Hackett of the local Garda station, and recommending that no public mention be made that Deirdre's death might have been suicide. He never reports the results officially, choosing instead to talk privately with Det. Quirke is curious enough to do a secret autopsy, despite his promise to Billy Hunt, and he discovers an injection mark-Deirdre may have been under the influence of both alcohol and drugs when she died. The body of Billy Hunt's wife Deirdre has washed up, nude, on an island off the coast of Dublin. Though the author is careful to include some explanation about the past in this novel, including the reasons for his estrangement from his daughter, it is complex and not fully explained, much more easily understood by those who have read Christine Falls-and a reason for those who enjoy this book to read the earlier one for background (and another good story). Nevertheless, Quirke followed what he believed to be right in the Christine Falls case, nearly destroying the lives of both the Judge and Malachy in the process. Sharing the Judge's attention with his real son, Malachy Griffin, Quirke was grateful for the care, love, and education he received from the Judge. Quirke owes much of his present life to Judge Griffin, who unofficially adopted him when he was a young orphan. Malachy Griffin involved, but that his 'father,' Judge Garret Griffin was an even more important player.

It was then he discovered that not only was his 'brother,' Dr. He experienced the power of the church and its control of social and political policy-making two years ago when he investigated the death of a young woman, Christine Falls, after an abortion (the subject of Black/Banville's first novel).

The Catholic Church is dominant as a social and judicial force, and Hunt does not want his wife's apparent suicide to affect her status within the church or deny her and her family the benefits of her Catholic burial. Deirdre may have drowned herself, but this is Dublin in the 1950s. Quirke often finds himself called upon to do more than a pathologist is usually required to do, and in this second novel in the series, he is visited by Billy Hunt, a casual friend from college, who asks him not to do an autopsy on the body of his wife Deirdre. 'Everywhere he turned in the business of Deirdre Hunt, things that had seemed substantial evaporated into smoke and air, and what had appeared open and inviting entryways were suddenly slammed shut in his face.'īooker Prize-winning author John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black, began an intriguing mystery series series two years ago with Christine Falls, featuring Quirke, a pathologist at the Hospital of the Holy Family in Dublin.

Over to read a review more books by John Banville) Down to read a review of A Death in Summer)ĭown to read a review of Elegy for April)ĭown to read a review of Christine Falls)

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