April in Spain
A Strafford and Quirke Murder Mystery
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3.0 • 5 Ratings
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- €12.99
Publisher Description
'Deeply atmospheric.'
MICK HERRON
'A joy to read.'
SUNDAY TIMES
'The ultimate page-turner.'
IRISH INDEPENDENT
The sumptuous, propulsive, sun-kissed follow up to the bestselling Snow, from the Booker Prize winning author.
'He wanted to know who she was, and why he was convinced he had some unremembered connection with her. It was as simple as that. But he knew it wasn't. It wasn't simple at all.'
When Dublin pathologist Quirke glimpses a familiar face while on holiday with his wife, it's hard, at first, to tell whether his imagination is just running away with him. Could she really be who he thinks she is, and have a connection with a crime that nearly brought ruin to an Irish political dynasty?
Unable to ignore his instincts, Quirke makes a call back home and Detective St John Strafford is soon dispatched to Spain. But he's not the only one on route: as a terrifying hitman hunts down his prey, they are all set for a brutal showdown.
Praise for Snow:
'Superb ... crime fiction for the connoisseur.' The Times
'Outstanding.' Irish Independent
'Exquisite.' Daily Mail
'Hypnotic.' Financial Times
'Compelling.' Sunday Times
'Superb to the last drop.' Independent
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Banville's slow-moving eighth crime thriller featuring Irish pathologist Quirke (after 2015's Even the Dead) finds Quirke and his wife, Evelyn, vacationing in San Sebastián, Spain. When the couple forget to buy an oyster-opening tool, Quirke tries to use a nail scissors instead and accidentally wounds himself badly enough that Evelyn insists they go to a hospital. There, he's initially examined by Angela Lawless, an Irish physician who looks familiar, but who never returns to the exam room, leaving another doctor to tend to the injury. Her appearance and her initials lead Quirke to suspect that she's actually April Latimer, a woman believed to be dead. April's brother, who was sexually involved with his sibling, had confessed to killing her before taking his own life. Quirke shares his suspicions with his daughter, Phoebe, who had been April's friend, and Phoebe travels to Spain to see for herself. Meanwhile, a psychotic hit man emotionally attached to his gun lurks in the background. The melodramatic ending doesn't compensate for a story line too slight for the book's length. Banville has been much better.
Customer Reviews
So disappointing…
I’ve read all the Quirke novels starting with Christine Falls each a solid 5 stars, but Banville left his pseudo name behind and unfortunately the charm of the earlier books is gone. This book has too much exposition and Phoebe is a complete ninny…. Very poor overall, particularly when we are revisiting past characters. It will ne a while before I pickup another Quirke novel.
Another great book in the “Quirke” series!
I love Banville's "Quirke" series - formerly under his pseudonym, Benjamin Black, and more recently under his real name. Last year's "Snow" was excellent and the same detective is on this case - Strafford.
This time Quirke's new(ish) wife, Evelyn, is a new, beautifully constructed character and their relationship is finely nuanced and wonderful to read. The retrospective connections are numerous including Quirke's daughter, Phoebe, in a leading role and Latimer - the government Minister with a problem. The hitman, Terry, is a memorable psychopath. Even the title "April in Spain" is a pun.
Banville's descriptive prose is, as ever, a joy to read detailing the characters, the food and wine of Donastia (San Sebastián) and the city itself. Dublin and London are also described in some detail. Quirke is somewhat more mellow with a lower alcohol consumption than heretofore and a genuine, deep love for Evelyn. Banville also structures the book in numerous short chapters - I love that structure.
I had given it a 5* rating until we approached the finalé when the improbability of the denouement stretched this reader's credibility. However, that's my only gripe. It's a fine book by a master writer and well worth reading.