**Winner of the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award** **Shortlisted for the HWA Gold
Crown Award** **Shortlisted for the Winston Graham Historical Prize** **The instant Irish
Times Top Ten bestseller** A heartbreaking and life-affirming novel about small towns and
second chances - from the international bestselling author of Four Letters of Love 'I am
utterly obsessed with Niall Williams' Ann Patchett 'A rich and gorgeous book ' The Times
The 10 best historical fiction books of 2024 'Irresistible . A powerful pleasure' Karen Joy
Fowler 'Deeply compassionate ' Guardian 'Slow rich immaculate ... One of the most
affecting books I've ever read ' The Times 'A beautifully written novel about second chances
and familial love ' Observer 'A story brimming with kindness and courage' Mail on Sunday 'A
warm and life-affirming story about ordinary people going to extraordinary lengths' Irish Times
' Line by line it may be the most beautifully written novel I've read this year ' Washington
Post _____________________________________ Doctor Jack Troy was born and raised in the little
town of Faha but his responsibilities for the sick and his care for the dying mean he has
always been set apart from his community. A visit from the doctor is always a sign of bad
things to come. His eldest daughter Ronnie has grown up in her father's shadow and remains
there having missed her chance at real love - and passed up an offer of marriage from an
unsuitable man. But in the advent season of 1962 as the town readies itself for Christmas
Ronnie and Doctor Troy's lives are turned upside down when a baby is left in their care. As the
winter passes father and daughter's lives the understanding of their family and their role
in their community are changed forever. 'My own life feels richer having read it' Mary Beth
Keane 'A triumph ... There is so much to admire: the lyrical language how landscape and
destiny intertwine the complex bonds of community' Ron Rash
