Holding

Holding: Graham Norton’s beloved, best-selling debut novel

‘Deeply accomplished, with brilliantly observed, entertaining characters and an atmospheric setting’
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

‘A beautiful piece of writing’
KATHY BURKE

‘A gripping, humane drama’
SUNDAY TIMES

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled.

SERGEANT P J COLLINS hasn’t always been this overweight; mother of two BRID RIORDAN hasn’t always been an alcoholic; and elegant EVELYN ROSS hasn’t always felt that her life was a total waste. So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, the village’s dark past begins to unravel.

As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community’s worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.

‘Wonderfully perceptive’
DAILY MAIL

‘Charming . . . A gentle comic crime story’
GUARDIAN

‘At times heartbreaking, at others snortingly funny’
STYLIST


Readers adore Holding

‘A masterclass in creating characters’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘It’s not often a book can make you laugh and cry in the space of a few sentences’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘A wonderful piece of storytelling and exquisite characterisation’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Will keep you turning pages late into the night’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