result is a sparse storyline thin as Irish mist laced with humorous anecdotes, improbable characters, gratuitous violence a sprinkling of pathos and much nonsense. It’s a simple formula - Jack drinks, shit happens. A Galway Epiphany is one of the better ones. While not exactly a return to form it’s highly enjoyable if you’re a fan and totally puzzling if you’re not. This is one of Bruen’s better efforts which I doubt will win over many new readers but it has a certain charm which no doubt will keep him in enough Jameson’s to get him through the next book.
November 4, 2020
Meh. Scored a copy of A Galway Epiphany by Ken Bruen from Netgalley, but found myself frustrated after the first few pages. Perhaps it was because I was reading an e-galley, but I couldn't tell what was what! No quotation marks, which I can usually get past, yet it was too difficult to decipher what was going, who was talking, where any preface began and ended, it all just ran together. Disappointed because I love the idea of starting a new series; might be better served to start from the beginning. DNF.
February 8, 2022
Could not get into this book at all! The storyline jumped so much and made no sense. The author gave random bits of information throughout the story that didn't relate to the overall story at all and was very rambling. Definitely will not be reading this ever again or recommending it.
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