Mystery

April in Spain

April in Spain

  • Downloads：4786
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-10-25 10:51:20
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：John Banville
  • ISBN：1335471405
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
  • Download

Summary

*NATIONAL BESTSELLER*

Booker Prize winner John Banville returns with a dark and evocative new mystery set on the Spanish coast

Don't disturb the dead…

On the idyllic coast of San Sebastian， Spain， Dublin pathologist Quirke is struggling to relax， despite the beaches， cafés and the company of his disarmingly lovely wife。 When he glimpses a familiar face in the twilight at Las Acadas bar， it's hard at first to tell whether his imagination is just running away with him。

Because this young woman can't be April Latimer。 She was murdered by her brother， years ago—the conclusion to an unspeakable scandal that shook one of Ireland's foremost political dynasties。

Unable to ignore his instincts， Quirke makes a call back home to Ireland and soon Detective St。 John Strafford is dispatched to Spain。 But he's not the only one en route。 A relentless hit man is on the hunt for his latest prey， and the next victim might be Quirke himself。

Sumptous， propulsive and utterly transporting， April in Spain is the work of a master writer at the top of his game。

Download

Reviews

Sharron ，

The first half of this story dragged and only Banville’s excellent prose and the well chosen narrator’s reading caused me to continue。 Midway through the plot began to move along nicely and I was warming to the novel。 And then - wham - the story abruptly ended。 But for the closing “addendum” of sorts it would have made no sense at all。 Even for a reader who enjoys this series， this title was tough slogging。

Marilyn Connolly ，

BANVILLE IN DUBLIN！！！BANVILLE at his best…no one like him is writing solid mysteries like him today！！！ Don’t be the last reader to know about him…

John Fetzer ，

A nice read， a crime thriller blending past misdeeds and mysteries into a plot to keep them hidden。 Storylines develop and finally converge。

Bill Silva ，

This is all moody atmosphere and ominous build-up…and then it’s over in a flash。 I was left disappointed。

Frank O'connor ，

This is a book about history and danger。 It is perhaps one of Banville's best recent works and is notable for the way in which it brings together strands of his 'Benjamin Black'， 'John Banville' and 'John Banville Writing As Benjamin Black' threads into a cohesive whole。 The characters are all pin sharp and the plot development crisp。 The structure is innovative - kind of Ian McEwan - and the phrasing is， as always， a joy。 This is a book about history and danger。 It is perhaps one of Banville's best recent works and is notable for the way in which it brings together strands of his 'Benjamin Black'， 'John Banville' and 'John Banville Writing As Benjamin Black' threads into a cohesive whole。 The characters are all pin sharp and the plot development crisp。 The structure is innovative - kind of Ian McEwan - and the phrasing is， as always， a joy。 。。。more

Bob ，

Probably #3 in terms of top Quirke books for me （the first being the relatively untouchable Christine Falls and Silver Swan）。 I wouldn't be surprised if that's not a widely shared opinion of those devoted to the series。 It's not the most complicated plot （to be charitable） and the end is frankly a little disappointing。 That said， it's a fascinating fulcrum point for the series， with Banville finally taking over for his nom de plume Benjamin Black， as well as the fact that the book splices togeth Probably #3 in terms of top Quirke books for me （the first being the relatively untouchable Christine Falls and Silver Swan）。 I wouldn't be surprised if that's not a widely shared opinion of those devoted to the series。 It's not the most complicated plot （to be charitable） and the end is frankly a little disappointing。 That said， it's a fascinating fulcrum point for the series， with Banville finally taking over for his nom de plume Benjamin Black， as well as the fact that the book splices together characters and action from two books relatively far apart in Banville's ouevre （Elegy for April and Snow）。 It was also quite evocative for me， especially in the hypnotically lulling first third， of some of the best Maigret novels by Simenon。 The character of Evelyn Quirke （who is literally reading a Simenon novel in one scene） brings out really interesting stuff from and about our protagonist。 Another key influence here is obviously Graham Greene。 April in Spain is the entry in the Quirke series that feels closest to one of Greene's "entertainments"。 Again， Banville sorta hits you on the head with it， as the book's baddie Terry becomes enamored with Greene's Brighton Rock。 Terry is also an engaging character， although there is a bordering-on-concerning amount of focus on some of his "abnormal" dalliances， as if his sexual orientation conflicts are somehow related to his being a psychopath。 I of course don't think Banville means to draw that connection， but I couldn't help feeling it once or twice， which minorly spoiled an otherwise really fun entry in the series。 。。。more

