Walter Macken, a native of Galway, was born in 1915 and died in his home city at the age of 51. A writer, an actor and a playwright, he is perhaps best known for his novel “Flight of the Doves” – which was adapted for the cinema – and his “Irish Trilogy”. “The Silent People” is the second book of this trilogy, and is set in the early to mid Nineteenth Century. Although the book itself is a work of fiction, many of the ‘background’ events are true – for example, the Great Famine (1845 – 1849) and the actions of Daniel O’Connell.

The book follows the life of Dualta Duane and opens in 1826. Dualta, orphaned when his own family died in the 1817 famine, is seventeen and lives with his Uncle Marcus. They live in small village, in the Corrib Country of County Galway. However, after Dualta topples the landlord’s son from his horse in anger, the pair are forced to separate and flee. The consequences of staying would, most likely, have seen Dualta beaten to within an inch of his life and transported to Australia. Managing to escape those hunting him, Dualta is briefly sheltered by a man called Mairtin and later travels onwards with Mairtin’s son, Paidi. Together, they move southwards and seek work as diggers. Dualta, promising Paidi he’ll keep in touch, is hired by a man called Cuan McCarthy. His work, however, doesn’t involve digging and the next time he sees Paidi the circumstances are less than happy.

As the story progresses, several further characters are introduced. The most significant, to Dualta at least, is Una – the daughter of an English landlord called Wilcocks. While her father had been a Protestant, her mother had been an Irish Catholic who converted to marry him. It would have been a very unusual marriage in those times – however, Una’s mother died when she was thirteen. Daniel O’Connell, a hugely important figure in Irish history and responsible for bringing Catholic Emancipation, also appears in this book.

There’s an implication that Dualta may be a descendent of Dominick MacMahon. Dominick was the central character of “Seek the Fair Land”, the first book of this Trilogy. (The third is called “The Scorching Wind”, and is set in the early 1900s). Although a trilogy, it isn’t necessary to read the books in order – though if you enjoy one of them, you’ll probably enjoy all three. “The Silent People” isn’t always a cheerful book – it’s set during a very difficult period of Ireland’s history. However, it’s a book I would highly recommend – I’ve always found anything Walter Macken has written very easy to read.

Walter Macken, a native of Galway, was born in 1915 and died in his home city at the age of 51. A writer, an actor and a playwright, he is perhaps best known for his novel “Flight of the Doves” – which was adapted for the cinema – and his “Irish Trilogy”. “Seek the Fair Land” is the first book of this trilogy, and is set at the time of the Cromwellian Invasions. Although the book itself is a work of fiction, many of the ‘background’ events are true.

Opening in 1641, the book’s central character is Dominick McMahon – having previously lost everything in the Plantation, he now lives in Drogheda. A merchant by trade, he is a husband and a father when he first meets Murdoc – a warrior from the west of Ireland. Dominic himself has little appetite for fighting – though eight years later, he is forced to defend his town against Cromwell’s invading army. Within two days of Cromwell’s arrival, the town had fallen, with women, children and priests among the estimated 4000 dead. Dominic, however, survives the attack and is forced to flee the city. While his wife, Eibhlinn, is killed in the siege, his son – Peter – and daughter – Mary Ann – also survive. However, the soldier who killed Eibhlinn also left Peter mute with a blow to the head. Joining the family on their escape is a member of the clergy, Father Sebastian, who was rescued by Dominic in the town. They move westwards, towards an area Murdoc had described to Dominic eight years previously – where he hopes he’ll be able to raise his family in peace.

I’ve read a number of Walter Macken’s books, and I’ve found each one very easy to read – like Michael McLaverty, he’s a natural storyteller. It isn’t always a cheerful book – life for Dominick, his family and Sebastian is a genuine struggle. However, it is a book I’d highly recommend. The remaining books of the trilogy are “The Silent People” and “The Scorching Wind” – well worth reading if you’ve enjoyed this one.

