The Lemur

By Benjamin Black

Book Overview

A new thriller from the Booker Prize-winning and Edgar-nominated author of Christine Falls and The Silver Swan

John Glass's life in New York should be plenty comfortable. He's given up his career as a journalist to write an authorized biography of his father-in-law, communications magnate and former CIA agent Big Bill Mulholland. He works in a big office in Mulholland Tower, rent-free, and goes home (most nights) to his wealthy and well-preserved wife, Wild Bill's daughter. He misses his old life sometimes, but all in all things have turned out well.

But when his shifty young researcher--a man he calls "The Lemur"--turns up some unflattering information about the family, Glass's whole easy existence is threatened. Then the young man is murdered, and it's up to Glass to find out what The Lemur knew, and who killed him, before any secrets come out--and before any other bodies appear.

Shifting from 1950s Dublin to contemporary New York, the masterful crime writer Benjamin Black returns in this standalone thriller--a story of family secrets so deep, and so dangerous, that anyone might kill to keep them hidden.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312428081
• ISBN13: 9780312428082
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Short Book, Great Mystery

The book cover caught my eye first: a cloud of smoke obscuring the face of a young man. Then, the author's name. By now most avid fiction readers are aware that Benjamin Black is the pseudonym for John Banville, a respected and prize-winning author. I enjoyed Christine Falls, so some weeks later I was delighted to receive The Lemur as an Early Review book from Library Thing. This very slender novel contains a mystery story with a punch. John Glass is in the awkward position of writing the biography of his wealthy, politically connected father-in-law, Bill Mulholland. This is complicated by the fact that his marriage to Bill's daughter is on shaky ground at best. The story moves quickly under Black's skilled pen and within a few pages John has made contact with "the Lemur", a shady researcher who claims to have less than flattering information on Mr. Mulholland. Before John can even learn what this information is the "Lemur" is murdered and John has all kinds of problems on his hands. The momentum is accelerated as John begins to do his own research and the risks and the suspense climb steeply. With Benjamin Black at the helm, this is truly superb writing, and it lends a grace and elegance to an excellent mystery. This read was quick, by highly satisfying. I'm still eager to get my hands on The Black Swan, the sequel to Christine Falls.

Smooth oddity

I was half-way through this book in no time, came up for a breather, and thought that it was an awfully quick read. The cynical side of me wanted to ask if this were meant as made-for-movie book, sort of like McCarthy's No Country for Old Men. Maybe Banville needed to fulfill a contract or was banking on a new car (surely he's one of the names who can support himself with writing). But it is published as a paperback, in the summer, and so that alone seems to calibrate expectations. So ultimately I've come down somewhere else. I think the book accomplishes what it sets out to do; on it's own terms it is complete and does not need to be longer. Banville does write lengthier novels as a rule, much more involved. I actually wanted Silver Swan though to move a bit faster. I think the first person narrator works for this short approach. Here's my ultimate test: short, narrative driven books can often be consumed like writerly candy--tastes good going down, doesn't nourish, and you certainly don't remember it next day. This book though, three days later, another novel read in the interim, stays with me. There is a consistent voice, a masterly control of plot, enough insight into character...the narrator still lives for me in all of his existential complexity. That's enough.