The Guards
The Guards
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2004
Book Brief
Beta304
Novel • Fiction
Galway, Ireland • 2000s
2004
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Guards by Ken Bruen follows Jack Taylor, a former Irish police officer turned private investigator, who struggles with addiction. Set in Galway, the story explores Jack's efforts to solve the mystery of a young woman's death while confronting his personal demons and navigating complex relationships in his pursuit of redemption.
Gritty
Dark
Mysterious
Melancholic
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
8,946 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Ken Bruen's The Guards offers a gritty dive into Galway through the eyes of a flawed detective. Reviews praise its lyrical prose and dark humor, highlighting Bruen's engaging storytelling. However, some note the plot's slower pace and sparse detail. Overall, it's a stylistically rich and character-driven crime novel that appeals to fans of noir fiction.
Who Should Read The Guards?
Fans of gritty, atmospheric crime fiction will enjoy Ken Bruen's The Guards. Readers who appreciate the dark, introspective style of Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep and the complex, flawed characters in Ian Rankin's Knots and Crosses will find much to admire in Bruen's work.
8,946 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
304
Novel • Fiction
Galway, Ireland • 2000s
2004
Adult
18+ years
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