In recent years Ireland has started producing homegrown crime fiction that is on a par with that of any other part of the world. One of the frontrunners in this genre is Ken Bruen, who introduced Jack Taylor to avid readers a few years ago. Taylor, an ex-Garde (ex-cop), is in the mould of the old-style gumshoe, but transplanted to the 21st century in every way.

The style of writing is almost Joycean in its "stream of consciousness" mode but works very well as we can hear Taylor in our head with his asides, laconic observations and his comments on contemporary society. There is a very Irish dry humour on offer throughout the book.

In this book trouble comes to him in the form of a wealthy Frenchman who wants Jack to investigate the murder of his twin sons. Taylor is meanwhile roped into looking after his girlfriend's 9-year-old son (a right little bollix) and is in for a shock with the appearance of a character from his past. Add to this two odd characters with new puzzles for Taylor.

The action is a bit bloody at times but is not dwelt upon. Bruen keeps the reader fascinated with asides from Taylor about shows he watches on Netflix and books he is reading.

"Stephen King turned seventy and had half a dozen TV and film adaptations on release. James Lee Burke at eighty had a new Robicheaux novel published, but if I ever got to higher ground I had a list of old/new favorites to savor."

On a stakeout to catch a dog poisoner he took not a gun but a hurley stick.

"I took out the hurley, flexed it, took a few practice swings, thought about how Galway had reached the All-Ireland and were meeting Wexford in the final. What I most knew about that city was it produced the fine writer Eoin Colfer." Like many city dwellers he thinks of other towns as cities -- Wexford is not, but only a minor point.

The book rattles along at a great pace and will be over long before you want it to be.