Sad bastard - Hugo Hamilton

Garda Pat Coyne - aka 'Mr Suicide' - is back and refusing to be healed. The damaged idealist is recovering from a traumatic event in the course of his duty which has left him in deep shock. Coyne is undergoing counselling, unable to return to work. His mother-in-law prays for him. His wife Carmel tries to heal him. She's out there healing people who are not even ill in the first place, and with the most bizarre techniques. But Coyne is a reluctant patient. He believes the problem is with Ireland. He gives a running psychonalysis of his country where people can't even laugh properly any more. And Coyne has his self-appointed mission to rescue a young woman who draws him into dangerous territory where he feels he has discovered the perfect crime.