Sonja van der Westhuizen | West Words Reviews ，

Until recently John Banville published his crime novels under the pseudonym Benjamin Black to separate them from his more complex fiction。 According to the author， he could write a crime fiction novel in three or four months while his more literary work took up more of his time。 He also famously said his work as Black is a craft， while as Banville he is an artist， and that crime writing is ‘cheap fiction’。Read the rest of the review here: https://westwordsreviews。wordpress。co。。。 or on Crime Fict Until recently John Banville published his crime novels under the pseudonym Benjamin Black to separate them from his more complex fiction。 According to the author， he could write a crime fiction novel in three or four months while his more literary work took up more of his time。 He also famously said his work as Black is a craft， while as Banville he is an artist， and that crime writing is ‘cheap fiction’。Read the rest of the review here: https://westwordsreviews。wordpress。co。。。 or on Crime Fiction Lover: https://crimefictionlover。com/2021/10。。。 。。。more

Donna ，

Somewhat disappointed there was not more Strafford story line。

Donna ，

Quirke is a fascinating character and more is revealed about his adult daughter， Phoebe。 While on vacation with his wife in Spain， Quirke sees a woman who strongly resembles a friend of his daughter who was murdered years ago， though her body was never found。 The story is well done and the outcome is satisfying。

Jo-anne Atkinson ，

Pathologist Quirke has been persuaded to travel to San Sebastian in Northern Spain by his wife。 After an accident requires a visit to the local hospital， Quirke is surprised to see a fellow Irish doctor。 However this is unusual as April Latimer was supposedly dead， killed at the hands of her brother before his suicide。 Why is April hiding out in Spain and to what lengths will her family go to silence her？My first encounter with Quirke and Strafford was through Snow， the last novel， which I loved Pathologist Quirke has been persuaded to travel to San Sebastian in Northern Spain by his wife。 After an accident requires a visit to the local hospital， Quirke is surprised to see a fellow Irish doctor。 However this is unusual as April Latimer was supposedly dead， killed at the hands of her brother before his suicide。 Why is April hiding out in Spain and to what lengths will her family go to silence her？My first encounter with Quirke and Strafford was through Snow， the last novel， which I loved and this is no different。 In complete contrast to the cold setting of that novel， here the protagonists converge in Franco-era Basque Country。 What is so good is the languid unfolding of the plot， Strafford doesn't appear until half-way but all the characters are set in place。 The final ending is both swift and well-written。 This is a wonderfully literary example of the genre。 。。。more

Amy Warren ，

Banville's first Quirke novel written under his own name。 Here he is in Spain on vacation when he spots his daughter's old friend April Latimer， long thought to be dead。 He contacts his daughter to have her come to Spain to verify it， which sets off a chain of events culminating in violence。 Love this series。 Banville's first Quirke novel written under his own name。 Here he is in Spain on vacation when he spots his daughter's old friend April Latimer， long thought to be dead。 He contacts his daughter to have her come to Spain to verify it， which sets off a chain of events culminating in violence。 Love this series。 。。。more

martha ，

Really deserves two stars。 Such a disappointment。 The writing is great of course but the story was implausible and wrapped too quickly and the only sympathetic character is shot for no reason。 The actions phoebe took are not believable and the character of April is two-dimensional。

Hugh Dunnett ，

Maybe I shouldn’t let the name the author is using concern me but I thought that Benjamin Black ‘wrote’ the pathologist Quirke books （with which I am very far behind） whilst John Banville was ‘writing’ the DI Strafford books （absolutely loved the previous novel Snow）。 April in Spain certainly can be considered a Strafford novel but he really is a minor character in this; Quirke is the main protagonist。 This poses a problem for me as I thought I was picking up the next in the Strafford series （wh Maybe I shouldn’t let the name the author is using concern me but I thought that Benjamin Black ‘wrote’ the pathologist Quirke books （with which I am very far behind） whilst John Banville was ‘writing’ the DI Strafford books （absolutely loved the previous novel Snow）。 April in Spain certainly can be considered a Strafford novel but he really is a minor character in this; Quirke is the main protagonist。 This poses a problem for me as I thought I was picking up the next in the Strafford series （which I am） but I’m also jumping way ahead in the Quirke series。 Confused？ Not as much as I was！Strafford is a brilliant character and very unusual in Irish fiction – an ordinary， middle-class Protestant， trying to make his way in the newly formed， and very distinctly Roman Catholic， Irish Free State。 Quite fascinating on his own but the complete opposite in background and worldview to Quirke。 Banville will always tackle difficult subjects and often in a way that can be quite unsettling and this book is no exception and it is another factor which makes the Banville/Black books particularly distinctive。 The author is also unafraid to tackle the politics and recent history of his own country and as always， we are left in no doubt as to Banville’s honesty and unromantic view when it comes to the Ireland of the 20th century。 You can learn a lot from the Quirke novels。There is no doubt that Banville is a singularly excellent voice in Irish fiction and the fact that he has taken on ‘genre’ fiction so wholeheartedly， yet retaining his literary style and honesty is to be applauded。 The fact that these books are genuine page-turners with the shock and crescendo we expect from this form of novel only makes this all the more fascinating。 My only criticism of April in Spain is that we could do with a bit more of Strafford， and that we are only given a glimpse of him and Quirke together， but I imagine we are going to see a lot more of the interplay of these two characters in forthcoming books; at least I hope we do！ Strafford may be where my interest lies in this series， but I’m sure Quirke fans will be very pleased to see him back。 。。。more

