With Our Blessing

It's true what they say . . . revenge is sweet.

1975. A baby, minutes old, is forcibly taken from its devastated mother. 2010. The body of an elderly woman is found in a Dublin public park in the depths of winter.

Detective Inspector Tom Reynolds is working the case. He's convinced the murder is linked to historical events that took place in the notorious Magdalene Laundries. Reynolds and his team follow the trail to an isolated convent in the Irish countryside. But once inside, it becomes disturbingly clear that the killer is amongst them . . . and is determined to exact further vengeance for the sins of the past.

“Fiendishly clever . . . and a big fat twist is lobbed into the ending like a hand grenade”

Absolutely my comfort reading . . . the investigative team members are interesting and well-drawn - Ann Cleeves

Takes the traditional "country house mystery" and gives it an Irish twist. Atmospheric and compelling - Sinead Crowley, author of Can Anybody Help Me?

Jo Spain's vivid thriller explores the dark secrets from Ireland's past that continue to haunt Irish society today - Martin Sixsmith, author of Philomena

In a very strong year for Irish crime-fiction debuts, Jo Spain's With Our Blessing is among the most assured . . . The story is rooted in decades-old cruelty and abuse, but despite the vivid brutality with which Spain opens the novel the tale as a whole is a rather genteel affair, an old-fashioned harking back to Agatha Christie . . . The apparently cosy tone is only skin deep, however: With Our Blessing picks at the scabs of recent Irish history to reveal raw and gaping wounds - Irish Times

An uncomfortable read that delves into [a] country's dark secrets - Irish Independent

Brilliant! Fast paced, well researched and sensitive. Jo Spain is a sparking new talent - Irish Examiner

Spain's vivid thriller explores the dark secrets of Ireland's past that are a real-life situation haunting so many people within Irish society today - Irish Country Living

- Irish Sunday Independent

Jo Spain has worked as a journalist and a party advisor on the economy in the Irish parliament. With Our Blessing is her first novel and was one of seven books shortlisted in the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition 2015. Joanne lives in Dublin with her husband and their four young children.

It's true what they say . . . revenge is sweet. 1975. A baby, minutes old, is forcibly taken from its devastated mother. 2010. The body of an elderly woman is found in a Dublin public park in the depths of winter.Detective Inspector Tom Reynolds is working the case. He's convinced the murder is linked to historical events that took place in the notorious Magdalene Laundries. Reynolds and his team follow the trail to an isolated convent in the Irish countryside. But once inside, it becomes disturbingly clear that the killer is amongst them . . . and is determined to exact further vengeance for the sins of the past.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.