Liz Nugent’s new work of fiction follows three working class Irish brothers and delves into the many ways families can wreak emotional havoc across generations.
All three of the Drumm brothers were at the funeral.
Only one of us was in the coffin.
William, Brian, and Luke: three boys bound by blood but split by fate, trained from birth by their wily mother to compete for her attention. They play games, as brothers do…yet even after the Drumms escape into the world beyond their windows, those games—those little cruelties—grow more sinister, more merciless, more dangerous. And with their lives entwined like the strands of a noose, only two of the brothers will survive.
Crisply written and quickly paced, perfect for readers of both sophisticated literary fiction and breathtaking suspense, Little Cruelties gazes unflinchingly into the darkness: the darkness collecting in the corners of childhood homes, hiding beneath marriage beds, clasped in the palms of two brothers shaking hands. And it confirms Liz Nugent, whose novels have been celebrated as “captivating” (People) and “highly entertaining” (The Washington Post), as one of the most exciting, perceptive voices in contemporary fiction.
Download and start listening now!
“Nugent once again provides a dark, dramatic story—this one enhanced by an ensemble of highly skilled narrators…Each brother is effectively voiced by a different narrator, all with soft Irish accents. Toward the end, Mary-Lou McCarthy poignantly portrays Daisy, the next generation of Drumms.”
— AudioFile
“A dark jewel of a novel.”
— A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author“Shows how thoroughly families can mess one another up and how sometimes the greatest mysteries are found within the psyche.”
— New York Times Book Review“Liz Nugent’s books exist at that very particular crossroads of horror and psychological thriller where the horror exists in the cruelty of human relationships themselves.”
— Crime Reads“The author’s skillful telling of this multigenerational tragedy has the riveting power of an imminent car crash.”
— Publishers WeeklyBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Liz Nugent is the author whose debut novel, Unravelling Oliver, won the Crime Fiction Prize in the 2014 Irish Book Awards. Her second novel, Lying in Wait, went straight to number one on the Irish bestseller charts, remained there for nearly two months, and won her a second Irish Book Award. She has worked in Irish film, theater, and television for most of her adult life. She is an award-winning writer of radio and television drama and has also written prize-winning short stories both for children and adults.
Dermot Crowley was born in Cork, Ireland, and began his career with RTE Radio. His theater work includes The Weir in London’s West End and on Broadway as well as seasons at the Royal National Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Hampstead Theatre. On television his work includes Father Ted, The Sculptress, and Falling For A Dancer. His film credits include The Legend of Bagger Vance, Before You Go, and Return of the Jedi. He works extensively for BBC Radio.
Stephen Hogan is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.
Sam O’Mahony is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.