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Description
Quirke, an irascible, hard-drinking Dublin pathologist, investigates the apparent suicide of Deidre Hunt, the beautiful young wife of an old acquaintance, and discovers many things that might better have remained hidden, as well as grave danger to those he loves.--From publisher description.
User reviews
LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
Back again to Dublin and to Quirke, the pathologist featured in Black's Christine Falls. The events of Silver Swan take place some two years after Christine Falls, and there are a lot of changes in Quirke's life and those of the other continuing supporting characters as well. Like Christine Falls,
The novel begins with a former school acquaintance (Billy Hunt) contacting Quirke about the death of his wife Deirdre. She had been found dead, drowned in a local beach, apparently of suicide. Hunt knows that there will be an autopsy, and comes to beg Quirke not to cut her open. Quirke agrees to the idea, but come the day when he gets the body, he notices a small puncture mark and thus has to break his promise. From there it's a ride into a seamy side of life and secrets -- all of which affect Quirke somewhat personally. He just can't let it go (as was the case in Christine Falls); he has to get to the bottom of what happened to Deirdre Hunt. The case takes a more personal turn when Quirke realizes that his thoroughly depressed daughter Phoebe is involved with one of the principals.
Gloomy in tone, it seems that the events which have transpired over the last couple of years have left all of the continuing characters sunk in the quagmire of individual unhappiness and depression, to the point where you wonder how much worse it can possibly get.
Black's incredibly well-drawn characters are what make the novel, and his descriptions of Dublin and its denizens make the reader feel as if he/she were there. The writing, of course, is superb, and it's uncanny how Black (aka John Banville) can get into the skin of each character he's created.
The epilogue is a bit ambiguous, so if you expect everything to be tied up in a neat package with all problems resolved, you may not want to read this book. I look at it like this -- this is an ongoing story and there are loose ends in life in general, so ambiguity does not bother me.
I HIGHLY recommend this book, but PLEASE start with Christine Falls or you will lose much needed detail for understanding the angst, turmoil and dark broodiness that seems to be the hallmark of this series. Readers of Irish crime fiction will love it and serious mystery readers will enjoy it as well.
It may be awhile before the next one arrives, so I'll try to be patient.
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The Silver Swan remains a dark and broody type of novel, so if you're looking for warm fuzzies and a lilting tone, forget it. It's just not in Quirke's nature, and after the events that transpired in Christine Falls, not in the nature of any of the other characters either. The novel begins with a former school acquaintance (Billy Hunt) contacting Quirke about the death of his wife Deirdre. She had been found dead, drowned in a local beach, apparently of suicide. Hunt knows that there will be an autopsy, and comes to beg Quirke not to cut her open. Quirke agrees to the idea, but come the day when he gets the body, he notices a small puncture mark and thus has to break his promise. From there it's a ride into a seamy side of life and secrets -- all of which affect Quirke somewhat personally. He just can't let it go (as was the case in Christine Falls); he has to get to the bottom of what happened to Deirdre Hunt. The case takes a more personal turn when Quirke realizes that his thoroughly depressed daughter Phoebe is involved with one of the principals.
Gloomy in tone, it seems that the events which have transpired over the last couple of years have left all of the continuing characters sunk in the quagmire of individual unhappiness and depression, to the point where you wonder how much worse it can possibly get.
Black's incredibly well-drawn characters are what make the novel, and his descriptions of Dublin and its denizens make the reader feel as if he/she were there. The writing, of course, is superb, and it's uncanny how Black (aka John Banville) can get into the skin of each character he's created.
The epilogue is a bit ambiguous, so if you expect everything to be tied up in a neat package with all problems resolved, you may not want to read this book. I look at it like this -- this is an ongoing story and there are loose ends in life in general, so ambiguity does not bother me.
I HIGHLY recommend this book, but PLEASE start with Christine Falls or you will lose much needed detail for understanding the angst, turmoil and dark broodiness that seems to be the hallmark of this series. Readers of Irish crime fiction will love it and serious mystery readers will enjoy it as well.
It may be awhile before the next one arrives, so I'll try to be patient.
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LibraryThing member BCCJillster
When I get a book as an ARC I always want to really like it, but I couldn't manage this one. It may have been more the fault of mood than the book, but I just couldn't go back into the bleakness with Quirk. He brings a pervasive attitude of gloom for me. And this from someone who loves the
I made it through the first of the Quirk books, but not as a happy camper, so I felt after a while I knew where we were going and I reluctantly exited the train. Sorry.
