by Ken Bruen
First published 2007
Father Joyce lies headless in his Galway church, a brutal murder that shocks even Ireland's most cynical citizens. The country has grown fat on newfound wealth, abandoning the Church that once provided comfort. Jack Taylor takes the case, still reeling from recent personal tragedy that has left him broken. He has long considered himself beyond any hope of redemption. This new investigation promises a chance to start over, and an unexpected partnership offers something Jack barely dares to imagine: the possibility of family. But the priest's murder pulls him into something far more sinister. A stalker circles his prey. Strange rituals suggest dark forces at work. The ghost of a child appears in Jack's waking hours, refusing to leave him in peace. As Jack digs deeper, he uncovers a web of conspiracies that threaten to destroy what little hope he has managed to salvage from his shattered life.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: redemption-arc, second-chance
Setting: Galway, Ireland
Period: contemporary
304 pages · Paperback · Isis Large Print
Content warnings: death, murder, violence