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book cover of 

The Guards 

 (Jack Taylor, book 1)

by

Ken Bruen

The Guards

(The first book in the Jack Taylor series)
(2001)
A novel by

Ken Bruen

Awards
Edgar Awards (nominee)
Shamus Awards
Macavity Awards (nominee)
"Why the hell haven't I heard of Ken Bruen before? He's a terrific writer and The Guards is one of the most mesmerizing works of crime fiction I've ever read... This guy is the real thing."
James W Hall


"The Guards blew me away. It's dark, funny and moving - just for starters. With a sharp eye and a lyrical voice, Ken Bruen takes us on a powerful odyssey through the mean streets of Galway, straight into the Irish heart. Bruen's tale is a potent draft of desire and hopelessness, conviction and surrender, inadvertent heroism and unexpected grace. This is mystery writing f a high order."
T Jefferson Parker


"The Guards is raw, hard, bitter and amazing. Its got that ancient feel to it, as of a primal story beign retold with fine, careless Irish swagger. Its as if Bruen made up his mind to tell us this story whether we wanted to hear it or not. Oh we do. for sure."
Jon A Jackson


"The Guards is an astounding novel, a poetic account of a desperation as deep as the North sea, retribution and resurrection. It's so good I can't think of it as a crime novel. Its a fine book with some crime."
James Crumley


 

Refreshing, incisive writing in a superb novel from an established author of crime fiction. Jack Taylor is a disgraced ex-cop in Galway. Mourning the death of his father, he is slowly drinking to oblivion. He has an ability to "find things" and is asked to investigate a teenage suicide. This leads him into a dangerous confrontation with a powerful businessman. A darker conspiracy slowly unfolds. Aided by a punk girl, he fumbles towards a lethal solution. The narrative is fueled by black humour, stark violence and moments of radiance.

The Guards remain as a chorus in the background, never altogether past, infringing on Jack Taylor at the least expected moment. The intimate, bustling city of Galway, crashing into prosperity, illuminates the story at every turn.
 
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Used availability for Ken Bruen's The Guards


See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
 

 

Hardback Editions

September 2009 : Hardback
Cover of ISBN: 0753144794Title: The Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 0-7531-4479-4 / 978-0-7531-4479-4 (UK edition)
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books
Availability: Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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January 2004 : Hardback
Cover of ISBN: 1417706988Title: Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 1-4177-0698-8 / 978-1-4177-0698-3 (USA edition)
Publisher: San Val
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   
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January 2003 : Hardback
Cover of ISBN: B001XGNVE2Title: The Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
Publisher: Minotaur Books, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Availability: Amazon   
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January 2003 : Hardback
Cover of ISBN: 0312303556Title: The Guards: A Novel
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 0-312-30355-6 / 978-0-312-30355-6 (USA edition)
Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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Paperback Editions

March 2010 : Paperback
Cover of ISBN: 0863224105Title: The Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 0-86322-410-5 / 978-0-86322-410-2 (UK edition)
Publisher: Brandon / Mount Eagle Publications Ltd
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   
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May 2004 : Paperback
Cover of ISBN: 0862332230Title: Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 0-86233-223-0 / 978-0-86233-223-5 (UK edition)
Publisher: Brandon Books
Availability: Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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May 2004 : Paperback
Cover of ISBN: 0863223230Title: Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 0-86322-323-0 / 978-0-86322-323-5 (UK edition)
Publisher: Brandon
Availability: Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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January 2004 : Paperback
Cover of ISBN: 0312320272Title: The Guards: A Novel (Jack Taylor Series)
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 0-312-32027-2 / 978-0-312-32027-0 (USA edition)
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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2003 : Paperback
Cover of ISBN: B000OTN8KQTitle: The Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur
Availability: Amazon   
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March 2001 : Paperback
Cover of ISBN: 0863222811Title: The Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 0-86322-281-1 / 978-0-86322-281-8 (UK edition)
Publisher: Brandon
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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Paperback
Cover of ISBN: 1876631481Title: The Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 1-876631-48-1 / 9781876631482 (Australia edition)
Publisher: Duffy & Snellgrove
Availability: Amazon UK   
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Audio Editions

September 2009 : Audio Cassette
Cover of ISBN: 0753144778Title: The Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 0-7531-4477-8 / 978-0-7531-4477-0 (UK edition)
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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September 2009 : Audio CD
Cover of ISBN: 0753144786Title: The Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 0-7531-4478-6 / 978-0-7531-4478-7 (UK edition)
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books
Availability: Amazon   Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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Other Editions

September 2009 : CD-ROM
Cover of ISBN: 0753144808Title: The Guards
Author(s): Ken Bruen
ISBN: 0-7531-4480-8 / 978-0-7531-4480-0 (UK edition)
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books
Availability: Amazon UK   Amazon CA   
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March 2001 : Kindle edition
Cover of ISBN: B000PY4H7STitle: The Guards: A Novel
Author(s): Ken Bruen
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Availability: Amazon   
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