The Footman

By A O’Connor

Poolbeg

With its country mansions, love affairs and scandals, The Footman by A O’Connor is the perfect read for all you Downton Abbey fans. Set in the stately home of Cliffenden, Co Waterford, in 1930s’ Ireland, the story of this big, old house is engrossing and imaginative. Having left school the previous summer but unable to find work since, 17-year-old Joe Grady becomes a footman at the nearby estate owned by the glamorous Fullerton family. Full of innocence, Joe is enthralled by the intrigue and scandal above the stairs, and soon becomes a favourite of the daughter of the house, Cassie. The pressure is on Cassie to marry American banker Wally Stanton, but she is having a secret affair with the unsuitable Bowden Grey.

Tall, dark and handsome, Cassie cannot help falling for Bowden. When their affair is discovered in disgraceful circumstances, the lovers are banned from seeing each other. Joe puts his job on the line by becoming a messenger between them, until he finds himself making a choice that will change the lives of everyone at Cliffenden forever. The book then fast-forwards to decades later, when Joe has achieved great success as a barrister. When he hears of Cassie’s arrest for a sensational crime, Joe sets out to discover what happened to her in the years since he left. He realises his actions at Cliffenden set off a chain of events that led to murder. But is Cassie guilty? The Footman is a skilfully written story that will keep you gripped until the very last page.

An Oldish Guide to Wealth

By Eileen Duggan

Shackleton

Publishing

It’s true what they say, wisdom comes with age, and Eileen Duggan’s new book An Oldish Guide to Wealth is proof of this famous saying. This is the heart-warming story of Clare Kiteen’s extraordinary relationship with her grandmother, Granny Ellie. At 93 years old, this woman knows exactly what life is all about. She combines the beauty and grace of old age with the wisdom and understanding of a lifetimes worth of experience. Whenever Clare has a question, she runs to her grandmother for the most open and honest answers.

Find out what really matters in life as Granny Ellie shares her insights into growing up. A finalist in this year’s international Indie Excellence Book Awards, The Oldish Guide to Wealth mirrors the experiences and mistakes that we all make in life, and anyone with an honest mind and open heart will appreciate this book.

Between Sisters

By Cathy Kelly

Orion

Abandoned by their mother and raised by their grandmother, Between Sisters is the story of Coco and Cassie as they both reach turning points in their adult lives. Set in a Dublin suburb, the author looks at what it takes for a mother to walk out on her own two children, and how this abandonment still affects the sisters to this day. Their grandmother, Pearl, has always taken good care of them and she continues to watch over them both from her little house tucked away in Delaney Square.

On the outside, Cassie appears to have the perfect life. She spends her days running after her two teenage daughters, being a devoted wife and a dutiful daughter-in-law, but it’s left her so exhausted that wine o’clock comes a little earlier each afternoon. She puts on a brave face for her family and friends, but the cracks in her marriage are slowly beginning to show.

Coco, on the other hand, has shied away from commitment since her last proper relationship over four years ago. Men only complicate things and she’s got enough to contend with in running her own vintage dress store in town. However, her life changes drastically when something awful happens to her best friend. Will the sisters be able to cope? How does the past still influence their present decisions and relationships? Anyone with a sister will easily relate to the powerful bond between Coco and Cassie, who are there for each other no matter what. Between Sisters is far from a light and cheerful read, but it is a heart-warming story about real life people who make mistakes and the ties that hold a family together.