Wild Houses
ABOUT
THE BOOK
As Ballina prepares for its biggest weekend of the year, the simmering feud between small-time dealer, Cillian English, and County Mayo’s fraternal enforcers, Gabe and Sketch Ferdia, spills over into violence and an ugly ultimatum. When the reclusive Dev answers his door on Friday night he finds Doll – Cillian’s teenage brother – in the clutches of Gabe and Sketch. Jostled by his nefarious cousins and goaded by his dead mother’s dog, Dev is drawn headlong into the Ferdias’ revenge fantasy. Meanwhile, hungover and plagued by ghosts of her own, Nicky sets out on a feverish mission to save her boyfriend Doll, even as she questions her future in Ballina.
NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS
A hugely impressive first novel from the acclaimed short story writer. The discipline of the short story writer is evident in every page and every elegantly crafted sentence. A beautifully written and lived in story with characters that resonate throughout, this much enjoyed novel is a triumph.