Shellybanks

A novel of buried secrets, unimaginable trauma and how the love of family can pull you through to a brighter future from Louise Milligan, bestselling author of Pheasants Nest.

On the sands of Shellybanks, where tides can quickly turn treacherous, journalist Kate Delaney once nearly drowned. Years later, reeling from a violent crime that has upended her life in Melbourne, she returns to Dublin to comfort her beloved aunt Dolores-only to discover Dolores has her own buried trauma.

As a teenager, Dolores was drawn into a disturbing religious movement that stole her youth, her freedom, and so much more. With Kate’s help, she is determined to confront the powerful network that made her endure years of silence and shame.

Shellybanks is a haunting tale of secrecy and survival, charting how two women find strength in each other as they reckon with Ireland’s hidden histories and the scars that endure across generations.

Praise for Pheasants Nest:

‘A compelling story, written with tautness and wit.’ Annabel Crabb

‘A gripping, sinister-yet also wryly funny and realistic-crime thriller.’ Jane Caro

‘A crime novel that could only be written by a fine journalist-so original, funny and true.’ David Marr

‘Wry observations of popular culture and Australian foibles … I simply didn’t want the book to end given the sheer delight of the storytelling.’ The Age