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cnorbury's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent debut novel. The MC, Absalom Kearney, is flawed but sympathetic, as a good MC should be. She deals with plenty of demons, past and present, in solving a series of murders that greatly affect "The County"--that part of Buffalo, NY that is almost exclusively Irish. The County is considered to be a near equivalent to one of the counties in Ireland.
Talty sets a dark tone for his story. Rundown, bleak-winter Buffalo is the backdrop, and the gritty, poor, insular, mistrustful, people of The County have little to be optimistic about, so they concentrate on protecting their turf and secrets from outsiders, of which Absalom Kearney is despite her adoptive father being one of the most inside insiders.
I had a few criticisms of some technical things such as the overemphasis of Kearney's Saab and her penchant for fast driving and squealing tires. Talty also used a fair number of adverbs, most notably "suddenly," which I counted several times in chapter one.
But the plot was well constructed, with some good twists toward the end.
Talty sets a dark tone for his story. Rundown, bleak-winter Buffalo is the backdrop, and the gritty, poor, insular, mistrustful, people of The County have little to be optimistic about, so they concentrate on protecting their turf and secrets from outsiders, of which Absalom Kearney is despite her adoptive father being one of the most inside insiders.
I had a few criticisms of some technical things such as the overemphasis of Kearney's Saab and her penchant for fast driving and squealing tires. Talty also used a fair number of adverbs, most notably "suddenly," which I counted several times in chapter one.
But the plot was well constructed, with some good twists toward the end.
dannb's review against another edition
3.0
Buffalo, NY...Police, Irish, Mob... Great sense of the de-industrialization of Buffalo, like Detroit, which has received more press and attention nationally.
Just a little convoluted in the tying up to get a fourth star. Looking forward to more from Talty.
Just a little convoluted in the tying up to get a fourth star. Looking forward to more from Talty.
blood_rose_books's review against another edition
4.0
In his debut novel in fiction writing Stephan Talty creates a story that will have the lead detective looking to the past to find the killer of today.
Absalom “Abbie” Kearney is the adopted daughter of a revered cop, but that does not mean that Abbie ever fit in with her family or the neighbourhood growing up. But she always knew that she would follow in her father's footsteps and become a cop too. Now years later Abbie is a homicide detective and about to get a case that touches closes to home. A serial killer is on the loose in her old neighbourhood, the county (an Irish American part of Buffalo) but the neighbourhood isn't giving up the killer and all of Abbie's contacts run dry and she is stopped at every turn with lack of or misinformation. Soon Abbie too becomes the killer's focus but she swears she will track down the killer, even if it means wading through the bodies one at a time.
I was really impressed with Tatly's debut novel, it was interesting, had mystery that was expertly interwoven that kept the reader wanting more. Additionally, there are some OMG moments within the book, that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and your heart or stomach in your throat. So lets just say that Tatly knows how to mix the mystery and the thrills together. The serial killer was also very interesting within this book, his story, his disfigurement, I just felt like I wanted to know more and more about what drove him to kill and why these men were chosen. I was just very curious about his overall story (when it comes to light there was nothing too knew as to why, but the how he became what he was is where Tatly threw something new in the mix).
I really found the history aspect interesting and well done by Talty. I cannot say how accurate the history part was, but all the connections seem to be there and for me I found out some interesting facts about Buffalo, Ireland and Canada, which is always nice. Additionally, Talty introduces this information in a way that it does not slow down the book at all and the information is spread out far enough that you do not feel like you are getting a history lesson, bravo Talty.
I'm not 100% sure I fully understand Abby as a character, there are things about her past and even present that are kept secret from the reader and I hope that Talty explores more of her character in a future novel if he is going to pursue a series. I think part of the problem of not being able to get to know Abby better is that she does not really know herself, or who her parents really were and how she became adopted (and her father was never really a loving figure for her, she always felt like an outsider). This is information is key to forming some sort of self, and with Abby lacking this information (although some comes to light later in the novel) Abby herself is not quite whole, therefore, I feel the reader never gets a sense of who Abby is.
I think my main concern or dislike within the book was Abby's use of sex in one scene in order to extract information, maybe Talty meant to show it as more than that for her, but it did not come across as so to me. I thought that that type of action or decision was beyond her character from what I was able to get from her. I'm not sure if Talty felt that he needed to have sex in the book and just decided to throw it in there, but I thought it was ill placed and not needed in the story at all, the information could have been obtained in a different way.
