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Liked It “Good mystery from a good writer.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “I read this all in one evening...the second in the Quirke in Dublin series. Not as rich as the 1st series entry. I probably won't continue with this series--I don't find any of the characters likable enough! I will, however, continue to read John Banville's books with his Booker Prize winner,...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“I read this all in one evening...the second in the Quirke in Dublin series. Not as rich as the 1st series entry. I probably won't continue with this series--I don't find any of the characters likable enough! I will, however, continue to read John Banville's books with his Booker Prize winner, The Sea, coming up next!”
Amy P wrote this review 10 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“So far even better and more suspenseful than Christine Falls.”
Meredith W wrote this review Tuesday, September 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Good mystery from a good writer.”
Ron W wrote this review Wednesday, June 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This mystery, written by an award-winning author under a pseudonym, had the necessary elements: fine prose, dimensional characters, vivid sense of place, believable and interesting dialogue, complex story line, but for me, plodded along in such a desultory manner that I was relieved when it ended. Puzzling over my reaction, I decided that the author over-explains, wanders into characters’ minds and idles there overlong. His characters' behaviors and motivations ring incredible at times. Or maybe it was just the wrong book for me at the time.”
tishiejean wrote this review Monday, August 25 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Not as good as Christine Falls - but I enjoyed going back to the same familiar characters. I do think this one had a more interesting plot.”
Angela H wrote this review Sunday, August 24 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I've read both of Black's books featuring Irish forensic pathologist Quirk. Great character, but I thought "Christine Falls" was the better of the 2. This is still good, and I hope the author is working on another one. I think he must be, because he left Quirk in a bad place at the end.”
Suzanne F wrote this review Tuesday, August 5 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I listened to this novel over a space of two or three days, Timothy Dalton reads it, which was both a blessing and a curse. I enjoyed the pacing of this book and the characters Mr. Banville presents much more than either of these elements in the prior entry in this series, Christine Falls, but Mr. Dalton reads each character as perpetually angry, a fact I found very distracting. This leads me to question whether listening to books, at least for me, is a good idea. Hmmm...either way, this is an interesting book. I don't think all of the strands of the mystery are tied dealt with in a satisfactory manner, but this is more of a character study anyway, and those faults can be glossed over.”
Vanessa B wrote this review Monday, August 4 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Back again to Dublin and to Quirke, the pathologist featured in Black's Christine Falls. The events of Silver Swan take place some two years after Christine Falls, and there are a lot of changes in Quirke's life and those of the other continuing supporting characters as well. Like Christine Falls, The Silver Swan remains a dark and broody type of novel, so if you're looking for warm fuzzies and a lilting tone, forget it. It's just not in Quirke's nature, and after the events that transpired in Christine Falls, not in the nature of any of the other characters either. The novel begins with a former school acquaintance (Billy Hunt) contacting Quirke about the death of his wife Deirdre. She had been found dead, drowned in a local beach, apparently of suicide. Hunt knows that there will be an autopsy, and comes to beg Quirke not to cut her open. Quirke agrees to the idea, but come the day when he gets the body, he notices a small puncture mark and thus has to break his promise. From there it's a ride into a seamy side of life and secrets -- all of which affect Quirke somewhat personally. He just can't let it go (as was the case in Christine Falls); he has to get to the bottom of what happened to Deirdre Hunt. The case takes a more personal turn when Quirke realizes that his thoroughly depressed daughter Phoebe is involved with one of the principals.Gloomy in tone, it seems that the events which have transpired over the last couple of years have left all of the continuing characters sunk in the quagmire of individual unhappiness and depression, to the point where you wonder how much worse it can possibly get. Black's incredibly well-drawn characters are what make the novel, and his descriptions of Dublin and its denizens make the reader feel as if he/she were there. The writing, of course, is superb, and it's uncanny how Black (aka John Banville) can get into the skin of each character he's created. The epilogue is a bit ambiguous, so if you expect everything to be tied up in a neat package with all problems resolved, you may not want to read this book. I look at it like this -- this is an ongoing story and there are loose ends in life in general, so ambiguity does not bother me. I HIGHLY recommend this book, but PLEASE start with Christine Falls or you will lose much needed detail for understanding the angst, turmoil and dark broodiness that seems to be the hallmark of this series. Readers of Irish crime fiction will love it and serious mystery readers will enjoy it as well. It may be awhile before the next one arrives, so I'll try to be patient.”
quinnsmom wrote this review Thursday, July 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The second Quirk book. Quirk has quit drinking for the time being, which makes him all the more irascible. More good noire!”
Angus V wrote this review Thursday, May 15 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
