The Raptures: 'Original and exciting, terrifying and hilarious' Sunday Times Ireland

'Absolutely MAGNIFICENT: dark, witty, charming. I LOVED it.' MARIAN KEYES 'Original, terrifying, hilarious and memorable.' SUNDAY TIMES IRELAND 'An Agatha Christie-esque whodunnit, a dark supernatural mystery and an account of mass trauma...meticulously observed.' GUARDIAN When several children from the same village start succumbing to a mysterious illness, the quest to discover the cause has devastating and extraordinary consequences. It is late June in Ballylack. Hannah Adger anticipates eight long weeks' reprieve from school, but when her classmate Ross succumbs to a violent and mysterious illness, it marks the beginning of a summer like no other. As others fall ill, questions about what - or who - is responsible pitch the village into conflict and fearful disarray. Hannah is haunted by guilt as she remains healthy while her friends are struck down. Isolated and afraid, she prays for help. Elsewhere in the village, tempers simmer, panic escalates and long-buried secrets threaten to emerge. Bursting with Carson's trademark wit, profound empathy and soaring imagination, The Raptures explores how tragedy can unite a small community - and tear it apart. At its heart is the extraordinary resilience of one young girl. As the world crumbles around her, she must find the courage to be different in a place where conforming feels like the only option available. Darkly funny, highly inventive and deeply moving, The Raptures is an unmissable novel of 2022 'I gobbled up The Raptures . . . packed with wit and heart , and always utterly absorbing .' LISA MCINERNEY 'Utterly compulsive and gripping . . . Jan Carson is a true original. An absolute must read. Outstanding.' ELAINE FEENEY 'Heart-rending, hilarious . . . it's a belter' LOUISE KENNEDY 'Blistering...glorious...written from the guts and from the heart.' LUCY CALDWELL 'One of the most exciting and original Northern Irish writers of her generation' SUNDAY TIMES Darkly funny, highly inventive and deeply moving, The Raptures is an unmissable novel of 2022 Readers love The Raptures: ***** 'An incredibly original and compelling story set in a Protestant community during the Troubles in N.Ireland.' ***** 'A beautiful story about religion, illness, death, grief, ghosts, growing up, belonging and family' ***** 'I couldn't put it down... Definitely one of the top books this year.' ***** 'A very vivid picture of life in a religious community in rural Northern Ireland during the early 90s but in many ways it transcends its time and place... I gulped it down.' ***** 'I loved everything about this book. The writing style, the characters, the humour. Best book I have read this year by a mile!' 'original And Compelling...chef's Kiss!' Marian Keyes 'i Gobbled Up The Raptures . . . Packed With Wit And Heart, And Always Utterly Absorbing.' Lisa Mcinerney When Several Children From The Same Village Start Succumbing To A Mysterious Illness, The Quest To Discover The Cause Has Devastating And Extraordinary Consequences. It Is Late June In Ballylack. Hannah Adger Anticipates Eight Long Weeks' Reprieve From School, But When Her Classmate Ross Succumbs To A Violent And Mysterious Illness, It Marks The Beginning Of A Summer Like No Other. As Others Fall Ill, Questions About What - Or Who - Is Responsible Pitch The Village Into Conflict And Fearful Disarray. Hannah Is Haunted By Guilt As She Remains Healthy While Her Friends Are Struck Down. Isolated And Afraid, She Prays For Help. Elsewhere In The Village, Tempers Simmer, Panic Escalates And Long-buried Secrets Threaten To Emerge. Bursting With Carson's Trademark Wit, Profound Empathy And Soaring Imagination, The Raptures Explores How Tragedy Can Unite A Small Community - And Tear It Apart. At Its Heart Is The Extraordinary Resilience Of One Young Girl. As The World Crumbles Around Her, She Must Find The Courage To Be Different In A Place Where Conforming Feels Like The Only Option Available. 'utterly Compulsive And Gripping . . . Jan Carson Is A True Original. An Absolute Must Read. Outstanding.' Elaine Feeney 'heart-rending, Hilarious . . . It's A Belter' Louise Kennedy 'blistering...glorious...written From The Guts And From The Heart.' Lucy Caldwell 'one Of The Most Exciting And Original Northern Irish Writers Of Her Generation' Sunday Times Darkly Funny, Highly Inventive And Deeply Moving, The Raptures Is An Unmissable Novel Of 2022. 'Original & exciting, terrifying & hilarious' – Sunday Times IrelandFrom the blazingly original author of The Fire Starters comes the compelling story of a village blighted by a mysterious disease afflicting its children & the young girl who must learn to retain her individually amidst suffocating conformity.°°°When several children from the same village start succumbing to a mysterious illness, the quest to discover the cause has devastating & extraordinary consequences.It is late June in Ballylack. Hannah Adger anticipates eight long weeks' reprieve from school, but when her classmate Ross succumbs to a violent & mysterious illness, it marks the beginning of a summer like no other.As others fall ill, questions about what - or who - is responsible pitch the village into conflict & fearful disarray. Hannah is haunted by guilt as she remains healthy while her friends are struck down. Isolated & afraid, she prays for help.Elsewhere in the village, tempers simmer, panic escalates & long-buried secrets threaten to emerge.Bursting with Carson's trademark wit, profound empathy & soaring imagination, The Raptures explores how tragedy can unite a small community - & tear it apart. At its heart is the extraordinary resilience of one young girl. As the world crumbles around her, she must find the courage to be different in a place where conforming feels like the only option available.°°°Jan Carson is a writer & community arts development officer currently based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her first novel, “Malcolm Orange Disappears” was published by Liberties Press, Dublin on June 2nd 2014. When several children from the same village start succumbing to a mysterious illness, the quest to discover the cause has devastating and extraordinary consequences. 'Absolutely MAGNIFICENT: dark, witty, charming. I LOVED it.' MARIAN KEYES 'Utterly absorbing' LISA MCINERNEY 'Heart-rending, hilarious . . . it's a belter' LOUISE KENNEDY 'Blistering...glorious...written from the guts and from the heart.' LUCY CALDWELL 'An original and exciting work that's equal parts terrifying, hilarious and memorable.' SUNDAY TIMES It is late June in Ballylack. Hannah Adger anticipates eight long weeks' reprieve from school, but when her classmate Ross succumbs to a violent and mysterious illness, it marks the beginning of a summer like no other. As others fall ill, questions about what - or who - is responsible pitch the village into conflict and fearful disarray. Hannah is haunted by guilt as she remains healthy while her friends are struck down. Isolated and afraid, she prays for help. Elsewhere in the village, tempers simmer, panic escalates and long-buried secrets threaten to emerge. Bursting with Carson's trademark wit, profound empathy and soaring imagination, The Raptures explores how tragedy can unite a small community - and tear it apart. At its heart is the extraordinary resilience of one young girl. As the world crumbles around her, she must find the courage to be different in a place where conforming feels like the only option available. Darkly funny, highly inventive and deeply moving, The Raptures is an unmissable novel of 2022.