Dubray Books of the Year

”A powerful story of one family and the deep ties binding them to their land through the ages…” Martha, Dubray Liffey Valley

On a windswept peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic, Tomas and his reluctant son, Liam, are working for the great Ordnance Survey project to map the whole of Ireland. The year is 1865, and in a country not long since ravaged and emptied by the Great Hunger, the task is not an easy one. Tomas, however, is determined that his maps will be a record of the disaster. The British soldiers in charge are due to arrive any day, expecting the work to be completed, but Tomas is sent off course by an unsettling encounter in a copse. His life, and those of his family, will never be the same again. Liam is terrified by the sudden change in his taciturn father. What was it that caused such cracks to open in Tomas and how is Liam, aged only ten, going to finish the mapping, and get them both home? Land is a story of buried treasure, overlapping lives, ancient woodland, persistent ghosts, a particularly loyal dog, and how, when it comes to both land and history, nothing ever goes away.

“A subtle and moving portrayal of the bewilderment of adolescence and grief…” Gráinne, Dubray Bray

Something terrible has happened to Jack but no one seems to want to talk about it. His uncles can tell him about everything from quantum physics to how to hunt for deer, but they can't seem to tell him anything about their own sister or why Jack doesn't feel sad for her in the way he should, or why Grandad tries to shoot Jack's dad when he gets out of the hospital. Still, there's work to be done in the oily wonderland of his uncles' garage; there's his beautiful aunt Rose to hypnotise him and his loving grandparents to console him; then there's JJ, who wants to fight him one day and save him the next. But with so many questions, in a family with so many secrets, it is difficult for Jack to understand the person he is becoming. How can a simple boy learn to become a king?

“The trailblazing romantasy everyone is talking about. A simply superb progenitor of modern fiction…” Eoghan, Dubray Waterford

What was broken will be remade. Deep in the heart of the continent, Koschei the Deathless is stirring. Though he's been bound to a mountain lake for millennia, the insidious threat of his return now spreads across the Fae territories, attracting powerful allies hell-bent on reclaiming what was once theirs: the human lands. The Night Court will not stand idly by while innocents are attacked. But with Prythian still piecing itself together in the wake of the devastating Hybern War, the task of uniting is proving more difficult by the day. To make matters worse, those who rule and protect the Night Court are reeling from recent betrayals and revealed truths. The rifts dividing them seem insurmountable. But to defeat Koschei's creeping shadow, they must find a way back to each other and resurrect their former alliances. To survive, they must find a way to repair the splintered harmony all around them.

“O’Neill writes with honesty and humour as she explores dating, desire and wanting more from life…” Emma, Dubray Cork

At 38, Louise O'Neill had the life she thought she wanted-until her long-term relationship ended, taking with it the home, future, and sense of certainty she'd built. Heartbroken but defiant, she made a radical decision: to say yes to everything, to take risks, and to reclaim her life-on her own terms. What followed was a dating experiment that took her across Paris, London, New York, and beyond. Through the men she meets and the moments in between, Louise begins to challenge everything she's been taught to settle for - in life, love, and in herself. Louise invites us to laugh, wince, and reflect as she asks the question at the heart of the book: What does it really mean to live a bigger life?

“Hilarious, fast-paced and with a mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page…” Karina, Dubray Rathmines

At sunrise, high in the Italian hills, a body is found on the steps of a beautiful private villa. On the body is a threatening note, signed by a mystery man. As Amy, Rosie and Steve get the 'We Solve Murders' business up and running, they leap at the chance to take on their first proper case. So what if their new client seems to have his own reasons for avoiding the police? All they need to do is uncover who left the note, and then find them. Simple. But once they start digging, the suspects keep piling up. And as the trio chase a villain through the shadows, danger travels closer to home . . .

“A gripping biography from an iconic player during the golden era of Irish rugby…” Una, Dubray Blackrock

During a golden era of success for Irish rugby, Peter O'Mahony stood out as the player who most fully embodied the traditional values of the game. Now, in his autobiography, Peter gives us a brilliantly detailed and searching account of the forces that made him who he is: his parents, his beloved Granny Conroy, his club, his school, and the magnificent rugby pedigree of his province. And he traces his evolution as a player, leader and human being across a decade and a half at the highest levels of the game, under coaches including Declan Kidney, Anthony Foley, Rassie Erasmus, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell.

