The Counting Game

by Sinéad Nolan

*A SUNDAY INDEPENDENT HOT DEBUT AUTHOR OF 2025*Into the woods.

Count to ten.

Only one of us comes home again.

1995, Ireland. Panic grips the village of Drumsuin when a teenage girl goes missing in the nearby forest.

Saoirse is not the first girl to disappear in those woods. And when it’s revealed she was playing the Counting Game that day – a ritual believed to ward off the forest’s evils – old superstitions send the community into turmoil.

One person saw what happened to Saoirse. But 9-year-old Jack won’t tell the Gardai. Freya, an English psychotherapist with her own history of grief, is brought in to help the investigators break his silence.

As the race to find Saoirse alive accelerates, can Freya make Jack talk? Why is he keeping the forest’s secrets? And who is hell bent on driving Freya out of Drumsuin before the truth is discovered?

The Counting Game is a deeply haunting, atmospheric and emotional mystery, from an unmissable new voice in Irish crime fiction, perfect for fans of Tana French, Erin Kelly and Belinda Bauer

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Fiction, Thriller, Irish Literature, Mystery Thriller, Horror

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 19, 2025

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“Sometimes the dark is safer than the light.”

I admit, I didn't quite catch onto ​who​ the culprit was. ❓ In fact, even when the clues were laid out, I found it a bit difficult to connect the dots on my own, but as it was languidly explained, the pieces did fall into place. If anything, I am grateful it did not take the more practical approach, which, as much as it pains me to admit, would have been rather blase in its portrayal.​ 👍

“This memory is a very valuable one, but it definitely doesn’t want to be found.”

Freya and Jake's relationship developed at a believable pace. ​I don't know how much of the guilt over her daughter, Violet's tragic death played that much of a traumatic part, sharing a sense of loss. But it was one of the key parts that drove Freya to be that more involved in investigated Saoirse's disappearance, much to the chagrin of the people of Drumsuin and garda, the local law enforcement, with the frustrating feeling of secrets being held just below the surface.​ 🔢

It's ​also still very slow-paced unraveling of a mystery. Maybe because Jake's mind is so fragile that any hasty push would have damaged his psyche more so, despite how it is very much a race against the clock to believe that Saoirse is alive somewhere.​ 🥺 Delicately balancing fiction with reality was the cryptic creepiness of the The Counting Game itself - something terrifying that can make people disappear. It heightened the danger and uncertainty in Freya's eyes of what was lurking hidden beyond Jake's mind.

The author also capitalized on the mystique and allure of the forest really well in both the sensory details and the vivid imagery of this haunted, chilling and claustrophobic feel that even the forest played a sinister role in claiming its victims​ - the secrets shrouded in their midst. 🌳🪾​ It shined in certain parts - 'night stretches out in surrender to the frozen dawn'​ - that created an atmospheric feel to the setting.

“The forest knows how to punish people who don’t respect it.”

​What I would have liked ​is for it to ​have been a bit more compelling. I mean, yes, I continued cuz I was curious, but I didn't ​feel​ the thrill of the search.​ 😕 That sounds morbid; but, like, maybe more oomph to the plot and characters. But, they're just normal people, the crowd argues... Well, yes... Freya was a strong and kind-hearted psychotherapist intent on doing the right thing, and Jake's innocence felt true, but I think I still wanted more of the thrill rather than the spill.

As in, it was also very much a background storyline, that when we got to the full suspense of the truth - it did not make that much of an impactful splash, rather it drizzled and washed away...​ I think mainly because the element of surprise was taken out much earlier, so that I felt the trajectory of the story shifted. 😮‍💨​ I also felt that because Freya suspected everyone, she put herself in more danger than what she was really in; so that seed of a doubt was rather more of a plot device, aside from decrypting Jake's memories.

The family drama ​also could have been a bit more different. I understand the significance it played - echoes of a pain that feels familiar— holding on to grief and loss, a broken home I just wish it was not such a typical one; ​although​ again, I will give props to the author for not going down the oh so typical route.​ 🤷🏻‍♀️ I was bracing myself for the inevitable obvious, but I was happy to be proven wrong.

｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈• ｡ﾟ

A note to the editors; as I received an advance copy, I found some errors that need correction. When the perspective alternates between Jake's third person and Freya's first person, the chapter annonts each chapter with the character's name. However, I believe chapters 27-28, and maybe another are labeled Freya, but it is actually Jake's point of view, still. Since, by that number I had grown accustomed to what that header meant, it took me a second to be caught off guard - go back and see did I miss something - and then realize, it is a mistake, which repeats a couple more times. 🧐​ So, yeah, just take a look at that if anyone from the publishing side bothers reading this before the final print.

*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that this story was set in Ireland. My husband and I are in love with that country and it's people. I liked how this book was told from different perspectives and that it kept me guessing throughout. I especially liked when the ending was revealed, I realized it had been there all along. Great story.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark, creepy story of a missing teenage girl in a small town in Ireland. This is a slow burning, at times a bit too slow but the ending payed off. More a character driven story than I usually read, full of people with secrets and something to hide.

