In a lock-up garage in 1950s Dublin, a young woman is found dead inside her car – an apparent suicide. But pathologist Dr Quirke suspects foul play. What is the connection between the dead girl and a wealthy German family?

This is the third in the Strafford novels by John Banville – following on from Snow and April in Spain – which in turn was an offshoot of the Quirke novels, written under the pen-name Benjamin Black. There is a great deal of crossover, so much so that they can be read as a continuation of the original series. I was drawn to the Quirke books by a love of classic crime fiction and historical mysteries, but these are possibly the antithesis of the traditional murder mysteries of Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh, in which it is often noted that characterisation comes secondary to intricate plotting and puzzle-solving. In contrast, the Quirke and Strafford novels tend to leave the identity of the murder almost inconsequential; it’s a narrative driven solely by the characters and their motivation.

Speaking of which, the relationship of Strafford and Quirke is certainly at a strained point in this novel, after the emotionally devastating events of April in Spain. Both men are wholly fascinating. Strafford seems a neat counterbalance to the gruff and selfish Quirke. I suspect Banville will always have a soft spot for his hard-drinking pathologist, but the noble efforts of Strafford make him a far more likeable character, despite both being realistically flawed. As usual there are some superb period details, making this feel authentic. You can almost feel the Dublin drizzle and smell the stale beer of its pubs and hotel bars. The prose is confident and languidly assured, as you’d expect from a skilled author such as John Banville.

I had an absolute blast reading this novel. I genuinely didn’t want it to end. The detective/mystery aspects of it come as a bonus to our insight into the uncomfortable lives of the two central characters. I can’t wait to see where Banville takes us with this series. It comes highly recommended, especially to fans of historical fiction or well-written literary mysteries.