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This Plague of Souls

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This Plague of Souls

By: Mike McCormack
Narrated by: Dan Murphy
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How do you rebuild the world? How do you put it back together?

Nealon returns to his family home in Ireland for the first time in years, only to be greeted by a completely empty house. No heat or light, no furniture, no sign of his wife or child anywhere. It seems the world has forgotten that he even existed.

The one exception is a persistent caller on the telephone, someone who seems to know everything about Nealon’s life, his recent bother with the law and, more importantly, what has happened to his family. All Nealon needs to do is talk with him. But the more he talks the closer Nealon gets to the same trouble he was in years ago, tangled in the very crimes of which he claims to be innocent.

Part roman noir, part metaphysical thriller, This Plague of Souls is a story for these fractured times, dealing with how we might mend the world and the story of a man who would let the world go to hell if he could keep his family together.

©2023 Mike McCormack (P)2023 Canongate Books Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Metaphysical & Visionary Psychological Fiction Scary
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Critic reviews

'This Plague of Souls is written in perfectly-pitched cadences. It captures with exquisite care a man ambushed by loss and fear, by hovering forces that are mysterious and otherworldly and beyond his control. It further establishes Mike McCormack as one of the best novelists writing now.' (COLM TÓIBÍN)

'This is the reason Mike McCormack is one of Ireland's best-loved novelists; he is the most modestly brilliant writer we have. His delicate abstractions are woven from the ordinary and domestic - both metaphysical and moving, McCormack's work asks the big questions about our small lives.' (ANNE ENRIGHT)

'This is a darkly marvellous novel: at once intimate, domestic and poignant, then speculative, hard-boiled and wild. That McCormack can be so convincing, so skilled in both registers is remarkable. That he can do it concurrently is genius.' (LISA McINERNEY)
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Absolutely loved this book. Thoughtful and nuanced, demanding engagement by the listener but never a hard listen. Lovely voice performance as well… Highly recommended for those who like their novels philosophical and written with beautiful prose…

Beautiful and enigmatic novel

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The story is well written and I loved the voice. Sounds like a bit of a Limerick accent! This is a great listen for a long drive around rural Ireland!

Really enjoyed this!

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