Reviews

Dark Times in the City by Gene Kerrigan

emckeon1002's review against another edition

4.0

I really liked this one. Another in a stream of Irish crime fiction on which I've gotten hooked. I picked this one up in the fabulous RJ Julia Bookstore in Madison, CT, when I heard another browser say to a friend - "corruption in the Dublin Police Department. This should be good." He didn't buy the book, but I did, and glad I did. Reformed petty criminal Danny Callaghan gets drawn into a gangland dispute, and finds himself struggling to remain uninvolved. Of course he doesn't. His return to criminal practice is forced upon him, but he demonstrates that he's a good man at heart.

sandin954's review against another edition

5.0

An excellently written dark, gritty crime novel set in Dublin. The author is a former journalist and the characters and situations reek of authenticity.

zniman99's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

ericwelch's review against another edition

4.0

Danny Callaghan is getting his life back together. Out of prison after killing a man who was beating up some boys who had ridiculed his weight at the golf driving range -- it turns out the man was locally connected -- Callaghan just wants a quiet evening in the bar when two hoodlums walk in intent on killing Walter Bennett. Callaghan intervenes, temporarily saving Bennett's life, but that puts his own in the cross hairs.

This Irish crime novel is just about as dark as it gets. One interesting note was that the IRA could be used by the crooks as cover for their misdeeds.