Search - Christine Falls

This is a dark and depressing mystery where the main character seems to be constantly either drinking or recovering from a fight. Dark and depressing nature aside, it's very good. It's portrays a different side of Ireland than I've seen in fiction...neither feel-good family drama nor straight up political tale. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

it was the best mystery book I have read in a long time. the characters are alive , little mysteries are divulged along the story line to keep you captive, the prose is beautiful and the story itself is marvelous

There is one flaw in this book: It is too much like real life. Things happen in this well-written book, but in the end, little or nothing is resolved. Which is why it is too much like real life. The characters make decisions, learn secrets, try to right wrongs, but, in truth, they are bound to the customs and proprieties of their world, their lives, and they are unable and unwilling to break the rules, upset things, question right and wrong, seek justice, insist on love. They are, to put it finely, hide bound to continue the status quo, for the most part. So while the book itself is remarkably well written, the conclusion left me wanting something more dramatic, something less like my real life. I wanted the main character to choose the woman he loves and to make a statement by insisting on bringing all of the villains to justice. But that's not what happens in real life, is it?

Very interesting story set in Dublin and Boston in the 50's, resonating with the power of the Catholic church and the foibles of the faithful, some of whom tried to live up to its teachings, and some of whom made very little effort to do so. It's a compelling portrayal of three generations in one family and the secrets and lies which destroyed them.

Great story...enjoyable read...the Irish at their worst!