Mystery Book Reviews

Book Review: Priest by Ken Bruen

By Angela Youngman Apr 4, 2007, 9:17 GMT

A very raw style of writing, gritty and dark. It starts in a psychiatric unit where private investigator Jack Taylor is recovering from alcolholism and a traumatic personal loss - only to end in another dramatic trauma. 

Released from the unit, Taylor tries to rebuild his world. Asked to investigate the murder of Father Joyce who has been decapitated in his own confessional; Jack finds himself drawn into long gone problems and scandals.

The Church wants everything kept quiet - it does not want its position further destablished. However, discretion is not a word Jack understands especially when the dead priest has a history of abusing small boys and is responsible for a terrible

The character of Jack is well drawn - you can appreciate his problems and how he is trying to cope with life.