Edel Coffey is the author of three novels, all of which have been number-one bestsellers.
Her debut, Breaking Point, won the An Post Irish Book Award for Best Crime Novel of the Year, and her second novel, In Her Place, was nominated for the An Post Irish Book Awards Listeners' Choice Prize.
Edel talks to Oliver Callan about her latest thriller, In Glass Houses, below:
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
We asked Edel for her choice cultural picks...
FILM
I recently watched (and loved) Sentimental Value, the Oscar-nominated film starring Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve and Elle Fanning. It's the story of two sisters and their complicated relationship with their filmmaker father. I found it warmly humorous, emotionally authentic and profoundly moving. I loved the performances, particularly Renate Reinsve, who I couldn’t take my eyes off. I love slightly understated films like this that allow you to engage in a dialogue with the story as it unfolds.
MUSIC
I’ve been listening to, and loving, the Geese album Getting Killed, thanks to a recommendation from Emer McLysaght. My musical taste is very mood-driven: it can go from a bit of Debussy if I’m stressed out, to Stephen Sondheim’s Company if I need cheering up. But my go-to is usually loud, raucous and upbeat — anything from Suicidal Tendencies to Charli XCX.
BOOK
Every Liz Nugent book feels like an event, and for good reason. I can’t get enough of her dark psychological insight into the human experience. Her latest novel, The Truth About Ruby Cooper, is out now and it is an unputdownable read, like all of Nugent’s books. This one tells the story of a young woman whose actions have repercussions for her family and wider circle over decades. It’s a brilliant psychological study of a particular personality.
I also loved the Booker winner Flesh by David Szalay. I found it an extremely moving experience and I’m still thinking about the life of Szalay’s protagonist, István. A worthy winner.
THEATRE
I thought Sonya Kelly’s adaptation of Katriona O’Sullivan’s Poor for the Gate Theatre was absolutely spectacular, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing Druid Theatre’s adaptation of Macbeth at the end of this month. It’s directed by Tony Award winner Garry Hynes, with Marty Rea starring as Macbeth and fellow Tony Award winner Marie Mullen as Lady Macbeth. I studied this one for my Leaving Cert and have seen it many times over the years, including in the National Theatre in London. It’s a play I never tire of.
TV
I’m a TV addict, and one of my big weaknesses is the number of streaming services I subscribe to. I love Apple TV’s Shrinking, a feel-good comedy about a psychoanalysts’ practice starring Harrison Ford. I also love it when my favourite authors are adapted for the screen. Recently I’ve been enjoying Netflix’s adaptation of Michael Connelly’s The Lincoln Lawyer; Prime’s adaptation of Catherine Ryan Howard’s 56 Days; Peacock’s adaptation of Andrea Mara’s All Her Fault; and RTÉ’s adaptation of Marian Keyes’s Walsh sisters. I’ve also finally gotten around to watching the latest season of Bridgerton. I had been put off by the lukewarm reviews, but I find I am thoroughly enjoying this season’s Cinderella twist.
GIG
I’m going to see Joanne McNally in the Olympia later this week, which I’m really looking forward to. I think she is the natural successor to Joan Rivers (who I was also lucky enough to see in the Olympia). I spent my twenties and thirties playing in bands and going to gigs and music festivals, so I think I have now replaced music gigs with book gigs.
I am really looking forward to interviewing Melissa Auf der Maur (former bassist with Hole and Smashing Pumpkins) in Eason’s O’Connell Street next month.
ART
I recently visited 1925–2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. It was a brilliantly accessible exhibition that showcased beautiful artefacts from the past century, representing the best of the Art Deco style. These included pieces of furniture and fashion, as well as a 1926 cabin from the Orient Express trains, which were decorated by renowned artists like René Prou and Suzanne Lalique. It was truly wonderful. If you can’t make it to Paris, there is lots of fascinating information on the website.
I also visited the Dior Museum, which was thoughtful, thought-provoking and a multisensory, interactive experience. I was very impressed, and it definitely convinced me that fashion is art.
RADIO/PODCAST
I’m also a radio addict, and there are very few minutes in any given day when I am not listening to something. I start with BBC Radio 4, switch over to Morning Ireland at 7am, and am fairly wedded to RTÉ Radio 1 for most of the day. I alternate between that and lyric, Newstalk, Today FM and a French station called FIP, which plays lovely, jazzy, relaxing French pop.
My favourite podcast is Always Take Notes, an in-depth writing podcast that interviews agents, publishers, writers and journalists. I also love the New Yorker podcast In The Dark, a true-crime series that is particularly compelling.
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
TECH
Instagram is the app I use far too much, but my favourite app is probably the New York Times Games app. I love puzzles of all kinds - probably why I write thrillers - so I’m a daily crossword-filler, and I also love the mini crossword, which has the added pressure of a timer. I still love Wordle and Strands too.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
I was very impressed by an Irish writer called Clíodhna O’Sullivan when I saw her speak at a recent book event. She works as a legal counsel in Louth and has just published her fantasy novel Her Hidden Fire, but her life story sounds even more interesting than any novel. I got the feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in years to come.
In Glass Houses is published by Sphere - read an extract here
