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Vintage 2012. First published in Great Britain by Harvill Secker in 2011. 296 pages. ISBN. 978-0-099-53203-3.
It all seemed a technical mismatch. Then home prices collapsed, jobs evaporated and companies that had been around for decades were closed overnight. DS Bob Tidey has taken wage cuts, but he can live with that, his needs are few these days.
Vincent Taylor, a professional thief fresh out of jail, is preparing his next robbery. The next time he goes there it will be for something worthwhile. Vincent does follow a strict code despite his line of business. (“Do the best you can with the skills God gave you. Pick a goal and go for it. Nothing matters more than family.”).
A man has been shot to death at the entrance of his mansion in the Southside. DS Tidey is assigned to the case. The shells recovered from the crime scene were related to a previous murder. Tidey also took part in that investigation.
Maura Coady is a retired nun haunted by her past. She had met DS Tidey before and wants to talk to him now. Maura knows it sounds silly but there is a car parked in front of her home. She saw that two men were leaving it there a few days ago. And, something strange, they both were wearing gloves, plastic gloves. Tidey sends someone to take a look. Nothing special, the licence was false, the tank was full. It doesn’t happen very often that the police find a getaway car, ready. But this discovery will unleash a storm of violence. After all what’s done is done and if you can’t do anything about it, you don’t have a problem. All you have to do is learn to live with it.
A terrific book, my rating: 5/5.
Gene Kerrigan is the author of four novels, The Rage (2011), Dark Times in the City (2010), Midnight Choir (2008), and Little Criminals (2007), and seven non-fiction books including Hard Cases (1996) and This Great Little Nation (1999). He is one of Ireland’s leading political commentators, working as a columnist for the Sunday Independent. He won the Irish Book Award with Dark Times in the City and has been nominated for the Crime Writers Association’s Gold Dagger Award.
My special thanks to Maxine Clark, Rob Kitchin and Glenn Harper. Their excellent reviews have encouraged me to read this book. You can find them at Petrona, The View from the Blue House and International Noir Fiction.
The Rage de Gene Kerrigan
Todo parecía un desajuste técnico. A continuación, los precios de las viviendas se derrumbaron, el empleo se evaporó y las empresas que habían estado allí durante décadas cerraron de un día para otro. El sargento Bob Tidey ha tenido recortes salariales, pero puede vivir con ello, sus necesidades son pocas en estos días.
Vincent Taylor, un ladrón profesional recién salido de la cárcel, se encuentra preparando su próximo robo. La próxima vez que regrese a la cárcel será por algo que valga la pena. Vicent sigue un estricto código a pesar de su línea de negocio. (“Saca el mejor provecho de las habilidades que Dios te ha dado. Fíjate una meta y ve por ella. Nada es más importante que la familia.”).
Un hombre ha sido asesinado a tiros en la entrada de su mansión en la zona sur. El detective Tidey ha sido asignado al caso. Las balas recuperadas de la escena del crimen estaban relacionadas con un asesinato anterior. Tidey también había participado en esa investigación.
Maura Coady es una monja jubilada perseguida por su pasado. Había conocido al detective Tidey antes y quiere hablar con él ahora. Maura sabe que suena tonto, pero hay un coche aparcado delante de su casa. Ella vio que dos hombres lo estaban dejando allí hace unos días. Y, cosa extraña, ambos llevaban guantes, guantes de plástico. Tidey envía a alguien a echar un vistazo. Nada especial, la licencia era falsa, el tanque estaba lleno. No es muy corriente que la policía se encuentre con un coche preparado para salir huyendo. Pero este descubrimiento va a desatar una tormenta de violencia. A fin de cuentas lo hecho, hecho está, y si ya no puedes hacer nada al respecto, no tienes un problema. Todo lo que tienes que hacer es aprender a vivir con ello.
Un libro estupendo, mi calificación: 5/5.
Gene Kerrigan es el autor de cuatro novelas, The Rage (2011), Dark Times in the City (2010), Midnight Choir (2008), y Little Criminals (2007) y de siete libros de no-ficción, incluyendo Hard Cases (1996) y This Great Little Nation (1999). Como columnista del Sunday Independent es uno de los principales comentaristas políticos de Irlanda. Fue galardonado con el Premio al mejor libro irlandés del año por Dark Times in the City y estuvo nominado a la Gold Dagger Award que entrega la CWA.
Mi especial agradecimiento a Maxine Clark, Rob Kitchin y Glenn Harper. Sus magníficas reseñas me animaron a leer este libro. Las pueden encontrar en sus blogs Petrona, The View from the Blue House e International Noir Fiction.
A Crime is Afoot 
José Ignacio – This looks really interesting! I liked Midnight Chior very much and it sounds as though this one is just as good. Thanks for the fine review.
Thank you Margot.
Jose Ignacio: I enjoyed the review. I had not heard about the author until reading your post.
Thank you Bill.
So glad you liked this book, Jose Ignacio – I’ve very much enjoyed all his books so far, though Dark Times in the City perhaps not quite so much. LIttle Criminals and Midnight Choir are excellent.
I take due note of your suggestion Maxine, thanks.
I’ll be honest, I do think that perhaps there should be a moratorium on the appearance of hitmen and nuns (serving and non) in fiction, but count me intrigued by the sound of the author and the inclusion of both int he same story.
Molte grazie José Ignacio
My pleasure Sergio.