October / November 2012 p. 97
Adrian McKinty uses his native
Carrickfergus as the backdrop for much of Falling Glass, his new crime drama
about an Irish Traveller, or Pavee, introduced to us as Killian. An ex-enforcer
for the IRA, Killian decided at 40 to turn his life around, enrolling in
university and buying some real estate. But when the recession causes his only
legitimate business venture to fail, Killian takes one final job as a
gun-for-hire. Which, of course, leads to another job.
Falling Glass is fast-paced, violent, and sexy – in a
removed, technical way. If you weren’t up on recent history and culture before
reading this novel, you will be, halfway through. “Thirty years of low-level
civil war had kept out the chains, but the peace dividend had brought them in
with a vengeance,” McKinty writes. “Drugs, new houses and McDonalds – that was
the post ceasefire Northern Ireland.” Killian gives the impression that he
(like, McKinty seems to be implying, Northern Ireland as whole) is a bit of a
latecomer, not only to higher education, but to the grip of Western corporate
culture. Making him equally voracious for Dunkin’ Donuts as for architectural
theory.
A running joke is that the main characters all have terrible
luck with transportation. Foul-smelling rental cars, rude airline passengers,
unnecessary boat rides – McKinty has clearly had his share of negative travel
experiences. Falling Glass, however, moves along smoothly, without any abrupt
shifts or changes in direction, and it’s over sooner than you’d like.
(Serpent’s Tail / 320 pages / $14.95)
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