March 6, 2025
Book Review
Galway’s Edge
Ken Bruen
reviewed by Lou Jacobs


readersremains.com | Goodreads


And yet again… another riveting Bruen gem featuring ex-Garda officer and present-day private eye Jack Taylor. This is the eighteenth glorious installment in this enduring and exceptional series.

While it can be enjoyed as a standalone, readers will undoubtedly want to explore the entire Jack Taylor series. Not only should they discover the pathos of Jack Taylor on the page, but I also recommend binge-watching the Netflix television adaptation. No one can read these stories without picturing the brilliant Scottish actor Iain Glen as Jack Taylor (this was before his stint as Ser Jorah Mormont on Game of Thrones).

Since his daughter was killed in his presence, Jack has teetered on the abyss, attempting to drown himself in Jameson and Xanax. He is an extremely flawed protagonist—a violent lush who cannot control his sarcastic, ballsy behavior and is a virtual pain in the ass to everyone who knows him.

A shadowy organization is operating in Galway. “The Edge” is a group of five members of local society who have taken it upon themselves to mete out justice to those who have escaped the arm of the law. Their brand of vigilante justice has, at times, gone too far. An envoy of the Vatican Archdiocese, Father Richard, arrives at Jack’s doorstep. The group has recently disposed of a pedophile named Cleon, and the Vatican is aware that one of its members is none other than Father Kevin Whelan. They enlist Jack to persuade him to stand down. The next day, Father Kevin is found dead, hanging by a rope in his backyard. One by one, members of the shadowy cabal are murdered. Who would have the audacity to eliminate these powerful figures?

As Jack investigates, hedge fund millionaire George Benson quickly arouses his suspicion. He soon learns that Benson was refused admission to the group—and he’s not a man who takes rejection lightly. Meanwhile, the local Mother Superior once again calls on Jack for help. A revered jeweled crucifix has been stolen from the church, and subtle clues point to Benson.

To complicate matters further, an abused wife of a Garda officer approaches Jack, desperate for his help in getting her husband to stand down. But when Jack confronts the officer, he is met with a punch to the face, leaving him with a broken nose and a concussion. The next day, the woman somehow falls under the wheels of a bus.

Jack’s entanglements continue to mount as chaos swirls in Galway.

Ken Bruen, with his unparalleled storytelling skills, unleashes a complex and twisted narrative that escalates into an unexpected and explosive denouement. Along the way, he stuns with his gritty, dark Irish humor and almost poetic prose. Violence abounds, but it is never gratuitous—it merely sets the stage for what is to come. As with any Bruen novel, quirky characters pop up with strange motivations and bizarre requests for Jack, propelling the narrative in unexpected directions.

This gripping tale will appeal to aficionados of detective noir crime novels, particularly fans of Adrian McKinty and James Ellroy. Personally, I alternated between my Kindle and the audiobook, narrated by John Keating. I quickly became enamored with his authentic Irish accent, which breathed life into this immersive crime fiction journey. Keating has received multiple accolades for his captivating renditions of a diverse array of literature.

Thanks to NetGalley, Mysterious Press, and HighBridge Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and an advance audio version in exchange for an honest review of this five-star gem.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Ken Bruen's "Galway's Edge," another brutal dispatch from the fractured soul of Jack Taylor, isn't so much a novel as it is a raw nerve exposed. It's less a narrative arc, and more a series of jagged, electrified jolts, each one a testament to Bruen's unflinching gaze into the abyss.

In this Jack Taylor entry (for newcomers to the series, it is set in Ireland and Jack is a former police officer now a private investigator) Jack investigates the Edge, a group of vigilantes. One of the Edge's members, much to the Catholic church's displeasure, is a priest.

Ultimately someone starts killing the Edge's members and Jack seeks to
unmask the killer.

