Finished Th 2/16/12
Pithy and succinct, almost has the feel of a screenplay. Jack Taylor might be an Irish relation of Mathew Scudder. Although Scudder is only devoted to alcohol, Taylor's tastes are more catholic.
Jack Taylor is an ex-member of Ireland's national police force, The Guardians. He is cross-addicted to booze and drugs, and also has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. This novel begins when he returns to his home city of Galway, Ireland from London. Apparently he had cleaned up his act, but now he is drinking and drugging with a vengeance. He is contacted by a gypsy tinker by the name of 'Sweeper', and he wants Jack to investigate the murders of young men in his clan. He rekindles his friendship with pub owners Jeff and Cathy, and The Nestor becomes his base of operations. We meet Jack's new wife, Kiki, his new girlfriend, Laura, Keegan, an English policeman who helps on the investigation, and Ronald Bryson, the man who IS NOT the killer.
The high-points of a Ken Bruen novel are the various(numerous)references to works of literature and music that help to define Jack Taylor's character. He might be a drunk and an addict, but his taste in music, both new and old, and the literary arts are impeccable.
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