Elegy for April

A Novel

Quirke returns in the third volume of John Banville’s celebrated series

A junior doctor at a local hospital, April Latimer is a scandalous presence in the conservative and highly patriarchal society of 1950s Dublin: the independently-minded scion of a well-connected family, she has decidedly unconventional taste in men. When she vanishes, her friend Phoebe fears the worst—and calls on her father, forensic pathologist Quirke, for help.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Co.

Sober again after intensive treatment for alcoholism, Quirke enlists his old sparring partner, Detective Inspector Hackett, in the search for the missing young woman. In their separate ways the two men retrace April's trail through Dublin’s seedier side. But as Quirke contends with a beguiling actress, racial tensions, and April’s formidable family, Phoebe finds she is being watched…

Elegy for April is a masterclass in tension and atmosphere from “one of the best novelists in English” (The Guardian).

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Co.

No one but Dalton will do . . .

What about Timothy Dalton’s performance did you like?

This writer gives us such sharply delineated descriptions of his character's moment by moment experiences, and Timothy Dalton makes the most of each and every moment. As before, this reader brings a Shakespearian brilliance to every word of his narration. I'm afraid he's ruined me for most other readers. I'm so bummed to see that this is the last of the series read by T.D. Judging by the sample of the next book's reader I'm afraid I can't continue, and I so wanted to. Wasn't Simon Vance or Gerard Doyle available?

Dark, moody and beautiful

All his books are wonderful. And Timothy Dalton excels. His voice is perfect for the moodiness, the darkness, the loneliness of these stories

Mr. Black seems to get better with each story,

The overall development of plot and characters demonstrates the author's ability to draw in the audience and capture their interset. When uou combine this with Mr. Dalton's magnificient narration, you have an excellent listen of a fine drama.

Struggling Dad Comes Through

Quirk's daughter, Phoebe, hasn't heard from her friend, April, who usually called her once a day. She asks her father to help her check into April's "disappearance." Along the way, Quirk struggles with alcohol and, although not stated outright, depression. Timothy Dalton's narration is wonderful.

Timothy Dalton makes a good book better.

This is a good series, made better by Timothy Daltin's incredible talent. I'm sorry he hasn't narratored more books.