The Drowned

A Novel

By: John Banville

Narrated by: John Lee

Amazon Editors' Pick: Best Literature and Fiction books of October

From the renowned Booker Prize winner and nationally bestselling author of Snow comes a richly atmospheric new mystery about a woman’s sudden disappearance in a small coastal town in Ireland, where nothing is as it seems.

"John Banville is one of my favorite writers alive, and I pick up his books whenever I need a reminder how to write a good sentence.”—R.F. Kuang

“He had seen drowned people. A sight not to be forgotten.”

1950s, rural Ireland. A loner comes across a mysteriously empty car in a field. Knowing he shouldn’t approach but unable to hold back, he soon finds himself embroiled in a troubling missing person case, as a husband claims his wife may have thrown herself into the sea.

Called in from Dublin to investigate is Detective Inspector Strafford, who soon turns to his old ally—the flawed but brilliant pathologist Quirke—a man he is linked to in increasingly complicated ways. But as the case unfolds, events from the past resurface that may have life-altering ramifications for all involved.

At once a searing mystery and a profound meditation on the hidden worlds we all inhabit, The Drowned is the next great Strafford and Quirke novel from a beloved writer at the top of his game.

©2024 John Banville (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

John Banville pretty much as usual

Story ending was a bit depressing---BUT actually true to what life has to offer I hope some of the story will continue in a novel to follow.
John Lee is an excellent narrator for Banville books. His accent is just right.

Most annoying performance ever

I have a wide tolerance range for readers’ performances but this rendering was so spectacularly distracting it is hard to evaluate the novel itself. Don’t waste your time and money on the audio version — consider buying the book.

Not really a mystery at all

I felt like I was being read to by Capt. Kirk. Drawn out story about, well, not much really. A few characters who lost their lives, but not much on them. More about the lives of the inspectors handling the case which is about as interesting as it sounds.

All of Humanity in 1950s Dublin

Unresolved or even who knows unreal crimes as an excuse to build a web of stories among more or less beautiful, fallible human beings, told with punch and humor and wonderfully read.

The story

Loved the narrator! His voice brought the whole story alive. I think I am in love with Strafford!

It’s Banville after all….

Complex interiority—Banville’s suffering characters reveal themselves in thoughts and feelings. Another great Strattford/Quirke mystery! Loved it….

The characters were developed exquisitely.

I enjoyed how the universe of the story was created by small entries into scenes wherein the characters were fully developed. Their development guided the story along hand-in hand. If anything vexed me, it was how the narrative kept me guessing as to what exactly is going on. I suspect the writer had this purpose all along. So, bravo, ya got me!

The terrible reader ruined the book for me, and I love John Banville books.

Disliked the self-absorbed, overly dramatic tone of the narration. Banville’s style is spare; so should be the tone of the reader.

Many Layers

Stellar characters. Interesting story. I love the details the author brings to his writing. Those details add so much context and texture to this thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed his book!

John Banville’s excellent writing suffers from being read in an inappropriate manner

Narrator was too mannered and over-dramatic. A more low-key narration would have been better suited to Banville’s prose.