McGarr learns that the two victims, Ellen Gilday Finn and Pascal Burke, were both police officers assigned to curb a rash of eel poaching in the area. Ellen was recently married to her childhood sweetheart, Quintan Finn, and was reported to be very happy. However, the news of the homicides produces rumors that Ellen and Burke, a known womanizer, had been having an affair that predated her marriage to Finn.

On the surface it seems a simple case of revenge by the unfortunate Quintan Finn, especially when Finn is discovered dead, apparently by his own hand. Tallon is eager to have the case settled quickly in order that the crimes not besmirch his inn’s reputation. However, things are not always what they first appear to be. The two homicide victims are discovered to have died three hours apart, and Finn was nowhere near the scene of the crimes when they had to have been committed. The more McGarr probes, the more complex the puzzle becomes.

The Death of an Irish Lover is a tale that can be enjoyed from several viewpoints. As a mystery story, the plot is complex, involving diverse motives of a variety of characters. As a descriptive narrative of Irish life, the small town of Leixleap (literally, Salmon Jump), provides a typical example of how people live in the Irish midlands. As a character study, the book is peopled with a vast array of colorful characters. In addition, the impact of the members of the IRA on less militant types plays a small role in the book, as does the very real problem of the effects of eel poaching on the Irish economy and environment.

That Bartholomew Gill is able to include so much detail in his characterizations and plot, and still produce a readable entertaining story is a testament to his skill as a writer. From McGarr himself, a portly fifty-four-year-old Chief Superintendent with a wry sense of humor to Benny Carson, ex-IRA policymaker, who has spent enough time in prison to become well acquainted with the criminal mind, to Gertie McGirk, the unashamedly local prostitute, or the Frake brothers, Manus and Donal, whose interest in various ventures seems to be directly proportional to their illegality, the reader is kept continuously entertained by their antics. Fascinating information on the life cycle of eels is also included. For instance, the species that live in the rivers of Ireland are the only animals in the world that breed in salt water , but live their adult lives in fresh water.

Although the book could be generally categorized as a police procedural, it is clearly much more. Its cast of colorful characters adds to its entertainment value. Mr. Gill also is not afraid to use words above the vocabulary level of the average junior high school student adding to the literary value of the book. All this he accomplishes in a mere 270 pages. If you are not already a McGarr fan, find a copy of Death of an Irish Lover and let him entertain you.

--Andy Plonka