Taylor, as ever, is a walking wound, a man stitched together with whiskey, guilt, and a desperate, flickering sense of justice. He stumbles through Galway like a ghost, haunted by the past, pursued by the present, and utterly resigned to a future that promises only more pain. Bruen doesn't offer the reader a comforting handrail. Instead, we're thrust into the muck and mire alongside Taylor, forced to witness the ugliness he sees, to feel the desperation that claws at his sanity.
This isn't a whodunit in the traditional sense. The "mystery," is secondary to the exploration of Taylor's internal landscape. Bruen's prose, as always, is sharp and economical, a staccato rhythm that reflects the protagonist's fractured mind. He eschews flowery descriptions, opting instead for blunt, visceral language that cuts straight to the bone. The dialogue is as raw and unfiltered as the characters themselves, a cacophony of broken promises, bitter regrets, and desperate pleas.

What makes "Galway's Edge" unique is its almost nihilistic beauty. Bruen doesn't shy away from the darkness, but he finds a strange, almost poetic resonance in the decay. He paints a portrait of a city and a man on the verge of collapse, yet somehow, amidst the wreckage, a flicker of humanity persists.

This isn't a book for everyone. Those seeking a tidy resolution or a feel-good narrative will be sorely disappointed. But for those willing to brave the darkness, "Galway's Edge" offers a searing, unforgettable experience. It's a testament to the power of brokenness, a reminder that even in the deepest despair, a spark of something real, something vital, can still survive. It’s a book that lingers, like the taste of cheap whiskey and the sting of a Galway wind, in one's mind. It's a brutal symphony of human frailty, played out against the desolate backdrop of a city that mirrors its protagonist's battered soul.

Entering Jack Taylor’s world is an invitation to spend time in a beautiful city on the edge of Ireland with a man, living on the edge of society, who walks the streets cleansing the city of its evil. His “clients” vary from Church representatives to the homeless. Occasionally he saves the animals. He drinks too much, scorns all institutions, uses violent solutions and is compassionate to those who deserve it. Ken Bruen’s style is sparse and powerful. Throughout his work he alludes to literature, music and current events, enriching his message and proving less is better when telling a story. He is a favorite author of mine; he never disappoints.

4 stars for a welcome addition to the Jack Taylor series. Jack is an ex Garda(Irish police) who now makes his living an unofficial private investigator. I have read several of the books in this series. There was a tv series shown on PBS a few years ago. Friends in GR Ireland told me that the tv series was based on these books. I suspect the books would be better if read in order.
The blurb: "Edge, a shadow organization made up of the most powerful figures in Galway society, exists to rid the city of criminals and abusers who have evaded the law. Long wary of the organization, the Vatican is not pleased when rumors start swirling that one of the Catholic Church’s own priests has joined its ranks. And who better to ask to intercede than the whiskey-swigging ex-cop who always seems to have one foot in the pub and another among Ireland’s clergy?"
But the priest ends up dead after Jack visits him. More members of the Edge die, and Jack decides to investigate. Meanwhile a group of nuns that he is friends with asks him to solve a problem that the Garda cannot. He does solve these problems, despite getting attacked several times. No graphic violence and sex is only briefly mentioned. Jack uses some off color language, dresses in second hand clothes and likes to use his hurley stick to solve problems. Hurling is an Irish sport that has roots in ancient Ireland. I recommend this book to fans of Irish crime.
Thank You Penzler Publishers | Mysterious Press for sending this eARC through NetGalley.

Pub Date Mar 04 2025

Ever the sardonic anti-hero, jack Taylor shows his ability, with a relatively clear head much of the time, to multi-task amidst various assignments and to strive to deliver solutions to support well-being for his beloved Galway. Or, so he's asked to help by nuns, by clergy from the Vatican, and by pub buddies and other ne'er-do-wells. Bruen is characteristically generous in citing novels and music that speak to Jack and should encourage readers. There's a wonderful energy and resilience to this story and to Jack's tackling his challenges and various detours. Galways Edge works well as a standalone and rewards with new zest for long-time fans.

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.