• The Killing of the Tinkers

  • By: Ken Bruen
  • Narrated by: Gerry O'Brien
  • Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (124 ratings)

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The Killing of the Tinkers  By  cover art

The Killing of the Tinkers

By: Ken Bruen
Narrated by: Gerry O'Brien
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Publisher's summary

Jack Taylor, a disgraced ex-cop in Galway, has slid further down the slope of despair. After a year in London, he returns to his home town of Galway with a leather coat and a coke habit. Someone is systematically slaughtering young travellers and dumping their bodies in the city centre.

Even in the state he's in, Jack Taylor has an uncanny ability to know where to look, what questions to ask, and with the aid of an English policeman, apparently solves the case.

©2002 Ken Bruen (P)2009 Isis Publishing Ltd

What listeners say about The Killing of the Tinkers

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Galway Noir

Killing of the Tinkers is another classic of Ken Bruen's "Jack Taylor" series. Tinkers gives us the dark struggles of ex Garda Jack Taylor and his willingness to take on the most dangerous criminals of Ireland's underworld. Ultimately, Jack Taylor finds his own purpose when he can use his skills on behalf of the innocent and the honorable. Throw in the perfect pint and a large shot of Jamison and you have the colorful mahem of 'Jack Taylor seeking justice in his native Galway. Superb Tale.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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love love love it.

From the Irish brogue to the great story and to Jack Taylor himself. I loved every minute of the story.

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Getting hooked...

TV series pulled me in but the books are better. Narrative, characters, literary allusions, self-destruction and Irish justice...and a brilliant narrator to boot. Ending is delicious.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not sure how he does it...

This is crime fiction where the crimes are incidental. In other words, this is literature loosely based around some wrongdoing. The fact that these books are character driven is the key; the fact that that character is Jack Taylor is immense. Highly literate, funny, daring, rightgeous and usually pissed, JT is great company.
On to book 3.

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Cheap shot ending

It was a great story right up to the last sentence, a lazy writer’s lame trick. Very disappointed.

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What a waste

Ken Bruen writes wonderfully. Jack Taylor is a very interesting character. I get great references to authors who I've not read and will truly enjoy. And yet ... These stories are an unremitting slog through the life of a bad alcoholic. I really don't see the point in revistiting, time and time again, the depths to which Jack can descend while he's ruining his life with drink. It's so unfortunate - I love the location, I love the characters - I barely finished the first book and I could not finish this one.

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Very very disappointing

I have enjoyed many other mysteries by this author, but this book was very disappointing. Basically 90% of the book is the main character moaning about his life, getting high on cocaine, and getting drunk. I feel as if I was robbed.

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