Night Swimmers

Night Swimmers follows Grace, who lives alone in Ballybrady, a picturesque village on the stunning east coast of Northern Ireland. Grace spends her days swimming, fishing, quilting, and teasing the tourists who arrive from the city with more money than sense. She hasn't left the village since enduring a traumatic time in London as a young woman in the late 1980s.

Among the tourists is Evan, who is on an enforced holiday from his family and work in Belfast after suffering a breakdown following the death of his infant daughter. He hopes to come to terms with his grief and restore his place as a husband, father, and business partner.

Evan's stay becomes longer than anticipated due to lockdown, and when Grace rescues him from a potentially fatal kayaking incident—if it was indeed accidental—Evan's troubled son arrives to stay. This unforeseen turn of events draws all three together, compelling them to confront their personal traumas and re-engage with society.

This moving and humorous debut novel is set in a charming coastal community you'll be eager to visit after reading. Night Swimmers will appeal to readers of Elizabeth Strout, Maggie O'Farrell, and Alice Munro.