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Winterland
by
Alan Glynn
The worlds of business, politics and crime collide when two men with the same name, from the same family, die on the same night - one death is a gangland murder, the other, apparently, a road accident. Was it a coincidence? That’s the official version of events. But when a family member, Gina Rafferty, starts asking questions, this notion quickly unravels. Although she’s d...more
Paperback, 480 pages
Published
by Faber & Faber
(first published January 1st 2009)
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Two men with the same first name, Noel die on the same night. Is this just a bizarre coincidence or is there some connection to these two men’s deaths? Both men died in different ways.
The first was Noel Rafferty, who was part of a Dublin gang. He was known as “Grassy Noel” because he enjoyed partaking in smoking marijuana over hash. Grassy Noel was one of the top lieutenants in the gang.
The other Noel was also from the Rafferty family. He was the older Mr. Rafferty. His death was being ruled a...more
The first was Noel Rafferty, who was part of a Dublin gang. He was known as “Grassy Noel” because he enjoyed partaking in smoking marijuana over hash. Grassy Noel was one of the top lieutenants in the gang.
The other Noel was also from the Rafferty family. He was the older Mr. Rafferty. His death was being ruled a...more
I picked up this title because I was thoroughly impressed with the writing of Alan Glynn in Limitless. And this book also orchestrates the same fluent, reader-captivating persona that Glynn's talent is.
Winterland is a crime thriller which takes place in the idyllic town of Dublin in Ireland. Irish city and it's landmarks are vivid in description. The story is short spanned, happens within a period of three weeks. And in these three weeks, the life of Gina Rafferty spirals in, recoils out and she...more
Winterland is a crime thriller which takes place in the idyllic town of Dublin in Ireland. Irish city and it's landmarks are vivid in description. The story is short spanned, happens within a period of three weeks. And in these three weeks, the life of Gina Rafferty spirals in, recoils out and she...more
In Winterland Alan Glynn manages to intertwine two criminal cultures of Ireland – the gangland underworld and the boardrooms of corrupt developers and political cronies. It’s a searing social commentary on Irish life, full of keen observational insight and emotional depth. Glynn writes with deceptively engaging prose, appearing quite ordinary but actually well layered and lyrical. The principal characters are all nicely developed, with full contextual back stories. The plot was well structured a...more
The most delicious part of Winterland is the way the characters are managed and developed. Both Gina, the order loving protagonist, and Paddy, the pill-popping antagonist, are mercilessly unraveled, strung out by their obsessions. Glynn evokes a relationship between Gina and Mark, the somewhat deranged survivor of childhood tragedy, so intimate it transcends sex or even proximity since they only meet once, briefly over coffee, and still manage to save each other's lives.
My only complaint is tha...more
My only complaint is tha...more
This book managed to be simultaneously unexpected and logical, which made for a very enjoyable read.
I tend to get cranky with average-person-solves-a-mystery plots, because the protagonists do such stupid things. Stupid things like running toward gunshots. Stupid things like refusing to listen to the police and other authorities. Stupid things like going to a confrontation without letting anyone know where they will be.
Winterland's protagonist does try to solve a mystery that no one else notic...more
I tend to get cranky with average-person-solves-a-mystery plots, because the protagonists do such stupid things. Stupid things like running toward gunshots. Stupid things like refusing to listen to the police and other authorities. Stupid things like going to a confrontation without letting anyone know where they will be.
Winterland's protagonist does try to solve a mystery that no one else notic...more
Jul 11, 2011
Brandi
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
irish-crime-fiction,
irish
I could not read this book fast enough. I mean, the reading experience was like watching a thriller in slow motion – which, while mildly frustrating, is not at all a bad quality in a book. The super-short paragraphs really move you through the prose.
My only gripe is that I didn’t feel like I knew anything about protagonist Gina Rafferty. The other characters were vivid and real – even minor ones like Christy, whom Glynn gives all of 10 pages to come to life. I think we don’t get to know enough a...more
My only gripe is that I didn’t feel like I knew anything about protagonist Gina Rafferty. The other characters were vivid and real – even minor ones like Christy, whom Glynn gives all of 10 pages to come to life. I think we don’t get to know enough a...more
What amazed me most about this book is how fast-paced it feels. It's long, but there's so much tension that builds so well, I flew threw it. Especially impressive considering that the events only span a few days.
Winterland has a wide array of fascinating characters. Especially recommended for folks who like a bit of political intrigue in their crime fiction. The depictions of modern Ireland and its government were fascinating. The subject matter and political bent reminded me a lot of In This Ra...more
Winterland has a wide array of fascinating characters. Especially recommended for folks who like a bit of political intrigue in their crime fiction. The depictions of modern Ireland and its government were fascinating. The subject matter and political bent reminded me a lot of In This Ra...more
Jul 05, 2010
Jim Coughenour
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime4connoisseurs
Better-than-average crime novel set in present Dublin (with only a minor nod toward Joyce – things come together, or fall apart, by the Martello tower where Ulysses begins). The writing is good, the characters shape up quickly. The plot, though solid, winds up being less interesting than the sum of its elements. Glynn's technique of developing the story through the eyes of several characters at once sets his book a few notches above the typical crime novel, but ultimately dilutes its power. By t...more
So much promise. Didn't deliver. There's a reason for this: The book is about 150 pages too long. After a while, the story just dragged on, like Glynn was on a word count. There was some fine passages for sure, but parts were rather dull and tedious. Took away from a rather strong concept and plot. Winterland needed an infusion of energy, I struggled to reach a conclusion that was generally made known from the outset. Not sure I'd give this high marks for suspense. I would give it high marks for...more
There is a distinct correlation between Alan Glynn's 'Winterland' and Dennis Lehane's 'Mystic River' insomuch as they are touted as noir masterpieces, the forefront of the new wave so to speak, with each respective novel thrusting the author into stardom and instant industry respect. Having now read both, I can draw the comparisons and conclude they are alike in terms of plot pace and deep seeded character development. Personally I like my noir boiling over the pan, whereas Glynn (like Lehane's...more
"Winterland", by Alan Glynn
Mr Glynn very kindly sent me a synopsis of his book, which is categorised as a literary thriller
with noir over and under tones,
rather than as a gritty crime novel.
