From the “Godfather of the modern Irish crime novel” (Irish Independent), The Emerald Lie introduces a villain of the most unusual sort: an Eton and Cambridge graduate who becomes murderous over split infinitives, improper punctuation, and any other sign of bad grammar.

Ken Bruen’s irascible protagonist, ex-cop Jack Taylor, is meanwhile approached by a grieving father with a pocketful of cash on offer if Jack will help exact revenge on those responsible for his daughter’s brutal murder. Jack agrees to get a read on the likely perpetrators but is soon derailed by the appearance of Emily (also known as Em, Emerald), a chameleon-like young woman who is passionate, clever, and utterly homicidal.

She will use any sort of coercion to get Jack to conspire with her against the serial killer the Garda have nicknamed “the Grammarian,” but her most destructive obsession just might be Jack himself.

Praise for The Emerald Lie:

“The most entertaining of Bruen’s Jack Taylor books.” — Toronto Star

“Bruen remains on the mountaintop of contemporary Irish noir. Sprightly, elliptical prose is a plus.” — Publishers Weekly

“I picture Bruen not so much writing as transcribing the words of a sweet fallen angel that are whispered feverishly into his ear.” — Bookreporter

“Nobody writes like Ken Bruen, with his ear for lilting Irish prose and his taste for the kind of gallows humor heard only at the foot of the gallows. The Emerald Lie is pure Bruen, with its verbal tics, weird typography and unorthodox wordplay.” —Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

Lume Books