Vengeance: A Novel

Written by Benjamin Black

Narrated by John Keating

In Vengeance, a bizarre suicide leads to a scandal and then still more blood, as Benjamin Black reveals a world where money and sex trump everything.

It's a fine day for a sail, and Victor Delahaye, one of Ireland's most successful businessmen, takes his boat far out to sea. With him is his partner's son—who becomes the sole witness when Delahaye produces a pistol, points it at his own chest, and fires.

This mysterious death immediately engages the attention of Detective Inspector Hackett, who in turn calls upon the services of his sometime partner Quirke, consultant pathologist at the Hospital of the Holy Family. The stakes are high: Delahaye's prominence in business circles means that Hackett and Quirke must proceed very carefully. Among others, they interview Mona Delahaye, the dead man's young and very beautiful wife; James and Jonas Delahaye, his identical twin sons; and Jack Clancy, his ambitious, womanizing partner. But then a second death occurs, this one even more shocking than the first, and quickly it becomes apparent that a terrible secret threatens to destroy the lives and reputations of several members of Dublin's elite.

Why did Victor Delahaye kill himself, and who is intent upon wreaking vengeance on so many of those who knew him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Aug 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781427221438

Benjamin Black

Dr Benjamin Black is a descendent of Iranian, Jewish, and British roots. His family heritage of persecution and forced migration led him to a career in medical humanitarian relief. He is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist based in London and a specialist advisor to international aid organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières, government departments, academic institutions, and UN bodies. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic he provided frontline healthcare to pregnant women and supported the development of international guidelines. Benjamin teaches medical teams around the world on improving sexual and reproductive health care to the most vulnerable people in the most challenging of environments.

Reviews for Vengeance

[jonesli · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Coroner/sleuth Quirke becomes involved in the apparent suicide of business tycoon, Victor Delahaye, when his sometime sidekick, Inspector Hackett hopes to use Quirke's perceived dealings with the upper crust of Dublin society in order to solve the case. What no one can seem to figure out is whey Victor would bring his business partner Jack Clancy's son Davy with his to witness the act. When a second death occurrs, it's obvious that there are secrets and scandals that have to do with not only the Delahaye family, but the Clancy family as well.As usual, the atmosphere in this book draws you in, along with the wonderful plot development and characterization. Even after it became obvious what was goint to take place at the end, I still enjoyed getting there.I'm looking forward to seeing what Quirke does next, and also what happens with his relationship with his daughter Phoebe.

[bohemima · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Victor Delahaye askes Davy Clancy, the son of his business partner, to go for a sail. Although Davy hates the water, he feels obligated to go. In the course of the sail, Victor delivers some cryptic remarks and then shoots himself. With this problematic beginning, we are launched itno the latest Quirke mystery by Benjamin Black.A second death soon follows. As the story curls in on itself, we meet the weird Delahaye family: Mona, the beautiful, young, ungrieving widow; Maggie, Victor's other-worldly sister; his weird twin sons, Jonas and James; the Clancy family, and assorted odd lots here and there. We also learn a lot about Quirke, a pathologist who acts as the "detective". It's his consuming curiosity that drives the story.The terrific character explorations in this book, along with excellent writing, make it easy to accept the reather pedestrian plot denouement.

[doondeck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I still marvel at Quirke’s ways with women. This was an intriguing story with clever twists.

[jkdavies · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

These books are so atmospheric, rain and whisky, coffee shops, boats, wet soft grass.

This one has an intertwined pair of families, brought together by business, starts out with suicide, takes in a murder, has the obligatory wrong woman for Quirk to sleep with... nicely done but they are starting to feel a little formulaic now.

[idiotgirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Read this book at the same time I read Ancient Light by John Banville (who writes the Quirk novels as Benjamin Black). I very much enjoy reading Banville in both his incarnations.

[devenish_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fifth in the 'Querke' series by John Banville,writing as Benjamin Black. A presumed suicide followed by a presumed accident come to the attention of the police in the form of Hackett and his (shall we say) sidekick,Querke.Atmospheric and gritty story which is much more than just a crime novel.

[travis1259 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When a business leader kills himself in front of his partner's son, you are just on your way to the beginning of this puzzling mystery. Why would he kill himself in this way. What was his motive? As we continue, Benjamin Black brings his usual mix of a rich plot, and captivating setting, with a bleak look at Ireland in the past. But, he continues to fascinate us with us with full characterizations. After a related murder happens then we're off and running. Certain characters we meet are red herrings to throw us off track. And, they succeed. I am not sure I am particularly fond of most of the characters portrayed here with the exception of Quirke. A few likable characters would have added a touch more reality for me. But, the novel's ending does not disappoint. When I learned that I would be receiving this book I was pleasantly surprised being a fan of Black. After enjoying this mystery I continue to be one.