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guilt-ridden, haunted hero of the Charles Todd books.I made it through the first of the Quirk books, but not as a happy camper, so I felt after a while I knew where we were going and I reluctantly exited the train. Sorry.
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LibraryThing member drneutron
Quirke's back in The Silver Swan, Benjamin Black's sequel to Christine Falls. He's as quirky as ever - except now he's stopped drinking and he's trying in his own way to make amends with his daughter. In The Silver Swan, an old school acquaintance has asked Quirke to help cover up his wife's
Unfortunately, this one wasn't up to the level of the first. Quirke and his family came off as whiny and unrealistic instead of dysfunctional. The story really lagged in the middle and until the last couple of chapters I very nearly didn't care whether I finished or not.
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suicide. Except things aren't what they seem and Quirke can't let it go until he uncovers the truth.Unfortunately, this one wasn't up to the level of the first. Quirke and his family came off as whiny and unrealistic instead of dysfunctional. The story really lagged in the middle and until the last couple of chapters I very nearly didn't care whether I finished or not.
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LibraryThing member jmyers24
Dublin pathologist Quirke cannot seem to tame his curiosity. After opening up a Pandora's box of family secrets in “Christine Falls,” Quirke now finds himself driven to discover how and why Deidre Hunt, aka Laura Swan, turned up dead in Dublin Bay and ended up in his morgue. Why does Billy
At the same time he's attempting to discover Deidre's fatal secrets, he's also trying to get closer to his daughter, who has only recently learned of the true biological relationship between them. In a word, Quirke's life is still messy, which makes his character both realistically annoying and somehow endearing. Women can't seem to help falling for him even while he works to sidestep anything that smacks of a relationship.
Balancing Quirke's dogged efforts at detection are a host of odd characters and suspects: Deidre Hunt (Laura Swan), the deceased former proprietor of The Silver Swan salon, as well as business partner and mistress to Leslie White; Billy Hunt, Deidre's husband and Quirke's former classmate; Leslie White, a somewhat effete scam artist who Quirke senses is central to Deidre's untimely end; Kate, Leslie's wife, who has kicked him out and now finds herself attracted to Quirke; Dr. Kreutz, spiritual healer, who is running his own scam on the women he treats, including Deidre; and Phoebe, Quirke's daughter, who is depressed and angry at her father and who also falls under Leslie White's spell. In addition, there are the members of Quirke's extended family circle whom we met in “Christine Falls” and whose stories continue here.
In this excellent sequel, Jonathan Black demonstrates his considerable storytelling skills in juggling all these characters and their stories. Some stories are told from the character's perspective; some are told from a more omniscient view. But eventually all merge together and lead to a satisfying conclusion. If there is one failing in this book it's that the reader keeps wishing to see more of Quirke. There's a certain level of frustration and tension created by the scarcity of the main character—but then, that's the magic and mystery of Quirke. Despite the clouds that follow him everywhere, I am definitely looking forward to his return.
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Hunt, his former classmate and Deidre's husband, plead with him not to do an autopsy? Why does he, Quirke, care? In his stubborn way, Quirke is like a dog with a bone: he knows he should bury it but he can't seem to quit gnawing on it. At the same time he's attempting to discover Deidre's fatal secrets, he's also trying to get closer to his daughter, who has only recently learned of the true biological relationship between them. In a word, Quirke's life is still messy, which makes his character both realistically annoying and somehow endearing. Women can't seem to help falling for him even while he works to sidestep anything that smacks of a relationship.
Balancing Quirke's dogged efforts at detection are a host of odd characters and suspects: Deidre Hunt (Laura Swan), the deceased former proprietor of The Silver Swan salon, as well as business partner and mistress to Leslie White; Billy Hunt, Deidre's husband and Quirke's former classmate; Leslie White, a somewhat effete scam artist who Quirke senses is central to Deidre's untimely end; Kate, Leslie's wife, who has kicked him out and now finds herself attracted to Quirke; Dr. Kreutz, spiritual healer, who is running his own scam on the women he treats, including Deidre; and Phoebe, Quirke's daughter, who is depressed and angry at her father and who also falls under Leslie White's spell. In addition, there are the members of Quirke's extended family circle whom we met in “Christine Falls” and whose stories continue here.
