John Blaine rides again. The smooth-talking gumshoe of Dublin's Northside, created by Vincent Banville, is back.
The fast-talking detective was resurrected this week in Dawson Street's Murder Ink bookshop, where friends and fans came to hear about the character's latest escapades. This latest book is called Cannon Law, published by New Island Books. (And a further adventure in novella form, which is aimed at the adult literacy market, will be published in January, Banville said. It is to be called An Accident Waiting to Happen).
Banville, author of the Blaine detective series, was present with his wife, R≤is∅n Banville. The former maths teacher at St Joseph's College in Fairview read from the book in deadpan manner. He thanked Julie Parsons, the novelist and former RT╔ producer, who launched the book, for "breaking the metaphorical bottle of champagne across my bow".
The author's younger sister, Vonnie Banville Evans, a writer as well, was there with her husband, Jim Evans, and their son, writer John Evans.
John Banville, the youngest of the three Banvilles, was there too with his son, Colm Banville (who works in the features department of The Irish Times). John said he has just finished his latest book, which is to be called Shroud and will be out next September, published by Picador.
Regina Nathan, whose husband, John Lynch, taught alongside Vincent Banville in the well-known Northside school, Joey's, was there too, with her younger sister, Angela Nathan and her mother, Breda Nathan. The soprano will be performing tonight at a Christmas concert in the University of Limerick.
Sally Mimnagh, of Easons, attended in a dual role - as herself and also as a named character in the new detective book.
The musical Eugene McEldowney, writer, journalist and singer, who in 1968 released an LP called James Connolly, the Irish Rebel, was there too. His new book, Stella's Story, which will be a companion book to the successful The Faloorie Man, will be out next year.
After that, we all dispersed because it was time to read.