A Keeper
The Sunday Times Bestseller
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4.3 • 327 Ratings
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- £4.99
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
'Atmospheric, creepy and impossible to put down.' the TIMES
'A compelling and moving story, expertly told, that will draw you in and keep you in its grip until the last page.' DAILY EXPRESS
'Magnificent ... his writing is evocative and perfect. His grasp of human loneliness and longing is beautiful and comforting.' MARIAN KEYES
'I raved about Holding two years ago ... A Keeper is even better. A powerful, very sad story, beautiful writing, two time frames that are perfectly balanced. Outstanding. Will easily be one of my books of 2018.' JOHN BOYNE
'A gripping, thoughtful tale about the search for identity, belonging and self-possession.' OBSERVER
'Moving and darkly funny.' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
'Smart, well-written and thoroughly entertaining.' IRISH INDEPENDENT
'It's a sad and lovely book, brimful of tenderness and compassion, where the revelations of the past upturn the perceptions of the present.' SUNDAY EXPRESS
'Charming and tender, a complete joy.' SUNDAY MIRROR
'Perfectly crafted, a beautiful, gripping account of Irish memory and deceit. A terrific achievement.' ANDREW O'HAGAN
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.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Graham Norton’s wit and playfulness have made him a national treasure as a DJ and talk-show host. However the comedian’s dazzling fiction writing has a darker edge. His second novel takes us to Ireland, where New York-based lecturer Elizabeth Keane attends her mother’s funeral and stumbles upon unsettling family secrets. Travelling between the past and present, the novel’s chapters present an achingly moving portrait of a mother’s love and resilience. Norton fills each page with intrigue, transporting us to fictional Muirinish and Buncarragh with his evocative prose of the wild surroundings and secrets of the mysterious Castle House.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
At the start of this engrossing tale of love gone wrong from British author Norton (Holding), Elizabeth Keane a New York divorc e with a 17-year-old son, Zach returns to her childhood home in Buncarragh, Ireland, after the death of her mother, Patricia. While going through her mother's possessions, Elizabeth discovers a box containing love letters written to her mother from her father, Edward Foley. All Elizabeth was previously told about her father is that Patricia left home to visit Edward and, after months without communicating with family or friends, returned widowed with an infant, Elizabeth. When her mother's solicitor informs Elizabeth that she has inherited Castle House, the Foley family manse, she decides to visit there to see what she can learn about her father. Talking to people who knew Edward, she learns more about her mother's tragic love affair with him and past misdeeds. Meanwhile, Elizabeth's relationship with Zach is put to the test as secrets he has been withholding from her are gradually revealed. Norton subtly portrays how Elizabeth's understanding of her past and present undergoes fundamental change. Only marginally a mystery, this one will appeal to fans of sensitive character studies.
Customer Reviews
Gripping
An accomplished telling of a gripping tale. Couldn’t put it down, so another day of failing to do the chores!
Loved it
This book has some twists and turns to keep a reader interested. Graham is very good at describing the characters so I felt totally invested in them.
A Keeper by Graham Norton
Well I was a bit pessimistic but I got straight into this book and loved it I didn’t want it to end can’t wait to read the next