In this excellent sequel, Jonathan Black demonstrates his considerable storytelling skills in juggling all these characters and their stories. Some stories are told from the character's perspective; some are told from a more omniscient view. But eventually all merge together and lead to a satisfying conclusion. If there is one failing in this book it's that the reader keeps wishing to see more of Quirke. There's a certain level of frustration and tension created by the scarcity of the main character—but then, that's the magic and mystery of Quirke. Despite the clouds that follow him everywhere, I am definitely looking forward to his return.
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LibraryThing member viking2917
I received a copy of Silver Swan as part of LT’s early reviewer's program. In this sequel to Christine Falls, Quirke is on the wagon and sober, his relationship with his daughter (whom he formerly thought was his niece), is broken, and his wife Delia and his wife's sister Sarah, whom he loved,
Billy Hunt, an old school associate, has come to ask Quirke not to perform an autopsy out of respect for his dead wife. Deirdre Hunt, (or Laura Swan as she’s come to be known in her business), has apparently committed suicide by drowning; Quirke being Quirke, of course, he performs the autopsy anyway. When he does, he concludes she didn’t drown after all. His relentless curiosity compels him to learn what happened.
The Silver Swan is not nearly as atmospheric as Christine Falls in my view, but perhaps that's just because it's the second book of Black's that I've read, and perhaps I have adjusted to his writing style. Oddly enough the atmospherics of the novel are often lighter - there's much less smoke (see my previous review of Christine Falls for more on that), and even when the interpersonal relationships seem strained, Dublin seems a fine place to be:
...They set off walking together down the hill road to seafront. For Quirke there was something at once dreamy and quintessential about the summer afternoons; they seemed the very definition of weather, and light, and time. The sunlit road before them was empty. Heavy frondages of lilac leaned down from the garden walls, the polished leaves mingling their faint, sharp scent with the salt smell of the sea. They did not speak, and the longer the silence between them lasted the more difficult it was to break. Quirke felt slightly and pleasantly ridiculous. This could only be called a date, and he could not remember when he had last been on one. He was too old, or at least too unyoung, for such an outing. He found this fact inexplicably cheering.
Or..
The day was hot already, with shafts of sunlight reflecting like brandished swords off the roofs of motorcars passing by outside in the smoky, petrol-blue air.
In any case, Black spends a lot of time and verbiage describing scenes, settings, and details (often to no apparent point). The writing is lovely, and Dublin is well rendered. Quirke’s constant itch for a drink is palpable, and the mystery is intriguing. But in the end I found this book less compelling than Christine Falls; Quirke’s motivations seem unclear, and while he still smokes like a chimney, his personal challenges never seem to lead anywhere. The mystery, while entertaining, and progressively more salacious, doesn’t rise to the intricately interwoven plot of Christine Falls. It’s a fine book, but doesn’t rise to the level of its predecessor.
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are also dead. Billy Hunt, an old school associate, has come to ask Quirke not to perform an autopsy out of respect for his dead wife. Deirdre Hunt, (or Laura Swan as she’s come to be known in her business), has apparently committed suicide by drowning; Quirke being Quirke, of course, he performs the autopsy anyway. When he does, he concludes she didn’t drown after all. His relentless curiosity compels him to learn what happened.
The Silver Swan is not nearly as atmospheric as Christine Falls in my view, but perhaps that's just because it's the second book of Black's that I've read, and perhaps I have adjusted to his writing style. Oddly enough the atmospherics of the novel are often lighter - there's much less smoke (see my previous review of Christine Falls for more on that), and even when the interpersonal relationships seem strained, Dublin seems a fine place to be:
...They set off walking together down the hill road to seafront. For Quirke there was something at once dreamy and quintessential about the summer afternoons; they seemed the very definition of weather, and light, and time. The sunlit road before them was empty. Heavy frondages of lilac leaned down from the garden walls, the polished leaves mingling their faint, sharp scent with the salt smell of the sea. They did not speak, and the longer the silence between them lasted the more difficult it was to break. Quirke felt slightly and pleasantly ridiculous. This could only be called a date, and he could not remember when he had last been on one. He was too old, or at least too unyoung, for such an outing. He found this fact inexplicably cheering.
Or..
The day was hot already, with shafts of sunlight reflecting like brandished swords off the roofs of motorcars passing by outside in the smoky, petrol-blue air.
