This is one of my favorite novels and the one that got me started with Ken Bruen. The main character Jack Taylor is an ex-police officer who is a part time private detective and full time smart arse. Hanging out in local bars, drinking Jameson with Guinness and chain smoking cigarettes is his thing. Jack struggles with his inner demons to conquer alcoholism, drug abuse, depression and family dysfunction. I can't praise his writing style enough. Ken Bruen's brilliant dialogue left me feeling like Jack and I were old pals. This is Irish crime fiction at its best and Ken Bruen is the Grand Master. You might even learn something about Irish culture or how they feel about all the crappy weather.
The Guards by Ken Bruen
This is one of my favorite novels and the one that got me started with Ken Bruen. The main character Jack Taylor is an ex-police officer who is a part time private detective and full time smart arse. Hanging out in local bars, drinking Jameson with Guinness and chain smoking cigarettes is his thing. Jack struggles with his inner demons to conquer alcoholism, drug abuse, depression and family dysfunction. I can't praise his writing style enough. Ken Bruen's brilliant dialogue left me feeling like Jack and I were old pals. This is Irish crime fiction at its best and Ken Bruen is the Grand Master. You might even learn something about Irish culture or how they feel about all the crappy weather. Feast Day of Fools by James Lee Burke. I recently read The Hackberry Holland Trilogy. In Feast Day of Fools, book #3, there were so many nasty groups of bad guys chasing each other that I started to feel bad for the least offensive of them. Similar to my empathy for the Corleone family, I found myself feeling bad for some and wanting the worst for others. You'll love this book, there's so much going you won't know who to cheer for. I was so caught up in the novel I couldn't do anything else but read it straight to the end. Don't tell anyone but I took a couple if days off to finish. Did you ever notice the food that mobsters eat in movies? Spaghetti and meatballs, a little or a lot of red wine and a big salad. Well maybe not the salad, I added that part. It makes the marinara take so much better, must be the dressing. Anyway there's a place I go whenever I have a chance to reward myself after an interview or business meeting, it's Carmine's on 44th in NYC. It's kinda like being in The Godfather. Old family pictures on the walls going back generations. I always imagine old ghosts are watching and I toast to their happiness wherever they are. I love this place check it out and I promise you won't be sorry. The movie that had the biggest impact on my life was the Godfather. My parents took me to see it and it is still the best crime drama I have ever seen. The personal connections, loyalty, strength and honor made the Corleone family the anti-heroes. Even though they murdered people who got in the way of their business I enjoyed their victories and was saddened by their loses. They were the best if the bad guys. If I could only take one movie with me to a desert island The Godfather wins hands down. My parents always took me to see spy and action movies. When I was five we went to see Sean Connery as James Bond 007. Later other movies like The Getaway with Steve McQueen and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are forever etched in my mind. Now I'm an action junkie in what I read, watch and write. Thanks Mom and Dad. |
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