The book is very much a sequel - to the extent that if you read this book before you read ''Christine Falls'' you would find that you knew the outline of how things worked out, if not the precise detail. It is possible to read ''The Silver Swan'' without having read ''Christine Falls'', but some of the references would be lost on you. I had a sense too of this being a bridge to another book with various situations being set up for future use. The book is recommended, but I still confess to that slight feeling of disappointment, of feeling that it could have been better.
If you enjoy this type of crime book we can recommend [[The Chemistry of Death]] by Simon Beckett. The writing isn't of the same standard but it's a fast-paced, complex plot. For more 1950's crime in Ireland, which has a nod to the Quirke series, try [[Snow by John Banville]].
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