Not perfect, Pheobe acts without clear reasons and in parts I was finding her unlikable. But she turns it around and the writing remains so perfectly atmospheric and lyrical. The ending was a little rushed but thankfully involved Quirke and his out of character car.

Not Banville at his finest, which still means very good. Remains the most literary in the crime fiction genre. Excited to see what melancholy situation Quirke plods through next.