A stunning evocation of mid-century Dublin . . . the literary incarnation of Quirke is going from strength to strength' Independent She looked at him and smiled sadly. 'You've lived too long among the dead, Quirke, ' she said.1950s Dublin. When a body is found in the canal, pathologist Quirke and his detective friend Inspector Hackett must uncover the truth behind this brutal murder. But in a world where the police are not trusted and secrets often remain buried there is perhaps little hope of bringing the perpetrator to justice. As spring storms descend on Dublin, Quirke and Hackett's investigation leads them into the dark heart of the organisation that really runs this troubled city: the Church. Meanwhile, Quirke's daughter Phoebe realises she is being followed, and when Quirke's terrible childhood in a priest-run orphanage returns to haunt him, he will face his greatest trial yet . . . 'The sixth in the increasingly impressive Quirke series . . . Charged with foreboding, the tale advances to the funereal rhythm of a muffled drum until Black unveils the devastatingly bleak noir climax' Irish Times 'It is doubtful that anyone can write as well as Benjamin Black when it comes to a psychological mystery' Washington Times