There’s never a dull moment in Patricia Falvey’s debut novel, The Yellow House. Northern Ireland in the revolutionary period of the early 1900s almost becomes a character in this novel weaving intrigue, romance, politics and family love. The reader will feel a part of this tiny Irish village within a few pages. Ms. Falvey’s narrative and dialogue deftly fill in the history and back stories to her plot. The novel is so well constructed that the reader not only feels almost a part of the story, but also is continually surprised at the many plot twists.

Eileen O’Neill, torn between a love for a dedicated revolutionary and a pacifist, has the courage, strength and tenacity to face her many life challenges. Although she rises to every occasion, her human side is evident in comments such as, “I wonder how old you have to be until you don’t need your ma to love you anymore.”
The Yellow House is an absorbing book, highly recommended to those who want to learn, not just about Irish history, but about the resilience of its people. Along the way, you will enjoy an exceptionally gripping story.

Look for The Linen Queen: A Novel, Patricia Falvey’s second novel to be released in March 2011.

Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of
Crestmont