“When We Were Orphans” is set in the 1930s and is told by Christopher Banks. Born and raised in Shanghai until the age of nine – when, within a few weeks of each other, both his parents disappeared – Banks then moved to England, to be raised by an aunt. Now grown up and based in London, Christopher is based in London and working as a high profile and very successful private detective. His celebrity has eased his way into fashionable London society, though some – such as Sarah Hemmings – are initially a little resistant to his appeal. Fashionable society, however, isn’t Christopher’s main concen : although it’s been many years since his parents disappeared, the case is still (apparently) open and unsolved. Christopher has taken it upon himself to complete the investigation – “When We Were Orphans” sees him not only move forward with the case, but also look back on his childhood memories of Shanghai. Obviously, his parents feature prominently in these memories – but his friendship with a Japanese boy called Akira was also very important to him. As the book goes on, however, it becomes clear – though unfortunately not to Banks himself – just how unreliable his memories are. Ultimately, the investigation leads to his return to Shanghai – where he hopes to close the case. The trouble, of course, is that while his investigation may uncover the truth, the truth may not be quite what he is expecting…

While I wouldn’t say “When We Were Orphans” is entirely flawless, the flaws are only very few and far between. The details on how Christopher conducted his investigation were a little scant – but, as the book wasn’t written as a thriller, that’s pretty easy to brush off. The style of writing was also occasionally a little formal – there’s a few chaps and fellows here and there, what ho. However, given that the story was being told by a Cambridge graduate in the 1930s…somehow, to me, the language added a touch of authenticity. There were one or two questions left unanswered – particularly in relation to Akira. (I’d have given anything to find out what happened to him after Christopher left Shanghai). Overall, though, I’d absolutely recommend this book – very readable, and one that I just couldn’t put down.

“Armadillos and Old Lace” is Kinky’s seventh novel and is his first to be set away from New York. Instead, the action takes place at ‘home’ – in and around Echo Hill Ranch, Texas. This means, of course, that Kinky must solve this mystery without the help of people like Ratso, Rambam and John McGovern – though he has brought the cat along with him. While the cat doesn’t voice her opinion on their new home – a green trailer – it’s obvious that she isn’t impressed.

Kinky has, once again, cast himself as the PI hero and has continued to use family and friends as the book’s supporting characters. Echo Hill Ranch was founded by his parents, Tom and Min, in the early 1950s. Min died in 1985, before the book was written – though Tom does appear and is always referred to by his first name. A summer camp is held on the ranch every year, and Kinky’s sister, Marcie, appears as one of the camp counsellors. (It was Marcie’s idea that Kinky should start writing mystery novels – I will be eternally grateful to her). Frances Kaiser, Kerr County’s Sheriff, and Pat Knox, Kerrville’s Justice of the Peace, also appear. The green trailer, Kinky’s place of residence in this book, is where he wrote several of his early books. It’s now (apparently) home to an armadillo, who presumably answers to the name of Dilly. Much use is also made of Dusty, his mother’s old talking car. However, further comparisons with David Hasselhoff and KITT just don’t stand up.

Though Kinky has returned home for a holiday, Pat Knox has other ideas. She contacts regarding hom the deaths of four old ladies who have died over the previous five months. Although the Sheriff, Frances Kaiser, has found nothing suspicious about any of them, Pat remains convinced they were murdered. She asks Kinky to look over her files and form an opinion – though he initially agrees with the Sheriff. However, his opinion starts to change when a fifth victim turns up – with her lips sewn shut.

This is the best of Kinky’s books I’ve read to date – though, admittedly, I haven’t read then all. He still delivers a fast-moving book, with more one-liners than you reasonably hope for, but it also has the benefit of a strong story. In addition, he writes with a strong sense of affection form the camp and the people who have helped out there over the years. His quips may not be to everyone’s taste, but this is a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

The name of the book’s hero is never revealed, although we do learn a little of his past. His father worked as a farmer, while his mother ran a pub – both, unfortunately, died while our hero was still young. He was subsequently sent to a boarding school and, although the pub and farm were now technically his, a certain John Divney was employed to run both while he finished his education. It’s while he’s at school our hero first stumbles across the work of a scientist called De Selby. Although De Selby appears to have been an utter crackpot, our hero falls under his spell and decides to gather a collection of De Selby’s works, and those of his more noted commentators. His search, at one point, sees him breaking his left leg so badly, it has to be replaced by a wooden leg.

Eventually, he returns to the ancestral home, where – for the first time – he meets Divney. Where De Selby is a crackpot, Divney is clearly a thief and a rogue of the highest order – he is, however, kept on to help on around the farm. At the same time, our hero decides to dedicate himself to writing the definitive `De Selby Index’. Once finished, he knows he has completed a work of great importance. However, he also knows he’ll have to publish it himself – something he just doesn’t have the money for. The ever-scheming Divney has a cunning plan, however : unfortunately, it involves the duo murdering a rich and aged neighbour called Mathers.

