A dark tale of Irish provincial life reminiscent of The Butcher Boy, Cork author Ciaran Collins’ debut novel The Gamal has already generated a bit of a buzz, with the likes of Edna O’Brien and Colum McCann among those to have offered their endorsements so far. Narrated by puckish young Charlie, who is writing the tale as a form of therapy, The Gamal concerns star-crossed young couple Sinead and James, who run into tragedy when a dark fate befalls Sinead late one night.

The Gamal is out now, published by Bloomsbury.