Prophet Song

By: Paul Lynch

Narrated by: Gerry O'Brien

On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother of four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB on her step. Two officers from Ireland’s newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist.

Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and when her husband disappears, Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling.

How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind?

Exhilarating, terrifying and propulsive, Prophet Song is a work of breathtaking originality, offering a devastating vision of a country at war and a deeply human portrait of a mother’s fight to hold her family together.

2023, Booker Prize, Winner

2023, An Post Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year, Short-listed

2025, Dublin Literary Award, Long-listed

©2023 Paul Lynch (P)2023 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

'The comparisons are inevitable – Saramago, Orwell, McCarthy – but this novel will stand entirely on its own.' (Colum McCann, author of Apeirogon)

'Monumental ... You remember why fiction matters. It's hard to recall a more powerful novel in recent years.' (Samantha Harvey, author of The Western Wind)

'Prophet Song is a literary manifesto for empathy for those in need and a brilliant, haunting novel that should be placed into the hands of policymakers everywhere.' (The Guardian)

The best reader on Audible brought this terrifying and completely absorbing book to life.

After all that, an abrupt ending. I’ll have to ruminate upon that but for now I feel it was a little unsatisfying.

Gripping and tense

What a book. I was gripped with a permanent feeling of angst in chest whilst listening to this book. It is wonderfully written and even though you know that something ominous is happening, you struggle to come to terms with just how sinister it is. Much like Ilish, I found myself hoping for a better outcome even though I knew this was not to be.

No hay qué confiarse y dormirse ya que la libertad debe ser cuidada cada día, cada instante.

Me ha gustado el aviso a estar atentos a cualquier atentado contra nuestra libertad y paz. Debemos estar atentos y luchar contra las injusticias que suceden en el mundo. Si nos callamos Simplemente porque no nos afecta , Parra cuánto nos ataquen en n no va quedará nadie para ayudarnos

Harrowing but excellent

Beautifully performed, emotive, heartfelt and certainly harrowing. Throughly moved me and kept me cutting the grass for much longer than intended (ie) a page turner!

Powerful

Made me think about the danger of totalitarian government and the importance of being ready to argue against dogma.

A true prophet song

Poignant and visionary story about individual and public freedom today, in the past and in the future.

beautiful but very dark

A harrowing tale of a normal suburban family caught up in the descent of society into fascism and war. Brilliant narration, sublime prose and a worthy prize winner. However, if you are feeling emotionally vulnerable to start with, give it a miss as it is a very depressing story.

They don't give the Booker to just anyone.

Brilliant. Beautifully narrated. Hard going at times but not annoying. Beautiful writing about ugly ideas. Compelling and thought-provoking. I will buy the hard copy and read it, too.

Too Much

Too much pain and too much stillness. Not a pleasant read by any means. And i would not recommend if you are not in a good mental state.

It Can Happen Even Here

An amazingly human insight into the end of one’s world. Brilliant choice of words and thoughts.