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kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
5.0
There are some books that it is just flat out a relief to finish. Too much sleep deprivation and the dust bunnies can start to look like they are moving into formations for the final onslaught. FALLING GLASS really cheats a lot. Having become a somewhat besotted Michael Forsythe fan, I did think I could approach FALLING GLASS with the vague hope of keeping reasonable hours. He plays a bit part only in this book after all, with the action centred around enforcer Killian. Should have known better. McKinty writes that brand of dark, violent, no holds barred, tempered with touches of raw and magnificent humour, Irish noir that makes me forget to feed the dogs and forces me to remind myself that no normal person is still awake at 4.00am convincing themselves that just a few more pages won't hurt.
There are differences between Killian and Forsythe. Killian is an enforcer, rather than a straight out hitman. He looks for solutions to problems, and he's not above using some elegant albeit somewhat crafty ways of getting results for whoever is paying him. He's also looking for a way out. A chance to retire and enjoy the good life, it's his expertise in finding people that don't want to be found that means Forsythe recommends him for a big job. A very wealthy Irish businessman, Richard Coulter, is prepared to pay big money for somebody to find his ex-wife and return his two young daughters. Fed the line that the ex is a drug addict who is going to endanger the girls, Killian is attracted by the sheer size of the pay packet - retirement seems just that bit closer. Of course things are going to get complicated, and of course there's going to be more than meets the eye to the wife's disappearance. The fact that there are a few elements to the plot of this story that are predictable is neither here nor there - this is a book about the journey. Killian's journey from enforcer to retiree. His journey from it being all about the money, to an understanding that there are some things that are more important than money. The journey from being the chaser to the chased.
Along the way there's a wonderful sense of the Irishness of this book. Killian is a tinker, a traveller, a background that he can't get away from, a lifestyle to which he can return with absolutely no questions asked and all kindnesses forthcoming. The landscape in which the action takes place, the weather, the characters that everyone rubs up against in the chase go further to making such a strong sense of place. The humour, the outlook, the language, the tone - it's all very very Irish. As is the ending. Spectacularly Irish, utterly unresolved - it's an ending that's probably going to drive some readers bats and made me joyously happy. Because I still love Michael Forsythe - and not just because he's a bad guy - but I also love Killian - not just because he's complicated. And I don't know if he'll be back in another book. And now that's keeping me awake.
There are differences between Killian and Forsythe. Killian is an enforcer, rather than a straight out hitman. He looks for solutions to problems, and he's not above using some elegant albeit somewhat crafty ways of getting results for whoever is paying him. He's also looking for a way out. A chance to retire and enjoy the good life, it's his expertise in finding people that don't want to be found that means Forsythe recommends him for a big job. A very wealthy Irish businessman, Richard Coulter, is prepared to pay big money for somebody to find his ex-wife and return his two young daughters. Fed the line that the ex is a drug addict who is going to endanger the girls, Killian is attracted by the sheer size of the pay packet - retirement seems just that bit closer. Of course things are going to get complicated, and of course there's going to be more than meets the eye to the wife's disappearance. The fact that there are a few elements to the plot of this story that are predictable is neither here nor there - this is a book about the journey. Killian's journey from enforcer to retiree. His journey from it being all about the money, to an understanding that there are some things that are more important than money. The journey from being the chaser to the chased.
Along the way there's a wonderful sense of the Irishness of this book. Killian is a tinker, a traveller, a background that he can't get away from, a lifestyle to which he can return with absolutely no questions asked and all kindnesses forthcoming. The landscape in which the action takes place, the weather, the characters that everyone rubs up against in the chase go further to making such a strong sense of place. The humour, the outlook, the language, the tone - it's all very very Irish. As is the ending. Spectacularly Irish, utterly unresolved - it's an ending that's probably going to drive some readers bats and made me joyously happy. Because I still love Michael Forsythe - and not just because he's a bad guy - but I also love Killian - not just because he's complicated. And I don't know if he'll be back in another book. And now that's keeping me awake.
sandin954's review
4.0
Another high quality thriller by the author. Most of the book is set in Northern Ireland and the plot had plenty of action and violence but what I enjoyed the most were the characters, the look at the culture of the Irish Travellers, and the outstanding narration of the audio by Gerard Doyle.
pepperjl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
abrswf's review against another edition
3.0
A more interesting thriller than many as it was poetic and ultimately unresolved. I liked the game of wits and evolving plot, but not the dubious morality of the book. I listened to this book, so another nice aspect was the narrator's very appropriate Irish accent.
bethbookbodi23's review against another edition
5.0
McKinty's descriptions of the Pavee people is so poetical, and the ties that bind beyond our casual explanations. He weaves myths of the Irish into his belief in right and wrong, much deeper than most. To take time with a young one to teach her names of butterflys. Ahh...such a fine novel.
earby's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the character of Killian, kind of a gun-for-hire. He's Pavee (a traveler)from north of Belfast. The narrator was excellent as well which helped me realize that perhaps the best kind of audiobooks for me are mysteries or thrillers. There was a lot of violence in parts of the book, but it didn't feel gratuitous. The story was exciting, with twists and turns. I'll be reading more of this author and listening to this narrator again.
amandagstevens's review against another edition
4.0
Enforcer Killian must decide if he's going to follow through with his latest job or follow his conscience. In many ways, this is a typical thriller, fast-paced and ruthless, brimming with action and violence. But it's a McKinty thriller, so you're also in for thoughtful prose, nuanced dialogue, and characters with vital inner lives.
Unlike the Forsythe series and Duffy series, this book is told in third person, which creates a removal I didn't always care for (odd, given I usually prefer third to first). But by the end, this choice somehow fits Killian's story as he is, above all else, a storyteller. For me the greatest element of this story isn't the pacing or the plot but the pitting of two different lives and philosophies against each other (Forsythe vs. Killian). And oh my word, as much as I grit my teeth at it, the ending is just right.
Unlike the Forsythe series and Duffy series, this book is told in third person, which creates a removal I didn't always care for (odd, given I usually prefer third to first). But by the end, this choice somehow fits Killian's story as he is, above all else, a storyteller. For me the greatest element of this story isn't the pacing or the plot but the pitting of two different lives and philosophies against each other (Forsythe vs. Killian). And oh my word, as much as I grit my teeth at it, the ending is just right.
katejones's review against another edition
2.0
Good narrator and story seems Ok but just didn't hold my interest.
Might try again later.
Might try again later.