I enjoyed the supernatural themes l very unsettling and keeps you guessing. A town with long buried secrets just dying to be exposed. The characters are all pretty flawed, there are so many issues with them all. I wouldn’t want to live there!

Thank you to Gallery Books for my early copy to read. Publishes on April 7th.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good psychological thriller. I loved the overall concept of this book as well as its atmospheric Ireland setting. I liked how this story was told through multiple points of view, primarily from the perspectives of Freya and Jack. This book had an intriguing storyline as Jack’s sister went missing while playing the counting game with Jack in the forest. This book makes you wonder what really happened to Saoirse and whether she ran away or was taken by either a human or a creature. I felt invested in the overall mystery, but it was quite the slow burn and I did find myself losing interest at times in the middle. Overall this was a good debut novel.

Read this if you like:

📖 Psychological mystery/thrillers
📖 Ireland settings
📖 Atmospheric reads
📖 Folklore

Thank you to @scoutpressbooks for the gifted copy.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating ~ 3.5*

The Counting Game by Sinéad Nolan published June 19th with Harper North (Harper Collins). It is described as ‘a deeply haunting, atmospheric and emotional mystery, from an unmissable new voice in Irish crime fiction, perfect for fans of Tana French, Erin Kelly and Belinda Bauer‘.

When thirteen year old Saoirse goes missing while playing a game with her younger brother Jack, Drumsuin village is left disturbed and in a state of panic. As search parties scour the surrounding countryside, the focus is on the local woods where Saoirse was last seen. Jack and Saoirse had been playing quite an unsettling game, called The Counting Game, one that they had learnt from their now deceased mother, when Saoirse disappeared. She is not the first teenager to go missing in this area so the local police are extremely concerned for her safety.

Jack has difficulty communicating, unable to vocalise what he may have seen. He expresses himself via his artwork which has some very disconcerting and dark imagery portrayed there. As speed is of the essence a decision is made to bring in a psychotherapist to assist in the case. Freya specialises in investigating missing children so her expertise is welcomed by most folk. She quickly immerses herself in the village, staying at the local hotel and starts to delve into Saoirse’s family background.

Suspicion is rife among the villagers with many believing that something sinister is at play in the darkness of the forest. Rumours abound of a creature hiding in the shadows but Freya is dismissive, convinced that this is just a product of the overactive imagination of some locals. With dark secrets and hidden pasts, the truth slowly starts to reveal itself but will Freya be able to find Saoirse before it’s too late?

There were a few curious plotlines in this tale that I did question, and I had to suspend belief a little, but I was willing to do this to see where it all ended. Freya is a well cast character. She has grit, with a hidden strength, but she also has a very vulnerable side that is sensitively portrayed. Sinéad Nolan is a trained psychotherapist which adds a layer of authenticity to the relationship that develops between Jack and Freya, with his voice depicted clearly and credibly. The otherworldly spin added an extra eerie element to the tale.

The Counting Game is an atmospheric and sinister read, a solid debut from a new voice in Irish crime fiction.

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperNorth and Netgalley for approving me to read this, I’m rating it 3.75 stars.

I liked the eerie atmosphere surrounding the game, the forest/village and the missing girl. There’s so much tension throughout and it builds to a breaking point where the truth and folklore meet in the middle.

We get multi POV in this story which I really like so we get a full rounded story to help piece together what’s happening and who shouldn’t be trusted.

Highly recommend for fans of folklore/myth mystery thrillers

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Full review on way. This blew me away and I’m still recovering. I have a new favourite Author. Once I have processed the book full review will appear. This is on NetGalley right now if you want to go request it!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a slow burn but had some creepy parts and a good overall mystery. It centers on the disappearance of a teenager named Saoirse and is told from the POVs of her little brother and the psychologist brought in by the police to talk to him. The story takes place in the mid 1990s.

I liked the possible supernatural undertones, where it wasn’t clear whether a person or something else was haunting the woods in the small Ireland town. Creepy woods is always a good time! However, I did feel the story moved slowly and was rather repetitive. Jack, Saoirse’s 9 year old brother, had a distinctive voice but also pronounced a lot of words phonetically which seemed too young for his age. Thinking about this took me out of the story. Freya, the psychologist, was a likable and relatable character. I thought the ending and the ultimate unveiling of the villain was well done, though I was left with a couple unanswered questions.

Overall, this was a good read overall and I read it quail u because I wanted to find out what happened, but found it to be a bit slow. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This crime novel does a lot of telling rather than showing. This makes sense to an extent since the two main POVs are the 9-year-old brother of the missing teenage girl at the centre of the mystery and the psychotherapist brought in to assist with the investigation by interviewing him and therefore neither of them are directly involved in most of the “action” of searching the scene or collecting physical evidence, but it does mean that the pacing is very slow and most of the revelations happen “off screen.”