Tredaran ，

The title doesn’t immediately suggest a mystery or a thriller but this is what the book sets out to do。 Although the setting is Spain， the characters are Irish based and have a back history that links them to Irish politics of a previous era - maybe the 1960’s - I couldn’t be sure。 The use of “old money” and the casual racism and sexism of some of its unsympathetic characters seemed to suggest it was around 50 or 60 years ago。 The premise - seeing the slightly familiar face of somebody presumed The title doesn’t immediately suggest a mystery or a thriller but this is what the book sets out to do。 Although the setting is Spain， the characters are Irish based and have a back history that links them to Irish politics of a previous era - maybe the 1960’s - I couldn’t be sure。 The use of “old money” and the casual racism and sexism of some of its unsympathetic characters seemed to suggest it was around 50 or 60 years ago。 The premise - seeing the slightly familiar face of somebody presumed dead， in an unfamiliar setting - had the potential to develop into a more interesting story than the one that developed， unfortunately。 All in all， it was a bit plodding and lacked tension and intrigue。With thanks to NetGalley， the author and the publisher for an advance copy。 。。。more

John Lee ，

This is another author who is new to me。 He jumped my reading queue， with this book in particular， because of the 5* review of a GoodReads friend， whose opinion I value。I was soon enthralled by what， I believe， my wife calls "Good Writing"。 Its a difficult one to explain but it feels like "quality"。 Like other authors that I admire Banville takes his time with his character introductions。 You knew them and remembered them through the story。 There was no checking back to see who was who。 in these This is another author who is new to me。 He jumped my reading queue， with this book in particular， because of the 5* review of a GoodReads friend， whose opinion I value。I was soon enthralled by what， I believe， my wife calls "Good Writing"。 Its a difficult one to explain but it feels like "quality"。 Like other authors that I admire Banville takes his time with his character introductions。 You knew them and remembered them through the story。 There was no checking back to see who was who。 in these introductions seeds are sown and then they are almost left to themselves to produce their harvest。I knew nothing of Dr Quirke， pathologist， as I decided to skip the rest of the series and come straight here。 That is unusual for me and I wonder if it was a mistake as I see that a historical event that is quite central to the story， was covered in detail in an earlier book。 May be if I had started at the beginning some of my questions about the good Doctor's history （ and his new wife's） would have been answered。As a character ， I found him an amusing grump to begin with。 My opinion moved via annoying grump to semi alcoholic grump as the story continued。 Fortunately his part in this story was mainly background except for his accidental possible discovery and his phone call。I thought that some of the gory detail was unnecessarily over descriptive but that was a minor criticism。I know that others will disagree but after almost a whole book building up to it， I felt let down by the climax。 It seemed almost as if the author had run out of paper or time， having already written the conclusion in the final chapter。Nevertheless a most enjoyable read。 I am not sure that I want to go back and read the earlier books about Dr Quirke now but other works by the author could soon be on my shelves。 。。。more

Fiona ，

I haven't read any of the other books in this series and maybe should have as I couldn't engage with the characters at all。 I couldn't find anything particularly likeable in any of them and Quirke is probably the most unlikeable of the lot， which isn't good for a main character。Banville is clearly is good writer。 The descriptive passages are wonderful but there has to ba a good plot to go with it。 I enjoyed the first few chapters but then the story just dragged。 I enjoy slow paced novels but bec I haven't read any of the other books in this series and maybe should have as I couldn't engage with the characters at all。 I couldn't find anything particularly likeable in any of them and Quirke is probably the most unlikeable of the lot， which isn't good for a main character。Banville is clearly is good writer。 The descriptive passages are wonderful but there has to ba a good plot to go with it。 I enjoyed the first few chapters but then the story just dragged。 I enjoy slow paced novels but because I disliked the characters so much I ended up skimming some parts just to get to the end。Which brings me to the ending。 The probable result is so obvious that when it comes it's a damp squid。 Not for me I'm afraid。 。。。more

