JOHN BANVILLE was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1945. He is the author of twenty novels, including The Book of Evidence, The Sea, winner of the 2005 Man Booker Prize, and, most recently, the bestselling crime novels Snow and April in Spain, both of which were shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger Award. Other major prizes he has won include the Franz Kafka Prize, the Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Irish Literature and the Prince of Asturias Award. He lives in Dublin.

The sumptuous, propulsive, sun-kissed follow up to the bestselling Snow, from the Booker Prize winning author.

THE LOCK-UP - A THRILLING NEW STRAFFORD AND QUIRKE MYSTERY - IS AVAILABLE NOW FOR PRE-ORDER

The sumptuous, propulsive, sun-kissed follow up to the bestselling Snow, from the Booker Prize winning author

'He wanted to know who she was, and why he was convinced he had some unremembered connection with her. It was as simple as that. But he knew it wasn't. It wasn't simple at all.'

When Dublin pathologist Quirke glimpses a familiar face while on holiday with his wife, it's hard, at first, to tell whether his imagination is just running away with him. Could she really be who he thinks she is, and have a connection with a crime that nearly brought ruin to an Irish political dynasty?

Unable to ignore his instincts, Quirke makes a call back home and Detective St John Strafford is soon dispatched to Spain. But he's not the only one on route: as a terrifying hitman hunts down his prey, they are all set for a brutal showdown.

Praise for Snow:

'Superb ... crime fiction for the connoisseur.' The Times
'Outstanding.' Irish Independent
'Exquisite.' Daily Mail
'Hypnotic.' Financial Times
'Compelling.' Sunday Times
'Superb to the last drop.' Independent