'Christine Falls' by Benjamin Black revolves around the character Dr. Quirke, a pathologist in 1950s Dublin, who gets entangled in a mystery surrounding the death of Christine Falls and her missing baby. As Quirke delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of deceit involving baby trafficking, corrupt behavior in the Catholic Church, and dangerous secrets that lead him to Boston. The writing style is described as atmospheric, character-driven, and moody, painting a vivid picture of the shadowy world Quirke navigates.

Characters:

The characters are vividly realized, flawed individuals with complex motivations, particularly Quirke, who grapples with deep personal conflicts.

Writing/Prose:

The prose combines crisp, evocative descriptions with a cinematic quality, characteristic of noir fiction, although it occasionally slips into careless writing.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot focuses on Quirke's investigation into the death of Christine Falls, uncovering a web of baby trafficking within a morally complex society.

Setting:

The novel is set in the atmospheric 1950s Dublin, with a significant portion occurring in Boston, highlighting societal issues of the era.

Pacing:

Pacing varies, initially slow to build atmosphere but shifts to a faster tempo as the plot progresses, occasionally losing coherence.

IT WAS NOT THE DEAD THAT SEEMED TO QUIRKE UNCANNY BUT THE living. When he walked into the morgue long after midnight and saw Malachy Griffin there he felt a shiver along his spine that was to prove pr...

Notes:

The story is set in Dublin and Boston during the 1950s.

Quirke is a pathologist with a troubled past, having grown up in a brutal orphanage.

The novel involves themes like baby trafficking and the dark side of the Catholic Church.

Quirke has a complicated relationship with love, having never truly loved his wife.

There's a cameo by the famous writer Brendan Behan as a character in the story.

The book blends rich atmospheric descriptions with a focus on flawed, vibrant characters.

The writing style is described as crisp and direct, comparable to noir fiction.

Christine Falls is the first in a planned series of Quirke novels.

The plot revolves around the mysterious death of Christine Falls and her missing baby.

The narrative is character-driven rather than plot-centric, exploring moral ambiguity.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains high content warnings due to sensitive topics such as abortion, child trafficking, and moral ambiguity related to the Catholic Church.

Has Romance?

There are elements of romance within the book, primarily involving Quirke's unrequited feelings for his sister-in-law, contributing to the complexity of his character.

From The Publisher:

The hero of Christine Falls, Quirke, is a surly pathologist living in 1950s Dublin. One night, after having a few drinks at a party, he returns to the morgue to find his brother-in-law tampering with the records on a young woman's corpse. The next morning, when his hangover has worn off, Quirke reluctantly begins looking into the woman's history. He discovers a plot that spans two continents, implicates the Catholic Church, and may just involve members of his own family. He is warned-first subtly, then with violence-to lay off, but Quirke is a stubborn man. The first novel in the Quirke series brings all the vividness and psychological insight of John Banville's writing to the dark, menacing atmosphere of a first-class thriller.

Ratings (5)

Loved It (1)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (8):

Read It (6)
Want To Read (2)

1 comment(s)

ColorfulLeo92

Did Not Like

2 months

Been slowly trying to find a new crime/thriller series or author to read from. But have not been successful yet. Did not enjoy this one at all.

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About the Author:

Benjamin Black is the pen name of acclaimed author John Banville, who was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1945. His novels have won numerous awards, most recently the Man Booker Prize in 2005 for The Sea. He lives in Dublin.

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Christine Falls

Benjamin Black

Book 1 in the series:Quirke