January 1965. The orphaned O'Leary siblings - Tom, Jack, Anna and Peggy - arrive in the village of Ballycrea, tight-lipped about their troubled past and desperate for a fresh start.
After being met with suspicion from most of the locals, the family are thrilled when they're taken under the wing of their well-respected neighbours, Bill and Betty Nevan, who offer them work, companionship and an opportunity to fit in.
But for one of the O'Learys, this new friendship sparks an intense attachment that makes the dynamic dangerous for all. It's difficult to bury secrets, but almost impossible to bury feelings..
Heap Earth Upon It is a beautifully-written, haunting story of longing and grief told by characters that draw you into themselves and the dark secrets threaded through each of them. It's also a slow-burn mystery revealed chapter by chapter as we find out exactly how far each person will go to justify the stories they tell themselves
I lost myself in Chloe Michelle Howarth's strange and startling second novel. It's a deeply affecting tapestry of gothic landscapes and virtuosic, character driven prose. As it haunted me, Heap Earth Upon It will haunt you too - Lucy Rose, author of The Lamb
A tense and claustrophobic novel with gothic atmosphere that seeps into your bones like fog. It's a fascinating look at mid-century rural Irish life, and a brutal exploration of the corrosive impact of shame and secrecy. Chloe Michelle Howarth knows her sapphic yearning! - Rachel Dawson, author of Neon Roses
Heap Earth Upon It is the perfect slow burn, an absorbing, multifaceted and uneasy novel, with inscrutable characters who shed layers until their fierce, flawed centres are revealed. Set in a 1960s rural Ireland that feels almost timeless, Howarth takes the 'a stranger comes to town' trope and weaves a mesmerising, shimmering web with it, deftly building and breaking tensions with a glance across a room, or a knock on a door. I was drawn in by the characters' quiet watchfulness and insularity, and the strong sense of place, but I was held captive by their rich interiorities, in particular Anna's simmering, swooning obsession that I felt must surely, soon, boil over... A triumph of a second novel - Emma van Straaten, author of This Immaculate Body
Dark, passionate and poised. A remarkable story of the way rural Ireland haunts and is haunted. Intense and thrilling - Soula Emmanuel, author of Wild Geese
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Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Glasgow? Follow us on Facebook and join the What's On Scotland Group!With booksellers on hand to help with expert recommendations and a range of local authors signing their books, don't miss Waterstones Sauchiehall Street's Christmas Shopping Evening on November 27th!
READ MOREJoin Louise Welsh at Waterstones Sauchiehall Street as she launches The Cut Up featuring the gay auctioneer Rilke from the previous award winning novels.
READ MOREJoin Jess Robinson at Waterstones Sauchiehall Street as she discusses her latest book, a fresh and fun family history following the lives of her and her German Jewish Grandmother, Rosi.
READ MORESuper Nintendo finds lifelong gamer Keza MacDonald exploring Nintendo's legendary roster of games, join her in store at Waterstones Sauchiehall Street as she discusses her new book!
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Glasgow's Book Fair, Books at the Botanics, is held every month in the Hopkirk building at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens!
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Glasgow Mitchell Library Classics Book Group runs on the first Thursday of each month with the library kindly providing books for all members, so there is no cost involved!
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Explore the power of books and enjoy some refreshments at The Language Hub's upcoming Book Week Scotland event!
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Enjoy an hour of stories, silliness, and sketching with author and illustrator Ross Collins at the National Library of Scotland at Kelvin Hall as part of Book Week Scotland.
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A literary night dedicated to endings. Come along to experience live stories, poems, film, music and art about endings. It's true that endings can be sad, but they can also be euphoric.
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Waterstones Silverburn are absolutely delighted to welcome Greg Hemphill and Julie Wilson Nimmo in to our store to sign their soon to be released book - Jules and Greg's Wild Swim!
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Join author Julian Hoffman in conversation with Dr Mirna Šolić and Dr Claudia Dellacasa at John Smith Bookshop, University of Glasgow on Tuesday 25th November.
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With booksellers on hand to help with expert recommendations and a range of local authors signing their books, don't miss Waterstones Sauchiehall Street's Christmas Shopping Evening on November 27th!
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Legendary music journalist, author and broadcaster Billy Sloan will headline the next Bookface Sip & Swap event at Glaschu on Saturday 29th November!
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