Wild Houses: One of the Observer''s Debut Novels of 2024
English
By (author): Colin Barrett
**LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2024**
Sublime A thrillingly moreish novel SUNDAY TIMES
Beautifulbrings to life an entire world SALLY ROONEY
A small-town feud. A madcap kidnapping. A wild weekend to change everybodys lives
As Ballina prepares for its biggest weekend of the year, the simmering feud between small-time drug-dealer, Cillian English, and County Mayos enforcers, Gabe and Sketch Ferdia, spills over into violence and an ugly ultimatum.
When the reclusive Dev answers his door on Friday night he finds Doll Cillian's teenage brother in the clutches of Gabe and Sketch. Jostled by his nefarious cousins and goaded by his dead mothers dog, Dev is drawn headlong into the Ferdias revenge fantasy.
Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Nicky cant shake the feeling something bad has happened to her boyfriend Doll. Hungover, reeling from a fractious Friday night and plagued by ghosts of her own, Nicky sets out on a feverish mission to save Doll, even as she questions her future in Ballina.
AN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT NOVELIST 2024
A whole worldis captured for the reader
COLM TÓIBÍN, author of Long Island
One of the novels of the year
DAILY MAIL
A gift of true storytellingBarretts talent burns up the page
ANNE ENRIGHT, author of The Wren, The Wren
A heartbreaker of a debut novel
NEW YORK TIMES