Holding

A Novel

By: Graham Norton

Narrated by: Graham Norton

A New York Times bestseller

From Graham Norton—the BAFTA Award–winning and hugely popular BBC America television host—comes a charming debut novel set in an idyllic Irish village where a bumbling investigator has to sort through decades of gossip and secrets to solve a mysterious crime. “With its tale of provincial life, gimlet-eyed spinsters, and thwarted love…it feels almost like a Miss Marple mystery written by Colm Tóibín” (The New York Times).

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama, and yet its inhabitants are troubled: Sergeant P.J. Collins hasn’t always been this overweight; Brid Riordan, a mother of two, hasn’t always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn’t always felt that her life was a total waste.

So when human remains—suspected to be those of Tommy Burke, a former lover of both Brid and Evelyn—are discovered on an old farm, the village’s dark past begins to unravel. As a frustrated P.J. struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his professional life, he unearths a community’s worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regrets.

Darkly comic, at times profoundly sad, and “especially inviting because of its tongue-in-cheek wit” (Kirkus Reviews), Holding is a masterful debut. Graham Norton employs his acerbic humor to breathe life into a host of lovable characters, and explore—with searing honesty—the complexities and contradictions that make us human.

enjoyable listen

I love the narrator, that was a good story and the characters were a bit different I would recommend this book on audible

I LOVED this book.

I don't give stellar reviews loosely. By comparison, I just gave my last Anne Rice novel 3 stars. Bored me to death.

I HIGHLY recommend this book. The story was compelling, suspenseful and sweet and the performance was spot on.

Just loved it.

Endearing new hero -hope to see more of him

Quick, tight, pleasing little Irish-village mystery of unidentified old bones and long-held secrets and loves, enlivened by a fat, sweaty police sergeant with a sharp mind and open heart. The narration was excellent, and I hope to see more books featuring “PJ.”

Great listen!

I enjoy Graham Norton on BBC America & his book did not disappoint!! Parts were laugh out loud funny and I think he let his Irish accent shine! I can't imagine listening to anyone else red this book! I recommend & look forward to more fiction from this author

Wonderful!

Lots of humor and great character development is in this story about a mystery in a little village. There were so many clever twists and turns.

The narrator could not have been better. He was perfect for this book.

I loved it and will look for more by this author