Brouhaha by Ardal O'Hanlon

Ardal O’Hanlon’s debut novel Brouhaha is set on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Ulster. Not long before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, teenager Sandra Mohan left home one dark night. Since then, except for occasional postcards from London, nothing has been heard from her. Young people often leave Tullyanna in pursuit of adventure, so Sandra becomes no more than a puzzling memory. Philip Sharkey and Joanne McCollum also left, but a decade and a half later, they are back. Ambitious Joanne is a reporter for Howareya, the local newspaper. Philip, a drifter and jack of all trades, is mourning the suicide of his childhood friend, Dove Connolly. Their investigations into Sandra’s disappearance raise troubling questions. A clue to the mystery is hidden in a graphic novel created by Dove, who was a talented artist and Sandra’s wannabe boyfriend.

Tullyanna is fictional, but its characters belong in any real-life country town. They include an influential local politician who used to be the local bully, a retired policeman turned soccer coach and a folksy doctor who drives like a maniac. As for the group of boyhood friends surrounding Philip, the like of them can be seen hanging around on street corners in any town, anywhere in the world. What makes Brouhaha truly Irish is the long-term influence of history and politics on events.

O’Hanlon writes with the quirky, eclectic humour which characterises his stand-up performances. His storytelling is punctuated with satirical references to Irish history, popular culture and mythology. He often uses phrases from the local dialect, such as ‘says you’, to give rhythm to long sentences. His prose has a Joycean flow of consciousness. In my opinion as an Ulsterwoman, Brouhaha is best enjoyed by going along with the flow.