Cassie Holland ，

I never realised this was part of series， felt stand alone。 I am disappointed with the plot， far too plodding。 The character descriptions are not believable neither are all the relationships。 I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review。

Donna ，

3。5 stars。 Well written。 Ending seemed rushed and lacked the detail found throughout the book。

Chet Makoski ，

I’ve read all eight Quirke novels and saw the BBC TV series of the first seven books。 All were brilliant。 John Banville is a favorite writer for his mysteries and other novels。 This eighth novel is in a different format and writing style。 I look forward to more Quirke and St。 John Stratford books in the future。

Deborah ，

I must confess I had no idea John Banville wrote crime fiction under the name Benjamin Black， so didn't realise this was part of a series。 I note Banville says he writes crime fiction far faster than he writes literary fiction but his prose remains elegant， though perhaps a little more accessible than in some of his other work。 I very much liked the characters on offer including the complex Dr Quirke and his daughter Phoebe， as well as Quirke's wife Evelyn。 I particularly loved the way Banville I must confess I had no idea John Banville wrote crime fiction under the name Benjamin Black， so didn't realise this was part of a series。 I note Banville says he writes crime fiction far faster than he writes literary fiction but his prose remains elegant， though perhaps a little more accessible than in some of his other work。 I very much liked the characters on offer including the complex Dr Quirke and his daughter Phoebe， as well as Quirke's wife Evelyn。 I particularly loved the way Banville writes about Quirke's feelings towards his new/recent wife: "He always resented the expanse of time that had passed before he knew her。 It seemed to him astounding that they had both been in the world at the same time， having their lives， being themselves， and each ignorant of the other's existence for so long。' 8% through bookThe potential reappearance of April （in Spain） means revisiting a previous book in this series。 I didn't feel as if I was missing any vital information but did find the pacing a little uneven and wonder if Banville spends a long time introducing Quirke （in San Sebastian） and having him meet the person he believes to be April because he didn't feel he needed to spend much time on her。Certainly we race to the climax here。 We'd spent so long getting to that point - including meeting Terry Tice， the young killer - that the conclusion felt a little rushed。 Having said that I actually quite enjoyed getting to know Quirke （as it was my first outing with him） and his backstory is an intriguing one。 I'm actually now keen to go back and read previous books in this series。 3。5 stars 。。。more

Joyce ，

A classic mystery。 Interesting development of plot and characters。A very good read。

Jim Cullison ，

It redeems itself spectacularly and indelibly in the last pages， so don't give up early。 Banville pays out to the patient。 It redeems itself spectacularly and indelibly in the last pages， so don't give up early。 Banville pays out to the patient。 。。。more

Cheri ，

April in Spain is pure John Banville at his best。 Slow-burn， character-driven， atmospheric。 This was a literary mystery that keeps you turning pages and feeling emotions for complex and flawed characters。

Mary-alice Frank ，

A cranky pathology and his serene， psychiatrist， holocaust survivor， wife vacation in northern Spain。 He grandly relaxes and begins to enjoy himself when he encounters a woman who he believed to be dead。 At this juncture the story turns from a picturesque novel to a tense， suspenseful one。Quirke （ the pathologist） asks her daughter to travel from Ireland to verify his suspicion。 When word gets out that the young women may be alive others get involved。For craft and story telling this is a 4 star A cranky pathology and his serene， psychiatrist， holocaust survivor， wife vacation in northern Spain。 He grandly relaxes and begins to enjoy himself when he encounters a woman who he believed to be dead。 At this juncture the story turns from a picturesque novel to a tense， suspenseful one。Quirke （ the pathologist） asks her daughter to travel from Ireland to verify his suspicion。 When word gets out that the young women may be alive others get involved。For craft and story telling this is a 4 star novel。 Its the story that downgraded it to a 3 star for me。 。。。more

Diogenes ，

Banville reveals his iconic Ireland in a journey to Spain。 The prose is as agreeable as the plot， but the characters are what make this novel outstanding。 The corruption of and by the powerful and the tragedies it produces casts a dark shadow。

