Hofmann transports us to the surreal setting of East Berlin in her humorous and emotive novel, The Standardization of Demoralization Procedures. The disastrous results of living under a spy state are carefully examined through the eyes of Bernd Zeiger, whose glimpses into paranoia demonstrate this brutal and unforgiving regime. It’s absurd yet completely plausible, and
There is one thing that’s unshakeable about Irish culture and that’s our desire to tell stories. It’s not too much to say that in Ireland, writer or no, the ability to spin a good yarn is seen as a very favourable quality. And I grew up around some great storytellers. Some of my earliest childhood
You only need to look at the cover of this book to know it’s going to be a dark, gritty thriller. Set in Ireland, it has two stories running simultaneously. We start with a 17 year old crime. Sean Hennessey has just been released from prison after serving time for murdering his parents and attempting
Sometimes you need to be in the right mood to enjoy a book, like ice cream, or the comedy of Jason Manford. (That’s not true. There’s never a good time to experience the comedy stylings of Jason Manford). This is more often the case with experimental novels. Despite their merits, it can be difficult to
This is Olivia Kiernan’s debut crime novel and I found her writing style very pleasant and easy to read. The introduction to the plot was interesting….. A young woman Dr Estelle Costello, a University Lecturer is found dead at her home. Initially it looks to be suicide, by hanging; however Frankie Sheehan – Detective Chief
