Black Irish Novel Stephan Talty
It's not often that you come across a crime thriller that doesn't have some kind of formula basis (flawed protagonist, police corruption, etc)., but Stephen Talty's "Black Irish" struck me as one of the exceptions. This first novel from Talty (he is a bestselling non-fiction writer) is original, intelligent and smacks of real people and a real place (Buffalo). The language and writing style are clean and clear and the plot and characters are dynamic and credible. It is one of those rare books that you don't want to put down, even for food, drink or the bathroom.
The novel's protagonist is a South Buffalo detective--an anomaly in that city in that she's a woman on a force that is the poster group for traditional Irish cops. The story opens with a really, really chilling murder that will be followed by several others. The killer has a very personal agenda that appears to target members of an IRA-affiliated social group who are harboring a nasty secret. Her own father is somehow connected to the group and is therefore a potential murder victim. The plot takes some very satisfying twists and turns and concludes (several times) in ways that the reader just doesn't see coming.
Author Talty has drawn wonderful, meaty characters and given them smart, credible dialogue. He evokes the town and and its economic and climatic conditions equally skillfully. The book's pacing is snappy and often close to breathtaking as the number and ferocity of the murders increases. You couldn't ask for better in the crime genre and I'm willing to bet that the book and author will be up for some kind of award in the coming year. Highly recommended.
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I've lived in South Buffalo (the County) all my life and know all the places mentioned in the book. I went to school at St. Teresa's and was an altar boy at the church, I went to Timon High School, grew up on Seneca St and now live between Abbott Rd. and McKinley Pky. so it was fun finding them all there. My only problem is that the neighborhood is nowhere near as rundown as it seem in the book and some of the geography is off(but unless you live here you wouldn't know that). The story is gripping right from the start and the characters are pretty true to life; in fact I think I know some of the people they may be based on.
BalasHapusThis is set in a part of Buffalo called County, which was so Irish that it mattered which county in Ireland your family was from. Ireland and its past Troubles play a big part in this serial murder story. The protagonist is a female detective, who grew up in County, and whose father was also on the police force.
BalasHapusI enjoyed reading it very much.
First time reading this author. Great story line and very interesting characters I would like to research if Buffalo has such people historically
BalasHapus
BalasHapusIt's not often that you come across a crime thriller that doesn't have some kind of formula basis (flawed protagonist, police corruption, etc)., but Stephen Talty's "Black Irish" struck me as one of the exceptions. This first novel from Talty (he is a bestselling non-fiction writer) is original, intelligent and smacks of real people and a real place (Buffalo). The language and writing style are clean and clear and the plot and characters are dynamic and credible. It is one of those rare books that you don't want to put down, even for food, drink or the bathroom.
BalasHapusThe novel's protagonist is a South Buffalo detective--an anomaly in that city in that she's a woman on a force that is the poster group for traditional Irish cops. The story opens with a really, really chilling murder that will be followed by several others. The killer has a very personal agenda that appears to target members of an IRA-affiliated social group who are harboring a nasty secret. Her own father is somehow connected to the group and is therefore a potential murder victim. The plot takes some very satisfying twists and turns and concludes (several times) in ways that the reader just doesn't see coming.
Author Talty has drawn wonderful, meaty characters and given them smart, credible dialogue. He evokes the town and and its economic and climatic conditions equally skillfully. The book's pacing is snappy and often close to breathtaking as the number and ferocity of the murders increases. You couldn't ask for better in the crime genre and I'm willing to bet that the book and author will be up for some kind of award in the coming year. Highly recommended.
Well crafted story. Character development was great, the elements of surprise were well placed. The setting was engrossing and intriguing. A fast and captivating read. Would definitely read more stories by author.
BalasHapus"Black Irish: A Novel" by Stephan Talty is an original and intense crime thriller that kept me engaged and lost inside the story. There are many twists and many turns that lead you in directions you never saw coming.
BalasHapusThe characters are well crafted and believable. It's easy to see that Talty did his research to make his story work.
I actually called a friend and told them I was sick and not up to coming over just so I could stay home and finish the book. Yeah, it's lie to your friends good.