Dead Irish

Dismas Hardy, Book 1

By: John Lescroart

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

In his new life as a bartender at the Little Shamrock, Dismas Hardy is just hoping for a little peace. He's left both the police force and his law career behind. Unfortunately it's not as easy to leave behind the memory of a shattering personal loss - but for the time being, he can always take the edge off with a stiff drink and a round of darts.

But when the news of Eddie Cochran's death reaches him, Hardy is propelled back into all the things he was trying to escape - and forced to untangle a web of old secrets and raw passions, for the sake of Eddie's pregnant widow, Frannie, and for the others whose lives may still be at risk.

Check out more titles in the Dismas Hardy series.

©2007 John Lescroart (P)2007 Brilliance Audio

TERRIBLE NARRATOR

Please Mr. Lescroart re-record all your Dismas Hardy books with Jacques Roy. Your stories are always compelling and riveting but I cannot listen to David Colacci
anymore. I made it thru this book because of the story but listening to his reading was annoying to say the least.

A great listen.

If you could sum up Dead Irish in three words, what would they be?

A surprise ending

Who was your favorite character and why?

Abe. He listens to Hardy even when he doesn't want to. He trust Hardy. They seem to be best buds.

What does David Colacci bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A great narration with different personalites.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes even though I wasn't able but when I could I did.

Any additional comments?

I listened to "Nothing But The Truth" and had to start the series. I am glad I did. It is a series worth starting at the beginning

Lackluster plot

I have always liked Lescroats & the Dismas Hardy series, however, the plot in this book was not nearly as good as others. I never felt that there was a compelling reason for the perpetrator to do what he did.

David Colacci's reading was very good. I just wish he'd had a little more to work with.

Great story

Fantastic plot development…enjoyed narration . Worth a read….love Diana’s’ character and background descriptions. Great

Ok. Old recording.

Too much quiet talking. Hard to hear at times. Not a compelling protagonist in the priest. Cop-out ending.

Soap-opera thrillers?

With "Dead Irish" John Lescroat begins his wonderful San Francisco-based thriller series, introducing many of the characters who populate subsequent episodes. I call the series soap-opera thrillers -- meaning no disparagement whatsoever -- because Lescroart devotes so much attention to character development. He makes us feel a real connection to his characters and the intricacies of their lives. I can see how this degree of character development might annoy some thriller fans who want plenty of action, without non-essential distractions. And to those people I would not recommend Lescroart's novels. But Lescroart clearly had a series in mind when he began it with "Dead Irish," wanting to establish his characters' motivations and emotional underpinnings. Lescroart writes well to start with, improving with each installment, providing us with a chain of very enjoyable audiobooks. Although each episode can stand alone -- since Lescroart always fills in the details we need to know from previous episodes -- I recommend listening to this series in chronological sequence, in order to fully appreciate the developing story. David Colacci has the perfect voice and acting chops to read these audiobooks, using the same voices for each character throughout the series. I only regret that Mr. Colacci wasn't tapped to read all the Lescroart audiobooks, because the other readers break the consistency Colacci had established. I highly recommend the entire series to all thriller-lovers who have the patience for good character development and intricate plotting.

Suicide versus Murder

I've listened to very many of the books in the Dismas Hardy series. I've enjoyed all of them and Dead Irish, too.The first book in the series sets the scene for those that follow.

The author, John Lescroart's novels are an easy listen. The narrator, David Colacci, has just the right inflections that identify each character so that you can distinguish their voices. He remains the narrator throughout the series and you're able to continue to distinguish who is who.

Dismas works in a bar, Little Shamrock, owned by Moses, Dismas's friend. When Moses's son-in-law, Eddie Cochran, is found dead he asks Dismas to investigate his death. Dismas has left being a policeman and a lawyer behind. He works part-time at Little Shamrock but Moses has a difficult time getting Dismas to accept. However, when Moses offers Dismas a 1/4 ownership in Little Shamrock, Dismas is ready to solve the mystery of Eddie Cochran's death. Moses wants to know if Eddie was murdered or committed suicide, as the police have determined.

The mystery is an easy listen and the books that follow continue to increase the development of the characters. I'm quite sure after reading, Dead Irish, you'll want to purchase the next book in the series. Maybe you'll become a fan of Dismas like I have. Enjoy!

Misleading Title

If you could sum up Dead Irish in three words, what would they be?

Complicated plot that intersects in the end.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dismis Hardy, the central character in the series. I had listened to five other books in the Dismis Hardy series and wanted to listen to this first book in the series.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it was too long for one setting.

Any additional comments?

I found it a bit difficult to keep the various threads of the story straight until they began to converge in the last third of the work.

Very good but not great

Not as sharp and crisp and not up to the same standards as John Lescroat's other novels.

Slow start, good finish

I found the beginning of the story a bit dull but it ended well. Might just have been me. I really like the main character Dismas Hardy. I read two novels out of order and enjoyed both enough to start from the beginning. I will put the next in order on my wish list.