I'm not sure if Talty is going to make a series around Abbie Kearney. As I feel like I didnt really get to know Abbie that well in the novel, and I am interested in a character I hope that he continues on with her. This book was a great first venture for Talty into fiction writing, I enjoyed the twist, turns and on the seat moments, but if this is meant to be a stand alone novel I think Talty needs to work on his overall character development. I think those who like serial killer based novels will enjoy Talty's novel with its fairly sophisticated interwoven plot.
Enjoy!!
Note: The crimes scenes are fairly descriptive and some readers may find them disturbing.
Absalom “Abbie” Kearney is the adopted daughter of a revered cop, but that does not mean that Abbie ever fit in with her family or the neighbourhood growing up. But she always knew that she would follow in her father's footsteps and become a cop too. Now years later Abbie is a homicide detective and about to get a case that touches closes to home. A serial killer is on the loose in her old neighbourhood, the county (an Irish American part of Buffalo) but the neighbourhood isn't giving up the killer and all of Abbie's contacts run dry and she is stopped at every turn with lack of or misinformation. Soon Abbie too becomes the killer's focus but she swears she will track down the killer, even if it means wading through the bodies one at a time.
I was really impressed with Tatly's debut novel, it was interesting, had mystery that was expertly interwoven that kept the reader wanting more. Additionally, there are some OMG moments within the book, that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and your heart or stomach in your throat. So lets just say that Tatly knows how to mix the mystery and the thrills together. The serial killer was also very interesting within this book, his story, his disfigurement, I just felt like I wanted to know more and more about what drove him to kill and why these men were chosen. I was just very curious about his overall story (when it comes to light there was nothing too knew as to why, but the how he became what he was is where Tatly threw something new in the mix).
I really found the history aspect interesting and well done by Talty. I cannot say how accurate the history part was, but all the connections seem to be there and for me I found out some interesting facts about Buffalo, Ireland and Canada, which is always nice. Additionally, Talty introduces this information in a way that it does not slow down the book at all and the information is spread out far enough that you do not feel like you are getting a history lesson, bravo Talty.
I'm not 100% sure I fully understand Abby as a character, there are things about her past and even present that are kept secret from the reader and I hope that Talty explores more of her character in a future novel if he is going to pursue a series. I think part of the problem of not being able to get to know Abby better is that she does not really know herself, or who her parents really were and how she became adopted (and her father was never really a loving figure for her, she always felt like an outsider). This is information is key to forming some sort of self, and with Abby lacking this information (although some comes to light later in the novel) Abby herself is not quite whole, therefore, I feel the reader never gets a sense of who Abby is.
I think my main concern or dislike within the book was Abby's use of sex in one scene in order to extract information, maybe Talty meant to show it as more than that for her, but it did not come across as so to me. I thought that that type of action or decision was beyond her character from what I was able to get from her. I'm not sure if Talty felt that he needed to have sex in the book and just decided to throw it in there, but I thought it was ill placed and not needed in the story at all, the information could have been obtained in a different way.
I'm not sure if Talty is going to make a series around Abbie Kearney. As I feel like I didnt really get to know Abbie that well in the novel, and I am interested in a character I hope that he continues on with her. This book was a great first venture for Talty into fiction writing, I enjoyed the twist, turns and on the seat moments, but if this is meant to be a stand alone novel I think Talty needs to work on his overall character development. I think those who like serial killer based novels will enjoy Talty's novel with its fairly sophisticated interwoven plot.
Enjoy!!
Note: The crimes scenes are fairly descriptive and some readers may find them disturbing.
ansate's review against another edition
4.0
A successful mystery in the sense that I did not figure it out, but all the pieces did fit together nicely. [return][return]The berserker rage scene really loses both my sympathy for the protagonist and believability for the plot. I don't like her that much to begin with. Name that's working to hard to be symbolic, "Harvard" as a fast and easy stereotype, and I had to share with everyone that I do not feel old enough for washed up detectives in novels to be my age. [return][return]It felt over the top - too much going on, too much of her life turned over. If this is meant to be the first book of a series, I have no idea how that level of intensity can be maintained. [return][return]I liked seeing how the mystery came together, but I hope he drops this character and gives us a new mystery with someone he can write a little more believably.
zlwrites's review against another edition
4.0
Not a fan of crime books, but this seemed to stir a bit in. Quite a lot of characters are killed or maimed though and I'm unsure where this new series will be headed. Look forward to the next book though.
richardwells's review against another edition
3.0
Serial killer candy, and a diverting read. Likable protagonist, woman cop, back from Harvard to the insular Irish hood (ruled by omerta) in Buffalo. Great locale writing, I could feel that Buffalo winter - I grew up about 100 miles distance. Good secondary characters, especially the Historical Society gnome that seems to live in the basement. The story strains credulity, but that's probably the nature of the genre. Even so, it does have its thrills and chills. We'll see if Mr Talty goes for more reality on his second outing.
mctmama's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't care for this - found the plot very implausible.
dfl3rd's review against another edition
4.0
Well done for Talty's first foray into crime fiction. Love the Irish history that frames the plot and Buffalo is an interesting setting for the novel. Looking forward to more novels with the well-drawn female protagonist.
booksuperpower's review against another edition
5.0
Black Irish written by Stephan Talty is a March 2013 release, published by Ballantine Books/Random House.
