Priest by
Ken Bruen
pbk out January 06
(Bantam)
at £10.99
Set in Galway, Ireland, Ken Bruen's latest novel, Priest, is a deeply disturbing
and often bleak commentary on modern day values.
Jack Taylor, recovering from the devastation of personal loss, has always
believed himself to be beyond redemption. When an old adversary asks him to
investigate the beheading of a respected local priest, Taylor reluctantly agrees and an
unexpected partnership makes him hope that his one desperate vision – that of normal
family ties – might yet be fulfilled.
Constantly at odds with himself, his addictions and the rapidly changing Irish
world around him where traditional values are becoming extinct, Taylor has little time
for the greed and selfishness of his kinsmen, who seem hell bent on bringing
destruction to the land.
Vivid in its descriptions, slick in its pace and realistic in its dialogue, Priest is
everything that a crime fiction reader could possibly wish for. There is also, mixed
with the ever-present melancholy of the recovering alcoholic, a vibrant cause for
hope, as Taylor fights through his traumas with a zeal and determination of a man on
a mission.
Ken Bruen is unquestionably a master of his craft and, though often dark, his
character-interactions light up the pages that flip over in a whirl of expectation.
If you've missed him this far, remedy your mistake and quickly.
(
C. H
Chris High - Author Multi-media Promotion Service www.chrishigh.com)
