Grace Keane

Freelance journalist & RTÉ Culture book critic

Philip Pullman: a gripping and exciting tale in The Book Of Dust

Reviewed: The Book Of Dust by Philip Pullman

22 years since readers were first introduced to His Dark Materials Trilogy, Philip Pullman returns to his alternative universe with The Book of Dust, Volume One, La Belle Sauvage which is just as gripping and exciting as any of the previous volumes.

Books • 20 Dec 17

Sofi Oksanen: winner of Prix Femina, Budapest Grand Prize and the European Book Prize. her new novel concerns supernatural hair.

Reviewed: Norma by Sofi Oksanen

The tightly bound layers of material atop Norma's head conceal more than a bad hair day, they conceal her most precious secret- her supernatural hair. Grace Keane reviews a very strange novel from Finnish-Estonian writer Sofi Oksanen.

Book Review • 28 Nov 17

Paul Lynch: his third novel Grace has been included as Editor's Choice at the New York Times

Reviewed: Grace by Paul Lynch

Grace Keane welcomes Paul Lynch's Grace, a gritty coming-of-age story, set during the Irish Famine.

Book Review • 07 Nov 17

Ann O'Loughlin: 'Storytelling that readers of an older vintage may appreciate.'

Reviewed: The Ludlow Ladies Society by Ann O'Loughlin

A compelling story of love, loss, understanding and forgiveness The Ludlow Ladies Society is a tender tale sure to pull at the heart strings, writes Grace Keane.

Books • 12 Oct 17

Karen Perry: Karen Gillece and Paul Perry come together for the fourth in a series of psychological thrillers.

Reviewed: Can You Keep A Secret? by Karen Perry

Can You Keep a Secret is the fourth fictional love-child of Karen Gillece and Paul Perry, who write together as 'Karen Perry.' Grace Keane was enchanted by the story of Thornbury, the grand Kilkenny manor at the heart of this smart psychological thriller.

Books • 14 Sep 17

Caroline Grace-Cassidy: easy and light-hearted read

Review: Caroline Grace-Cassidy's Importance of Being Me

Sweet characters, but a sour plot is Grace Keane's pithy summary of Caroline Grace-Cassidy's novel, The Importance of Being Me.

Books • 14 Aug 17

June Caldwell: audacious tone to these 12 short stories. Not for the faint-hearted.

Reviewed: June Caldwell - Room Little Darker

Room Little Darker is a series of 12 audacious short stories from the electrifying imagination of June Caldwell. The journalist-turned-fiction writer has penned tangible tales that, excite, rouse, move and tickle the funny bone says Grace Keane.

Books • 28 Jul 17

Sinead Crowley - her new crime novel is perfect beach reading

Reviewed: One Bad Turn by Sinéad Crowley

Sinéad Crowley's latest thriller One Bad Turn is an easy read and a perfect book to be consumed on the beach, writes Grace Keane.

Books • 11 Jul 17

Deirdre Eustace: her Alison is a real and accessible character, with a host of insecurities and regrets.

Reviewed: Finding Alison by Deirdre Eustace

Grace Keane discerns in Deirdre Eustace's latest novel an emotional tale with some drastic twists and turns concerning love, loss and self-discovery.

Books • 28 Jun 17

Reviewed: Sally Rooney's Conversations With Friends

It's one of the most eagerly anticipated Irish literary debuts of 2017... But can Sally Rooney's novel live up to the advance hype? Grace Keane dives in...

Books • 01 Jun 17