Set against the windswept landscape of the West of Ireland, Fisherman's Blues is a darkly comic thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Music and Irish lyrics flow through the story, with the haunting strains of "Fisherman's Blues" by The Waterboys weaving throughout, capturing the wild, untamed spirit of the Irish coast and the unpredictable lives of its characters. With flavours reminiscent of Martin McDonagh's sharp wit, Ken Bruen's gritty crime, Mike McCormack's lyrical storytelling, and Flann O'Brien's surreal humour, this tale is both uniquely Irish and universally gripping.
Jack, freshly cut off the dole, lands a job at a shady telesales centre in Galway City, only to discover it's a front for a timeshare scam selling non-existent properties. In his first days, he meets Dyane, a sharp-witted customer who sparks a passionate affair, bringing a thrill to his otherwise mundane routine. Meanwhile, his boss, Chris, draws him into Galway's famous pub scene-Tigh Neachtains, The King's Head, and The Quays-where traditional Irish tunes mingle with the laughter and whiskey, and their nights are filled with wild, music-infused escapades.
Their fun takes a darker twist when Jennings, a washed-up private investigator, starts looking into the scam. More interested in pints than puzzles, Jennings quickly finds himself caught up in the chaos, sharing drinks and banter with Jack and Chris. But their camaraderie is shattered when Dyane, along with Chris's girlfriend Nikki and Jack's ex, mysteriously vanish.
As Jack, Chris, and Jennings dive into a frantic search for the missing women, they realise that their involvement in the scam has pulled them into a dangerous web of criminal underworld connections. The Irish songs and melodies that once echoed through their carefree nights take on a more haunting tone, mirroring their descent into darker territory.
Written by acclaimed screenwriter and playwright Mick Donnellan, Fisherman's Blues is a story of friendship, love, and the murky waters of crime, blending the edge-of-your-seat tension of a thriller with sharp humour and the lyrical, musical heart of the Irish West. It's a must-read for fans of McDonagh's biting dialogue, Bruen's hardboiled noir, McCormack's poetic prose, and O'Brien's absurdist wit.
