Where the Edge Is

‘A truly brilliant debut’ Emily Mazzara, Books Ireland
‘With sentences that you will want to cut out and keep, this is an intelligent, exquisitely crafted debut’ Fiona Mitchell
‘Original and shattering’ Marianne LeeAs a sleepy town in rural Ireland starts to wake, a road subsides, trapping an early-morning bus and five passengers inside. Rescue teams struggle and as two are eventually saved, the bus falls deeper into the hole.
Under the watchful eyes of the media, the lives of three people are teetering on the edge. And for those on the outside, from Nina, the reporter covering the story, to rescue liaison, Tim, and Richie, the driver pulled from the wreckage, each are made to look at themselves under the glare of the spotlight.
When their world crumbles beneath their feet, they are forced to choose between what they cling to and what they must let go of.
REVIEWS
‘A beautiful exploration into trauma and the changes it can bring… A truly brilliant debut.’ Emily Mazzara, Books Ireland
‘Gráinne Murphy’s storytelling is of wonderful quality in this tale that deals with grief, religion, relationships and our sense of belonging in the world. In Where the Edge Is, Murphy weaves the protagonists’ stories together with skill and tenderness, while creating an unsettling tension as to the fate of an unlucky few. A highly recommended debut.’ Juliet Conlin, author of Sisters of Berlin
‘Grainne Murphy’s thoughtful, engrossing novel is a meditation on grief, identity and belonging. In her skilful hands, the diverse characters’ heart-breaking stories of loss and hope are woven around an underground nightmare in which the clock never stops ticking. A brilliant debut.’ Carolyn Kirby, author of The Conviction of Cora Burns
‘There may be great sadness contained within the pages of this lyrical, poignant novel, but there is humour too… With sentences that you will want to cut out and keep, this is an intelligent, exquisitely crafted debut.’ Fiona Mitchell, author of The Swap and The Maid’s Room
‘Poignant, thought-provoking and accomplished, Where the Edge Is reminded me that we are all human and we are all heroes. I loved it.’ Carol Mason, bestselling author of After You Left
‘A dauntingly impressive first novel— a nuanced examination of raw private grief and public distress… Grainne Murphy is an observant and subtle writer whose prose is informed throughout with a hard-won authority.’ Paul Bailey, author of At the Jerusalem
‘A powerful novel about survival, about still being there when others have gone and the terrible emotional toll that takes. The beautiful intimacy with which we get to know these characters and their inner workings contrasts with the bureaucratic process of responding to a crisis, so we end up somehow enthralled and horrified as the story unfolds in front of us.’ Dan Mooney, author of Me, Myself and Me and The Great Unexpected
‘Gráinne Murphy’s understanding of the fragility, and strength, of what holds us together and tears us apart — love, family, irredeemable loss — is profound, her insights original and shattering.’ Marianne Lee, author of A Quiet Tide