The Bones of It

Chilling, compulsive and beautifully written.' Brian McGillowayThrown out of university, green-tea-drinking, meditation-loving Scott McAuley has no place to go but home: County Down, Northern Ireland. The only problem is, his father is there now too. Duke wasn't around when Scott was growing up. He was in prison for stabbing two Catholic kids in an alley. But thanks to the Good Friday Agreement, big Duke is out now, reformed, a counsellor. Squeezed together into a small house, with too little work and too much time to think about what happened to Scott's dead mother, the tension grows between these two men, who seem to have so little in common. Penning diary entries from prison, Scott recalls what happened that year. He writes about Jasmine, his girlfriend at university. He writes about Klaudia, back home in County Down, who he and Duke both admired. He weaves a tale of lies, of paranoia, of rage.REVIEWS'Blackly comic in tone, The Bones of It is a Bildungsroman that evolves into a slow-burning psychological exploration of the mind… an engrossing tale of the consequences of living a life steeped in a culture of violence.' The Irish Times '…true discovered masterpiece of fiction. If she keeps this up, Kelly Creighton can be that Next Great Writer. The Bones of It is not just a novel to read, it is a novel to experience.' San Diego Book Review 'Compelling, compulsive, compassionate.' Books Ireland 'Scott's is an authentic voice, and Creighton a writer to reckon with.' The Irish Examiner 'Incredibly well written.' Sinead Crowley 'A future classic Troubles novel.' Sharon Owens 'a poignant insight into the lasting effects of the Troubles, The Bones of It is a page-turner from start to finish.' Claire Savage 'Beautifully penned and piercingly insightful. As a debut novel, it is extremely accomplished.' Jan Carson 'This finely written thriller keeps the reader gripped and intrigued…a meaty, fascinating work of fiction.' CultureHUB Magazine Kelly Creighton is an award-winning Northern Irish author, poet and editor based in County Down. Her multifaceted literary career encompasses novels, short stories, poetry and editorial work, often delving into themes of violence and justice. Her narratives are known for their depth, dark humour, and social commentary.Kelly is best known for her eight critically acclaimed novels, including the DI Harriet Sloane series, State of Fear, Bright Eggs, Souls Wax Fair and The Bones of It – the latter recognised as the San Diego Book Review's 2015 Book of the Year, and studied at university level.She has published two short story collections: Everybody's Happy and Bank Holiday Hurricane, with the latter shortlisted for the Saboteur Award and longlisted for the Edge Hill Prize. Her short fiction has earned accolades such as runner-up for the Michael McLaverty Short Story Award and has been featured in journals like Southword, The Stinging Fly, and Litro, as well as anthologies including Salt's Best British Short Stories and Alternative Ulster Noir. In 2014, she founded The Incubator, a literary journal showcasing contemporary Irish short stories.