“A beautiful depiction of young friendships, love, and how early choices echo throughout our lives…” Hannah, Dubray Bray

Roisin and Red meet as teenagers in their small Irish hometown in 1982. Brilliant, sharp-tongued and born to slip through the cracks, Red's reputation for trouble precedes him - but Roisin finds herself swept up in his storm, and soon their connection deepens. When a brush with the law pushes Red into a corner, he escapes their town to start a new life in England. As the years pass, they remain tethered to one another, a fragile thread holding their once fierce friendship together. When Roisin arrives in London, the promise of freedom, of reinvention, and of finding her dear friend calls. But searching for Red leads Roisin to a truth darker than she could have imagined: when you go looking for someone you may uncover parts of yourself along the way that you'd rather stayed buried. And Red - bright, beautiful Red - might not want to be found at all.

“Manchán Magan enchants us once again with this eye-opening spiritual journey through our ancient ways…” Bobbie, Dubray Stillorgan

In his final book, Manchan Magan implores us - even dares us - to move from the limited rational world to a more expansive spiritual one. To become re-enchanted once again. To understand that there are more ways of seeing, more ways of knowing and to uncover the interconnectedness between all things. Manchan explores how ancient Irish culture retains deep resonances with other indigenous worldviews - a way of perceiving land, language, nature and spirit as inseparable. Drawing on mythology, early law, folklore and placenames, Manchan traces how Ireland's forests, sacred trees and landscapes shaped the Irish psyche with such a resilience that many beliefs and customs endure to this day. In Seeing What's Hidden, Manchan implores us to look again so that we too might rediscover our cultural inheritance and chart our course forward from here.

”A terrific cast of eccentric characters, in a thoroughly enjoyable read full of laughs…” Emma, Dubray Cork

Meet Fiach O'Bric: career diplomat, recent widower, and a man looking forward to a peaceful retirement. But just when he thinks he's out, he is strong-armed into taking over a shadowy top-secret department tasked with preparing for a United Ireland - a job so surreal it makes his last posting, in Beijing, seem like a Buddhist retreat. Fiach can feel the hand of history upon his shoulder. He suspects it may soon throttle him.

Yet, against his better judgement - and all available evidence - a dangerous thought takes hold. What if he could be the one to do what Tone, Pearse and centuries of Irish martyrs failed to do: make Ireland one, and somehow not die in the process.

Dream on, Fiach.

“Gripping from first page to last, a modern odyssey in Barry’s signature prose…” Róisín, Dubray Grafton St.

An immersive and unforgettable novel of one man's life in the aftermath of the American Civil War. I knew as I made my way home that there was no home. All the old things . . . were gone forever. Against the rapidly shifting landscape of post Civil War America, Tennyson Bouguereau - freed man, devoted brother, nascent singer, conflicted soldier and wanted man - journeys to find meaning and belonging. From the relative safety of home in Tennessee with his sister Rosalee, he is offered the possibility of a whole new life in Nashville, until a surprising trip to Victorian England changes everything. Exquisitely rendered, and with a rich cast of characters, The Newer World is a lyrical, visceral novel about what it is to survive, and what might be lost along the way.

“A beautiful, luminous meditation on the power and importance of literature from a master storyteller…” Martha, Dubray Liffey Valley

During a time of great turmoil, Gustave Flaubert created literature's most scandalous heroine: Madame Bovary. He then poisoned her with arsenic. But what if, 175 years later, Emma - and the women history overlooked - could seize the quill from his hands and tell a different story?

In One Brief Moment All Eternity is a luminous reinvention of an iconic male writer, told through the eyes of the women - real and fictional - who shaped him: a devoted nursemaid, an Egyptian dancer and a passionate, jealous lover who refuses to be forgotten. Through their voices, visionary author Elif Shafak creates both an intimate portrait of a great artist and an epic meditation on storytelling itself: who gets remembered, who gets erased, and how can literature endure through political upheaval, war and injustice? When the world feels broken, how do we find the hope to carry on?

“A touching and riveting read that stays with you long after the final page. Masterful…” Ronan, Dubray Galway

Miquel and his father are living an uneasy life together in his mother's house in the Pyrenees, the house she had been returning to on the day she died. A new bridge, connecting the two valleys, is almost complete, which will end the valley's isolation and create an easier route to smuggle contraband deep into the mountains. Where Miquel's father imagines opportunity, Miquel foresees disaster and an exposure to a modern way of living for which his father is desperately unprepared. Colm Toibin's exhilarating short novel contains vast inner and outer worlds within its pages. With meticulous precision and an unerring eye Toibin captures lives caught between the past and the present, and the journey of a young man seeking connection, haunted by loss.

