The Guards by Ken Bruen -- Book Review

The Guards isn't exactly a mystery, and it's not exactly a thriller either. It's a sort of noir, stream-of-conscious, faux memoir in Ireland with crime. Bruen is evidently a reader of some breadth, since every chapter is headed with a quote, and the quotes are varied enough to include George Pelecanos and Francis Bacon. Purveyors of popular music are also cited frequently.

The Guards is narrated by Jack Taylor, a former member of the Garda (Irish police.) Between bouts of drinking and rehab, Jack is trying to help a woman who believes her daughter's suicide was really a murder. Jack doesn't so much solve the mystery/crime as stumble into answers while drinking and brawling with his "friend" Sutton.

The Guards is a quick read (largely because there is lots of white space and the chapters are very short, such that the 291 page book could have easily been printed on 125 pages full-up.) There are moments of charm and insight, but overall it was rather a slight entertainment. I've got a couple more Bruen books to read, so I'll see whether he wears well. I read this one, because I read a glowing review in PW of Bruen's latest.


More information about Ken Bruen is here:
http://www.brandonbooks.com/ken_bruen.html