Overview

'So much more than a crime novel. I loved it.' Chris Hammer, author of Legacy 'Shellybanks is as powerful as Pheasants Nest and just as haunting.' Sue Turnbull, Sydney Morning Herald On the sands of Shellybanks, where tides can quickly turn treacherous, journalist Kate Delaney once nearly drowned. Years later, reeling from a violent crime that has upended her life in Melbourne, she returns to Dublin to comfort her beloved aunt Dolores-only to discover Dolores has her own buried trauma. As a teenager, Dolores was drawn into a disturbing religious movement that stole her youth, her freedom, and so much more. With Kate's help, she is determined to confront the powerful network that made her suffer years of silence and shame. Shellybanks is a haunting tale of secrecy and survival, charting how two women find strength in each other as they reckon with Ireland's hidden histories and the scars that endure across generations. Praise for Shellybanks: 'So much more than a crime novel. I loved it. Beautiful. The humanity shines through. A stunning dive into Ireland's dark past.' Chris Hammer, author of Legacy 'Taut, atmospheric and deeply human, Milligan masterfully weaves tension, truth and place into every page.' Brigid Delaney, author of The Seeker and the Sage 'The chaos and fervour of an Irish homecoming, a town dense with secrets, and a seemingly unsolvable crime - Shellybanks has it all. I was captivated at first by the prose; I could hear the singing, I could feel the cold press of the Dublin fog. But it's the characters who ultimately carry the novel, and Kate Delaney is particularly unforgettable. After just two books she feels like an old friend, I just want to head to the pub with her, order a double Jameson, and solve the world's problems. I love this series and Louise Milligan has proven once again that she is the real deal.' J.P. Pomare, author of 17 Years Later 'Claire Keegan territory, albeit in more expansive prose. Milligan's own stellar career as a journalist clearly informs this gripping book.' Jason Steger, Age Booklist Praise for Pheasants Nest: 'A compelling story, written with tautness and wit.' Annabel Crabb 'A gripping, sinister-yet also wryly funny and realistic-crime thriller.' Jane Caro 'A crime novel that could only be written by a fine journalist-so original, funny and true.' David Marr 'Wry observations of popular culture and Australian foibles ... I simply didn't want the book to end given the sheer delight of the storytelling.' The Age

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9781761470356

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Reviews

'So much more than a standard crime novel. I loved it. Beautiful. The humanity shines through. A stunning dive into Ireland's dark past.' Chris Hammer, author of Legacy 'Taut, atmospheric and deeply human, Milligan masterfully weaves tension, truth and place into every page.' Brigid Delaney, author of The Seeker and the Sage 'The chaos and fervour of an Irish homecoming, a town dense with secrets, and a seemingly unsolvable crime - Shellybanks has it all. I was captivated at first by the prose; I could hear the singing, I could feel the cold press of the Dublin fog. But it's the characters who ultimately carry the novel, and Kate Delaney is particularly unforgettable. After just two books she feels like an old friend, I just want to head to the pub with her, order a double Jameson, and solve the world's problems. I love this series and Louise Milligan has proven once again that she is the real deal.' JP Pomare, author of 17 Years Later

Author Information

Louise Milligan is a multi-award-winning investigative journalist for ABC TV's Four Corners, the Australian national broadcaster's flagship current affairs documentary program. Louise's first novel, Pheasants Nest, was published in 2024 to wide acclaim, and was shortlisted for the Best Debut Fiction, Indie Book Awards and the Best Crime Fiction, Danger Awards. She also is the author of two bestselling non-fiction books: Cardinal, The Rise and Fall of George Pell and Witness, An Investigation into the Brutal Cost of Seeking Justice. Her books have been awarded multiple prizes, including the Walkley Book Award, the Davitt Awards Best Non-Fiction Crime Book, the Melbourne Prize for Literature People's Choice Award, the Victorian Premier's Literary Award's People's Choice prize, the Sir Owen Dixon Chambers Law Reporter of the Year Award, a Press Freedom Medal and a shortlisting for the Stella Prize. Louise's journalism, particularly her coverage of historical institutional child abuse and the experience of women in the criminal justice system and parliament, has broken national and international news, sparked government inquiries and led to profound cultural change and law reform. She started her career in newspapers and is a former High Court correspondent and political reporter. Born in Ireland to an Irish mother and Scottish father, Louise moved to Australia as a child. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and two children. Shellybanks is her second novel.

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