Ayo Onatade is an avid reader of crime and mystery fiction. She has been writing reviews, interviews and articles on the subject for the last 12 years; with an eclectic taste from historical to hardboiled, short stories and noir films
The increased visibility of Irish Crime Fiction is celebrated in this useful book. It feature contemporary authors such as Adrian McKinty, Steve Cavanagh, Jane Casey, Tan French and Brian McGilloway but doesn’t neglect the precursors such as John Connolly and Ken Bruen.
This volume is a long overdue, though it has taken some time for crime-fiction from Northern and Southern Ireland receiving the recognition they deserve.
Brian Cliff’s Irish Crime Fiction [part of the Crime Files series], has written an insightful book, that is split into six-chapters [including the bookmarks with an introduction and a conclusion]. The remaining sections include Northern Irish Crime Fiction, Crime Fiction and Contemporary Ireland, Women and Irish Crime Fiction and Transnational Crime Fiction. Each chapter has suggested authors and their works, as a reading list.
It also includes the social commentary that striates the Irish experience such as ‘the troubles’, the economy, abortion, civic corruption, Catholic religion and the abuse that resulted, and the Craic – the sense of humour that the Irish are famous for.
Brian Cliff’s ability to articulate a scholarly and thorough book, but one that is accessible for the casual reader as well as the serious student of literature.
In a few words, it’s as exciting as it is long overdue, and it’s essential.
