Nightmusic

by Declan Varley

The craic is mighty in Galway. It's summertime and the city is rocking. Drum beats are echoing across the bay, but about a mile out, just where the music starts to fade against the lapping of the tide, a man is pushing a woman's head under the water. He holds it there until the bubbles and the kicking stop. Then he takes off the tapes, lets the body float away in the waves, before heading home for a night of Mozart and cocoa with his mammy.

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2000

Reviews

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Varley is a talented writer, and both the music of the Irish approach to English and the details on Galway are enjoyable reading. But the book as a whole did not work for me.

I can see why others have liked this book, since it is competent and unusual. However, it's just not my cup of tea (forgive me!). I never enjoy reading about psychopaths, and only the good writing kept me going to finish this. I kept wincing and putting it down. For those who can handle violence against women and like suspense, this will be a very good read. For me, I am glad I finished it and can move on to something more my taste.