I apologize it’s been a while since I updated my book blog! It’s really because the last indie book I read before this one was so bad that I had to force my way through all 270ish pages (over two and a half weeks) only to realize I didn’t have any desire what-so-ever to review it. Imagine my shock when this book came in the mail with more than 600 pages! I nearly cried. “This better be good! I don’t think I have the stamina to slog through another dud!!”
Fortunately for everyone this book wasn’t a dud by any means. There wasn’t any slogging involved at all, thank god. Part of this might just be the fact it’s a genre I’m not only familiar with but have an affection for – fictional crime stories. So off we go!
This book has a lot of the fun aspects of Old School crime novels – there’s the morally ambiguous detective, the puppy-like side-kick, the women who can cure a coldened heart, three bloody corpses, and of course the ever alluring femme fatale taking on the villainous lead. Did I mention she’s a dominatrix? Apparently a very good one. Already it’s lovable and that’s even before the plot is set out.
I’m used to my novel noirs taking place in a highly contentious and exceptionally racist 1950’s LA or Chicago. But this book was neither of those things. The backdrop was a more peaceful Irish setting and the flagrant racism was replaced by a weird sort of civility (a detective wearing a suit??) and an ever growing suspicion of the misdeeds of the Catholic church that start when a priest is shot dead in the confessional only to be followed by another priest and a nun.
This is a story that’s mostly serious but at times quirky and humorous with a bit of tongue-in-cheek going on especially as the story progresses. I’m not going to lie, this is a big book. It’s a big book with a lot of characters but unlike the last few novels I’ve read this one’s characters are very fleshed out, believable, and distinctive. When they all interact with each other it gives the entire story an air of moral ambiguity where you as a reader are never quite 100% sure whose side you should be on. I like that. I really like that – it shows respect for the intelligence of the readers which is really quite refreshing! Even better is getting glimpses into the characters personal lives which are sometimes a complete train wreck.
And for being such a long novel the pace isn’t slow, I never felt bogged down with too many details, and it kept me wanting to read more. I simply didn’t get bored. In fact this is one of two novels that I am considering this year’s best choices so far (the other one was The Bear) This is also a great choice because it’s a series with the second novel only recently published with a third being written meaning if you loved these characters as much as I did you don’t have to say good bye at the last page – there’s more!
I would highly suggest this to anyone who is into the crime genre, or psychology, or just for anyone who wants to see abusive priests get their sweet desserts. It’s great for all those things. So, if I’ve peaked your interest feel free to click the link and pick yourself up a copy of The Confessional Killings (and hey, if you click this link in particular, I might even get a commission for letting you in on such a little gem. You could make TWO indie authors stupidly joyous at once!)