Reviews

Wild Houses by Colin Barrett

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reads_eats_explores's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wild Houses is Barrett’s debut novel, and he sticks to his County Mayo home turf with this briskly paced and highly engaging tale of dubious characters caught up in small-time criminal activity throughout just one weekend.

One evening, the Ferdias appear at the front door of their cousin Dev Hendrick with teenager Doll English in their grasp. We soon learn that the Ferdias work as enforcers for a drug dealer named Mulrooney, and they’ve been cuckooing the recently bereaved, achingly lonely Dev by using his house to store their boss’s product.

But why kidnap Doll? Well, his older brother, Cillian, ran a ‘wild house’ as a former dealer, and he’s old debts that need be settled. What better way to make him cough up than abduct his young brother?

When Doll disappears from a Friday night party after a fight with his girlfriend, Nicky Hennigan, her annoyance turns to alarm when she learns that he’s being held hostage. Nicky, plagued by ghosts and deep tragedy of her own, is contemplating her future plans and whether they involve Doll; is young love enough?

With deft skill, Barrett interweaves pitch-perfect stories of Doll’s captivity, Nicky’s troubled mind, and Dev’s sad life story as this weekend rolls on.

There is a simmering threat of violence throughout, and tension steadily builds toward the inevitable confrontation between the Ferdia brothers and Cillian (who, let’s face it, are all shams), but the joy is in Barrett’s ability to bring all characters humanity to the fore. They might be considered the scourge of society, but they all have a backstory and quite clearly recognise their own profound flaws. And, sure, despite all this you can't help but root for them to make the better choices.

With the vibes of Lisa McInerney’s ‘unholy trinity’, there’s so much to love about this book. I’ve said it before, and I’m sure to be saying it again soon: Irish fiction is on top form right now, and Wild Houses is no exception. Can we have a sequel, please, Colin?

4.5⭐

Many thanks to the publisher for the advance copy; this is an honest review, as always. Wild Houses is available now; g’wan and get a copy, run, don't walk.

emilyreadsliterature's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

miacaven's review

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adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

not a book I would’ve picked up usually but thank god it got sent to me. Beautifully written, an interesting and unique story that doesn’t stray. A new favourite of mine

kate66's review against another edition

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5.0

I can honestly say this is a book I've been waiting for without realising it. I read Young Skins last year and loved Barrett's style. His use of the Irish landscape and those inhabitants who are on the periphery of life is visceral at times. The short stories in Young Skins are a stark look at rural/small town life and I definitely wanted more of the same. Mr Barrett must have been listening.

Wild Houses is a reference to those homes where parties, drugs and general wildness occurs. In this book the Wild House belongs to Cillian English, one-timer dealer but now calmed down and living with his girlfriend, Sara. On Friday night Cillian's brother, Doll, his girlfriend Nicky arrive and the four head out to party. But halfway through the night Nicky (who has college ambitions) argues with Doll and the two part ways. Feeling contrite later Nicky goes looking for Doll at home but he is missing and he's not answering his phone.

Unfortunately for Doll he has fallen into the hands of Gabe and Sketch Ferdia who have a beef with Cillian. Doll ends up at the home of the quiet, shambling Dev, who only wants some peace in his life.

As the story develops we learn the reason for Doll's kidnap, why Dev just wants some peace and Nicky's part in a rescue mission.

What Colin Barrett does so well is this slow burn, underlying violence that roars into life when you least expect it. Having read Skins and watched Calm with Horses I spent most of the latter part of this book with my heart in my mouth on fear for the characters. You're certainly not guaranteed a happy ending with Barrett's characters.

I loved this book. I love a well written short story but sometimes you find a writer who leaves you thinking "but what now", "what happened to them then". To be fair, Colin Barrett could have extended this book another hundred pages and I'd still have wanted more. He either has a sixth sense (or some fine editor) to know just where to leave your audience wanting more.

Highly recommended. If you enjoy Irish lit fiction in general you'll enjoy this.

Thanks very much to Netgalley and Vintage Digital for the advance review copy.