There is a notion that the benjamin black books are a sort of holiday for john banville from serious work which, i suspect, has been shrewdly put about by the author himself. The complete series list for quirke benjamin black. The quirke series of crime novels, written by irish novelist john banville under the pen name benjamin black, centers on the titular character, a pathologist in 1950s dublin. Christine falls quirke, book 1 by benjamin black fantastic fiction. Beginning with christine falls, published in 2006, banville has written crime fiction under the pen name benjamin black. Benjamin black is a pseudonym of booker prizewinning author john banville, and christine falls, the first novel in the quirke series, brings all the vividness and psychological insight of john banvilles writing to the dark, menacing atmosphere of a firstclass thriller. Banville also writes under the pen name benjamin black. This acclaimed book by benjamin black is available at in several formats for your ereader. Benjamin black is the pen name of acclaimed author john banville, who was born in wexford, ireland, in 1945. The hero of christine falls, quirke, is a surly pathologist living in 1950s dublin.
He writes his benjamin black crime fiction much more quickly than he composes his literary novels. Oct 25, 2007 his novels have won numerous awards, including the man booker prize in 2005 for the sea. He has also taken over the philip marlowe character from celebrated author raymond chandler under the benjamin black mantle. Christine falls by benjamin black overdrive rakuten. I went into it completely neutral due to not knowing who the author is, benjamin black or this book series. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. His first novel under this pen name was christine falls, which was followed by the silver swan in 2007. Apr 12, 2012 listen to this audiobook excerpt from benjamin black s thriller novel christine falls, narrated by actor timothy dalton. But the most revealing pieces of evidence are not the ones that point toward the dark crimes in christine falls. John banville, an author of serious literary ambitions, has written a swirling, elegant genre novel under a pseudonym. Benjamin black is the pen name of john banville, a critically acclaimed author who is well known in literary fiction circles. Like ruth rendell with her barbara vine persona, john banville has. Christine falls quirke, book 1 by benjamin black book cover, description, publication history. Mar 01, 2007 the swirling, elegant noir christine falls is the first book by benjamin black.
Two years have passed since the events of the bestselling christine falls, and much has changed for quirke, the irascible, formerly harddrinking dublin pathologist. Christine falls is a thriller, but you only have to consider earlier banville novels the book of evidence, mephisto to see that the thriller element was. Mar 25, 2007 while the voluptuous atmospheric flourishes of christine falls suggest how much fun banville is having as black, they also provide the books center of gravity, the force that holds all. A noir thriller set in 1950s dublin by bookerprize winner john banville, writing as benjamin black. Christine falls, by benjamin black the independent. Listen to this audiobook excerpt from benjamin black s thriller novel christine falls, narrated by actor timothy dalton. May 10, 2011 this is the first time quirke has encountered christine falls, but the investigation he decides to lead into the way she lived and died uncovers a dark secret at the heart of dublins high catholic network. This is the official website of irish writer john banville. The swirling, elegant noir christine falls is the first book by benjamin black.
Oct 07, 2006 christine falls by benjamin black john banville 300pp, picador. Christine falls book by benjamin black 9 available. Black s books include the black eyed blonde, christine falls, the silver swan, among others. It does though, draw a line of demarcation between these and the other novels. Jun 25, 2008 christine falls was written by benjamin black, pen name of man booker prize winner, john banville. William john banville was born in wexford, ireland, in 1945, the youngest of three siblings. Benjamin blacks debut thriller is, as its genre demands, littered with clues. See all books authored by benjamin black, including christine falls, and the silver swan, and more on thriftbooks. The hero of this enjoyable crime novel from black the pseudonym of man bookerwinner john banville. Christine falls is the first novel in a planned series about harddrinking irish pathologist garret quirke written by booker prize winner john banville under the open pseudonym benjamin black. Christine falls by benjamin black books the guardian. Banville not exactly surefooted in his use of third person omniscient pointofview.
