Guards

Advance Praise for Ken Bruen andThe Guards "The Guardsblew me away. It's dark, funny, and movingjust for starters. With a sharp eye and a lyrical voice, Ken Bruen takes us on a powerful odyssey through the mean streets of Galway, straight into the Irish heart. Bruen's tale is a potent draft of desire and hopelessness, conviction and surrender, inadvertent heroism and unexpected grace. This is mystery writing of a high order."T. Jefferson Parker, author ofBlack WaterandSilent Joe "The Guardsis a wonderful book, wrenching and real, fast, funny and wise in every sense. Why the hell haven't I heard of Ken Bruen before? He's a terrific writer and The Guards is one of the most mesmerizing works of crime fiction I've ever read. I'm going to read the rest of his work now, so don't bother me for a while. And when he's got a new one, send it to me quick. This guy is the real thing."James W. Hall, author ofBlackwater Sound "The Guardsis raw, hard, bitter, and amazing. It's got that ancient feel to it, as of a primal story being retold with a fine, careless Irish swagger. It's as if Bruen made up his mind to tell us this story whether we wanted to hear it or not. Oh, we do. For sure."Jon A. Jackson, author ofBadger Games "The Guardsis an astounding novel, a poetic account of a desperation as deep and cold as the North Sea, retribution, and resurrection. It's so good I can't think of it as a crime novel. It's a fine book with some crimes."James Crumley, author ofThe Final Country "The Guardsis a pint and a half of perfect book. Make it this year's specialty of the house."Boston Teran, author ofThe Prince of Deadly Weapons "The Guardskicked my assit's up there with the best. If Elmore Leonard got together with James Joyce to write a Spencer novel, this is what you'd get!"David Means, author ofAssorted Fire EventsBruen, Ken is the author of 'Guards', published 2003 under ISBN 9780312303556 and ISBN 0312303556.