In any case, Black spends a lot of time and verbiage describing scenes, settings, and details (often to no apparent point). The writing is lovely, and Dublin is well rendered. Quirke’s constant itch for a drink is palpable, and the mystery is intriguing. But in the end I found this book less compelling than Christine Falls; Quirke’s motivations seem unclear, and while he still smokes like a chimney, his personal challenges never seem to lead anywhere. The mystery, while entertaining, and progressively more salacious, doesn’t rise to the intricately interwoven plot of Christine Falls. It’s a fine book, but doesn’t rise to the level of its predecessor.
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LibraryThing member jfurshong
The two years that have passed since the end of “Christine Falls” have altered Quirke’s world. His newly acknowledged daughter is uncertain how much she wants him in his life. No longer a drinking man, his habits have changed, but events seem to conspire to force him to resume old habits.
Quirke is a medical examiner at a large hospital and the plot gets rolling when an old school friend, grief-stricken over the drowning of his wife, approaches him with a favor. He asks Quirke not to do an autopsy on his wife, because he can’t bear the idea of seeing her cut up. But, in the course of a routine examination, Quirke discovers needle marks and his suspicions are aroused.
The victim, Deidre Hunt, much younger than her husband, has some odd connections, including a partnership with a con artist in a beauty parlor and a relationship with an Indian healer. Within a short time, Phoebe, Quirke’s confused and gullible daughter, becomes entangled with the same con artist and Quirke has even more reason to get to the bottom of this mystery. Their stand-offish relationships eventually puts Phoebe in peril and forces Quirke to see her in a different light.
Benjamin Black is the pseudonym of the award-winning John Banville, and his writing under this nom-de-plume is an enjoyable contrast to his more literary efforts. Dublin is still a small town, atmospheric, narrow-minded and firmly in the clutches of church and tradition. Men look after women, make decisions for them and treat a woman who thinks and acts for herself as an aberration. Black keeps the plot moving steadily, with sophisticated writing and an engaging and moody style that suits the time and setting perfectly.
In the tradition of “Christine Falls” this book could have been titled “Deirdre Hunt”. Layer by layer her life is exposed and the seemingly contradictory pieces of information slip into place. Black is a gifted mystery writer, understands the genre and has now followed his earlier success with a worthy offspring. This was an Early Reviewer copy from Library Thing and I look forward to another linked mystery after this one, again set several years later. This is a winning formula.
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This is 1950s Dublin where outcomes depend on who you know and the best connections are made in the pub over a pint of Guiness.Quirke is a medical examiner at a large hospital and the plot gets rolling when an old school friend, grief-stricken over the drowning of his wife, approaches him with a favor. He asks Quirke not to do an autopsy on his wife, because he can’t bear the idea of seeing her cut up. But, in the course of a routine examination, Quirke discovers needle marks and his suspicions are aroused.
The victim, Deidre Hunt, much younger than her husband, has some odd connections, including a partnership with a con artist in a beauty parlor and a relationship with an Indian healer. Within a short time, Phoebe, Quirke’s confused and gullible daughter, becomes entangled with the same con artist and Quirke has even more reason to get to the bottom of this mystery. Their stand-offish relationships eventually puts Phoebe in peril and forces Quirke to see her in a different light.
Benjamin Black is the pseudonym of the award-winning John Banville, and his writing under this nom-de-plume is an enjoyable contrast to his more literary efforts. Dublin is still a small town, atmospheric, narrow-minded and firmly in the clutches of church and tradition. Men look after women, make decisions for them and treat a woman who thinks and acts for herself as an aberration. Black keeps the plot moving steadily, with sophisticated writing and an engaging and moody style that suits the time and setting perfectly.
In the tradition of “Christine Falls” this book could have been titled “Deirdre Hunt”. Layer by layer her life is exposed and the seemingly contradictory pieces of information slip into place. Black is a gifted mystery writer, understands the genre and has now followed his earlier success with a worthy offspring. This was an Early Reviewer copy from Library Thing and I look forward to another linked mystery after this one, again set several years later. This is a winning formula.
