If you can say that a book depicting a 21st world teetering on the edge of calamity is delightful, Ken Bruen’s 18th Jack Taylor novel is all that — along with a double shot of Jameson’s to provide an added glow. Our world in 2022 is going to hell in a hand-basket. Traditionally, Ireland would be the last place to feel the effects, positioned on the edge of Europe, with Taylor’s city of Galway located on the very edge of the edge. However, in the post-Covid aftermath, things have changed in Galway. Tens of thousands of refugees from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine are arriving, and the city is unprepared. The old world order is collapsing and no one is safe.

In this despairing milieu, private investigator Taylor is, for once, a happy man. He is in the unusual position of having a steady girlfriend, money to spare, and a stream of clients seeking his services. He finds something close to tranquility just staring at the Galway seafront, and savouring his favourite crime novels. His remaining anxieties are down to avoiding contact with an admiring Mother Superior who is determined to hug the cantankerous galoot. Obviously, his rare state of satisfaction will prove to be temporary.

In a time when new global villains are on the rise, Galway’s local bad-guys struggle to maintain their place. Taylor encounters one diddler-priest, a separate Sydney Greenstreet-like emissary of the Vatican, and a cartel of Irish oligarchs known as the Edge. There is also a billionaire plutocrat at the top of the Galway crime hierarchy who dispatches the lesser villains, including a close pal of Taylor’s. All get their comeuppance, and the innocents are preserved. Taylor demonstrates his morality by foreswearing his beloved Jameson’s after the distiller resumes exports to Russia. (He discovers American bourbon is an acceptable substitute.) Taylor doesn’t eliminate violence and murder from his moral code, readers will be reassured to learn, and the book ends on an agreeably edgy note.

This novel represents Bruen at his most playful and skilful. His message is that the planet is screwed, and even the most remote and cloistered corners of an Irish outpost will feel the effects. His takeaway message is: “I’m alright, Jack.”

Ken Bruen, the master of Irish noir, returns with Galway's Edge, a haunting addition to the Jack Taylor series. This latest installment offers a deeply personal and atmospheric journey into the psyche of Galway's most reluctant private investigator, Jack Taylor.

Bruen's narrative is a storm of lyrical prose, dark humor, and biting social commentary. His signature sparse style, blending raw emotion with sharp dialogue, immerses the reader in a Galway that feels as alive and complex as its protagonist. Taylor, grappling with his usual demons—alcohol, grief, and a deep sense of moral ambiguity—faces a case that cuts close to the bone.

A series of violent, seemingly random crimes shakes Galway to its core, leaving Taylor to untangle a web of connections that force him to confront his own past. Bruen crafts the mystery with a deft hand, keeping readers guessing while drawing them into Taylor’s internal struggles. The novel is as much about solving the case as it is about Taylor’s relentless battle with himself.

What sets Galway's Edge apart in the Jack Taylor series is its emotional depth. Bruen delves into themes of redemption and resilience, exploring how Taylor navigates loss and tries to carve meaning out of chaos. Fans of the series will appreciate the continuity, with recurring characters bringing moments of levity and tension. However, newcomers can easily dive into this book, as it stands on its own as a powerful story.

The city of Galway remains a character in itself—gritty yet beautiful, filled with a melancholy that mirrors Taylor’s soul. Bruen’s Galway isn’t the romanticized Ireland of postcards but a living, breathing entity, full of contradictions and shadows.

Galway's Edge is a masterful addition to the Jack Taylor series, offering a gripping narrative with profound emotional resonance. Ken Bruen continues to redefine noir, blending crime fiction with poignant human truths. Readers will be left haunted by Taylor’s journey and eagerly awaiting his next encounter with the darkness that surrounds—and resides within—him.

This book is a must-read for fans of gritty crime fiction and anyone who appreciates a story that lingers long after the last page.

This was not a book for me and I am sorry. I just could not get engaged with the writing style. I read all types of books but I could not even finish this

PI Jack Taylor is on the trail of Edge: a vigilante type group that is systematically sweeping the' streets of Galway clear of criminals.
When Edge members start being targeted themselves, and rumors of involvement of local priests start growing, Jack is called in by an emissary from the Vatican, to approach the priests and advise them to cease their nefarious actions in a way that only Jack could do.
The story is compelling, and Jack's laid back and understated but menacing manner is engaging.
Very interesting story and characters with a scenic backdrop that is very well portrayed.
What's not to like about beautiful; Galway, and its gorgeous bay.
My first, but hopefully, not last, Jack Taylor story.
Waiting.

This was a strong eighteenth entry in the Jack Taylor series, it uses the world perfectly and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It had that mystery element that I wanted and enjoyed the overall feel of this. The characters continued to work in this story and was glad I got to read this. Ken Bruen wrote this perfectly and am excited for more.

A secretive vigilante group called Edge cleanses Galway of its worst criminals. But when someone starts picking off Edge members, private detective Jack Taylor steps in to investigate! Great read! This book had great suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, a great who done it and a few twists and turns. The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Dark
Humor
In spades.
Bruen, as always, pleases.
A kind of violent poetry with fully-realized characters.
Oh, and, the end, that last line, those last bit of words ...
stunning.

Excellent series continues with an odd mix of characters. Mixing a vigilante group with The Vatican creates lots of interesting twists and turns.