The searing novel from the author of The Spinning Heart, The Thing About December and From a Low and Quiet Sea

From the twice Man Booker longlisted author of From a Low and Quiet Sea

‘Poetic, powerful and heart-rending’ The Times

‘An exquisite account of womanhood, friendship, prejudice and tradition that is both intimate in scale and awesome in achievement’ Irish Independent

Melody Shee is alone and in trouble. Her husband doesn’t take her news too well. She can’t tell her father yet because he’s a good man and this could break him. She’s trying to stay in the moment, but the future is looming - larger by the day - while the past won’t let her go. What she did to Breedie Flynn all those years ago still haunts her. It’s a good thing that she meets Mary Crothery when she does. Mary is a young Traveller woman, and she knows more about Melody than she lets on. She might just save Melody’s life.

‘A joy to read, for all that it breaks your heart’ Independent

‘One of the finest writers working in Ireland today … worthy of Greek Drama’ Guardian

‘A stunning piece of work, utterly truthful and emotionally powerful’ Joseph O'Connor

‘Work of genius … I was entranced by it. Buckled by it’ Sebastian Barry