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LibraryThing member writestuff
The Silver Swan is the second novel in the Quirke series written by John Banfield under his pseudonym Benjamin Black. Dysfunctional Dublin pathologist Quirke’s return appearance happens two years after solving the Christine Falls case. Finally sober, he is mourning the loss of his unrequited love
It was a postmortem he had performed on the body of another young woman that had led to the unraveling of the Judge’s web of secrets; did he want to become involved in another version of that? Should he not just let the death of Deirdre Hunt alone, and leave her husband in merciful ignorance? What did it matter that a woman had drowned herself? - her troubles were over now; why should her husband’s be added to? Yet even as he asked himself these questions Quirke was aware of the old itch to cut into the quick of things, to delve into the dark of what was hidden – to know. - from The Silver Swan, page 25 -
Banfield’s writing is dark and rich and The Silver Swan, like its prequel Christine Falls, reads more like literary fiction than straight genre mystery. Characters are well-developed and plot is secondary to the motivations of the characters. The story unravels through alternating point of view which gives the mystery greater depth and interest. Once again, I found myself not entirely liking Quirke who always seems to be struggling with ethical decisions, while unable to deal with his personal demons. But, despite this, Banfield’s strong prose engaged me in Quirke’s story. I found The Silver Swan less predictable and with more intriguing twists than its predecessor – just when I thought I had solved the mystery, the story took an unexpected turn which kept me guessing.
He flicked the stub of his cigarette over the embankment wall. A gull, deceived, dived after it. Nothing is what it seems. - from The Silver Swan, page 55 -
Both Christine Falls and its sequel The Silver Swan will appeal to those readers who enjoy a good mystery, but also appreciate literary fiction. Speaking for myself, I know I would not hesitate to pick up another thriller-mystery by this author.
Highly recommended.
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Sarah and trying to make amends with his daughter when he receives a phone call from an old school friend whose wife’s body has been fished out of the dark waters near Dublin. The man requests that Quirke ignore the law and refrain from performing an autopsy to cover up the apparent suicide. But Deidre Hunt’s death is not as straight forward as it first appears, and Quirke once again finds himself embroiled in the dark side of human behavior. He is unable to let the mystery alone.It was a postmortem he had performed on the body of another young woman that had led to the unraveling of the Judge’s web of secrets; did he want to become involved in another version of that? Should he not just let the death of Deirdre Hunt alone, and leave her husband in merciful ignorance? What did it matter that a woman had drowned herself? - her troubles were over now; why should her husband’s be added to? Yet even as he asked himself these questions Quirke was aware of the old itch to cut into the quick of things, to delve into the dark of what was hidden – to know. - from The Silver Swan, page 25 -
Banfield’s writing is dark and rich and The Silver Swan, like its prequel Christine Falls, reads more like literary fiction than straight genre mystery. Characters are well-developed and plot is secondary to the motivations of the characters. The story unravels through alternating point of view which gives the mystery greater depth and interest. Once again, I found myself not entirely liking Quirke who always seems to be struggling with ethical decisions, while unable to deal with his personal demons. But, despite this, Banfield’s strong prose engaged me in Quirke’s story. I found The Silver Swan less predictable and with more intriguing twists than its predecessor – just when I thought I had solved the mystery, the story took an unexpected turn which kept me guessing.
He flicked the stub of his cigarette over the embankment wall. A gull, deceived, dived after it. Nothing is what it seems. - from The Silver Swan, page 55 -
Both Christine Falls and its sequel The Silver Swan will appeal to those readers who enjoy a good mystery, but also appreciate literary fiction. Speaking for myself, I know I would not hesitate to pick up another thriller-mystery by this author.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member kylenapoli
Black (Banville) has a special way of resolving a mystery plot while completely deflating any attendant sense of satisfaction. The prose is too good to be considered truly noir or hard boiled, but the lead character -- Dublin pathologist Quirke -- is certainly taciturn and utterly opaque.
LibraryThing member franoscar
SPOILERS. Well, he is a good writer I guess. I'm not sure I quite realized that I was embarking on another Banville book. The character is completely nutty. All the characters actually. And it isn't clear at all why Quirke comes up with his (incorrect) solution to the problem. This book has so much
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going on, the drugs, the sex...it doesn't really make a lot of sense. Show Less
LibraryThing member owenre
Excellent, literate, atmospheric mystery. I will be reading every Benjamin Black.
LibraryThing member bill
I read mysteries for their entertainment value and to relax. The Silver Swan is not your typical mystery, at least the mysteries that I enjoy do not come with their own list of discussion questions. I do not intend to say the Silver Swan is a bad book. On the contrary, it is well written with a
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complex plot. The main character, Quirke is a complex man with his own difficulties and challenges in life, not unlike his daughter. But, the Silver Swan is not my choice for escape. If my interests ran to a complex mystery wrapped within serious literature, the Silver Swan would be near the top of my list. Show Less
LibraryThing member Coyote99
Sequel to Christine Falls. Black/Banville scored again. Great characterization.....Quirk is as dark and gloomy as before and has another engrossing mystery surrounding a dead young woman. A smart, well written book.