The book is superb and ian rankin, michael dibdin et al will need to look to their laurels. Michael dibdin is delighted to discover john banville can plot. Christine falls quirke mysteries 9780330445320 by black, benjamin and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Intercourse between the detective story and mainstream fiction is traditionally regarded as one of those things we dont.
His beloved sarah is dead, the judge lies in a convent hospital paralyzed by a devastating stroke, and phoebe, quirkes longdenied daughter, has grown increasingly withdrawn and isolated. One night, after having a few drinks at a party, he returns to the morgue to find his brotherinlaw tampering with the records on a young womans corpse. Christine falls is banvilles debut crime novel, a complex, dark and compelling work that is mysterious and quietly horrifying. From the very first page, one gets the feeling that nothing is quite. Intercourse between the detective story and mainstream fiction is traditionally regarded as one of. Benjamin black, the pen name of acclaimed novelist john banville, is the author of christine falls and the silver swan. Mar 12, 2007 benjamin blacks debut thriller is, as its genre demands, littered with clues.
Benjamin black audio books, best sellers, author bio. Benjamin black is a pseudonym of booker prizewinning author john banville, and christine falls, the first novel in the quirke series, brings all the vividness and. Christine falls is the 1st book in a series about quirke, a grumpy pathologist living in dublin during the 1950s. Christine falls book by benjamin black thriftbooks. A bookerwinning author hides behind benjamin blacks thriller christine falls. The next morning, when his hangover has worn off, quirke reluctantly begins looking into the womans history. Banville has two adult sons with his wife, the american textile artist janet dunham.
Booker prize winner john banville, writing under the pseudonym benjamin black, delivers in his first mystery, christine falls, a stylish, atmospheric thriller that is both beautifully written and solidly plotted. Christine falls by black, benjamin banville, john returning to the morgue where he works after an office party, dublin pathologist quirke stumbles across a body that should not have been there, a young woman named christine falls, as well as his brotherinlaw, eminent pediatrician malachy griffin, altering a file to cover up the corpses. Benjamin black is a pseudonym of booker prizewinning author john banville. Thriller by the manbooker prize winner john banville, writing as benjamin black homepage. He appreciates his work as black as a craft, while as banville he is an artist. Christine falls was nominated for both the edgar award and macavity award for best novel. Mar 06, 2007 a boozy, bitter pathologist becomes a most unwilling detective when he uncovers a babytrafficking scheme in dublin in the 1950s. While the voluptuous atmospheric flourishes of christine falls suggest how much fun banville is having as black, they also provide the book s center of gravity, the force that holds all. They met during his visit to san francisco in 1968 where she was a student at the university of. Buy christine falls by benjamin black online at alibris.
From page one, through the streets of dublin a half century ago, through the conspiracies linking the boston and dublin catholic highsocieties, benjamin black pulls the reader deeper and deeper into the mystery until youre hooked. Christine falls, written by benjamin black booker prizewinning author of the sea, john banville in psuedonym, is marketed as a mysterythriller a more erudite da vinci code. The silver swan, will be published in both the uk and usa in march. Christine falls isbn 9780312426323 pdf epub benjamin black. The idea that christine falls is a light hearted romp is put to bed before the bottom of. His mother stayed at home as a housewife and his father worked in a garage. Benjamin black is the pen name of the man booker prizewinning novelist john banville. Christine falls has 9 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Quirke, an oversized smoker with no illusions about himself or the bodies he carves up in the basement of holy family hospital.
Christine falls king county library system overdrive. In the debut crime novel from the bookerwinning author, a dubli. Under ordinary circumstances, he might be admired for the cool precision and contemplative allure of his. Christine falls by benjamin black, 9780330445320, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. This was a january book club suggestion for my mystery lovers book club. Quirke is a fascinating and subtly drawn hero, christine falls is a classic tale of suspense, and benjamin black s debut marks him as a true master of the form. Christine falls by benjamin black john banville 300pp, picador. Benjamin black books list of books by author benjamin black. Christine falls is the first book in benjamin black s celebrated quirke dublin series, now a major bbc tv series starring gabriel byrne. Benjamin black s, christine falls, is a near perfect read for mystery fans.
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