The Emerald Lie: A Jack Taylor Novel - Hardcover

Bruen, Ken

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802125468 ISBN 13: 9780802125460

Publisher: Mysterious Press, 2016

Synopsis

Ken Bruen, the Godfather of the modern Irish crime novel” (Irish Independent), is beloved for his black humor, verse-like prose, and irascible protagonist Jack Taylor, an ex-cop who is as addicted to trouble as he is to Jameson, pills, and pop culture.

In The Emerald Lie, the latest terror to be visited upon the dark Galway streets arrives in a most unusual form: a Cambridge graduate who becomes murderous over split infinitives, dangling modifiers, and any other sign of bad grammar. Meanwhile, Jack is approached by a grieving father with a pocketful of cash on offer if Jack will help exact revenge on those responsible for his daughter’s brutal rape and murder. Though hesitant to get involved, Jack agrees to get a read on the likely perpetrators. But Jack is soon derailed by the reappearance of Emily (previous alias: Emerald), the chameleon-like young woman who joined forces with Jack to take down her pedophile father in Green Hell and who remains passionate, clever, and utterly homicidal. She will use any sort of coercion to get Jack to conspire with her against the serial killer the Garda have nicknamed the Grammarian,” but her most destructive obsession just might be Jack himself.

About this title

About the Author:

Ken Bruen received a doctorate in metaphysics, taught English in South Africa, and then became a crime novelist. The critically acclaimed author of eleven previous Jack Taylor novels and The White Trilogy, he is the recipient of two Barry Awards and two Shamus Awards and has twice been a finalist for the Edgar Award. He lives in Galway, Ireland.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Soon as I got to my door, I sensed something off. Bracing myself, I pushed it open.

Sitting in my armchair was a woman, dressed like Annie Hall, smoking a thin cheroot. I kid thee fucking not.

Emily.

I said,

“Jesus wept.”

She gave that radiant smile, asked,

“Miss me, Jack?”

Already I was off balance, which is what I’d always been with her. No matter what tack I took, she was always out of left field. All you could do was hope the damage would be short. I said,

“See you made yourself at home.”

She shook the glass in her hand, said,

“I’m about ready for a refill.”

The dog gave me a delighted greeting then, the treacherous bastard, bounded on to her lap. She asked,

“What did you name him?”

I grabbed the bottle from the table, poured one and refreshed hers. I said,

“Storm.”

She rubbed his ears, then,

“How very you.”

About this edition

• Publisher: Mysterious Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0802125468
• ISBN 13: 9780802125460
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256