A wonderful thriller! Even if I usually prefer to read lighter books I was hooked since the beginning and couldn't put it down.
I loved the style of writing and how the main character was developed. The plot was fascinating and there was no slow moment.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for this ARC

In this dark novel Jack Taylor an Irish former policeman has turned alcoholic and private investigator. He is hired to look into the death of heinous twins and finds out they are killed by a vigilante group lead by The Silence.

It is a short, very fast paced novel. I liked that it is written as if we are reading the thoughts of Jack (mostly). What reminded me of the old American detective novels. He interspaced his adventures with the daily news. This makes the novel feel very 2017. Some of the scenes made a lasting impression like the afternoon he spends with his daughter.

If you like thrillers and you are interested in Irish colour locale (you might need to google hurling or the whiskey brands) this is a book I can certainly recommend.

This book is suspenseful in so many ways. I enjoyed this novel mostly because of the way the writer incorporated well developed characters, background of Ireland and its landscape and lifestyles, and the idea behind the character that has a "Robin Hood" type persona. All this is, and much more, is seen in this novel. Galway Silence will make you think about your values regarding injustice, substance abuse, and family dynamics. The suspense in this novel made me read it constantly to see what would happen next. I finished this novel wanting to read another one by Ken Bruen. The writing is excellent and very different from the novels that I have recently read. In addition to being entertained when reading this novel I also learned many things about Ireland. You will not be disappointed when reading In the Galway Silence.

After finishing “The Emerald Lie”, I wasn’t sure if Jack Taylor would be with us much longer. Yet here he is…bleary eyed & bushy tailed. But there’s something odd about him. It’s like he’s…*gasp*…happy. He’s cut down on drink & cigs, quit the PI biz & has a new woman in his life. Initially the only fly in the ointment is her pompous 9 year old son.

But who are we kidding? This is Ken Bruen & he seems to revel in putting Jack through the ringer. In the prologue, we watch as teenage twin brothers meet a horrible end. Their wealthy father approaches Jack with a job. Find the killer.

Jack has just about recovered from a recent brush with mortality & isn’t eager to descend back into the world of thugs & violence where his investigations inevitably lead. Still, it seems pretty straight forward. Oh Jack…that should have been your first clue. Turns out the twins were spoiled, psychopathic gits & the only real surprise is no one killed them sooner. Then he runs up against the man responsible & life as he knows it is over. A master manipulator, the killer proceeds to dismantle Jack’s new life from the inside. What else can he do but welcome back his dark side?

This is a quick read full of twists, violence & a kind of psychological warfare that leaves Jack reeling. He’s used to dealing with “disagreements” the Irish way. You either ignore it or get right up in its face. This time someone is getting to him by infiltrating the lives of those he loves. Jack’s not used to feeling helpless & has no choice but to return to his former life.

I suspect there’s not a lot of ambivalence when it comes to whether or not you’re a fan. You either like his stuff or you don’t. I love it. No one writes like Bruen. Bleak, gritty & darkly funny…all written with the soul of a poet who composes each book as a love letter to Galway. We see everything through Jack’s eyes & become well acquainted with the ghosts that haunt him still. The narrative is lean & light on dialogue. Instead, we listen in on Jack’s thoughts as he ponders everything from how to kill a guy to the simple pleasure of a perfectly poured pint. Galway’s streets come alive through the characters he meets & his wry observations. Liberally sprinkled around the prose are quotes & comments from politicians, authors & musicians that pertain to the central theme of silence. He’s also a prolific reader & I always enjoy his terse book reviews.

I’ve got a big soft spot for Jack & this is one of my favourites in the series. If you haven’t read Bruen before, I’d recommend starting at the beginning (‘The Guards”). That way, if you fall under his spell you’ve got a whack of books to look forward to.

IN THE GALWAY SILENCE by Ken Bruen is the 14th book in the Jack Taylor series, and opens with Jack doing well and in a relationship with a woman named Marion that is giving him much to be thankful for; with the sole exception being her nasty young son who goes out of his way to antagonize Jack and sabotage his relationship with the mother at every turn.

Jack is happily unemployed, and doesn’t wish to take on any cases, but is approached by a businessman named Renaud, who wants to find the killer of his twin sons Jean and Claude; even though they were miserable characters undeserving vengeance, and eventually Jack takes on the case to seek out the vigilante who leaves a sign marked 2 4 J, which Jack later learns means “two for justice”.

Minding his own business, Jack reacts to an attempted suicide of a young man by saving him from death by drowning, and immediately regrets it as the intense young man named Tevis seems determined to attach himself to Jack, and reveals ties to the yet unknown vigilante responsible for the twins’ murder.

Several things take place making Jack become a part of the planning of the vigilante, who’s name is revealed to be Michael Allen, a psycho known to law enforcement suspected but never convicted due to lack of evidence in several cases, and he’s intrigued with Jack and tries to force his hand by threatening those close to him, which is a sure fire way to get Jack’s attention by provocation.

