The award-winning author of the Jack Taylor series, Ken Bruen, has sadly passed away.
The acclaimed Irish Crime writer died on March 29th, 2025, in his hometown of Galway, where he was born on January 3rd, 1951.
Ken was 74.
Before becoming a writer, Ken Bruen worked as an English teacher on various continents, such as South America, Asia, and Africa.
He was best known for the Jack Taylor series, which featured a former Garda turned private investigator navigating the dark underbelly of Galway.
The first book in the series, “The Guards”, was released in 2001. The most recent and potentially final novel in the series, “Galway’s Edge”, was released earlier this month.
The Jack Taylor series had been adapted to television and aired for three seasons, starring Iain Glen as the lead character.
Throughout his prolific career, Bruen authored over 50 books, including the Inspector Brant series and standalone novels such as “London Boulevard,” which was adapted into a 2010 film starring Keira Knightley and Colin Farrell.
Ken Bruen received numerous accolades during his literary career. He was a multiple-time winner of the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel, with the books “The Guards” and “The Dramatist”. He also received Best Mystery Novel at the Macavity Awards for his books “The Killing of the Tinkers”, and “Tower”.
Ken Bruen’s passing marks a significant loss to the literary world. He is survived by his wife, Phyl Kennedy, and their daughter, Grace. His legacy will endure through his influential body of work, which continues to inspire and engage readers worldwide.
He will be missed.