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The Empty Room
Brian McGilloway
What do you do when your child disappears?
Pandora - Dora - Conlon wakes one morning to discover her 17-year old daughter Ellie, has not come home after a party.
The day Ellie disappears, Dora is alone as her husband Eamon has already left for the day in his job as a long-distance lorry driver. So Dora does the usual things: rings around Ellie's friends... but no one knows where she is. Her panic growing, Dora tries the local hospitals and art college where Ellie is a student - but then the police arrive on her doorstep with the news her daughter's handbag has been discovered dumped in a layby.
So begins Dora's ordeal of waiting and not knowing what has become of her girl. Eamon's lack of empathy and concern, Dora realises, is indicative of the state of their marriage, and left on her own, Dora begins to reassess everything she thought she knew about her family and her life. Increasingly isolated and disillusioned with the police investigation, Dora feels her grip on reality slipping as she takes it upon herself to find her daughter - even if it means tearing apart everything and everybody she had ever loved, and taking justice into her own hands.
Pandora - Dora - Conlon wakes one morning to discover her 17-year old daughter Ellie, has not come home after a party.
The day Ellie disappears, Dora is alone as her husband Eamon has already left for the day in his job as a long-distance lorry driver. So Dora does the usual things: rings around Ellie's friends... but no one knows where she is. Her panic growing, Dora tries the local hospitals and art college where Ellie is a student - but then the police arrive on her doorstep with the news her daughter's handbag has been discovered dumped in a layby.
So begins Dora's ordeal of waiting and not knowing what has become of her girl. Eamon's lack of empathy and concern, Dora realises, is indicative of the state of their marriage, and left on her own, Dora begins to reassess everything she thought she knew about her family and her life. Increasingly isolated and disillusioned with the police investigation, Dora feels her grip on reality slipping as she takes it upon herself to find her daughter - even if it means tearing apart everything and everybody she had ever loved, and taking justice into her own hands.
GENRE
Crime; Mystery; Police Procedural
UK PUBLICATION
March 2022
Crime; Mystery; Police Procedural
UK PUBLICATION
March 2022
Praise
"An utterly gripping and propulsive read, as one would expect from one of Ireland's finest thriller writers."
Irish Independent
"An emotionally-charged, slow-burning mystery, that will keep you hooked as it breaks your heart."
Best magazine
"The nightmare of a lost child will resonate with every parent - and McGilloway mines it perfectly, bringing us into the panicked mind of a mother who must also face up to the realisation that she's alone in her desperation. High tension and high emotion make this story a page turner."
Róisín Meaney
"The Empty Room surely secures Brian’s place as one of the best writers out there. Through Brian’s words, I felt everything Dora did, as though as I was going through it myself. The Empty Room is a thoughtful exploration of a mother struggling with a changed world. I didn’t want it to end, yet couldn’t tear myself away from the pages, such was the pull of the story. It’s been a couple of weeks since I finished it, and I find myself thinking about the characters regularly. An exceptional read!"
Chris McDonald
"A searing, thrilling and heartbreaking look at life, loss and revenge, expertly handled by a hugely talented storyteller."
Chris Whitaker
"A hugely compelling story of loss, grief and vengeance, The Empty Room is probably the best novel yet by one of our finest mystery writers. Unmissable."
John Connolly
Irish Independent
"An emotionally-charged, slow-burning mystery, that will keep you hooked as it breaks your heart."
Best magazine
"The nightmare of a lost child will resonate with every parent - and McGilloway mines it perfectly, bringing us into the panicked mind of a mother who must also face up to the realisation that she's alone in her desperation. High tension and high emotion make this story a page turner."
Róisín Meaney
"The Empty Room surely secures Brian’s place as one of the best writers out there. Through Brian’s words, I felt everything Dora did, as though as I was going through it myself. The Empty Room is a thoughtful exploration of a mother struggling with a changed world. I didn’t want it to end, yet couldn’t tear myself away from the pages, such was the pull of the story. It’s been a couple of weeks since I finished it, and I find myself thinking about the characters regularly. An exceptional read!"
Chris McDonald
"A searing, thrilling and heartbreaking look at life, loss and revenge, expertly handled by a hugely talented storyteller."
Chris Whitaker
"A hugely compelling story of loss, grief and vengeance, The Empty Room is probably the best novel yet by one of our finest mystery writers. Unmissable."
John Connolly
Also by Brian McGilloway
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Rights Sales for THE EMPTY ROOM
World English Language: Constable Books, Little Brown