Jack is as cynical and pessimistic as usual once things turn for the worse, and his mile-wide mean streak serves him well in his pursuit with reckless abandon of the killer.

Some of what I like about Jack is his unwillingness to conform to any expectations others have of him, his irreverent attitude towards the current state of his country’s Americanization and direction of the younger generation, as well as the corruption within the Catholic church, but along with his willingness to embrace some things that seem completely out of character, which surprises those who think they know him well.

Dark humor and wit are Jack’s most used tactics employed in his dealings with others, and in making light of things that trouble him deeply, as it seems to be the only way he can deal with the horrible things he comes up against that cannot be resolved.

Ken Bruen has done what several of my favorite authors of this genre in long running series have done, and that is to successfully age an older character yet keeping him relevant and able to adapt to change; albeit unwillingly as is often the case.

I’ve only read a few books in the series, but so far liked this one best.

5 stars.

Excellent. Brief is on a long roll. Each book more terse, elliptical, and emotional than the last. Jack Taylor, Bruen’s series hero/anti- hero here faces his demons, internal and external set against the back drop of a decaying Ireland and world. Tense, well written, and thoughtful- crime novels don’t get any better.

I have never met Jack Taylor before and I know the guy has a big following so I am just going to go at it as if it's a first-timer. I loved the style but not so much the story and neither, I think, did Jack. Throughout the tale Jack spends most of his time in the bar and/or at the satisfying end of a bottle. He's up to his cojones in booze, trouble , more booze, murder and the nine year old son of his new girlfriend who hates him.
So this is one ball-busting, bone crunching, overly assertive and just plain aggressive style of a novel that I feel most women would not warm to. I might be wrong on that score.
The story, however, is a little limp and doesn't produce any spine-chilling moments; but then again Dave Robicheaux and Jack Reacher have been known to go a little flaccid at times. One thing's for sure and that is Papa Hemingway would have loved Jack Taylor and so, I think, do Taylor fans, so there's redemption there.
Thank You to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity and especially to Ken Bruen for this work. Be assured, I did enjoy the read overall.

IN A GALWAY SILENCE by Ken Bruen (Mysterious Press, $26.00). Rating: B+ As this novel opens, we find Jack Taylor in a very good place. He has come into a sizeable amount of money and has an encouraging romance with a new woman in his life (despite her obnoxious little boy). Jack still drinks too much, but sobriety is more than readers can hope for in Jack Taylor’s case.
Soon trouble emerges in the form of a wealthy Frenchman who wants Jack to investigate the double murder of his twin sons (which, when all the facts come out, proves to be a puzzling request). Also making an appearance are the husband of his new girlfriend and Jack’s former wife (with a big surprise for Jack). And then there is the case of a psychopathic killer known as the “Silence” who seems to have it in for Jack and his loved ones.
All this makes for a somewhat chaotic plot to follow, but that is what you are in for with a Jack Taylor/Ken Bruen novel. No one writes like Ken Bruen. You will either love or hate his style. But either way, you will be impressed.
This review will appear in a future issue of Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine.

Jack Taylor is back, and trouble is right behind, stalking him through the streets of Galway. In this installment, Silence is not only a theme, it’s also a character, one that infiltrates deeply into Jack’s life and his psyche. His ultimate solution is genius in its simplicity.
Taylor continues to be haunted by poor decisions, but in this book, it’s almost noire the way in which trouble finds him even when he’s just sitting on a bench. It is true that his actions set most events in motion, but not all, and this may be why I keep finding myself rooting for this guy. This may not be the best installment in the series, it has one main plot running through a few side stories, maybe ideas that didn’t merit their own book, but it is classic Jack Taylor; irreverent, violent and oddly reflective.

I want to thank NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing me with a digital copy of this book

This is my first read of a Ken Bruen novel (Jack Taylor series #13) so I must admit I am a bit of a neophyte when it comes to following Bruen’s style of storytelling. How it compares to other books within the series is for others to say, but for me it is a difficult novel to read. The discourse is rapid and choppy and at times difficult to follow.

Jack Taylor says he is happy, although his drinking and drug consumption have you wondering. So when Monsieur Renaud enters the bar and asks Jack to find out who killed his twin sons he refuses to take the job. Of course, as with any good detective, saying no is not that easy. This change of heart as well as the return of a girlfriend and then his ex-wife spins things out of control for Jack and many of the people close to him.

The story itself is interesting but morbid. The black humor and quick-witted insults serve to speed the book along, but for me they are also a distraction. Frequent and non-relevant references to worldwide current events will quickly date the book (at least I hope Trump is history very soon).

Having said this, once you are into the rhythm of Ken Bruen’s style of writing, this story is a unique and engaging read. It can be funny and yet heartbreaking. I recommend one give it a try and for the reason I score it 3/5.

Another tremendous installment in a superior series.. As someone who has spent a long time in Ireland over the years, I love he grit and mood of Jack Taylor, and the sheer tortured humanity. This latest is the strongest in years, and I shall char up with all mystery fans. Bravo indeed.