Bestselling author, Julie Parsons (Mary, Mary, I Saw You, The Hourglass), Wins Best Irish Crime Novel of the Year at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards.
“A powerful, compelling, and darkly chilling novel of violence, shame and deceit.”
On Sundays peace was restored. He would lie down, dream and remember. He would enjoy. And later on the bell would ring. He would get up and walk downstairs. He would open the front door. And his life would come to an end . . .
Garda Inspector Michael McLoughlin is trying to enjoy his retirement – doing a bit of PI work on the side, meeting up with former colleagues, fixing up a grand old house in a genteel Dublin suburb near the sea.
Then he discovers the body of his neighbour, a retired judge – brutally murdered, shot through the back of the neck, his face mutilated beyond recognition. McLoughlin finds himself drawn into the murky
past of the murdered judge, which leads him back to his own father’s killing, decades earlier, by the IRA.
In seeking the truth behind both crimes, a web of deceit, blackmail and fragile reputations comes to light, as McLoughlin’s investigation reveals the explosive circumstances linking both crimes – and dark secrets are discovered which would destroy the judge’s legendary family name.
REVIEWS
‘The Therapy House is clever, beautifully written and thoughtful…Parsons at her subtle, psychologically astute best. Well worth the wait.’ – Sunday Independent
‘The Therapy House, her first novel in nine years offers up a paean to her beloved home town…There is much to admire in this impressive return to form. Parsons writes crisply and there is a strong moral sensibility at work throughout, despite the extreme violence and the burgeoning body count…. Ireland, like Dun Laoghaire, has had its problems but in virtuous McLoughlin, the wonderful Gwen and love interest Elizabeth, Parsons holds out a possibility of redemption.’ – The Sunday Times
‘Julie Parsons was Irish Crime Fiction before there was Irish Crime Fiction…Set against a vividly rendered Dún Laoghaire of crumbling old Victorian houses and smart seafront apartments, the action unfolds during a heatwave, proceeding inexorably and violently to a complex and immensely satisfying climax…In the form of a gripping thriller, Parsons has given us an incendiary analysis of our history of violence in all its hypocrisy, vainglory and denial.’ – The Irish Times
‘Julie Parsons’s international legion of fans have had a long wait for her new novel…the wait was worth it…Her new novel shows her to be in cracking form as she re-introduces some characters from her previous mysteries – heroes and villains alike – and produces yet another page-turner.’ – Sunday Independent
‘Clever, complex…has a rhythm and power that lifts the reader along…reminded me at times of the great James Ellroy, as did the tortuous story line, explosions of shocking violence and unflinching exploration of the black heart of humanity.’ – Irish Independent
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Julie Parsons is one of Ireland’s most accomplished crime writers and was previously a radio and television producer at RTÉ. Her first novel in nine years, The Therapy House, is a fast-paced and multi-layered tale that heralds the return of an author with an impeccable track record, whose work has been published in over twenty countries and numerous languages.
