Written by Graham Norton
From the bestselling author of Holding comes a masterly tale of secrets and ill-fated loves set on the coast of Ireland.
Dear Lonely Leinster Lady,
I’m not really sure how to begin . . .
The truth drifts out to sea, riding the waves out of sight. And then the tide turns.
Elizabeth Keane returns to Ireland after her mother’s death, intent only on wrapping up that dismal part of her life. There is nothing here for her; she wonders if there ever was. The house of her childhood is stuffed full of useless things, her mother’s presence already fading. And perhaps, had she not found the small stash of letters, the truth would never have come to light.
40 years earlier, a young woman stumbles from a remote stone house, the night quiet but for the tireless wind that circles her as she hurries further into the darkness away from the cliffs and the sea. She has no sense of where she is going, only that she must keep on.
This compelling new novel confirms Graham Norton’s status as a fresh, literary voice, bringing his clear-eyed understanding of human nature and its darkest flaws.
Skilfully Crafted and Deeply Perceptive! 
This is an accomplished piece of writing; the author weaves a fabulous tale!
Elizabeth Keane returns to her Irish roots on the death of her mother with the sole intention of clearing the house left to her then putting it up for sale, but events are never that easy and she gets much more than she bargained for. Coming across a box never seen before, Elizabeth finds herself finally on the verge of finding out about her missing father. This leads her into a bit of a mini-adventure into the Irish countryside and coast where, by way of a split story – present and past – we find out all about her mother’s younger days as well as Elizabeth’s life now.
This is an attention grabbing read; one of secrets and lies. Having enjoyed the author’s first novel, I can honestly say that I consider the calibre of writing in this second one to be far superior – obviously the result of experience. The result is a skilfully crafted and deeply perceptive tale set in rural Ireland which transports you there and really makes you care about each and every character. Along with the darker moments – and there are quite a few – there are flashes of humour added in which made me giggle. This is a complex story which unravels and reveals itself piece by piece, and it’s a rewarding read. By the time I got to the final page, all the questions were answered and the future wrapped up tightly. A truly interesting read, and one which I enjoyed from beginning to end. Absolutely recommended!
My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
Tags: family life, literary fiction
- Format: Kindle Edition
- File Size: 617 KB
- Print Length: 336 pages
- Publisher: Coronet
- Publication Date: 4 October 2018
- Purchase Links: Amazon UK
- Amazon US
Meet the Author
Graham Norton is one of the UK’s best loved broadcasters. He presents The Graham Norton Show on BBC1, has a weekly show on BBC Radio 2, and writes a column for the Telegraph. He is the winner of eight BAFTA awards. Born in Dublin and raised in West Cork, Norton now lives in London.
His debut novel HOLDING was a commercial and critical success, winning Norton the Irish Independent Popular Fiction award at the Bord Gáis Irish Book Awards in 2016.
Grace J Reviewerlady 