Andrew Nugent was called to the bar before another calling led him to become a Benedictine monk at Glenstal Abbey in 1961. Along the way, Nugent has spent nine years in a monastery in Nigeria. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that this Irish crime fiction writer has a novel set in Dublin which focuses on the Nigerian community. In a case of "write what you know", Nugent blows apart the prejudices many harbour about Nigeria and its culture in this novel; it's an education as well as a gripping story.
In a nutshell: Shad, a young Nigerian man is found in the Dublin Mountains with part of his leg removed. But it is too late for him and he subsequently dies in hospital. The nature of the attack is hard to determine as it is found that he had been administered an anaesthetic for the amputation. Jim Quilligan and Molly Power of the Irish Police Force find the case a very difficult one as Dublin's Nigerian community closes ranks. This is especially so when they deal with Shad's younger brother Jude. He is distrusting of the police and has sworn an oath to find his brother's killer himself...
In Second Burial, Nugent explores Nigerian culture, Christianity and the lives of the dispossessed in Dublin. He creates strong believable characters and a plot to keep you guessing. The circumstances of Shad's death are so heart-breaking you are compelled to read on. Like Jude, like Quilligan and Power, you will want to see justice for Shad.
This novel offers something different in the genre and excellently so.
This sounds great - thanks for the tip!
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Posted by: Anne Brooke | 25 January 2008 at 07:31
I really enjoyed this book (which I reviewed for Mystery Scene last year). What's interesting about it is that, in spite of what sound like very dark themes, it's very hopeful and almost light-hearted in an unusual way.
If you ever wanted to tempt a cozy lover across the room to the darker side, this book would make excellent bait.
Posted by: Barbara | 25 January 2008 at 00:47