A Death in Summer
Benjamin Black
A Death in Summer
When newspaper magnate Richard Jewell is found dead at his country estate, clutching a shotgun in his lifeless hands, few see his demise as cause for sorrow. But before long Doctor Quirke and Inspector Hackett realise that, rather than the suspected suicide, ‘Diamond Dick’ has in fact been murdered. Jewell had made many enemies over the years and suspicion soon falls on one of his biggest rivals. But as Quirke and his assistant Sinclair get to know Jewell's beautiful, enigmatic wife Françoise d’Aubigny, and his fragile sister Dannie, as well as those who work for the family, it gradually becomes clear that all is not as it seems. As Quirke’s investigations return him to the notorious orphanage of St Christopher’s, where he once resided, events begin to take a much darker turn. Quirke finds himself reunited with an old enemy and Sinclair receives sinister threats. But what have the shadowy benefactors of St Christopher’s to do with it all?
3.3 out of 5 based on 5 reviews
|
Omniscore:
|
| Classification |
Fiction |
| Genre |
Crime, Thrillers & Mystery |
| Format |
Hardback |
| Pages |
256 |
| RRP |
£16.99 |
| Date of Publication |
July 2011 |
| ISBN |
978-0330509091 |
| Publisher |
Mantle |
| |
When newspaper magnate Richard Jewell is found dead at his country estate, clutching a shotgun in his lifeless hands, few see his demise as cause for sorrow. But before long Doctor Quirke and Inspector Hackett realise that, rather than the suspected suicide, ‘Diamond Dick’ has in fact been murdered. Jewell had made many enemies over the years and suspicion soon falls on one of his biggest rivals. But as Quirke and his assistant Sinclair get to know Jewell's beautiful, enigmatic wife Françoise d’Aubigny, and his fragile sister Dannie, as well as those who work for the family, it gradually becomes clear that all is not as it seems. As Quirke’s investigations return him to the notorious orphanage of St Christopher’s, where he once resided, events begin to take a much darker turn. Quirke finds himself reunited with an old enemy and Sinclair receives sinister threats. But what have the shadowy benefactors of St Christopher’s to do with it all?
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Reviews
The Guardian
Mark Lawson
“There are frequent taut metaphors in the Chandler/Fleming style: when a witness frowns, "his entire forehead crinkled, horizontally, like a venetian blind being shut and the line of his shiny brown hair lowered itself by a good half-inch". Such flourishes, and the knowing references to 007 elsewhere, made me think that Banville would be an interesting bet for one of the Bond continuations ... Meanwhile, with Quirke, he has made a fascinating addition to the ranks of the defective detective in books that combine respectful reading of the genre with brightly original writing.”
07/07/2011
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The Los Angeles Times
Carolyn Kellogg
“When something merits explaining, Black interrupts one character's conversation with the thoughts of another, full of exposition, letting the second character's attention surface again mid-sentence. This may be a little inelegant for a literary guy like Banville, but this is Black, after all, who is writing a page turner. If there is something top-shelf about the book, it can be found in the descriptions, and in the complexity of its characters.”
09/07/2011
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The New York Times
Janet Maslin
“["Benjamin Black"] looks increasingly like the Superman to Mr. Banville’s more literary Clark Kent. His books about the dour Irish pathologist named Quirke have effortless flair, with their period-piece cinematic ambience and their sultry romance. The Black books are much more like Alan Furst’s elegant, doom-infused World War II spy books than like standard crime tales.”
03/07/2011
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The Sunday Times
Eithne Shortall
“Personalities are established, motives hinted at and luxurious settings evoked within the first few chapters. When the clues start to come together and potential miscreants are crossed off the list, the story gathers momentum. However, there is a large chunk in the middle where Banville gets muddled with Black and little ground is gained. Too many suspects are explained and quickly forgotten. The crime novel meanders into beautiful descriptions of skies and somewhat cringeworthy depictions of sexual liaisons.”
19/06/2011
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The Independent
Barry Forshaw
“[Black's plotting] is supremely functional but seems utilitarian rather than inspired ... In the final analysis, however, and putting such reservations aside, A Death in Summer is still a highly professional and engaging piece of work.”
06/07/2011
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