Indeed early on in this story, Quirke emerges from a period drying-out at the House of St John of the Cross. On his return he is to find that his daughter is concerned that her best friend, April Latimer, has gone missing and has not told anyone in her close knit circle where she was going. April is a doctor and part of a well connected Dublin family, her uncle is Minister of Health and her father was a celebrated leader of the GPO uprising in 1916, become a great cardiologist before his untimely death. Let the dice roll.
Although the book retains the foggy atmosphere of a depressed Dublin and the traditional hallmarks of drink, bad weather, Quirke's friend Inspector Hackett,and well connected families and above all exceptional writing - There is something lacking. The oppressive, all-enveloping power of the Catholic Church that dominates the previous Quirke novels 'Christine Falls' and 'The Silver Swan' is not as obviously present, becoming more of a matter for ridicule. The complicated relationships within Quirke's family seem to have settled down.
New factors have arrived though, Quirke's [and the Irish] relationship with alcohol are well examined as is racism in that time. There is a new found lightness to Quirke, typified by his purchase of a car and approach to driving it which adds fun to the most dramatic of scenes.
My main complaint is the closing of the plot, this writing deserves better, it better suits a Val McDermid or similar. It smacks of being written for TV. With Brendan Gleeson in the role of Quirke, worse has been done!
Being the least good of the Quirke series is no great failing. It is a bit like being called the 'worst' European Cup winning Liverpool team. It is still up there with the best.
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