Alice Ryan

A witty and warm debut novel from a young Irish writer. A story of family, grief, and the ways we come together when all seems lost.

'There's been a little incident...'

Molly Black has disappeared. She's been a bit flighty since her parents died (sure, hadn't she run off with a tree surgeon that time?) but this time, or so says her hastily written leaving note, she's gone for good.

That's why the whole Black clan - from Granny perched on the printer all the way through to Killian on Zoom from Sydney - is huddled together in the back room of Uncle John's semi-D in the Dublin suburbs, arguing over what to do.

Cousin Bobby's having a hard enough time of it as it is, convincing his family he's happy single and childless. Lady V reckons this is all much too much fuss over a thirty year old. And Uncle Danny knows all too well how it feels to be lost with no one trying to find you.

But Uncle John is determined never to lose anyone again. Especially not his niece, who is more like her mum than she realises.