“A gripping story that tangibly evokes the fear, and bravery, of those living in occupied Paris…” Susan, Dubray Support Office

Paris, 1940. Despite the Occupation, the prestigious Ritz Hotel has managed to remain open. Its bar becomes a favourite spot for Nazis eager for a taste of French refinement. Its celebrated barman, Frank Meier, is forced to adapt to this new clientele. But he is hiding a secret that no one can find out: he is Jewish. With every word and smile, the atmosphere becomes more and more suffocating. Yet Frank refuses to flee. With the unwitting help of the Nazis, Frank eventually uncovers secrets that help keep him and his loved ones alive - especially Luciano, his young apprentice, and Blanche, wife of the director of the Ritz and Frank's impossible love - both of whom are Jewish too. Betrayal, lies, and backstabbing raise the stakes for the bartender - with Frank always just one step ahead of fate.

“An Intriguing and insightful exploration of power that makes history feel alive…” Donal, Dubray Dundrum

Julius Caesar is dead, and the lives of two teenaged boys are about to be changed forever. One is Caesar's 17-year-old nephew, Octavius, whom he has made his heir. The other is Octavius's closest friend, Agrippa. To claim Octavius's inheritance, they must fight the giant figures of the Roman Empire - and, against all odds, they win. Octavius becomes the Emperor Augustus. For twenty years, they rule the world together. Now Agrippa is fifty. Ailing and alone, betrayed by his wife's infidelity, he takes refuge in his house on the Bay of Naples and begins to write his memoirs. Yet to stir up the past can be dangerous. From his earliest meetings with Julius Caesar, through the epic conflict with Mark Antony and Cleopatra, the great naval battle of Actium and the endless wars to expand the empire, he describes how one man has dominated his life: the cunning, ruthless, unknowable Octavius.

When it comes to power, does friendship exist at all?

“With candour and compassion, Dr. Gaffney shows us how to live well in unsettling times…” Alison, Dubray Rathmines

In About Life, Dr Gaffney brings together research, a lifetime of observation and her own personal experience to explore the question that matters most in uncertain times: how do we stay resilient, purposeful and fully engaged with life when the world feels increasingly unstable? From relationships, stress and happiness to identity, purpose, ageing and human connection, she examines the habits of mind that help us navigate change, recover from setbacks and build and sustain lives of meaning and substance. Written with her characteristic intelligence, honesty and empathy, About Life is a wise and essential guide to living well in unsettled times.

“A riveting, essential biography of Ireland’s most controversial Taoiseach…” Tom, Dubray Mary St.

Vincent Browne turns his renowned intellect and investigative skill to the life and legacy of Charles J. Haughey, one of the most controversial and influential figures in modern Irish politics. This standalone biography offers a penetrating exploration of Haughey's rise to power, his complex personality and the political landscape he helped shape. Drawing on decades of experience in political commentary and broadcasting, Browne brings a sharp, uncompromising lens to the story, illuminating the tensions, triumphs and scandals that defined Haughey's career. Rich in historical detail and personal memories, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in Irish history, politics or the enduring impact of charismatic leadership.

“A fascinating book that showcases the huge historical value of our sporting memorabilia...” Robin, Dubray Dún Laoghaire

In this stunning photographic journey, we discover 100 eclectic fragments of Ireland’s sporting soul unearthed from the most unassuming places. Through these mementos, Doyle reveals a deeper truth: that sport in Ireland is not just played or watched, but held, kept, and proudly passed on. This is a vibrant and fascinating whistle-stop tour of Irish sporting heritage through the tangible, fragile and fiercely meaningful objects that endure.

“A master of elevating the simple into the divine with a mere twist of a spoon…” Laura, Dubray Waterford

For the millions of home cooks who loved Ottolenghi SIMPLE, discover the pleasure of keeping things SIMPLE TOO. Bring Yotam Ottolenghi's innovation to your everyday with 135 new recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Every dish has simplicity at its core and can be made in under 30 minutes, cooked in one pot, or prepped ahead. Whatever your barriers to cooking, this book brings you into the kitchen with a promise that even the simplest of meals can be full of flavour and joy.