Nikki ，

Well-written， of course。 The plot is decidedly strange。 Evelyn Quirke is a lovely character。 There's far too much of Tice。 It is a novel that is depressing。。。。 Well-written， of course。 The plot is decidedly strange。 Evelyn Quirke is a lovely character。 There's far too much of Tice。 It is a novel that is depressing。。。。 。。。more

James D。 ，

Too much filler， too many coincidences A good story， with a villain， nicknamed Pinkie， modeled after the evil Pinkie Brown in the 1940s novel and movie Brighton Rock。 However the author has a habit of fleshing out his narrative with flowery metaphors and literary allusions which are both annoying and unnecessary。 A reader can take only so much of this before wanting him to just get on with the story。 In addition， the number of coincidences that occur to the characters in this story is prepostero Too much filler， too many coincidences A good story， with a villain， nicknamed Pinkie， modeled after the evil Pinkie Brown in the 1940s novel and movie Brighton Rock。 However the author has a habit of fleshing out his narrative with flowery metaphors and literary allusions which are both annoying and unnecessary。 A reader can take only so much of this before wanting him to just get on with the story。 In addition， the number of coincidences that occur to the characters in this story is preposterous。 。。。more

Annarella ，

This is a complex， slow burning， enthralling and entertaining story that kept me turning pages as fast as I could。It wasn't love at first page but after a few pages I was hooked。The plot is complex， it kept me guessing and I was surprised by the ending。 Sometimes there's a bit too much coincidence but it didn't stop me from loving it。Great character development， vivid historical background and some lovely descriptions of San Sebastian。Recommended。Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for th This is a complex， slow burning， enthralling and entertaining story that kept me turning pages as fast as I could。It wasn't love at first page but after a few pages I was hooked。The plot is complex， it kept me guessing and I was surprised by the ending。 Sometimes there's a bit too much coincidence but it didn't stop me from loving it。Great character development， vivid historical background and some lovely descriptions of San Sebastian。Recommended。Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC， all opinions are mine 。。。more

Jeanette ，

This is a full four and in parts at least a 4。5 star read。 It is notable in one other regard。 And that is it is probably the most enjoyable read in the last 6 months （many dozens） that I have read。 Some of those were 5 stars but this is the one I returned to with relish。 Quirke and his wife had some of the most sublime and enjoyable conversations I have read。 Absolutely adored the relationship too。 Both have looked into and gone through the depths and somehow plummeted out into a full boat "now" This is a full four and in parts at least a 4。5 star read。 It is notable in one other regard。 And that is it is probably the most enjoyable read in the last 6 months （many dozens） that I have read。 Some of those were 5 stars but this is the one I returned to with relish。 Quirke and his wife had some of the most sublime and enjoyable conversations I have read。 Absolutely adored the relationship too。 Both have looked into and gone through the depths and somehow plummeted out into a full boat "now"。 One that contains full joy on top of it。 Not all that usual or common by any take I've seen。 And almost never by / with those who have walked the corridors of hell。 The language was excellent。 I love the quirkiness of wordplay within clear， short， direct meaning speech。 Hard to get now in any genre。 Not with the people of manners nor by the people without them。 Like "uncutting" your traces language。 He is superior at it。 I will be reading more John Banville。I take it that this in the midst of a Strafford series？ Regardless， the stand alone was clear and excellent。The ending was apt to life。 I know。 And not only from living in Chicago either。The 5 star placement locale was done to a 6 stars level。 The Basque port of Spain gets short shrift to Barcelona and the Med。 coast area。 Always。 But not here。 Loved that too。Oh， it makes me so happy to have such an author to look forward to。 He is "of" and knows my own era and the language of prime core words before they were all redefined to anger and resentment cognitions。 But the manner in which he uses those words is EXCELLENT。 。。。more

M。 Lynes ，

There were times when I thought I might only give this two stars but the prose is so artfully constructed that it pulls you through to the end。 There is precious little plot once the interesting premise is established。 There are no characters I rooted for。 Their psychology is skillfully established， but none of them are attractive。 There is a sourness to the world that's unpleasant to spend time in。 The scenes in Spain are unconvincing - they could have taken place anywhere。 This is the kind of There were times when I thought I might only give this two stars but the prose is so artfully constructed that it pulls you through to the end。 There is precious little plot once the interesting premise is established。 There are no characters I rooted for。 Their psychology is skillfully established， but none of them are attractive。 There is a sourness to the world that's unpleasant to spend time in。 The scenes in Spain are unconvincing - they could have taken place anywhere。 This is the kind of book Banville can write in his sleep and I'm sure it's great for his retirement fund。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=April in Spain

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=April in Spain&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,April in Spain&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0