Hagstone

About the book

‘Wild, elemental… I adored it’ LOUISE KENNEDY

'Startling, engrossing, darkly playful' RODDY DOYLE

‘Intelligent, probing’ MAGGIE O'FARRELL

The haunting debut novel from beloved, Irish no. 1 bestselling author, Sinéad Gleeson.

The sea is steady for now. The land readies itself. What can be done with the woman on the cliff?

On a wild and rugged island cut off and isolated to some, artist Nell feels the island is her home. It is the source of inspiration for her art, rooted in landscape, folklore and the feminine. The mysterious Inions, a commune of women who have travelled there from all over the world, consider it a place of refuge and safety, of solace in nature.

All the islanders live alongside the strange murmurings that seem to emanate from within the depths of the island, a sound that is almost supernatural – a Summoning as the Inions call it. One day, a letter arrives at Nell’s door from the reclusive Inions who invite Nell into the commune for a commission to produce a magnificent art piece to celebrate their long history. In its creation, Nell will discover things about the community and about herself that will challenge everything she thought she knew.

Beautifully written, prescient and eerily haunting, Sinéad Gleeson’s fiction debut takes in the darker side of human nature and the mysteries of faith and the natural world. A novel from one of our most beloved literary voices, this is perfect for fans of Margaret Atwood and Sarah Moss.

‘A wonderfully surprising and totally original novel from a compelling voice’ Elaine Feeney, author of How to Build a Boat

'Gleeson's magnificent debut novel is that rare thing: a literary page-turner' Jennifer Higgie, author of The Other Side

'Startling, engrossing, darkly playful' Roddy Doyle, author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha

'A brilliant, gripping novel' Sara Baume, author of A Line Made By Walking