LibraryThing member CBJames
When a mystery novel opens with the discovery of a dead body, it has my full attention. Avoid the eccentric neighbor characters and get right to the chase. Benjamin Black, John Banville to the Mann Booker Prize jury, opens The Silver Swan just the way I like it. A young man drops by the Dublin
Things have not gone well for pathologist/detective Garret Quirke in the two years since he was introduced in Christine Falls. His wife has died, his father is in a hospital, and his daughter is making every effort she can to avoid him. Quirke does not want to become involved in another investigation, not after how turned out in Christine Falls, but when an old acquaintance makes a special effort to ask him not to perform an autopsy he cannot stay out of the case.
What follows is an entertaining detective story that makes a successful effort to grab its readers and force them to keep turning the pages. But, because it strays from its central character, it's not as successful as Christine Falls. Quirke could have walked out of a Dashell Hammet or a Raymond Chandler novel. He has a drinking problem, a jaundiced view of the world, trouble with women, and he really doesn't want to be involved--all things make good hard-boiled detective fiction. When he is present on the page, The Silver Swan has the goods. But over half the time, the focus shifts to other characters: his daughter, his friend, the victim and her backstory, various suspects. These are all interesting people and the book would suffer if their scenes were removed completely, but it would definately gain if they were cut.
Mr. Black is up to more than just telling a detective story, of course. In Christine Falls he shone a light on parts of Irish history many people would prefer be kept in the dark. The Silver Swan has a much more domestic agenda. No societal ill is examined, nor is any great historical scandal brought to light. Instead, the characters traverse the conflicts men have with women, fathers have with daughters, and one jaded man has with the world around him. The actual mystery operates as a means to explore these relationships. That's fine if you're looking for a novel, but it's problematic if you're looking for a mystery.
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morgue to ask pathologist Garret Quirke not to perform an autopsy on his wife. She has just committed suicide by drowning, and he cannot bear the thought of her being cut up for examination. The Silver Swan is off to an excellent start.Things have not gone well for pathologist/detective Garret Quirke in the two years since he was introduced in Christine Falls. His wife has died, his father is in a hospital, and his daughter is making every effort she can to avoid him. Quirke does not want to become involved in another investigation, not after how turned out in Christine Falls, but when an old acquaintance makes a special effort to ask him not to perform an autopsy he cannot stay out of the case.
What follows is an entertaining detective story that makes a successful effort to grab its readers and force them to keep turning the pages. But, because it strays from its central character, it's not as successful as Christine Falls. Quirke could have walked out of a Dashell Hammet or a Raymond Chandler novel. He has a drinking problem, a jaundiced view of the world, trouble with women, and he really doesn't want to be involved--all things make good hard-boiled detective fiction. When he is present on the page, The Silver Swan has the goods. But over half the time, the focus shifts to other characters: his daughter, his friend, the victim and her backstory, various suspects. These are all interesting people and the book would suffer if their scenes were removed completely, but it would definately gain if they were cut.
Mr. Black is up to more than just telling a detective story, of course. In Christine Falls he shone a light on parts of Irish history many people would prefer be kept in the dark. The Silver Swan has a much more domestic agenda. No societal ill is examined, nor is any great historical scandal brought to light. Instead, the characters traverse the conflicts men have with women, fathers have with daughters, and one jaded man has with the world around him. The actual mystery operates as a means to explore these relationships. That's fine if you're looking for a novel, but it's problematic if you're looking for a mystery.
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LibraryThing member bfolds
A welcome addition to this outstanding series. These are very absorbing characters, all of them flawed in ways that make them much more interesting than many that populate mystery fiction. I would not recommend reading this book without first reading Christine Falls, as there are many allusions
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that would be difficult to follow otherwise. I look forward to the next Quirke novel and am anxious to read Banville as Banville for a comparison. Show Less
LibraryThing member pandalibrarian
Quirke is one weird character. I enjoyed the 1950's Dublin setting but found the story to be a bit slow moving for me and I didn't like the ending. The new character, Inspector Hackett, was a welcome addition to the cast of characters. I hope that Hackett and Quirke pair up for future
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investigations. Show Less
LibraryThing member nocto
I loved the first Benjamin Black book. This is the second and it didn't take me the same way at all. Some of the problem was that I read it really slowly, I've mentioned before that dragging through a chapter before sleep is not the way to enjoy a book. But, inversely, the rest of the problem was
Quirke is a pathologist in 1950s Dublin. He's asked by an old acquaintance not to perform a post mortem on his wife. He does the post mortem, discovers evidence of foul play and then reports the death as suicide. I never figured out why he did that and it cast a shadow over the rest of the book, I just couldn't make out the motivation.
