This novel concerns a small village in North West Ireland.In this village there are two public houses One is owned by two sisters,namely Peggy and Molly Mc Ginley.The other is owned by Ĵohn Beag Coyle,who has recently returned from America. The two sisters refuse to speak to John even before he purchased his pub.Nobody in the village mentions this fact but most would like to know why. Despite many occurrences down through the years there is never a break-through. In the meantime Molly retires and returns to work, in the bar.Peggy goes to aAmerica on a holiday and returns with a black lover.John Beag who is always on a lookout for a shag settles down and marries.Despite all this there is no resolution to the mystery^