Photojournalist Hanna Troy is killing time on a summer walkabout in the city. As the afternoon progresses, her reflections unravel a raw, sometimes sensuous story of darkness and light. It explores a failing relationship, the anguish of a professional trying to become a mother and the complexities of a young and outspoken woman in Ireland’s somewhat repressed 1980s. Considering the experiences of her contemporaries and evoking family events long past that still resonate, Hanna is determined that her own resilience will overcome the challenges she faces.

When The Light Makers was first published it received widespread acclaim, with critics describing Mary O'Donnell’s debut as ‘compelling’, ‘powerful’ and ‘erotic’. It rated in the Irish best seller listings for weeks and became the Sunday Tribune’s choice as ‘Best New Irish Novel of 1992.’ This is the novel’s second edition.