Last year, I read and reviewed Snow by John Banville, and it was a solid five-star read for me. In fact, I said “I need to read more John Banville books!” So I was happy to receive April in Spain from Harlequin/Hanover Square Press and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

The protagonist, Quirke, is a pathologist from Dublin who is in Spain on holiday with his psychiatrist wife Evelyn, when he happens to see his daughter Phoebe’s friend April who was presumed to have been murdered by her own brother. (whew) When Quirke contacts Phoebe back in Dublin, she decides to go to Spain and is accompanied by an inspector who is there to “aid” her. Then there is Terry, a hitman. Sounds promising, but here’s the thing: NOTHING HAPPENS for a looooong time. I confess that at about 40% I started skimming, and I’m not proud of the amount of attention I gave it…but it just didn’t do it for me.

Banville is an outstanding writer, and he is great at developing both setting and character — but you have to be REALLY patient or just one of those readers who likes to savor a well-written story. The ending was a surprise, which is generally the case for me — and Quirke’s story is unfinished at the end, presumably to set the stage for more about him. Three stars, but only that low because of the pace, which was a bit slow for me, OK, it was WAAAAAY slow for me. I will still go for his next book, because he is SUCH a good writer, but hope either it moves along much faster or I develop more patience by then.

Interesting characters draw you into this slow paced novel. You always get the feeling of creepy secrets lurking within and are compelled to uncover them. The novel slides around them in and out winding up with a surprising ending. Enjoyable read.

This book gave me a old time Hitchcockian noir vibe. Set in Italy after the war and full of interesting well developed characters. Our protagonist was flawed, sad and unsympathetic at times, but his did not distract from the story.

Updated review: This book has landed in the did not finish pile though I did make it to 52%; five days in, there is far too little actually happening for my taste. If you are looking for a book to lull you to sleep before bed, give this one a try. It's not bad, just very, very slow.
Original review:
I generally like Banville's novels but this one is mired down in tedious detail until about 25%. Geeze. Why did he spend so much time 'setting the stage'? Once we finally get to the emergency room, things started to pick up and we (may) get to the point. If it still drags on, I give up and will mark this a DNF.

This is my first "Quirke" book. Quirke is a Dublin pathologist vacationing in San Sebastian, Spain with his wife, Evelyn, a psychiatrist. (I really liked her character) Quirke is trying to relax when he spots a familiar face- his daughter's friend April who is presumed murdered by her own brother. Quirke contacts his daughter Phoebe who then contacts her connections. Phoebe decides to go to Spain and an inspector is sent to "aid" her. The plot also turns to our hitman, Terry. Though I appreciate the author spending time for us to get to know this character- it just went on too long at times. This book was a very slow read. I almost gave up several times. In the end, there was a surprise at least for me regarding the motive that I don't want to reveal. The ending felt unfinished but maybe that is because Quirke's story still needs to be told.

April in Spain is an interesting mystery involving many topics from incest to supplying arms and ammunition to the IRA but much of the book involves description and background of the characters and not much suspense and excitement. It was not one of my favorites.

I was a bit surprised to see the latest Quirke novel published under the author's real name, rather than the pseudonym (Benjamin Black) he has used for the rest of the series. I'm a long-time fan of the somewhat difficult character Quirke, as well as of Mr. Banville's writing as a whole. In a world of potboilers and "best sellers" that are poorly written and edited, it is such a pleasure to a find good, solid, well-written novel, especially genre fiction (as this is listed as a mystery, a genre which has, sadly, much degenerated over time).

The story itself unfolds like a slow-motion train wreck, from the time Quirke thinks he recognizes a young doctor in Spain to the (to me, at least) heartbreaking denouement. Many thanks to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC.

Quirke, the Irish pathologist, and his wife Evelyn, a psychiatrist, are on holiday in Spain. As with Banville's novel Snow, this one is very atmospheric, only it's a sunny seaside vibe contrasting with Quirke's saturnine personality. This is dark, like his previous novels, but moves very slowly--the first third of the novel described the holiday in Spain. The pathologist, wonders if Angela, a young doctor in Spain, is really his daughter's friend April, who was reported murdered by her now deceased brother four years ago; he calls Phoebe to come to Spain to see what she thinks, The characters do things that seem baffling, like Quirke inviting an ER doctor, who is obviously not interested, out for dinner, and Phoebe going to a powerful politician with information that will prove lethal. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

April in Spain is the first John Banville/Benjamin Black book I have read. I am not sure how I feel about the book. I didn't really like any of the characters and the plot was very dark and twisted. Yet, despite all that, I was compelled to keep reading. I believe the book will stay with me for a long time . I'm not sure why.

Quirke, the Dublin forensic pathologist created by novelist John Banville under the pen name Benjamin Black (presumably doubly concealed by the author in order not to be confused with his other, more 'literary and less genred' novels) is a complex man, whose inner life is sparingly but acutely rendered; he remains a mystery to himself, his daughter, his colleagues, and ultimately to the reader. All this makes him fascinating to readers who have followed him throughout the series, and rooted for him to find happiness at last, or the closest thing to it for this singular man.. In the unusual setting of a Spanish hotel on an equally unusual vacation with his wife Evelyn, a psychiatrist whose own story is compelling, alluded to only in passing.
By chance, Quirke meets a woman whose resemblance to his daughter's presumably dead friend of years ago sets a complicated plot in action , which won't be spoiled by announcing that in its denouement, justice is served Meanwhile, it's a brilliant novel with much to relish and a few heartstrings to be plucked, too .