Ken Bruen Books

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Ken Bruen is an Irish author that writes crime fiction. He is best known for the Jack Taylor series of novels. Bruen was born in Galway, Ireland. He has a metaphysics Ph.D. from Trinity College Dublin. He also attended Gormanston College.

Bruen taught English for over two decades. The profession took him to places like Japan, South America, Africa, and Asia. It wasn’t until he returned to London after a stint in South America that Bruen put his mind to the task of writing fiction.

Bruen’s upbringing did little to encourage his artistic sensibilities. The author was a quiet child and that did not endear him to the people around him. The only book his father permitted in their home was the Bible.

As far as he was concerned, reading was not a manly undertaking. As such, Bruen’s parents did not appreciate his fascination with books. They wanted him to prioritize practical pursuits that would eventually land him a job in insurance.

At the age of ten, Bruen was fortunate enough to receive a library card as a gift. He eventually stumbled upon some discarded books in the library that he was permitted to keep. They had a significant influence on him, introducing the author to the many American writers whose works would eventually shape Bruen’s literary tastes and preferences.

Nonetheless, Bruen’s upbringing did not position him to succeed as a writer, which is why he became a teacher. Interestingly enough, the author was initially tempted to pursue acting. Following a successful audition, RADA offered him a place. But Bruen was unwilling to face the teasing he would encounter at home if he accepted RADA’s offer. So he stuck to English.

Once he got his Masters, the author began teaching English as a foreign language in other countries. The events that lured Bruen into publishing were far from pleasant.

During his time in Rio de Janeiro, a brawl at a bar landed Bruen in prison. The experience was so traumatic that Bruen rarely talks about it. He was released after four months.

After returning home, Bruen did not know what to do with himself. Writing entered the picture because the author thought that he could use the activity to heal his mental and emotional wounds. Around that same time, Bruen’s friends introduced him to a group of children they wanted to help.

But the kids were quite tough, and they hated books. Bruen decided to write a novel that would appeal to them. He did such an impressive job of capturing their voices that many of the author’s fans were surprised to learn, later on, that he was a white Irish man.

It took him a while to find his footing in publishing. Bruen’s books were unique because they featured European settings and yet the author wrote them using a style reminiscent of the American hard-boiled genre. Today, Bruen’s novels are more famous abroad than they are in Ireland.

Ken Bruen Awards

Bruen has won Shamus, Macavity, and Barry Awards. He has also received Edgar Award nominations.

Ken Bruen Books Into Movies

‘Blitz’ became a Jason Statham movie of the same name. It came out in 2011. ‘Merrick’ became the TV show ‘100 Code’. ‘London Boulevard’ became a 2010 film of the same name. It featured Keira Knightley and Colin Farrell.

Best Ken Bruen Books

The author’s stories are dark. They have been praised for their grim atmosphere. Some of Bruen’s best novels include:

The Guards: Jack Taylor’s life was over. Ireland’s Police Force had ejected him from its ranks. He had briefly tolerated notions of becoming Ireland’s first and best private investigator.

But that was during his sober moments. Alcohol had all but consumed him. As far as Jack was concerned, life had nothing of note to offer him. But then a dazzling woman walked into the bar and made a request. Naturally, Jack had to accept, though he had no idea what he had just signed up for.

The Killing of the Tinkers: Jack thought he could start over. When he left for London, he was sober. More importantly, he was determined to stay that way. But then life’s many trials shattered his dreams.

A year later, Jack is back in Galway. He has fallen back into his old habits. He can’t stop drinking or sniffing coke. When a gypsy walks into the bar, the investigator can tell that the man is a kindred spirit.

In the Gypsy’s eyes, Jack can see the same hopelessness he feels. This is why he has decided to help the man even though he has a feeling that doing so may bring more ruin into his life.

When Does The Next Ken Bruen book come out?

Ken Bruen doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is Galway Confidential and was released on March, 5th 2024. It is the newest book in the Jack Taylor Series.

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