Quinn Book

Apparently, it's all matter of perception. Or so it seems in Seamus Smyth's fascinating debut novel, Quinn. It takes the notion of murder, extracts the usual tags (evil, mindless, etc.) and transforms it into a complex, precise and malice-free profession. Gerd Quinn is witty, erudite, wealthy and capable of killing a family, ensuring that the police only ever see "accidents." He never commits the act, but sets up the finer details that enable its successful execution. Ruthless, amoral and deadly, Quinn should be a despicable character, but his twisted sensibilities are grounded in logic, making his attitude-- shamefully -- quite admirable: "Murder is an emotive term--it implies malice. There is no malice in what I do". When his wife threatens to divorce him and take away his kids, Quinn takes his work home with him to eradicate potential trouble. An effective thriller, Quinn encompasses both intense bluntness and delicious irony (posing as an author, he gets a forensic pathologist to discuss the details of his planned murder), alongside moments of sharp humour. Harrowing and enlightening, Quinn cleverly shows the shock and the appeal of atered perception. --Danny GraydonRead More