[coyote99_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If you love Benjamin Black (and John Banville) you will not be disappointed with his newest entry in the Quirke series, Vengeance. Well paced, beautifully written, it has the usual dark Irish melancholy and pathos. While it doesn't move Quirke's story forward by much, he gives us a few more insights into his love life and his relationship with his daughter. It isn't his best, but Black/Banville is such a wonderful writer I am grateful for his words even when his plot is a bit thin.

[ridgewaygirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've grown to depend on Benjamin Black to give me the kind of well-written and dark crime novel that I love best. Happily, with Vengeance, he not only delivers, but exceeds my high expectations. Set in the Ireland of fifty years ago, Vengeance tells the story of two families, unhappily bound together in a successful business. The Delahayes are Anglo-Irish and posher than the Clancys, so while they hold equal shares in the business, there's a social inequality, with resentment on both sides. Then Victor Delahaye takes Jack Clancy's son out sailing and then shoots himself, blowing open all the hidden animosities and closed doors. Quirke, a pathologist, becomes involved through his informal partner, Inspector Hackett, who feels uncomfortable among the gentry. Here, Hackett is more fully fleshed out than he's been in earlier books and the friendship between the two men stronger. As for Quirke, well, he's drinking, but aiming for moderation.Black revels in showing us the Irish provincialism of the near past, describing it with an unsentimental clarity. He also delves into relationships in all their dysfunctional forms and Vengeance gives him a wide variety to slice open and expose to our view.

[lsh63 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Coroner/sleuth Quirke becomes involved in the apparent suicide of business tycoon, Victor Delahaye, when his sometime sidekick, Inspector Hackett hopes to use Quirke's perceived dealings with the upper crust of Dublin society in order to solve the case. What no one can seem to figure out is whey Victor would bring his business partner Jack Clancy's son Davy with his to witness the act. When a second death occurrs, it's obvious that there are secrets and scandals that have to do with not only the Delahaye family, but the Clancy family as well.As usual, the atmosphere in this book draws you in, along with the wonderful plot development and characterization. Even after it became obvious what was goint to take place at the end, I still enjoyed getting there.I'm looking forward to seeing what Quirke does next, and also what happens with his relationship with his daughter Phoebe.

[jfurshong · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quirk is back! The mystifying suicide of a prominent businessman on his yacht certainly doesn’t look like a murder. Bringing his business partner’s young son to witness the suicide is even more puzzling. With the closing of the very strong first chapter we are off and running, fully engaged in Benjamin Blacks newest in the Quirk series, Vengeance.The suicide victim, Victor Delahaye, is a prominent Irish businessman, a partner with Jack Clancy. Their fathers were the founders of the firm in the previous generation and the two sons have an uneasy alliance. So, why did Victor Delahaye bully young David Clancy into an outing on his boat, only to commit suicide in front of his unbelieving eyes.The murder of the other half of the partnership, Jack Clancy, a week later only deepens the mystery. The Clancys and Delahayes have been intertwined for the three generations involved in this mystery. The wealth and privilege of the family members, their sense of entitlement and their ongoing struggle for dominance within the firm provides plenty of possibilities for a villainous someone to be manipulating events behind the scenes. John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black, has established a solid mystery series with Dr. Quirk. Quirk is a curmudgeonly detective, much like Kurt Wallander or Erlendur Sveinsson in his somewhat misanthropic outlook on life, But he is nowhere as destructive as Harry Hole or as hard on his loved ones. A pathologist in a Dublin hospital, Dr. Quirk’s connections with the upper class in Dublin make him a useful ally to Inspector Hackett in his efforts to gain information from the secretive family members of the victims. Hackett is a plodding detective, thorough and persistent. But it is Quirk who puts the disparate pieces together and takes the risks to work out the answers.As always in this beautifully written series, 1950s Dublin is as much a character as any of the cast of potential evil-doers. In the growing sub-genre of Irish noir Benjamin Black sets a high standard and continues with Vengeance to provide a well-plotted, intricate and skillfully developed addition to the Quirk series. As always, I look forward to the next one with great enthusiasm.

