Review of Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise

Count me in for Irish-set novels--and for suspenseful, mysterious-past stories that hint at darkness, dangerous secrets, and the destructive power of the truth. But Hurtubise builds the true heart of this story around the development of its characters and relationships. This is a fast, intriguing read that I loved.

When she was old enough, Sarah ran from an emotionally cold childhood in Michigan and mysterious circumstances to the rugged coast of Donegal, Ireland, where she now lives as an artist and goes by the name Saoirse (pronounced SUR-shuh).

She and her beloved partner and two daughters live peacefully, and Saoirse often paints the members of her beloved family.

But if the truth of Saoirse's secrets came out, it would upend her existence, and she is terrified that her past will somehow be uncovered and destroy her family. When a piece of her art wins a competition, it garners unwelcome attention and publicity that might reveal all Saoirse has done and the lengths she has gone to to escape her origins.

I love a story set in Ireland, and Hurtubise doesn't skimp on building an evocative setting on blustery cliffs and in lush green countryside. I also love a story involving a character's mysterious past, and I love a suspenseful story that I'm eager to piece together. Saoirse provides all three of these elements, plus a bad guy who's easy to detest, the overcoming of trauma, a deep love story, a passion for art, and more.

Yet Hurtubise also manages to make the reader care about her protagonists, developing depth to her characters and their relationships amid the secrets, lies, and hidden histories--which is no small feat and a balancing act she manages with skill.

I liked coming full circle with the key storyline threads, yet the very ending of the book felt a little clean and straightforward after such a complex story full of evasion, secrets, and the constant, urgent fear of repercussions. I didn't at all mind that we got to ultimately witness the promise of joy and peace, but the sunshiny tone of this portion of the book seemed slightly too easy and abrupt after the lurking danger and looming potential destruction present in the many preceding pages.

I blew through this novel, and the whole time I was reading Saoirse, I held my breath that it would hold up because I couldn't wait to start recommending it!

I received a prepublication edition of Saoirse courtesy of NetGalley and Celadon Books.

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