Nóra Leahy has lost her daughter and her husband in the same year, and is now burdened with the care of her four-year-old grandson, Micheál. The boy cannot walk, or speak, and Nora, mistrustful of the tongues of gossips, has kept the child hidden from those who might see in his deformity evidence of otherworldly interference.

Unable to care for the child alone, Nóra hires a fourteen-year-old servant girl, Mary, who soon hears the whispers in the valley about the blasted creature causing grief to fall upon the widow's house.

Alone, hedged in by rumour, Mary and her mistress seek out the only person in the valley who might be able to help Micheál. For although her neighbours are wary of her, it is said that old Nance Roche has the knowledge. That she consorts with Them, the Good People. And that only she can return those whom they have taken ...

Read this along with my bookgroup. Not as enjoyable for me as Burial Rites.
Making available for the OZVBB.

Requested from the OZVBB.

Arrived today. Thank you.

I loved the writing and the character descriptions were excellent. Too much misery and hopelessness for me to say I enjoyed the storyline.

Into the Aussie Bookbag

Received in a Book Bag all the way from the Northern Territory.