Grange Abbey is the family saga of the Bannon construction dynasty, through the hard times and good, through recessions and growth, tragedy and success. Spanning generations, we see how James and his sons Frank, Simon and Paul come from humble beginnings to create a powerful construction empire and we also see the personal costs that success entails. It takes grit to build a dynasty. Do the Bannons have what it takes to maintain one?
Uncover the deadly secrets hidden behind impenetrable walls in A Carol for the Dead, the first Illaun Bowe crime thriller by bestselling master of Irish crime fiction Patrick Dunne December 16, dead midwinter. A light dusting of snow is falling over Newgrange, an innocent white to cover the dark soil. A small group is huddled around a shallow grave, dug out of the earth, one of them reaching out to touch what lies inside ... When an ancient female body is discovered in a peat bog close to the megalithic tomb of Newgrange, archaeologist Illaun Bowe hopes it is the career-boosting find she's been searching for. But the body she finds is like none she's encountered before – its eyes have been gouged out, its throat slashed and there is a sprinkling of holly berries in the earth beside it. Who could have subjected it to such a grotesque and violent end? Hoping the brutalised body will provide much-needed scientific data on the rituals of the pre-Celtic people who built the famous Boyne Valley necropolis, Illaun begins her research in an area full of supernatural history and ghost stories, encountering shady property developers, mysterious locals and, most interestingly of all, a secluded convent that doesn't appear on any maps. And then the murders begin. One by one, those who were with Illaun at the site are picked off: eyes gouged out, mouths stuffed with holly. It would seem that there are more than bodies buried in the ancient soil ... and someone is prepared to go to any lengths to safeguard them ... Gripping, clever and unpredictable, A Carol for the Dead is a captivating and suspense-filled thriller by internationally renowned crime writer Patrick Dunne. Contemporary murders are intertwined with ancient Celtic mysteries in an intoxicating web of spine-tingling conspiracies. You won't be able to put it down! The past always comes back to haunt us ... Praise for Patrick Dunne Dunne may be the next big thing in the thriller field out of Ireland. Irish Independent [Patrick Dunne], in his multi-layered novels, explores the darker recesses of the human psyche where his plots are powered by the mysterious and the macabre and include strange happenings in such places as 'plague pits' and cemeteries. The Meath Chronicle A Carol for the Dead is a very exciting crime novel; it is filled with unexpected turns, which keeps you on the edge of your seat until the surprising ending. The Crime House Archaeologist Illaun Bowe is the character charged with uncovering a complicated and many-layered plot which takes so many turns that it leaves the reader's head spinning. The Irish Emigrant ... attractively-drawn heroine Illaun Bowe neatly combines archaeology, medieval history and current sociological tensions in Ireland in an absorbing read. Irish Independent
In an age forgotten the realm of Marmia celebrates the end of a great conflict. With a new and much admired Emperor finally taking full control of the lands, and claiming his rightful seat within the mighty tower of Brimma, all looks hopeful. However, the celebratory mood soon falters when the realm is plunged into chaos by the will of a few power hungry men still eager to see the empire crumble. A dastardly plot is devised that has the potential to put an end to all hopes of prosperity. It falls upon a handful of diverse warriors to ensure Marmia doesn't succumb to the rebellious plan. They are all that stands between peace and war.
In this twelfth Luke Tremayne adventure of political intrigue, fast action, and multiple murder mysteries, Cromwells most ruthless agent has to adjust to life-changing events. His leader, Englands ruler, Oliver Cromwell, is dead, and the army that kept England united and secure is disintegrating. Luke resigns from government service, marries a vivacious widow, takes up a vast estate in North Yorkshire, and is appointed as a magistrate for the area. On his arrival in Yorkshire, Luke immediately confronts a problem. The steward who was to hand over the manor to him disappears on the eve of his arrival, and in trying to solve this mystery, he becomes obsessed with two cold casesthe murder of a young girl and the destruction of a neighboring hamlet by fire. These issues are soon overshadowed by a series of murders and more disappearances in which Luke looks for a motive in the intense sectarian violence against Catholics, a possible vendetta against manorial officials, the general criminality and lawlessness of the region, and the flawed personalities of several leading figures. Lukes investigation is complicated by the divided nature of the community; a former royalist, now brigand, who controls a criminal network dominating the moors; the threat and eventuality of a royalist conspiracy and uprising; the existence of a pagan cult; and a popular and powerful witch. Luke has to face a bevy of powerful womensome of whom are determined to confront the violence against women and the abuse of children that pervades the dale. Unexpectedly, Luke receives a letter from the king in exile and, for a short period, is drawn back into high politics as rival generals compete for control of the country and royalists negotiate the reinstatement of monarchy.
