Lawksamussy! ’Tis Friday already and we’ve hardly mentioned Shamus 2007 nominee Ken Bruen all week. For shame, Crime Always Pays elves, for shame … Anyhoo, Sir Kenneth of Bruen’s latest, Ammunition (published July 24), the seventh in the increasingly loony Brant series, has been garnering the kind of raves that have become the default reaction at this stage, to wit: “The seventh Inspector Brant noir from Shamus-winner Bruen (after 2006’s Calibre) maintains the feverish pacing that has become Bruen’s trademark … Bruen keeps this train wreck on proper course to a wholly satisfying, and very noir, conclusion,” says Publishers’ Weekly, while the Washington Post weighs in with, “It’s always a delight to discover a writer with an utterly distinctive voice … the words that best describe him, besides original, are outrageous and hilarious.” And there’s plenty more in a similar vein if you want to scoot over here …
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Amo Amas Amant Ammo
Lawksamussy! ’Tis Friday already and we’ve hardly mentioned Shamus 2007 nominee Ken Bruen all week. For shame, Crime Always Pays elves, for shame … Anyhoo, Sir Kenneth of Bruen’s latest, Ammunition (published July 24), the seventh in the increasingly loony Brant series, has been garnering the kind of raves that have become the default reaction at this stage, to wit: “The seventh Inspector Brant noir from Shamus-winner Bruen (after 2006’s Calibre) maintains the feverish pacing that has become Bruen’s trademark … Bruen keeps this train wreck on proper course to a wholly satisfying, and very noir, conclusion,” says Publishers’ Weekly, while the Washington Post weighs in with, “It’s always a delight to discover a writer with an utterly distinctive voice … the words that best describe him, besides original, are outrageous and hilarious.” And there’s plenty more in a similar vein if you want to scoot over here …
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Declan Burke has published a number of novels, the most recent of which is ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL. As a journalist and critic, he writes and broadcasts on books and film for a variety of media outlets, including the Irish Times, RTE, the Irish Examiner and the Sunday Independent. He has an unfortunate habit of speaking about himself in the third person. All views expressed here are his own and are very likely to be contrary.
I've just ordered this from a real bookshop (I decided to avoid the chainstore purveyors of book-related products this time). Hmm, "very noir conclusion." That sort of thing can mean anything coming from a reviewer, but in this case, I've read that Ammunition will be the last of the Brant/Roberts books. Geez, maybe I should start reading this from the end when it arrives.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
And now I've read the first seventy-four pages. I won't read the full text of the reviews you cite until I've finished the novel, but I'm surprised that the excerpts emphasize the similarities to the previous Brant and Roberts books. There are noticeable differences, if one looks beyond the brawling and the blasting guns. (I've posted a comment, if you feel like wandering over to take a look.)
ReplyDelete===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/