Sandycove has confirmed they will be publishing the first novel by Jennifer Bray, known for her political reporting in the Irish Times. This publication deal was finalised following a competitive auction carried out by Bray’s literary agent, Florence Rees from AM Heath. Praised for her sharp and engaging political insights, Jennifer is expected to bring these same qualities to her fiction. Patricia Deevy, the deputy publisher at Penguin’s Ireland division, lauded Bray’s writing for both its depth and accessibility.
Coupled with a gripping narrative, this makes for an engrossing read that puts the book down hard. She also mentioned the tangible tension, rapid pacing, and richness of Jennifer’s writing. Its story, packed with evocative family themes, explores the reverberations of past heartbreaks on the present. The novel’s title is yet to be disclosed and its publication date remains unclear.
The yet-to-be-titled novel tells the tale of three sisters, Lucy, a dishonoured ex-officer of Garda, Susannah, a writer, and Tara, who is distant from her siblings. The story unfolds as Susannah is noted missing and a woman’s corpse, whose name appears in Susannah’s recent manuscript, is discovered. Lucy reluctantly steps into her previous profession to unearth the truth alongside many family secrets buried in their childhood.
Bray, who is delighted to have her book published by Penguin Sandycove and Patricia Deevy as editor, claimed the achievement of a life-long wish. She expressed her hope that readers would resonate with the charm and aesthetic beauty of Dunmore East, a gorgeous beach town that inspired and provided her with the setting for much of her writing.
A seasoned journalist, Bray has been in the profession for over a decade and a half. She has provided her journalistic services to multiple publications, such as the Times, the Sunday Times, the Sunday Tribune and the Irish Daily Mail.