Christine Falls

A Novel

One of Stephen King's Best Books of the 21st Century
"It was not the dead that seemed to Quirke uncanny but the living."

Quirke is a haunted, hard-drinking pathologist stumbling through the brooding gloom of 1950s Dublin. It is a society of secrets and meanness, dominated by a rigid hierarchy—as Quirke is reminded of when he catches his well-connected brother-in-law faking morgue records.

The cause of this tampering is the corpse of a mysterious woman: Christine Falls. But who is she, and how did she die? Quirke’s hunt for the answers to these questions will draw him into a transatlantic conspiracy and pit him against some of Dublin’s most powerful forces, from the Catholic Church to members of his own family.

Originally published under the pseudonym Benjamin Black, John Banville’s debut thriller reveals a new side of “Ireland’s greatest living novelist” (The New York Times).

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Co.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Christine Falls is a triumph of classical crime fiction, finely, carefully made, not a single false move or wrong word--why don't they write books like this anymore?” —Alan Furst

“Contemporary fiction gets no better than this... Banville's books teem with life and humor.” —Patrick McGrath, The New York Times Book Review on The Untouchable

“John Banville is the heir to Nabokov.” —The Sunday Telegraph on The Sea

“A major work of fiction in which every suave moment calmly detonates to show the murderous gleam within.” —Don DeLillo on The Book of Evidence

I'm no more morbid than the next pathologist.

It is hard to review this novel without wanting to give the whole nursery away. The nasty, dark, secretive details of this book are where it's all at, but I'm afraid if I started swinging around just one detail, I would end up spilling it all. Dropping the baby I was dangling. So, I'll just stick with some of the things that are obvious and have already been said.

Benjamin Black is really John Banville. The Man Booker award winner who wrote The Sea and The Untouchable. Banville is a serious artist. He has been honored with such wild descriptions as the "the heir to Proust, via Nabokov." So, what does a serious, literary author do for money? I remember reading once that the poet Allen Ginsberg made less than $70k per year at the height of his success. For most authors/poets, literature just doesn't sell or pay the damn mortgage. So, there is option 1) literature + professorship. This seems to be the route of a lot of serious fiction writers. William H. Gass is a professor, so too was Vladimir Nabokov. Yes, true. Many of these top tier authors get their jobs because of their notoriety and the benefit it brings to the University. It works well for all involved. So, there is option 2) literature + other job. This is the route chosen by T.S. Eliot and Franz Kafka. You write at night, work selling insurance or something during the day. But there is also option 3) literature + entertainments.* This happens, but not as often as the others.

Probably the best example of this is Graham Greene. He wrote his serious major literature: Brighton Rock, The Power and the Glory, The Heart of the Matter, The End of the Affair, The Quiet American, etc. But he also wrote his entertainments: Stamboul Train, A Gun for Sale, The Confidential Agent, The Third Man, Our Man in Havana, Travels With My Aunt, etc. These were his less serious novels. His spy novels. I'm not sure if Greene meant they were inferior, but I don't think he took them quite as seriously. The reason I bring this up is because I think that is what the Quirke novels of John Banville are. His quirky (sorry, I had to) entertainments. They aren't mean to be dripping with poetry. They aren't supposed to be masterpieces. They are supposed to be entertaining. But because they are written by Banville they can't help being great entertainments. The writing is tight. They pacing is fantastic. It works. I loved it. It wasn't a perfect novel, but I'll give it to Banville. I think he has the opportunity to write a perfect entertainment. One that is on par with John le Carré or Graham Greene.

* There is also family money, etc., but I'm already bored with my list making.

A Good Listen

I received much enjoyment from listening to this book. It has a very different setting from my midwestern US life, and the character development is outstanding. Hats off to T. Dalton who narrated superbly. While he is not in the class with Scott Brick and others, he is easy to listen to. The book itself has dark and brooding tones. If you are looking for an uplifting and enlightening book, look elsewhere. But if you want your imagination to be stimulated, as well as your intellect, this book is a good choice.

Powerful and Seductive Narration!

This is one of the best narrated audiobooks I have heard in years. The atmosphere of the novel and its setting were perfectly enhanced by Timothy Dalton's rich deep voice which almost hypnotised me, it kept me so focused on the story.

Although the story is a mystery there is a feeling of foreboding throughout that makes events much less shocking and more inevitable than might be usual for this genre. THe writing is beautiful and much better than one is likely to expect from a conventional mystery story.

THe story is also deep and complex and composed of many interwoven strands--it's really quite a stunning performance when you take apart the simple and direct pieces of which it is made and see the complexity of the outcome.

Very much enjoyed, very highly recommended. Will look forward to hearing the SILVER SWAN with great anticipation and pleasure.

This is a good listen

I think this is a very good book. I had to listen to the first half hour twice as I found it hard to "get into" the story. After I did that, I really liked it. (Read the NYT book review before you buy it - helps you to know if you are going to like it.)

I Really wanted to like this story

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I do like British Detective novels, it's all I seem to be buying these days. But this one took a lot of trying to like before I finally turned it off. The story was good enough. It had more twists & turns & evil with a little religion, some politics & corruption most high, but alas, it was too detailed, to wordy & put me to sleep too many times. Maybe it was the darkness of Quirk's character or the 'noir' of the atmosphere or maybe the tone of the Reader's voice?? I am done. I don't want to have to struggle through a book & this one was a struggle even though the story was a good one.

Any additional comments?

If you loved 'Death in Holy Orders' you will love this book. Same style of extreme detail.