Book Review: Conor Brady, A Hunt in Winter

Former Irish Times editor Conor Brady has enjoyed considerable success as a crime novelist, with the previous entries in his Detective Joe Swallow series – A June Of Ordinary Murders and The Eloquence Of The Dead – earning plenty of critical plaudits.

But… this is a tricky one. There were certainly many things I enjoyed about the latest Swallow book, A Hunt in Winter. The novel is a murder mystery set in Dublin in the winter of 1888. Across the water, the Ripper is plying his trade, and when two women are brutally attacked in Dublin, Swallow wonders if Dublin has a copycat. Brady is a skilful writer – the streets and politics of 19th century Dublin are both brought to vivid life.

However, the book is let down by a disappointing resolution. Brady was bringing the tale to a satisfying conclusion, only to add a twist in the tale that doesn’t make much sense. Having said that, A Hunt in Winter is still a cracker of a book and very enjoyable.