The Dead

by Ingrid Black

Book Overview

Five years after Ed Fagan, a serial killer known as the Night Hunter, had disappeared, a mysterious letter to a Dublin newspaper and the discovery of the corpse of a murdered prostitute lead the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312326327
• ISBN13: 9780312326326
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 314 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A surprisingly good read

I picked this book up from a $5 bargain bin, and had no great expectations from this author I had never heard of before. But I was pleasantly surprised as it turned out to be a really great read, probably one of the best books I've read this year. This is a fast-paced murder mystery and I highly recommend it. Great job Ms Black and I look forward to more in the future!

Death in Dublin.

In her debut thriller, "The Dead," Ingrid Black introduces a female character named Saxon, who is a former FBI agent from Boston and the author of a successful book about the hunt for a serial killer. She is an expatriate living in Dublin, and her girlfriend is Detective Chief Superintendent Grace Fitzgerald. Saxon is unapologetically gay and smokes Cuban cigars. She is tough, hard-nosed, sarcastic, and always ready for a fight. A serial killer is loose in Dublin and he appears to be copying the methods of Ed Fagan, who was the prime suspect in the murder of five Dublin prostitutes. Fagan managed to escape prosecution and he subsequently disappeared. Five years later, a reporter named Nick Elliott has received a letter whose author claims to be Fagan. The letter writer announces that he intends to start killing again. Grace Fitzgerald enlists Saxon's help, as the bodies of murdered women start turning up. Accompanying the corpses are strange notes with biblical references and symbols that provide cryptic clues to the killer's identity. "The Dead" is a well-written police procedural. The Dublin setting is beautifully rendered, and Saxon's first person narrative is sharp, effective, and dryly humorous. Black includes an ample number of red herrings to keep the reader off balance, and the information she provides on criminal profiling, forensics, and cryptology add texture to the book. The characters are varied and, for the most part, nicely drawn. Exceptions are the sleazy journalist, Nick Elliott, and the obtuse and interfering Assistant Commissioner, Brian Draker, who are one-dimensional stereotypes. The biggest weakness is the convoluted, improbable, and drawn-out ending, in which Saxon commits an error so amateurish that she should be sent back to Criminology 101 for a refresher course. Overall, however, "The Dead" is an engrossing novel by a talented and promising new author.

Tense and suspenseful thriller

The Dead has all the essential elements of an absorbing thriller including an independent heroine, a cruel and malicious serial killer, police officers with human failings, and the subtext of a love story set in rainy, chilly Dublin. What sets The Dead apart is Saxon, the hero, is a former FBI Agent turned novelist turned killer who is in love with the female Detective Chief Superintendent Grace Fitzgerald. The serial killer seems to have reappeared from the past to recreate new versions of his crimes. Only Saxon knows for sure that the former killer is dead, and this new crime spree is a copycat killer. The plot of The Dead twists and turns, with suspicion falling on police officers, a newspaper reporter, the son of the alleged serial killer, and past coworkers of Saxon. Each time the reader thinks they are getting close to identifying the killer, Ingrid Black offers surprise and a smooth move down a new path. The Dead is clever and skillfully written with strong characters and a well-developed plot. A cold and rainy Dublin almost becomes a character itself, creating a background that highlights the character's thoughts and action. The tension and suspense keeps the reader engaged for the entire book. I would strongly recommend this book to fans of mystery, suspense, and women sleuths, and hope that we see more from Ingrid Black.

I Couldn't Put It Down

A very absorbing read. I found myself staying up to 4AM to finish it, because I had to know how it all turned out. The identity of the killer turned out to be a complete surprise. I hadn't even come close to suspecting him. The protagonist, Saxon, is a bit of a bitch, but there is something deeply likeable about her. I enjoyed the interactions between Saxon, her lover, and the world at large. Pick this one up, it's worth it!

engaging Irish serial killer thriller

Five years ago, Ed "The Night Hunter" Fagan killed his last prostitute, but suddenly vanished without being caught. In Dublin Post free lance journalist Nick Elliott informs former FBI agent Saxon that he received a letter from someone claiming to be Fagan and insisting it is time to start again. Saxon pursued The Night Hunter serial killer without success, but kept a journal with hopes of a true crime book coming out of their "joint" endeavor; not catching the killer left that book seemingly dead.However, Saxon is a bit shocked with Elliott's news because she knows why Fagan and her book vanished since she killed him though everyone else thinks the Night Hunter lost interest temporarily. Saxon agrees to uncover the identity of the letter writer who has begun to kill. Though the killing signature and his modus operendi are slightly different, the Dublin police believe Fagan is back. Teaming with her secret lover Dublin police detective Grace Fitzgerald, the American expatriate searches for a killer who seems like a fun house mirror image of The Night Hunter.This engaging Irish serial killer thriller hooks the audience due to the somewhat acrimonious narration of Saxon at times juxtaposed by her more intellectual sounding lover as both debate the murders. The story line uses action, though limited, to enhance the cerebral elements of the plot. The climax is terse, twisty, and terrific, but this tale is totally owned by the former American fed whose cat and mouse encounters five years ago and now make for a fine time for readers.Harriet Klausner