Wild Houses

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

The remarkable, funny and thrilling debut novel from the acclaimed, prize-winning author of the short story collections, Young Skins and Homesickness

As Ballina prepares for its biggest weekend of the year, the simmering feud between small-time dealer, Cillian English, and County Mayo's fraternal 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 bruised, sullen, teenage brother - in the clutches of Gabe and Sketch. Jostled by his nefarious cousins, goaded by his dead mother's dog and struck by spinning lights, Dev is unwillingly drawn headlong into the Ferdias' revenge fantasy.

Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Nicky can't 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.

The beautifully crafted, thrillingly-told story of two outsiders striving to find themselves as their worlds collapse in chaos and violence, Wild Houses is the long-anticipated debut novel from award-winning and critically-acclaimed short story writer, Colin Barrett.


©2024 Colin Barrett (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critics Review

  • This strange and beautiful novel brings to life an entire world. Wild Houses is a book not just to read but to live inside

    Sally Rooney, author of Normal People

  • Colin Barrett quietly, insistently, writes so deeply into his characters you could reach out and touch them. Wild Houses is a gift of true storytelling and Barrett’s talent burns up the page

    Anne Enright, author of The Wren, The Wren

  • Wild Houses is a wonder of a novel – crackling with tension and gifted with fine, strong language. Colin Barrett is a superb storyteller, and this is a tale for the ages

    Jon McGregor, author of Reservoir 13

  • Sharp and affecting, expansive and playful, Barrett has written a gorgeous novel filled with gorgeous sentences. A dream to read, and no doubt destined to be one of the novels of the year.’

    Michael Magee

  • Vivid, controlled, very funny, and very moving – Barrett has the kind of pure writing chops that are vanishingly rare

    Kevin Barry, author of Night Boat to Tangier

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