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Benjamin Black

Read by Timothy Dalton, best known for his role as James Bond.

Quirke returns. The Silver Swan is the second entry in the spellbinding literary crime series set in 1950s Dublin from John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black. Now major TV series: Quirke, starring Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon.

Time has moved on for Quirke, the world-weary pathologist first encountered in Christine Falls. It is the middle of the 1950s, that low, dishonourable decade; a woman he loved has died, a man whom he once admired is dying, while the daughter he for so long denied is still finding it hard to accept him as her father.

When an old acquaintance approaches him about his wife’s apparent suicide, Quirke recognizes trouble. But, as always, trouble is something he cannot resist . . .

‘Absorbing, atmospheric and moving. More please’ – Guardian

‘Drug addiction, morbid sexual obsession, blackmail and murder, as well as prose as crisp as a winter’s morning by the Liffey . . . Quirke is human enough to swell the hardest of hearts’ – GQ

‘A romp of a read, a compelling fix’ – Scotsman

The Silver Swan is the second of the Quirke Mysteries. Continue the atmospheric crime series with Elegy for April.

Timothy Dalton

Macmillan Digital Audio

Quirke Mysteries

The Silver Swan

Elegy for April is the third entry in the Quirke Mysteries, a darkly compelling literary crime series set in 1950s Dublin from John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black. Now major TV series: Quirke, starring Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon.

Read by Timothy Dalton (James Bond, Penny Dreadful)

As a deep, bewildering fog cloaks Dublin, a young woman has vanished . . .

Phoebe Griffin is still haunted by the horrors of her past. Unable to discover news of her friend April, she turns to Quirke who – fresh from drying out in an institution – responds to his daughter's request for help. But as Phoebe, Quirke and Inspector Hackett speak with those who knew April, they begin to realize that there may have been more behind the young woman’s discretion and secrecy than they could have imagined. 

Why was April so estranged from her family? What is her close-knit circle of friends hiding? And who is the shadowy figure who seems to be watching Phoebe’s flat at night, through the frozen mists?

As Quirke finds himself distracted from his sobriety by a beautiful young actress, Phoebe watches helplessly as April’s family hush up her disappearance, and all possible leads seem to dry up. All, that is, bar one – one she cannot bear to contemplate. But, when Quirke makes a disturbing discovery, he is finally able to begin unravelling the great, complex web of love, lies, jealousy and dark secrets that April spun her life from . . .

‘Quirke is an endearing hero . . . A beguiling read’ – The Times 

‘Vivid and compelling’ – Marie Claire

Elegy for April is the third of the Quirke Mysteries. Continue the enthralling series with A Death in Summer.

Elegy for April: Quirke Mysteries Book 3

A Death in Summer is the fourth entry in the Quirke Mysteries, an enthralling literary crime series set in 1950s Dublin from John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black. Now major TV series: Quirke, starring Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon. Read by John Keating.

When newspaper magnate Richard Jewell is found dead at his country estate, clutching a shotgun in his lifeless hands, few see his demise as cause for sorrow. But, before long,– Doctor Quirke and Inspector Hackett realize that – rather than the suspected suicide – ‘Diamond Dick’ has been murdered.

Suspicion soon falls on one of Jewell’s biggest rivals. But Quirke has his eyes elsewhere. With his assistant Sinclair, he gets to know Jewell's beautiful, enigmatic wife Françoise d’Aubigny and his fragile sister Dannie, as well as those who work for the family. And, gradually, it becomes clear that, in this household, everything is not as it seems . . .

A Death in Summer is the fourth Quirke Mystery. Continue the atmospheric, beguiling series with Vengeance.

John Keating

A Death in Summer: Quirke Mysteries Book 4

Vengeance is the fifth entry in the Quirke Mysteries, an enthralling literary crime series set in 1950s Dublin from John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black. Now major TV series: Quirke, starring Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon. Read by John Keating.

Why would suicide need a witness?

On the east coast of Ireland, Victor Delahaye, one of the country’s most prominent citizens, takes his business partner’s son out sailing. But, once at sea, Davy Clancy is horrified to witness Delahaye take out a gun and shoot himself dead.

The Delahayes and the Clancys have been rivals for generations, and this strange event captures the attention of Detective Inspector Hackett and his friend, pathologist Doctor Quirke. Soon, perplexing characters appear at the heart of the mystery. From Mona, Victor Delahaye's toxic young widow, to Jonas and James, his enigmatic twin sons. And then there's Jack Clancy, is down-trodden, womanizing partner.

When a second death occurs, one even more shocking than the first, Quirk begins to realize that terrible secrets lie between these entagled families and that, in this world of jealousy, ruthless ambition and pride, nothing can be taken for granted . . .

Vengeance is the fifth Quirke Mystery. Continue the darkly beguiling series with Holy Orders.

Vengeance: Quirke Mysteries Book 5

Holy Orders is the sixth entry in the Quirke Mysteries, an enthralling literary crime series set in 1950s Dublin from John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black. Now major TV series: Quirke, starring Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon. Read by John Keating.

She looked at him and smiled sadly. ‘You’ve lived too long among the dead, Quirke,’ she said. 

He nodded. ‘Yes, I suppose I have.’ She was not the first one to have told him that, and she would not be the last. 

When a body is found in the canal, pathologist Quirke and Inspector Hackett are tasked with uncovering the truth behind this brutal murder. But, in a world where the police are not trusted and secrets often remain buried, there is perhaps little hope of bringing the perpetrator to justice. As spring storms descend on Dublin, Quirke and Hackett’s investigation will lead them into the dark heart of the organisation that really runs this troubled city: the church.

While their investigation proceeds, Quirke’s daughter Phoebe realizes that she is being followed. And for Quirke, as his terrible childhood in a priest-run orphanage returns to haunt him, he must face his greatest trial yet . . .

Quirke Mysteries - The book series

Quirke Mysteries - The book series

Quirke Mysteries books in order

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