Absalom ( Abbie) Kearney is a cop working for the small enclave dubbed "The County" in Buffalo, New York. Abbie grew up here, but always felt like an outsider. She had been adopted by a highly respected cop in this predomintately Irish community. Abbie's dark hair and translucent skin made her stand out. She worked in Miami for awhile, but has come home to care for her father who has Alzheimer's.
The mutilated body found in a church has Abbie and her partner "Z" on the case. But, not only is the murder itself shocking, but the reaction of the victims wife and mother are equally strange. As Abbie works the case, she discovers the victim was a member of a secret society.
Then another murder takes place, more grizzly than the first. The more Abbie digs the more she is stonewalled by her fellow cops, "The County" and anyone else that may have a clue about who is behind these murders.
A lonely librarian is Abbie's best source of information as she learns how involved the IRA has been over the years in this very part of Buffalo.
Is the secret society and IRA involved in these murders or is it the work of a serial killer with huge vendetta? Abbie's investigation leads her to the darkest place of her past as she suspects her father may be the next person on the killer's list. On top of that, the killer has left little toy monkeys at his crime scenes like a signature.
This is taut suspense thriller. In fact, it's the best thriller I've read in a while. It's hard to believe this is the author's first novel. Incredible. In the beginning the novel is like a police procedural. A body is found and the normal investigation steps are taken. But, then the novel takes a turn when Abbie finds out about the Clan. The history of this secret society, the IRA and it's role changes after 1998, the closed off community that keeps Abbie on the outside looking in as much as possible, Abbie's fear for her father, and the personal communication the killer seems to have with Abbie all build the suspense. There are scenes that had me riveted. I could actually feel the inhuman cold and sleet and could taste the fear of the victims and and the cops working the case. This is one mean serial killer. The killings are graphic and brutal. This book is not for the faint of heart. This is a very gritty crime thriller, with lots of twist and turns. You will not feel relief until the last few pages. No one is to be trusted and Abbie, ever the outsider, must face down the killer alone as she learns shocking secrets about her own past.
Highly recommend! A+ Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the ARC.
Absalom ( Abbie) Kearney is a cop working for the small enclave dubbed "The County" in Buffalo, New York. Abbie grew up here, but always felt like an outsider. She had been adopted by a highly respected cop in this predomintately Irish community. Abbie's dark hair and translucent skin made her stand out. She worked in Miami for awhile, but has come home to care for her father who has Alzheimer's.
The mutilated body found in a church has Abbie and her partner "Z" on the case. But, not only is the murder itself shocking, but the reaction of the victims wife and mother are equally strange. As Abbie works the case, she discovers the victim was a member of a secret society.
Then another murder takes place, more grizzly than the first. The more Abbie digs the more she is stonewalled by her fellow cops, "The County" and anyone else that may have a clue about who is behind these murders.
A lonely librarian is Abbie's best source of information as she learns how involved the IRA has been over the years in this very part of Buffalo.
Is the secret society and IRA involved in these murders or is it the work of a serial killer with huge vendetta? Abbie's investigation leads her to the darkest place of her past as she suspects her father may be the next person on the killer's list. On top of that, the killer has left little toy monkeys at his crime scenes like a signature.
This is taut suspense thriller. In fact, it's the best thriller I've read in a while. It's hard to believe this is the author's first novel. Incredible. In the beginning the novel is like a police procedural. A body is found and the normal investigation steps are taken. But, then the novel takes a turn when Abbie finds out about the Clan. The history of this secret society, the IRA and it's role changes after 1998, the closed off community that keeps Abbie on the outside looking in as much as possible, Abbie's fear for her father, and the personal communication the killer seems to have with Abbie all build the suspense. There are scenes that had me riveted. I could actually feel the inhuman cold and sleet and could taste the fear of the victims and and the cops working the case. This is one mean serial killer. The killings are graphic and brutal. This book is not for the faint of heart. This is a very gritty crime thriller, with lots of twist and turns. You will not feel relief until the last few pages. No one is to be trusted and Abbie, ever the outsider, must face down the killer alone as she learns shocking secrets about her own past.
Highly recommend! A+ Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the ARC.