I enjoyed this second of the Luc Vanier crime novels.  While I don't love Luc Vanier in the way that I love Armand Gamache, I do appreciate and enjoy his darker and grittier tales.  

Set in Montreal once again, this time focussing on the Hochelaga district, Peter Kirby gets the atmosphere and locale pretty much bang on.  And this time, there's quite a bit of despair and darkness swirling around our hero, with the seemingly-hopeless case and the problems in his own personal life.  To be honest, while I don't mind gritty and rough, I could have done with a little less doom and gloom. Mind you, there is a dark side to many things Quebecois and Montrealais, so... I guess it makes sense.  *LOL*

So, all in all, a good read and one I can recommend if you like gritty police procedurals. 

I picked this up because I saw the author interviewed on our local news and I liked him.  :)

So it's a mystery set in Montreal, starring Police Inspector Luc Vanier and I loved seeing all the familiar places pop up in the book and the familiar Montreal attitudes and personalities.  It all felt nice and familiar.  

The mystery itself was fairly well plotted and kept me wondering until quite far along in the book.  I enjoyed the different characters,  good guys and bad guys - most of them were nicely fleshed out.  I also enjoyed the voice of the book.  Just enough introspection and thoughtfulness to make things interesting.  I do wonder, however, what it was that made Luc's wife pack up and leave.  I guess I have to read the next one to find out.  *LOL*

Anyway, a very enjoyable read for me.