Tag: Benjamin Black

Book Review, European Literature, Fiction, Irish Literature, Noir, Novella

The Worst Book I’ve Read in a Long Time or The Lemur by Benjamin Black

Benjamin Black, Booker Prize winning author who is really John Banville, started strong with his first detective novel Christine Falls.  I think we all had high hopes for him, those of us who enjoy detective novels.  His second book, The Silver Swan, didn’t quite measure up to the high standard Christine Falls set but we were willing to forgive– a sophomore slump is not an uncommon thing.  But The Lemur … Continue reading The Worst Book I’ve Read in a Long Time or The Lemur by Benjamin Black

james b chester3 Comments
Book Review, Fiction, Irish Literature, Noir, Novel

The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black

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 morgue to ask pathologist Garret Quirke not to perform an … Continue reading The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black

james b chester
Book Review, Irish Literature, Noir, Novel

Christine Falls by Benjamin Black

Christine Falls by Benjamin Black is the debut crime novel by acclaimed Booker Prize winning author John Banville. Mr. Banville uses a pen-name here, but Christine Falls is certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Christine Falls is a tightly written psychological mystery/thriller equal to the best of them. Benjamin Black may be the heir apparent to P.D. James’ throne. The story here concerns Quirke Griffin, … Continue reading Christine Falls by Benjamin Black

james b chester3 Comments