EASTER HOLIDAY READS
Her Kind by Niamh Boyce (Penguin Ireland, approx €15, out April 4) This shines a light on the forgotten women of Irish history with a re-imagining of the true events of Alice Kyteler, who was accused of witchcraft in Kilkenny in 1324. A woman seeks refuge for herself and her daughter in the household of a childhood friend, and Alice gives her a new name and place as a servant. Petronelle soon realises the city is one of greed and suspicion – and with a dangerous grudge against Alice. An evocative follow-up to Boyce’s debut, The Herbalist.
Lanny by Max Porter (Faber & Faber, approx €12.99, out now) Robert and Jolie want their young son Lanny to develop his innate artistic abilities, so they find him a tutor – friendly, ageing local artist Pete. What his parents don’t know is that Lanny is an eccentric boy; he becomes obsessed with the legend of Dead Papa Toothwort. Or is it a legend? Suddenly, the child goes missing. As with Porter’s debut, this is more poem than prose, but his unique voice makes it truly special.
Other Words for Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin (Titan Books, approx €10.99, out April 2) Twins Mae and Rossa’s summer away from home becomes something extraordinary when they discover the house – and what lingers inside. Witches, the owl in the wall, the creatures that devour, and tragedy; when two women from the house suddenly go missing, no one knows why. Only the twins know about those fateful days – and they’ll never breathe a word. A haunting and beautiful literary novel, which lingers long after the final page.
The Garden of Lost and Found by Harriet Evans (Headline, approx €16.99, out April 18) In 1919, Sir Edward Horner destroys his famous painting shortly before his death. No one knows why the picture-perfect moment of his two children, playing in the garden of their magical Nightingale House, was burned by its creator. A century later, Horner’s great-granddaughter Juliet inherits the house. She’s determined to uncover the secrets of her family history.
The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan (Sphere, approx €13.99, out now) Following critically acclaimed The Ruin, this sees DS Cormac Reilly appear at a crime scene he should have never been at – only his girlfriend Emma happened to find the victim of a hit-and-run. She’s Carline Darcy, heir to Darcy Therapeutics, Ireland’s most successful pharmaceutical company. As evidence mounts, it’s clear Carline had ties to Emma, and Reilly grows increasingly uneasy – could Emma really be involved in her death? Gripping.