The first of Bruen's Jack Taylor mysteries. Jack is a hopeless drunk, a former policeman (guard) who was fired for drunkenness. But the book is written poetically and with a certain dignity--Jack Taylor does not want your pity, he just tells it like it is while he deals with his personal demons alone. Interesting, unique writing style and nearly impossible to put down.

Share/Like this Review?

I just finished reading Ken Bruen's The Guards and all I can say is
WOW! One of the fastest reads I've had in a long time and yet it
packed quite a punch!

Share/Like this Review?

A great book, as one reviewer said, a combination of Leonard Elmore and James Joyce.

Share/Like this Review?

I've been reading this series out of order based on availability. First in the Jack Taylor series, this was a terrific start to the series. Bruen's writing is spare, the story always races along and he always makes me laugh. Very highly recommend.

Share/Like this Review?

This one is like a throw back to the hard-case noir novels of the 40s and 50s but set in Galway, Ireland. The writing is very sparse consisting mostly of dialog making it a very fast read. It was a very dark novel about an ex-Irish Guardsman (policeman) who sort of works as a private investigator. Throughout the book he is fighting alcoholism and his past. He agrees to take the case of a mother who doesn't believe her daughter committed suicide; and along the way, alienates his client and jeopardizes the life of his best friend. The ending was also quite unexpected. I would recommend this one!

Share/Like this Review?

Since I usually read golden age mysteries, this was a bit different for me; but it was still an interesting read, although less a straight narrative than a peek into the psyche of a damaged drunk as he goes about trying to prove a young girl's drowning wasn't a suicide.

Share/Like this Review?