So, no, not really recommending this one, but it might just be me.
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that I couldn't be bothered to pick the book up to read it any other time. Catch 22, maybe. Quirke is a pathologist in 1950s Dublin. He's asked by an old acquaintance not to perform a post mortem on his wife. He does the post mortem, discovers evidence of foul play and then reports the death as suicide. I never figured out why he did that and it cast a shadow over the rest of the book, I just couldn't make out the motivation.
So, no, not really recommending this one, but it might just be me.
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LibraryThing member PirateJenny
Won on LibraryThing's Early Reviewers and I'm so glad I did! This is the sequel to Christine Falls and finds Quirke still working as a pathologist a few years after the events of the previous mystery. Things have changed a bit, though Quirke is mostly the man he was. Then one day, he receives a
Just as good as the first. I hope Banville keeps writing these Benjamin Black mysteries.
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call from a man he knew in college. Seems that Billy Hunt's wife has died, possibly suicide. Billy is horrified at the thought of her body being cut up and requests Quirke not to do an autopsy. Quirke tells the man that by law there must be one in the case of suspicious deaths, but Billy is so distraught that Quirke tells him he won't perform one. But when he performs an external examination of Deirdre Hunt's body, he finds something that causes him to have to perform an autopsy. And once again, he finds himself drawn into a mystery surrounding a young woman's death.Just as good as the first. I hope Banville keeps writing these Benjamin Black mysteries.
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LibraryThing member LiteraryFeline
I wanted to read Christine Falls before tackling this one and I'm glad I did. While I found Silver Swan enjoyable, I liked Christine Falls much better. Quirke is an interesting character to say the least. I love the noir feel to the book but found it slow in spots, which impacted my enjoyment of
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the novel. Perhaps it was a novel better read at a time when I had more energy and attention to give it--not right after having a baby. Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
I thought I would try another of John Banville’s pseudonymous mystery series, because sometimes authors get better at mysteries as a series progresses. Then again, sometimes they don’t.
The main protagonist of this series is Quirke (no first name ever given), who is the head pathologist at the
Quirke’s inquiry into Deirdre’s death is told in alternating chapters with Deirdre’s own story provided by flashbacks, and occasional chapters from the point of view of Phoebe, Quirke’s 23-year-old daughter.
Quirke sees Phoebe once a week, but doesn’t understand why she seems angry at him, or at best, distant; he never even considers asking her, or indeed, communicating with her about anything much at all.
All of the women in the book, including Phoebe, are damaged, lonely, and suffering from low self-esteem, and most opt to engage in sexual abasement to add color to their lives.
As with the previous book, the mystery seems only an excuse to expose the bleakness, loneliness, and/or rampant evil in the lives of the characters. Perhaps because of this, some of the plot elements aren’t as tightly coherent as they should be. But they are definitely as dark and dreary as anyone could imagine.
Quirke is an alcoholic now dry for six months, and when he isn’t thinking about how he can’t stand being alone, can’t sleep, and basically, can’t stand his life, he either dwells on dead bodies dissected on the table, or experiences “the dry drinker’s whining, impotent, self-lacerating rage.” In a passage that encapsulates both Quirke’s life and the tone of the entire book, Black writes of Quirke:
"He looked both ways along the canal. There was not a soul to be seen. He thought of the long, ashen day ahead of him. He tried to make himself move, to walk, to get away, but in vain; his body would not obey him. He stood there, paralyzed. he did not know where to go. He did not know what to do.”
Evaluation: To descriptors like despondency, hopelessness, bitterness, unhappiness, cynicism, resentment, rampant sexual abuse, and gloominess, one could also add: occasional admirable literary flights of phrasing.
