Jack Taylor can't catch a break: no matter how hard he tries to avoid it, he just can't keep himself from being involved in another messy situation. First, his old clerical nemesis asks him to recover a missing Virgin Mary statue, which leads to serious injury for one of his friends. Then, a serial killer appears to be on the loose in Galway and sends cryptic messages to Jack. Before long he's involved, not only in the search for the killer, but also a connection with a very unusual billionaire financier. There's the usual action, some of it rather grisly, until the end and the identity of the killer is revealed. That's not the end of it, however, for the author has left open two plot lines, which means hopefully, we'll soon find out. ( )

Bruen has matured and does more than shovel despondent wretchedness at you as he ages Taylor (complete with hearing aid). Many lit, music, contemporary references, murders, binges, and Dublin on its last legs, but hope is not completely lost as in the earlier books. I need a star on the horizon to keep me going in life, and in books. Maybe it's just me, but I don't want a crapworld rubbed in my face all the time. Sometimes that seems to be Bruen's goal. ( )

This is a Jack Taylor novel, and I enjoyed the tv show on netflix, so I was looking forward to trying out some of the novels. While some of Bruen's writing style bugs me, overall I enjoyed this one. I wish the TV show included a homosexual female cop like the one Taylor relies on in this book. Perhaps such inclusiveness would have hurt ratings, especially in more conservative parts of Ireland, but I like the dynamics in this book with such a character involved. ( )

Jack Taylor is in a relatively calm place. Recovering from events of the previous book he’s off the drink and drugs and he’s even given up smoking. Those that have spent time with Jack previously will know that things are about to change and not for the better. This 10th instalment in the series sees the eponymous hero receiving notes from a vigilante killer who wants Jack to join in on the fun. But the notes find Jack in a can’t be bothered kind of mood, even telling a potential client “No.” before she even opened her mouth. So the vigilante moves on to Stewart, Jack’s sole remaining true friend, and start sending notes to him instead while still trying to get Jack involved. Meanwhile, there’s a new player in town, Reardon is looking to buy up all of Galway and also takes an interest in Jack and this introduces him to Kelly, Reardon’s PA, the wrong sort of woman that Jack always seems to get involved with. So who is the vigilante known as C33 and why are they determined to get Jack involved?

This is a brutal series and this book may be the worst so far but only if you’ve been following along with Jack’s story to date. Don’t ever become friends with Jack Taylor, don’t fall for him and don’t even do a job for him. In fact, don’t even talk to him if you know what’s good for you. Best stay away altogether. The darkness that surrounds Jack is still an ever present as is his caustic put-downs, often at the expense of those closest to him. Lots more recommendations on the book front when Jack’s bookshelves are once again filled by his local dealer. This time around he’s on a women crime-writers kick. He’s also trying to increase my to watch list as well when he re-organises his DVD shelves.

Another fine entry into an excellent series which I would urge you not to be the first one you pick up otherwise you might not read another Ken Bruen book again. ( )

Eine weitere Jack Taylor Novelle von Ken Bruen, und sie setzt da fort wo die Anderen aufgehoert haben. Jack scheint seinen staendigen Abwaertsweg gestoppt zu haben, aber wieder geraet er in eine Strom widriger Umstaende ... und es passieren Sachen die mich als Leser haben schlucken lassen

Dies ist nicht die Jack Taylor story mit der man beginnen sollte, zu viel ist vorher passiert, also bitte schon auf die aelteren Buecher zurueckgreifen (als 'erfahrener' Leser gehen mir die kurzen Zusammenfassungen der bisherigen Ereignisse schon ein bischen zu weit). Die Stories bauen auch nicht aufeinander auf, aber es hilft die Stimmungen in dem Buch besser zu verstehen. Jack ist so Schwarz und depressive wie immer ...

Vom schreibstil fand ich dieses Buch etwas entwickelter wie die vorherigen, hilft der Story und dem Feeling in einigen Faellen weiter... wer Bruen/Taylor mag, wird nicht enttaeuscht, und wird sich am Ende fragen wie es weiter geht

... ( )