Book info

• Title Holding
• Author Graham Norton
• Year 2016
• Genre Contemporary

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ 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, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke - a former love of both Brid and Evelyn - 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.

Thoughts

I hadn’t realised Graham Norton had turned his hand to writing, but was glad to pick up the book and indulge in the mysteries of a quiet Irish village for a change. Following the story of an overweight sergeant in the depths of the countryside who finally has a crime to investigate, the book is by turns deeply involved and also sort of hands off.

It’s got an odd ebb and flow to it, with some great descriptions of the minutiae and then a sort of glossing over of the more important details, but that didn’t make it a bad read. I liked the mystery, and had no real idea what had happened all those years ago until just before it was revealed.

It does leave you with an overwhelming sad feeling though, no one really comes out of it with a happy ending, but I guess sometimes closure is the best you can hope for!

Rating: 3 / 5