J Banville's The DROWNED Detached Detective Is Enmeshed in What Maybe a Murder

John Banville (b. Ireleand 1945) is a highly honored author.  He's been bestowed prestigious, international literary awards: Booker Prize "The Sea" (19  ),  Princes of Astoria Award, Guinness Peat Aviation Award, and The Franz Kafka Award. In 2001, Banville relinquished the financial stipend asking it be given to a  more impoverished writer. His books vary in subject but all share his unique, literary prowess.  Banville's canon of work is not with mystery writing for the most part. However, in novel The DROWNED (2024), set in a coastal, rural town outside Dublin in the 1950s he delves into a missing person investigation. It's  more fitting of a character study or psychological procedural versus a clever who-done-it. It seems Banville has never traveled far from his oeuvre of creating compelling, complex characters. Furthermore, Banville's storytelling is from varying point of views which give us a keen insight into how the characters are likely to comport themselves. The DROWNED starts off serenely as a self-imposed loner, Denton Wymes, along with his beloved dog are returning from a day of fishing when he spots a fancy motor car left abandoned in a field. Against his better inclination, Wymes goes to investigate when he's hailed by a lanky, dapper stranger. The man introduces himself as Armitage who claims his wife ran off in the midst of their arguing. Armitage explains he's been trying to locate her fearing she may have fallen into the sea and drowned. Wymes submits to coming with Armitage up to the nearest home in order to phone the authorities. The nearest home is occupied by a wealthy couple, the Ruddicks and their young boy who rent the home during the summer. Wymes observes something awry between the gruff husband and Armitage. Armitage is only too happy to allow himself to become inebriated while awaiting the local police. When Armitage wife is not found (alive or otherwise) Detective Inspector St. John Strafford is called in to investigate. The investigation proceeds at a turgid pace. It becomes evident solving for the missing wife, who may or may not have taken off on her own accord, but as a means for the reader to become familiar with the cast of characters. Det. Strafford's character is unassuming and open minded.  He's also easily steered by his love interests. Strafford hooked up with his nemesis' only child, a much younger Penelope. She informs him she's pregnant which renders him speechless. Meanwhile Strafford is despondent over the failing health of his mentor and old friend. How does this all wrap up in the end? Rather circuitously than rapidly with the villain revealing his/her deeds and with more collateral damage befalling several of the characters. Rigid mystery lovers should abstain from the unsatisfying scenarios that pan out weakly but Banville continues to leave no doubt of his force as a teller of yarns yielding their own rewards. I recommend The DROWNED along with "The Sea, " The Book of Evidence" and "Shroud."