The attack goes relatively well for the pair : Mathers dies, the cashbox is removed from the corpse – which, in turn, is carefully buried – and nobody gets caught. Unfortunately, Divney sneaks off and hides the cashbox and waits three years before revealing where he’s hidden it : under the floorboards of a certain room in Mather’s house. It’s our hero who’s dispatched to collect it – however, the second he touches it, things change dramatically. The box disappears, our hero realises he has forgotten his name, he starts having conversations with his soul (which he christens Joe)...and he discovers Mathers sitting in a chair watching him. During the ensuing conversation with his murder victim, he hears of a nearby police barracks, staffed by Sergeant Pluck and Policeman MacCruiskeen. (There is also a mysterious third policeman by the name of Fox who apparently hasn’t been seen in twenty-five years. As it turns out, however, he is still on the beat). What our forgetful hero hears about Pluck and MacCruiskeen, however, inspires him to visit the pair – in the hope they’ll be able to find his cashbox for him. Naturally, things don’t quite go according to plan…

There are a number of words that spring to mind when trying to describe “The Third Policeman”...bizarre and surreal would be prominent, so it may not be to everyone’s tastes. There’s also quite a few footnotes, relating to the work of De Selby, some of which are a little too detailed – you could probably skip them without losing any of the enjoyment of the story.

“The Woman Who Walked Into Doors” is set in Dublin and is told by Paula Spencer, a woman in her late thirties. Both Paula’s parents are dead, while only two of her siblings ‘appear’ in the book – her sisters, Carmel and Denise. She did have another sister, Wendy, who died in a motorbike accident, while her brothers – Roger, Edward and George – are only ever mentioned in passing. Paula’s relationship with her father had once been good, though it seemed to have deteriorated as time went on. (Carmel, on the other hand, hated their father and subscribes to the view that all men are b@$t@rds). Paula, meanwhile, hasn’t Roger in years, and isn’t particularly bothered about it – theirs was another difficult relationship.

However, it’s Paula’s relationship with her husband, Charlo, that’s central to the book. They have been separated for over a year as the book opens – though they are still technically, married. They couple had four children together, three of whom still live with Paula. (She hasn’t seen her eldest son, John-Paul, in quite some time: she last heard of him squatting in some flats and suspects he’s on heroin). She works as a cleaner, just about earns enough to make ends meet and is an alcoholic. As if all that isn’t enough, the book opens with the arrival of a policeman at her front door to inform her of Charlo’s death. Paula spends the book looking back over her life in general and her time with Charlo in particular.

While it isn’t always a very cheerful book, Paula’s story isn’t one that will leave you feeling depressed. She proves to be a character you want the best for and, not only does she manage to raise a smile from time to time, she also manages to leave you with a bit of hope.

“Pyramids” is the seventh novel in his hugely popular Discworld series and was first published in 1989. It’s the first – and, to date, only – book to feature Teppic, and is largely set in his home country of Djelibeybi.

As the book opens, Teppic (or Pteppic) is approaching the end of his education at Ankh-Morpork’s Guild of Assassins. (The final exam, if failed, tends to be very…...final). However, there is more to Teppic than dressing very stylishly and inhuming only for vast amounts of money. With the very recent death of his father, he has also become King Pteppicymon XXVIII of Djelibeybi. Teppic’s home country is very obviously based on Egypt : it’s two miles wide, one hundred and fifty miles long and runs along the river Djel. It has driven itself bankrupt, having spent seven thousand years building pyramids for its monarchs – invariably on the country’s most fertile soil. Having become the first Pharoh to be educated outside Djelibeybi, Teppic finds it difficult to re-adapt to the traditions of his home country. He is technically a God and although he is officially Head of State, it’s Dios – the very aged High Priest – who actually runs the country. Teppic isn’t entirely impressed about this – he wants to introduce proper plumbing and pillows, for example. However, in spite of the country’s debt, he does agree to building a massive pyramid for his late father. (This isn’t something his late father – still pottering around as a ghost – isn’t too impressed with). The final straw comes when Dios decides to feed Ptraci – the late King’s favourite handmaiden – to the crocodiles. Teppic decides to become a little more politically active – and, luckily, he has a helpful education to fall back on.

