Old God's Time

SHORTLISTED FOR THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2024

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER
TWICE WINNER OF THE COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR

A FINANCIAL TIMES, TIMES, AND IRISH TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

'A masterpiece' Sunday Times
'Stunning' LIZ NUGENT
'Extraordinary' Irish Times


Tom Kettle, a retired policeman, and widower, is settling into the quiet of his new home in Dalkey, overlooking the sea.


His solitude is interrupted when two former colleagues turn up at his door to ask about a traumatic, decades-old case. A case that Tom never quite came to terms with. And his peace is further disturbed when his new neighbour, a mysterious young mother, asks for his help.


A beautiful, haunting novel, in which nothing is quite as it seems, Old God's Time is an unforgettable exploration of family, loss and love.

'A wonderful, brutal, utterly compelling book . . . Barry is the most miraculous writer.' Russell T Davies

'To borrow a word that recurs in its pages, it is stupendous, in the sense that it shocks and astonishes.' Irish Times

Rare indeed are those novels worth cherishing and keeping close. Old God's Time is one of them.' DailyTelegraph

'So captivating . . . it will live long in the minds of its readers.' Independent

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
***** 'A beautiful family love story. It will haunt you and break your heart.'

***** 'Deeply felt and so moving. I will be reading this again.'

***** 'A tragic tale beautifully told. Sebastian Barry is one of the great contemporary writers.'

***** 'Absolute perfection in novel form.'

***** 'Deeply tragic. Deeply humorous. Utterly beautiful. I'm in awe.'

***** 'A writer in possession of something divine . just exceptional.'

***** 'Magically transporting . the balance of extreme grief and joy are perfectly expressed.'


Sebastian Barry's book Old God's Time was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 10-03-2023