Cross - (Jack Taylor) by Ken Bruen (Paperback)

About the Book

In this sixth book in Bruen's brutal and brilliant Jack Taylor series, the Galway private investigator is on the hunt for a psychopath, while his surrogate son, victim of a shooting meant to kill Jack, lies near death in a hospital.

Book Synopsis

In Cross, the sixth installment of Ken Bruen's award-winning series, Jack Taylor investigates a gruesome crucifixion in Galway, but first he must face his own demons.

Jack Taylor brings death and pain to everyone he loves. His only hope of redemption - his surrogate son, Cody - is lying in the hospital in a coma. At least he still has Ridge, his old friend from the Guards, though theirs is an unorthodox relationship. When she tells him that a boy has been crucified in Galway city, he agrees to help her search for the killer.

Jack's investigations take him to many of his old haunts where he encounters ghosts, both dead and living. Everyone wants something from him, but Jack is not sure he has anything left to give. Maybe he should disappear--pocket his money and get the hell out of Galway like everyone else seems to be doing. But when the sister of the murdered boy is burned to death, Jack decides he must hunt down the killer, if only to administer his own brand of justice. Ken Bruen's Cross is a suspenseful and deeply moving mystery.

Review Quotes

"His insights into pain, loss and Irishness are unforgettable." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"An amazing portrait of a peculiarly Irish form of despair, and nary a page passes without a memorably mordant laugh, a wonderful turn of phrase, or an aphorism that any crime fan will want to share with another devotee." --Booklist (starred review)

"This is dark-side stuff from a master." --Kirkus Reviews

"Bruen's latest is classic Irish noir--bitter, dark and packing a kick, a literary pint of Guinness Extra Stout with a shot of Jameson on the side." --The Chicago Tribune

"CROSS sucks you into the dark, gritty streets of Galway." --Entertainment Weekly

"[A] bleak and brilliant series...Bruen's writing matches the plight of [Jack] Taylor and of his home, Galway---hard defensive, lyrical and heartbreaking. I've never been a fan of audiobooks, but I'd get one in a minute just to hear the caustic comedy of this Irish voice unfold." --The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

"Bruen's previous novel, PRIEST, is a finalist for this year's Edgar Award, and it's a terrific story of vengeance. CROSS, however, may be even better, another dark journey into a tarnished Emeral Isle and a damaged soul on the verge of surrendering hope forever. 'If I continued as I was, Galway would kill me, ' Jack thinks. Here's hoping Bruen gives him another shot at redemption." --The Miami Herald

About the Author

Ken Bruen has been a finalist for the Edgar and Anthony Awards, and has won a Macavity Award, a Barry Award, and two Shamus Awards for the Jack Taylor series. He is also the author of the Inspector Brant series. Several of Bruen's novels have been adapted for the screen: The first six Jack Taylor novels were adapted into a television series starring Iain Glen; Blitz was adapted into a movie starring Jason Statham; and London Boulevard was adapted into a film starring Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley. Bruen lives in Galway, Ireland.