Like everything else I’ve read by Pratchett, this is an excellent book. It’s easily read, features plenty of likeable characters and there are plenty of laughs. As it’s one of Pratchett’s stand-alone books, it’s a good starting point if you’ve never read any of the Discworld books before.

“Polar Star” was first published in 1998 and is the second books – after “Gorky Park” – to feature Arkady Renko.

Renko was once the Chief Homicide Investigator for Moscow’s militia – more or less the `standard’ police force, which saw Renko dealing with the `everyday’. (The KGB dealt with the really interesting cases). However, following the investigation outlined in “Gorky Park”, Renko’s life and career has taken a major nosedive. He’s been dismissed from the Prosecutor’s Office, dismissed from the Party for a lack of `political reliability’ and sentenced to a life in Siberia – but only after being kept for psychiatric `observation’. He’s found it difficult to make a new life for himself, as his past has always caught up with him. Usually, that costs him whatever job he happened to be doing. He now works as a Seaman (Second Class) on the Polar Star, a factory ship working in American waters between Siberia and Alaska. The operation is a joint Soviet – American venture : the smaller ships, American trawlers, catch the fish, while the Polar Star processes the catch. The Soviets take the fish, while the Americans take the money.

Four months out of Vladivostock, the nets return a little more than the usual catch : the body of Zina Patiashvili. Zina, a pretty blonde who worked in the cafeteria, was well-known onboard. Slava Bukovsky, the ship’s third mate, is put in charge of the investigation into Zina’s death. However, despite his lack of political reliability, Renko is appointed Bukowsky’s assistant by the ship’s captain, Viktor Marchuk. The captain makes it absolutely clear he wants no suggestion of a cover-up or a lack of a proper investigation. Things are made a little complicated, however, by the American fishermen : many of them were onboard the night Zina died, attending a dance in the cafeteria.

While Marchuk doesn’t appear too bother with Renko’s lack of political reliability, the ship’s first mate, Volovoi, isn’t quite so forgiving, Volovoi is no sailor, despite his position : he holds his rank as the ship’s Political Officer. Therefore, he’s responsible for morale and discipline and reports directly to the KGB. It’s clear to Renko that Zina was murdered, though it appears that some of the officers would prefer a verdict of suicide. Contrary to the captain’s orders, Volovoi wants to be in absolute control : he wants no information to be passed to the Americans and to be briefed before any report is made to Marchuk. Volovoi’s duties include writing a report on every crew member for the KGB. He makes it clear that Arkady’s only hope of ever setting foot on dry land again rests on a very positive evaluation in that report. Trapped on a ship with conflicting orders from the senior officers and the strong possibility that the murderer is a fellow sailor, this is going to be a difficult investigation.

I enjoyed “Polar Star” a great deal – even more, I think, than “Gorky Park”. However, I would recommend starting with “Gorky Park”, as there are several nods to Renko’s past. Definitely recommended.

“Red Square” is Martin Cruz Smith’s third novel – after “Gorky Park” and “Polar Star” – to feature Arkady Renko and was first published in 1992.

Renko, the hero, works as an Investigator with Moscow’s militia – more or less the standard police force – and has something of a chequered career. Never a truly ‘practising’ member of the Party, Renko hasn’t always been thought highly of by those in authority. He has always wanted to catch the people responsible for the crimes he’s investigating, regardless of the ‘political’ consequences – as a result of this, he was once dismissed from the Party for a lack of ‘political reliability’ and sentenced to a life in Siberia. He also appears to be something of a disappointment to his father, a very famous ex-General. (Arkady’s opinion of his father – who is very ill as the book opens – isn’t too high, either). However, after the events outlined in “Polar Star”, he was reinstated to his former position – but is now working in a new Moscow that he barely recognises. “Red Square” is largely set in Moscow, Munich and Berlin in 1991 and is set in turbulent times : Germany has been re-unified and the breakup of the USSR is closing in.

