An Cosantóir

34 BOOKS The inaugural Spike Island Literary Festival takes place on September 02nd – 04th 2022. The theme of this new harbour festival is dedicated to crime writing, and it also provides an opportunity to visit this historical island which is the perfect location for inspiring writers of all stripes, with a dark history of four prisons over 400 years that have inspired many books over the years. The festival is sponsored by Cork County Council, Commodore Hotel, Bella Vista Hotel, Trigon Hotels, Fota Island Resort and Belvelly Castle. Attendees can further their knowledge and writing skills with a series of author talks and workshops, suited to all genres and storytellers. Every visitor will also enjoy very special access to all areas, with a 'writers tour' on arrival, which will focus on the criminals and crimes associated with this historic island. Tickets are now on sale for this unbelievable deep dive into writing and the art of storytelling, at Ireland's historic island. Island Manager John Crotty said: "We are extremely excited for this interesting and highly appropriate event on the island. As well as the incredi- ble speaking and workshop events, our guides cannot wait to take the attendees on a very special tour focused on the crimes and criminals associated with the island." This month's An Cosantóir Book Reviews features works by just three of the many incredible writers who are taking part this year, in what is surely going to prove to be a thriller. Author: Michelle Dunne Publisher: Bad Press Ink Limited (2022) ISBN: 1838457747 Pages: 372 Price: $16.95 BOOKS SPIKE ISLAND LITERARY FESTIVAL 2022 Book Reviews By SCPO Ruairí de Barra Spike Island Literary Festival. Photo provided By Spike Island The Invisible is the latest instalment of the Lindsey Ryan series from Michelle Dunne. A native of Cobh, Michelle is a veteran of Óglaigh na hÉireann and United Nations Peacekeeping. She has drawn on her experi- ences to create her thriller's troubled heroine, Lindsey Ryan, whose courage and grit are only matched by her knack of getting herself mixed up in dangerous places with dangerous people. This new book is set in the picturesque seaside town of Cobh, whose brightly coloured houses hide darker secrets. Strong themes of the injustices inflicted upon migrants and refugees, those who fall prey to pitiless traffickers and criminals, echo throughout the book, yet are handled so well by this skilled writer. This book follows Lindsey after her escapades in 'While Nobody is Watching', published by Bad Ink Press in 2020, as she and her best pal Frank, make a life as best they can near the harbour. Frank is a beloved character in the series, who, as Lindsey's service dog, helps her cope with her deep struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This a gripping tale, firmly in the unputdownable category, so don't miss joining Lindsey in this and future adventures, which rumour has it may be coming soon to bookstores (and screens!) near you. Tadgh Coakley is a multi-genre author & poet, and his second novel 'Whatever It Takes', which is a gritty and realistic crime fiction, is the work which brings this proud son of Mallow, Co. Cork onboard for the Spike Island Literary Festival. His central character Detective Garda Tim Collins is engaged in a titanic struggle with 'The Dom', a vicious and cunning Cork City crime boss. While this is on my holiday reading list, however, it is another of this uniquely talented author's books, 'The Game', which I shall review here. Having read an essay extract published in the Irish Times in June, I simply couldn't wait to read this work and you too should make it top of your list. I, like so many thousands of Irish peo- ple grew up in the GAA; our local community and the love of sport is deeply ingrained in us and we pass it to the next generation. It can be passionate and tribal; joy- ous and devastating; the essentially trivial pursued with all-consuming intensity. This unmissable work explores it all. It truly isn't often these days that you read a work which is so thoughtfully written, it can move one to tears. Entertaining, honest, and thoughtful writing which lingers with you in the days after and makes it one you will always remember. The Game is such a book. Author: Tadgh Coakley Publisher: Merrion Press (2022) ISBN: 9781785372971 Pages: 264 Price: €16.95 Photo By T Coakley

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