[bcquinnsmom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My thanks to Librarything's early reviewers program and to Henry Holt for sending this copy. Book number five in Black's excellent Quirke novels, Vengeance continues the winning streak found throughout the rest of the series. Black gets more playful with his literary references, the characters continue to deepen in scope, and the mystery is a definite conundrum that will keep you guessing up until the very end. Feel free to disagree all you want, but after reading all five novels in one fell swoop over the course of a week and a half, my conclusion is that the Quirke series is definitely one of the best and most intelligent out there. As the novel opens, Davy Clancy is on Victor Delahaye's sailboat, Quicksilver, after being invited to accompany Delahaye for the day. Invite isn't the right word, actually, since Delahaye is the big boss of the firm owned jointly by both families, and Davy can't really refuse. Davy "was not a good sailor, in fact he was secretly afraid of the sea." Out of nowhere, Delahaye took out a pistol wrapped in an oily rag and shot himself. Frightened out of his wits, Davy takes the gun and tosses it overboard. He has no idea how to sail the Quicksilver, and he drifts along, waiting for rescue. The death is confirmed as a suicide, leading to one question, so beautifully voiced some time later in the thoughts of Victor's sister Maggie:"...why had Victor taken him out in the boat -- why him? It had been Victor's way of sending a message, of leaving a signal as to why he had done what he had done. But what message was it, and to whom did he think he was directing it?"The answer, as Quirke is about to discover, is not one to be revealed quickly or easily. The Delahayes are a formidable clan -- rich and powerful, but as with most families in Black's novels, filled with secrets. The wealthy Clancys have their secrets as well, but the Clancy side of the business is viewed with disdain by the Delahayes, who consider the Clancys their inferiors. When a second death occurs, the mystery only deepens. Vengeance is the most current installment of the Quirke series as well as the newest chapter in Black's ongoing dark story about Dublin in the 1950s. Throughout all of the novels, Quirke is the main vehicle Black uses to explore this city where life was pretty much dictated by the bonds tying together the church, big money, and politics; it's also a place of many secrets and a lot of guilt. Quirke's job as a pathologist working in a hospital morgue brings with it a certain amount of curiosity; as he says in the first novel Christine Falls, "Dealing with the dead, you sometimes find yourself wondering about the lives they led." I absolutely love this series -- Black's forte is in his creation of a particular place in a particular time as well as characterization. In Vengeance, he has crafted a nearly perfect mystery but also leaves the question of justice for readers to ponder. This one is my favorite of the five with Elegy for April a very close second. I would highly recommend beginning with Christine Falls before picking up the rest of the Quirke novels, because it lays the foundation for all that's going to come next.

[erikschreppel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Over 4 previous books, Benjamin Black (novelist John Banville) has developed a wonderful world. He has sucessfully recreated 1950's Dublin and Irish society in it's post war nuances and foibles. Quirke is a great protaganist, not some all knowing savant, but a intelligent man who works hard and has demons of his own. I appreciate that Black has crafted him this way, his weaknesses andd failures are always with him. And the people around him don't simply love him unconditionally. The relationship between him and his daughter is a great example of this. Added to this though is a missing 14 pages from my Early Reviewers copy, so maybe those were key pages to the mystery. All in all a good read.Vengence, the 5th in the series, is at times better and worse than the rest of them. Better in that the plot mystery is not a typical one. And worse in that the end sort of peters out a tad and could be gleaned several chapters befor ethe end. I think this one simply suffers from the lack of credible potential culprits. What this does allow though is a more thoughtful loo at Quirke and his relationships,which is what makes this entry work when the mystery itself isn't as much.

[matke-261098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Victor Delahaye askes Davy Clancy, the son of his business partner, to go for a sail. Although Davy hates the water, he feels obligated to go. In the course of the sail, Victor delivers some cryptic remarks and then shoots himself. With this problematic beginning, we are launched itno the latest Quirke mystery by Benjamin Black.A second death soon follows. As the story curls in on itself, we meet the weird Delahaye family: Mona, the beautiful, young, ungrieving widow; Maggie, Victor's other-worldly sister; his weird twin sons, Jonas and James; the Clancy family, and assorted odd lots here and there. We also learn a lot about Quirke, a pathologist who acts as the "detective". It's his consuming curiosity that drives the story.The terrific character explorations in this book, along with excellent writing, make it easy to accept the reather pedestrian plot denouement.

[annewk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Back in Dublin with the pathologist Quirke and his sometime-partner Detective Hackett. This time they are working on a strange set of deaths, hardly coincidental, and involving two families chock full of odd people, particularly the twin sons of one of the dead and a strange widow. Once again Quirke's daughter is part of the story and the suspense is edge-of-the-seat.That Benjamin Black is the pen name for the wonderful Irish writer John Banville always distracts me just a little while I'm reading the Black books -- how would Banville have written this? But that is only a little troublesome -- the prose flows like the Irish whiskey and Guinness and every one of these mysteries is fun to read.

[freelancer_frank · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A lesser Quirk is a five star read. This one suffers from s surfeit of characters and a solution that was relatively easy to guess. On the other hand I was compelled to read it in a day, lived the descriptions of character and setting, and feel much the better for having done so.