The book opens in August 1991, with Renko and his partner – an Estonian called Jaak Kuusnets – on their way to a meeting with Rudy Rosen. Although Rosen operates as a banker for the various factions of the Russian Mafia, he has agreed to Renko planting a transmitter in his car for the duration of a Mafia-sponsored illegal market. (This is largely due to the fact that the militia have enough to put Rosen away for a very long time). Despite turning informer, Rosen appears to feel relatively safe. The Chechen faction, headed up by Makhmud, constitutes his only real enemy, but – since all the factions require his services – he doesn’t think he’s under any real threat. His sense of security is reinforced by Mikhail Kim, his fearsome-looking Korean bodyguard, and his business partnership with Borya Gubenko – the head of the Long Pond Mafia. Unfortunately, shortly after a quiet conversation with Arkady at the market, Rudy is killed when his car goes up in flames – changing Renko’s case from surveillance to a murder inquiry. One of the witnesses points the finger at Kim – and it seems clear the Korean was responsible for at least one of the two explosions.

Although Arkady works most closely with Jaak, there are a couple of other members on the team he has assembled. Polina deals with the forensic work and is nearly as dedicated to her job as Arkady Renko is to his. Minin, on the other hand, is practically the anti-Renko : he remains devoted to the Party and is, in fact, the only Party member on the team. Renko’s boss is a man called Rodionov – the City Prosecutor and an elected member of the People’s Congress. When Renko meets with Rodionov to inform him of the investigation’s progress, he’s also introduced to General Penyagin – the recently appointed head of CID. Unlike his predecessor, Penyagin is a bureaucrat – not a detective risen from the ranks. Renko is stunned to discover that the third person attending the meeting, Max Albov, is a journalist. As the investigation unfolds, developments take Renko far and wide – even to the recently reunited Germany. However, Albov proves to be someone Renko just can’t avoid.

This is a hugely enjoyable book – in fact, the Renko series is just getting better and better as it goes along. The book is set in the USSR’s dying days, a difficult time for all those used to playing the political game. As such, it’s probably even more dangerous that it had been – especially for someone like Renko who only cared about catching the villain, rather than doing what was politically ‘correct’. Highly recommended.

“Red Square” is his fourth novel – after “Gorky Park”, “Polar Star” and “Red Square” – to feature Arkady Renko and was first published in 1999.

Renko, the hero, works as an Investigator with Moscow’s militia – more or less the standard police force – and has something of a chequered career. Never a truly ‘practising’ member of the Party, Renko hasn’t always been thought highly of by those in authority. He has always wanted to catch the people responsible for the crimes he’s investigating, regardless of the ‘political’ consequences – as a result of this, he was once dismissed from the Party for a lack of ‘political reliability’ and sentenced to a life in Siberia. He has been rehabilitated for several years now, though he always remained something of a disappointment to his father – a very famous ex-General. His father has been dead for some time, though Arkady has recently lost his wife, Irina.

While Renko has been abroad before, “Havana Bay” sees him operating entirely outside the Russian sphere of influence. Having received a mysterious unsigned fax, he’s in Havana – apparently to identify a body the Cuban authorities believe to be an old friend of his : ex-KGB Colonel, Sergei Pribluda. Pribluda had been in the Cuban capital for eleven months working as an attache to the Russian Embassy. He had been missing for around a week, until – it would appear – the discovery of a body found floating in Havana Bay. While certain characteristics match up – dental records, for example – Renko isn’t entirely convinced : the body has decompsoed to such a point that it’s lacking a face and fingerprints. However, since the Cubans believe Pribluda was actually working as a spy, they aren’t even remotely bothered about opening an investigation. Arkady, on the other hand, wants to find out what’s happened to his friend – even if the corpse isn’t Pribluda, he’s been missing for a week. Renko isn’t the sort to be overly bothered about operating an ‘unofficial’ investigation – he is techincally a tourist in Cuba – but things won’t be easy for him. Since the fall of communism in Russia, there’s been a certain amount of tension between Cuba and Renko’s homeland. As a result, Renko won’t be getting any real help from the Cuban investigators – Sergeant Luna, in particular, goes out of his way to be a hindrance. However, there is a chance Arkady may be able to win over Detective Osario…

Although much better than your average murder-mystery book, I don’t think “Havana Bay” was just quite as good as the previous instalments in the Renko series. Part of that came down to the location – I think I may have missed the political games played in Russia. I also thought it was very unfair on Renko to have killed off Irina – he deserves a reason to smile ! However, it is an enjoyable and easily read book – Arkady is a character fans of Harry Bosch should take to very easily.