---
product_id: 545056835
title: "The Lock-Up Paperback – 1 January 2023"
brand: "john banville"
price: "B/.15"
currency: PAB
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.com.pa/products/545056835-the-lock-up-paperback-1-january-2023
store_origin: PA
region: Panama
---

# The Lock-Up Paperback – 1 January 2023

**Brand:** john banville
**Price:** B/.15
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Lock-Up Paperback – 1 January 2023 by john banville
- **How much does it cost?** B/.15 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.pa](https://www.desertcart.com.pa/products/545056835-the-lock-up-paperback-1-january-2023)

## Best For

- john banville enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted john banville brand quality
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## Description

Full description not available

## Images

![The Lock-Up Paperback – 1 January 2023 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91eiZRUZSqL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐ 3.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Interesting thriller
  

*by B***. on Reviewed in India on 1 September 2023*

Set in 1958 in Dublin, this is the story about Rosa Jacobs who is a young history scholar who has been found dead in her car. Everyone initially thinks it’s a suicide but pathologist Dr. Quirke and DI St. John Strafford thinks it’s a murder. Rosa’s sister, Molly, who is a journalist, also helps with the investigation.It seems that Rosa was friends with a powerful German family that arrived in Ireland under mysterious circumstances. As Quirke and Strafford investigate this case, their personal lives also become intertwined.This was an interesting thriller. I enjoyed the unlikely pair of Quirke and Strafford, and how even after having some internal disagreements between them they still investigate this case together. They made a good pair.However, I thought this book was kind of slow paced for my taste and was more character driven than plot driven. Also since both the lead characters were middle-aged men, who were often drunk, I also found it hard to relate to them or to enjoy their POVs.Overall, it was a decent thriller, albeit a bit slow paced. I’d definitely recommend this one if you like reading detective mystery thrillers!Please keep in mind it’s the fourth book in the Strafford series and this book has spoilers for the third book, April in Spain. Other than that, this book can be read as a standalone.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Old-school writing with chaotic characters!
  

*by M***D on Reviewed in India on 4 April 2023*

<i> "The thing about grief was that you could press upon it at it's sharpest points and blunt them, only for the bluntness to spread throughout the system and make it ache like one vast bruise." </i>.My Rating : 3.5/5 🌟🌟🌟✨.The Lock-up is a murder mystery set in 1950's and follows DI John Stafford and Dr.Quirke. From the beginning, the atmosphere and the dialogue transports you back to the time it's set in..This book started off with a very confusing event, but I really liked the chaotic nature of the characters and their flaws so openly discussed on the page. The alternate pov's between the characters provide some insight as to what they are personally dealing with, and how the case affects them as well. I'm going to be honest, it took a bit of time and a few chapters to get comfortable with the writing style for me, but once that was done, I was quite invested. The mystery element to the story takes a backseat when the characters that are introduced to us make *ahem* stupid and rash decisions..Coming to the story and character development, I felt like the pacing was a bit erratic and it took away the flow of reading for me. The murder investigation also took a backseat with so many characters and their personal prejudices as well. I wasn't a fan of any of the characters in this book (it's a surprise really) but I think Dr.Quirke got the better character arc. (Even if it was for the worse). Over-all, it was an enjoyable read, and I liked that epilogue (totally surprised me) and the ending was so much more satisfying than the entire story..Thank you so much Penguin India for the gifted copy of the book !

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    An Honest Review!
  

*by B***S on Reviewed in India on 17 April 2023*

In contrast to what I had anticipated, I found this novel to be rather slow-paced and character-driven, concentrating more on the drama that surrounded the individuals than the narrative itself. Also, I noted that the two primary characters, Quirke and Strafford, hardly ever spoke to one another, which left me feeling both intellectually and emotionally distant from them. This is not the book for you if you want a thriller with lots of action. This literary murder mystery has many insightful insights about post-war Ireland, such as the blatant antisemitism and the church’s role in supporting the Holocaust perpetrators. The book does have a murder at its core, but that is not its only goal.

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*Product available on Desertcart Panama*
*Store origin: PA*
*Last updated: 2026-02-24*