The main protagonist of this series is Quirke (no first name ever given), who is the head pathologist at the
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Hospital of the Holy Family in Dublin. It is the 1950s, but two years later than the first book in the series, Christine Falls. Quirke is intrigued after an old friend asks him not to do an autopsy on his young wife, seemingly a victim of suicide by drowning. Of course Quirke has to look into it, and finds the wife didn’t die of drowning at all. He feels a sense of responsibility for the dead, and tries to find out what actually happened to Deirdre Hunt. Even though his investigations get him into trouble, “something in him yearned after the darkness….”Quirke’s inquiry into Deirdre’s death is told in alternating chapters with Deirdre’s own story provided by flashbacks, and occasional chapters from the point of view of Phoebe, Quirke’s 23-year-old daughter.
Quirke sees Phoebe once a week, but doesn’t understand why she seems angry at him, or at best, distant; he never even considers asking her, or indeed, communicating with her about anything much at all.
All of the women in the book, including Phoebe, are damaged, lonely, and suffering from low self-esteem, and most opt to engage in sexual abasement to add color to their lives.
As with the previous book, the mystery seems only an excuse to expose the bleakness, loneliness, and/or rampant evil in the lives of the characters. Perhaps because of this, some of the plot elements aren’t as tightly coherent as they should be. But they are definitely as dark and dreary as anyone could imagine.
Quirke is an alcoholic now dry for six months, and when he isn’t thinking about how he can’t stand being alone, can’t sleep, and basically, can’t stand his life, he either dwells on dead bodies dissected on the table, or experiences “the dry drinker’s whining, impotent, self-lacerating rage.” In a passage that encapsulates both Quirke’s life and the tone of the entire book, Black writes of Quirke:
"He looked both ways along the canal. There was not a soul to be seen. He thought of the long, ashen day ahead of him. He tried to make himself move, to walk, to get away, but in vain; his body would not obey him. He stood there, paralyzed. he did not know where to go. He did not know what to do.”
Evaluation: To descriptors like despondency, hopelessness, bitterness, unhappiness, cynicism, resentment, rampant sexual abuse, and gloominess, one could also add: occasional admirable literary flights of phrasing.
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LibraryThing member Jim53
I was a little disappointed with this one. We get the usual deep characters, some of whom understand themselves very little, and an interesting combination of circumstances. But we don't really get a chance to solve the mystery; there simply aren't enough clues. Quirke stumbles through the story in
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his usual fashion but fails to uncover the truth. We suspect that Inspector Hackett might have gotten to it, but we can't be sure. The author gives us the resolution in a final chapter, which is separate from any investigations. Show Less
LibraryThing member towncalledmalice
very well-written and gripping
LibraryThing member adithyajones
An intelligent whodunit from Black who with his atmospheric,literary writing brings forth Ireland of 50's with its share of quirky characters and in depth study of darkness lurking behind human mind.
LibraryThing member nmele
This sequel to Christine Falls [book: Christine Falls] by John Banville [author: John Banville] is less complex and therefore more quickly paced than its predecessor. But it felt a bit padded to me, more of a novella or short story rather than a full novel.
LibraryThing member jerhogan
Its a bit seedy and not a brilliant crime thriller.
LibraryThing member BillPilgrim
A Quirk book by John Banville. The second one in the series. It is a couple of years after the events in Christine Falls. Quirk and his daughter Phoebe have a strained relationship due to his having kept hidden from her her true parentage. But, they still meet for dinner once a week. Quirk has
The plot here involves a young woman who is found naked on the rocky shore of an island, an apparent suicide. The woman's husband, whom Quirk knew slightly at medical school but who did not complete his studies there, comes to Quirk and asks that a full post-mortem not be conducted, because he cannot bear the thought of her being cut open. But, Quirk notices a needle puncture on her arm, so he does conduct the full autopsy and finds that death was due to drug overdose, not drowning. Still, for some reason (not fully understood by me) he keeps this fact secret from the police and lies at the coroner's inquiry. Then he investigates to find out the real story of her death.
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quick drinking alcohol, although he and Phoebe share a bottle of wine at their dinners. He struggles alot with keeping sober during the book.The plot here involves a young woman who is found naked on the rocky shore of an island, an apparent suicide. The woman's husband, whom Quirk knew slightly at medical school but who did not complete his studies there, comes to Quirk and asks that a full post-mortem not be conducted, because he cannot bear the thought of her being cut open. But, Quirk notices a needle puncture on her arm, so he does conduct the full autopsy and finds that death was due to drug overdose, not drowning. Still, for some reason (not fully understood by me) he keeps this fact secret from the police and lies at the coroner's inquiry. Then he investigates to find out the real story of her death.
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Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2009)
San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year (Fiction — 2008)