"It has elements of the crime thriller in it, but I wrote it simply as a novel.
The main character in the book is a young woman, Gina Rafferty, who refuses to be lied to.
Two deaths occur in her family on the same night and she refuses to accept that it was a coincidence.
Her pursuit of an honest answer leads he...more
This book was excellent and was hard to put down until the final pages. The writing carried you along from character to character without losing any of the plot. Gina was determined to find out the truth of her brother's and nephew's deaths and thought both were connected since both had the same name. She was right in this but was wrong in her original assumption regarding the responsible person.
I really wanted to like this more than I did but I realized at about halfway through the book, the main character was just getting started on her vengeance filled quest. I am really picky about my thriller/adrenaline novels. I want the action to start two pages in and not let up until the very end and this one didn't quite do it for me.
Not a highly memorable book, but a decent read.
2 people die with the same name and no one really suspects it an issue (one in a bar, gangland style and another in a car accident). Gina Rafferty, a relative to both, won't let it go. There are a few plot twists and multiple story lines that eventually all tie together.
2 people die with the same name and no one really suspects it an issue (one in a bar, gangland style and another in a car accident). Gina Rafferty, a relative to both, won't let it go. There are a few plot twists and multiple story lines that eventually all tie together.
Great book. I really cared about the characters enough to be kind of sad when it ended....I am still debating in my mind if I like how the "bad guy" died in the end. the story was current and I liked how the author connected all the pieces. and I liked the background info the author provided, very detailed but it tied it all together.
As a full-time writer myself, now, I can't just pick up a book and enjoy it. This one had good original voice and some pleasing prose, but why, oh why was the whole book written in the present tense? There are very, very few stories that can support the present tense for 300-400 pages. This is not one of them.
I chose to read this after watching the film of Glynn's book The Dark Fields which has marvellous plotting. This book too would be very filmable, but I hope the setting would remain in Dublin. It doesn't have such an endearing protagonist as in Dark Fields, but it is a good example of the genre - Irish noir - in the same company as Adrian McKinty and Declan Hughes.
I really loved this romp through a fun mystery. Discovering the dark secrets on my own was fun. Plus, after seeing Limitless, when I was applauding with pure joy during the movie, I wanted to read something by Alan Glynn - and this was not as delightful but still very fun.
A great read. I picked it up before going to bed with the intention of reading a few chapters. Several hours later I was finished. I just could not find a point in this book where the tension was released sufficiently for me to relax. Well worth reading in my opinion.
A very engaging plot with well drawn characters. The setting was Ireland in transition, just at the beginning of the financial collapse, highlighting the culture and psychology of greed and excess that makes such crashes inevitable. A very impressive crime novel.
I did not like this book at all, in fact I only read ~70% of it. The writing style in the beginning was jarringly bad, but even once it got better the characters were pretty weak. On one level the story is a detective novel, but you know from the beginning basically who killed whom and why. Stay away.
Although I did enjoy this book, it did not have the totally capturing can't put it down nature of The Dark Fields. I thought perhaps if I was more familiar with Dublin I would have enjoyed it more. Still, not bad over all.
Winterland by Alan Glynn. One of the worst books I've read this year. Although the plot was good but the way the story unveiled itself was such an utter disappointment!!! Terrible n poor ending.. ;(
About two thirds of the way through the book I felt as if the story was over. But somehow the writer managed to make it even more intriguing than the first two thirds!
Intense book. Tragic characters - very engrossing. Kind of hoped for a bit of romantic intrigue as well but the intensity of the story was enough to keep me involved.
Politics and the construction industry are the basis for this tale of dirty deeds done down Dublin way. I enjoyed it but I think the feeling of it being set in Dublin could have been developed more.
A little confusing at times but overall a good read, almost as good as Limitless.
This is Glynn's second book. I have read both and enjoyed them. Both are compelling and read like a movie. The characters are interesting and help advance the plot. Good story.
Interesting Dublin based Thriller, enjoyed this with some interesting characters & good plot. The Author certainly portrays the mood & feel of Dublin / Ireland over the last 2 years.
A good author to keep an eye on, well recommended.
A good author to keep an eye on, well recommended.
The concept for this book was fine, but I think it could have been a bit more clever and suspenseful.
The protagonist is partner is a computer firm and I think this could have been used to better advantage. Bit of a missed opportunity.
The protagonist is partner is a computer firm and I think this could have been used to better advantage. Bit of a missed opportunity.
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| "Winterland" Published | 2 | 10 | Jan 18, 2011 05:44am |
http://www.ulike.net/Alan_Glynn
Apr 25, 2010 02:41am