Well, I guess you could call this a mystery. A mystery – an unanswered question - does exist, and at the end of this book, which is so short I would call it a novella or even an extended short story, the question is answered.

That’s it. This 132 page book has no climax, and the denouement lasts a few paragraphs before the book ends. Here’s a summary:

Creepy guy who looks like a lemur and who’s threatened to blackmail the main character is shot in the eye. Main character wonders for the next 100 pages who shot the creepy lemur. Another prominent character steps forward, states”I killed the lemur.” It’s evident that character is protecting someone else, and the main character caller the confessor out. -Confessor says “ok, yes. I am protecting (fill in the blank.)” The End.

No chase scenes, no close calls, no edge of your seat. However, there is some good imagery from time to to time. I could see where readers who are desperate for a noir novel might find some enjoyment in the story. Two and a half stars. ( )

John Glass è un giornalista di tutto rispetto: irlandese, da poco trapiantato a New York, ha un passato glorioso da corrispondente in prima linea (piazza Tienanmen, il conflitto nordirlandese, l'Intifada) e una reputazione da difendere. Ma in un momento di debolezza, vinto dalle pressioni famigliari e dalle lusinghe di un compenso da un milione di dollari, accetta di scrivere la biografia di William «Big Bill» Mulholland, magnate delle telecomunicazioni dai trascorsi non proprio immacolati ed ex agente della CIA. ( )

John Glass ha abandonado su carrera como periodista para escribir una biografía autorizada de su suegro, el magnate de la comunicación y antiguo agente de la CIA, Gran Bill Mulholland. Trabaja en un gran despacho en Manhattan y vuelve a casa (la mayoría de las noches) a los brazos de su rica y bella mujer… Cuando decide contratar los servicios de un joven e insolente investigador, de asombroso parecido con un lémur, los turbios secretos de su familia política y, quizá, los suyos propios, amenazan con salir a la luz. Toda la cómoda existencia de Glass se tambalea, y acaba de derrumbarse con la muerte del Lémur: ¿quién lo mató?, ¿por qué?, ¿qué sabe?, ¿qué peligros acechan?

READ IN DUTCH

Bored, that's what I felt reading this book. It's very short, only about 150 pages, and still, it was too long for the story that was being told.



I just couldn't care for the story. I'm not planning on reading more books by this author, and wouldn't recommend them.



Something I do think is interesting - although it doesn't really has to do with this particular book - is why Irish authors apparently all choose a pseudonym ".... Black". Fascinating... ( )

Writing as Benjamin Black, John Banville gives us the short thriller or mystery novel The Lemur. Set in New York City, the novel is about finding out the truth and uncovering long-kept secrets. Protagonist John Glass is a journalist who is hired by his father-in-law William Mulholland to write his, 'Big Bill's', biography. The Irish-American Bill Mulholland is a former CIA operative turned billionaire heading up the Mulholland Trust. Tasked with writing his biography, John Glass hires the researcher Dylan Riley whom he just calls 'The Lemur' because of his appearance. Not even having started writing the book, Glass is called by the 'Lemur' who is found dead shortly thereafter. While suicide is the assumed cause of death, matters look a bit fishy as the 'Lemur' dies of a gunshot directly through the eye. Coincidentally, Charles Varriker, a former colleague and friend of Bill Mulllholland's, died in the same way several years ago. Not so much concerned with the biography anymore, John Glass only wants to find out the truth about those two deaths and what is going on in his family.

With only 185 pages, the novel is rather short and also a real page-turner. Despite its brevity, the story is very interesting and there is not much detail missing. One might have provided many more details and a lengthy backstory but the book actually does quite nicely without such additions. John Glass is a very credible character and his interaction with the other characters in the novel is very natural. The dialogues are well written but are sometimes reminiscent of your typical B-movie dialogue. This did not disturb me very much, though.

All in all, The Lemur is an entertaining story that might disappoint readers who love more lengthy fiction. For all the other readers interested in the genre it might actually be a read well worth your while. 4 stars. ( )