Abstainer -

“McGuire's powerful, vivid, convincing storytelling of retribution is never less than compulsive, gripping the reader by the throat... This is a period historical thriller that packs one hell of a punch.” Goodreads · 5 years ago

: Critics from The New York Times note the ending is "jarring, heartbreaking—and brilliant".

In the context of habit formation, Gretchen Rubin’s framework classifies individuals as either or Moderators . The Abstainer Profile : abstainer

feel "panicky" at the thought of "never" having something and actually find that occasional indulgence strengthens their resolve. The Abstainer: A Novel: 9780593133873: McGuire, Ian: Books

: The story follows an Irish-American Civil War veteran, Stephen Doyle, seeking vengeance against British rule, and his adversary, Head Constable James O’Connor, who is struggling with his own "demons" and past tragedies. The Abstainer Profile : feel "panicky" at the

This novel is widely praised as a gripping, atmospheric historical thriller set in 19th-century Manchester.

: Reviewers from The Guardian describe the writing as having the "vividness and economy of a screenplay," likening its grit and tension to " The Wire by gaslight ". Strengths : : Reviewers from The Guardian describe the writing

“The conclusion seems inevitable, somehow even more so when it turned out not to be the one I’d been anticipating... The scene is jarring, heartbreaking—and brilliant.” The New York Times · 5 years ago Personality Review: Are You an Abstainer?