Fresh new titles for a fresh new year—see First Flush for your reading menu
Do you have that clean note-book feeling? Ready to start the year with some brand new titles? First Flush is your number one resource for new Irish book releases. See which books will be on the shelves this month—search by genre, keyword, author or title—or just browse through our archives for some inspiration. Alongside our official Irish Bestseller Charts, all data is supplied by Nielsen Book.
Highly anticipated is an over-used term, but it’s the only one appropriate with regard to Colin Barrett’s new novel, Wild Houses, which is out later this month, described as a beautifully crafted, thrillingly-told story of two outsiders striving to find themselves as their worlds collapse in chaos and violence. Keep an eye out for our review from David Butler (spoiler, he enjoyed it).
Arriving too this month is Silent City by Sarah Davis-Goff (Tinder Press), the story of young warrior Orpen who must start a revolution if she and those she loves are to survive. A story of friendship, justice, and belonging, Silent City is a feminist, voice-driven take on leadership in dire times.
Sean Hewitt follows his exquisite memoir All Down Darkness Wide, and his first collection of poetry Tongues of Fire (which won the Laurel Prize in 2021) with a second collection, Rapture’s Road (Jonathan Cape).
As the mind wanders and becomes spectral, these poems forge their own unique path through the landscape. The road Hewitt takes us on is a sleepwalk into the nightwoods, a dream-state where nature is by turns regenerated and broken, and where the split self of the speaker is interrupted by a series of ghosts, memories and encounters.
January sees the publication of Three Little Birds (Atlantic), the new book from the mighty Sam Blake. When a skull is found in Lough Coyne, facial reconstruction expert Dr Carla Steele is drawn into a fourteen-year-old case – but not all cases are cold, as Carla discovers when she and DS Jack Maguire find the brutally murdered body of a local woman close to the water’s edge. Together with Carla’s partner, criminal psychologist Grace Franciosi, Carla and Jack uncover a tragic story with very dangerous and current implications.
Catherine Kirwan offers us suspense too, with A Lesson in Malice (Hachette). When an old university friend invites Finn Fitzpatrick to speak at a conference at her alma mater, Finn reluctantly agrees. Now working as a solicitor with a side interest in investigation, Finn is busy with her own troubles but feels she can’t say no to her former law school classmate. Even though she has no idea why she’s been invited to the conference, or to the exclusive dinner in the College President’s private dining room afterwards. Then, three days later, a body is discovered in the College grounds, and everyone who was at the President’s dinner is a murder suspect—including Finn.
Children’s books
This month see the publication of Stitch, by Padraig Kenny (Walker Books), described as a compelling, atmospheric and gothic Frankenstein-inspired adventure.
Stitch is not a monster – he’s a creation. He and his friend Henry Oaf were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre, and have spent all their days in a castle deep in the woods, far from humankind. But when the Professor dies and his pompous nephew comes to take over the laboratory, they soon find out that his sights are set not on scientific discovery, but personal glory—and Henry is his next experiment.
Non-fiction
Ellen Keane spent most of her teens uncomfortable with her limb difference. Hiding behind long-sleeved hoodies, she perfected poses in photographs and concealed her insecurities. How did she go from being a shy young girl to a strong, confident woman and gold-winning Paralympian?
Perfectly Imperfect (Gill Books) is for anyone struggling to embrace who they are. With anecdotes from her own life, practical advice, monthly check-ins and good-natured humour, Ellen dares you to let go of waiting until everything is perfect and, instead, embrace your imperfect, messy self just as you are.
These are just a selection of the titles out this month, see First Flush for the full menu, and here’s to a year of nourishing reading ahead.