I liked Freya’s (the psychologist) POV, but Jack’s (the child) didn’t ring true to me as a 9-year-old. It felt like a much younger child, especially the narrative choice of having some words spelled phonetically in his perspective. In particular, it didn’t make sense to me that he seemingly doesn’t know a word like hospital (which he POVs as ‘host-able’) but does seem to understand other, less common vocabulary without issue.

The setting is solid (even if the mention of it as being somewhere between Ballybunion and Cahersiveen meant I spent far too long trying to decide if the village is meant to be based on a real town or wholly imagined), with some good atmospheric moments. I liked the hints of folklore and small-town superstition. But overall the slow pacing dulled most of the tension that the atmosphere could have built up.

[Ann Corcoran · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Shruti morethanmylupus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC

This was an ok thriller. So much of the intensity of its creepy atmosphere that's built up with the woods and the ambiguity of a potential supernatural element was lost by its glacial pacing that by the end all the atmosphere was lost, and I was just left with a inching march towards an eventual, obvious conclusion. The irony is, I think the ending would have been less obvious and much more of a twist if the pacing was faster but because it was moving so slowly, I had lots of time to rethink the clues and identify what happened. The family dynamics, fueled by the previous traumas, could have been compelling but it ended up feeling a bit trite. One of the POVs is a 9 year old boy named Jack, whose sister Saoirse is the one who's gone missing. The thing is, Jack's POV was full of spelling errors and misunderstandings of the type that are compelling if we're talking about a 4 year old but didn't make a whole lot of sense for a 9 year old. I had to keep reminding myself that he was 9 because he's written like he has the comprehension of a much younger child, and treated like a much younger child by everyone around him, which took me right out of the story.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Cathy VanLear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads and Nolan for the opportunity to read and write an honest review of The Counting Game.

Wow! Small-town folklore, creepy woods, lots of secrets, and a game you don’t want to play make for a suspenseful, haunting psychological thriller in this crime fiction debut by Nolan.

In the setting of rural Ireland, a child disappears in the deep, dark woods that are known for not giving back those who enter. The crafting of mood was perfection. The forest felt alive with danger, the village dense with secrets, and the characters fraught with dread and fear, enhancing the story’s haunting quality.

The multiple points of view, the shifting timelines, and the slow burn pace worked for this novel, building tension, giving time to be fully invested in the characters, and allowing suspicions to jump from one possibility to another, keeping the suspense flowing. Then the finale comes in a tense, emotionally charged climax.

Being completely invested in this riveting debut novel from start to finish, I can’t wait to see what Nolan writes next!

[Nat Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is definitely a slow burn. It was a build up for the reveal I would say close to 80%-90% of the book and the twist I felt happened so quickly and then it was over. It was an okay twist ( I kind of saw it coming as things were getting revealed ). There is 3 POV’s that you are following but a lot of timelines which was little confusing but manageable. Overall it was an okay book. If you like creepy, forestry settings for your thrillers I recommend this book.

[MizzyRed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great atmosphere, creepy setting with the forest of missing girls and the supposedly legendary creature that dwells within, taking those who disrespect or harm the forest! Add in a hide and seek counting game and a little boy who may hold the secret to his sister's disappearance but unable to remember and I was hooked in reading this to find out the truth!

The author did a great job with all the red herrings of suspects, while also touching on the possibility of something supernatural getting involved with the dead birds and previous missing girls, plus the awful story of the Magdalene Laundry and what happened there. I really felt for Jack who was obviously torn up about Saoirse going missing and being the last person to see her, especially when we got to see things from his perspective. It is rounded out nicely with the view of Freya, the psychotherapist brought in to help Jack work through his issues but also an outsider which really helped show how the community that this happened in was very suspicious of outsiders, especially ones asking uncomfortable questions. I did have to keep going to look back at the chapter headings though because it does jump around in time, from before their mother's death, to the days after Saoirse went missing. It did tie things up very well by the end though and I was on the edge of my seat to see if Saoirse could be found in time or if it was already too late. I do like how it never really was proven that it was did not have a supernatural element and it gave the ending a nice touch.

I really enjoyed reading this book and many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to get lost in the story!

[Ciara Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good mystery, took a while to get into but great twists

[Sarah Millington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this debut novel. Creepy but characters you could really invest in. Will look out for this author again

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of this novel that takes place in rural Ireland, when a child disappears in woods that are known for not giving back those that enter, a book about trauma, loss, and the oddness of the world we live in, and how we address it in our lives and in others.

My family had a big return to the homeland trip, oddly enough about the same time this book takes place, during the mid-nineties. Ireland, the old sod, was going through a slight renaissance. Talks about peace in North were actually seeming to be happening, the economy seemed to be going well, and young people weren't fleeing for better things. There was a large mass of people going, enough that I liked to separate myself from them as much as I could. Seen one pub, you have pretty much seen it all. I liked to look at the wonder and the glory of the countryside. The people, who it seemed for all this talk about Ireland becoming a powerhouse, seemed to be still waiting. There was always a reticence among people. A reserve of pain that they carried but did not share. As the problems with the Church and the people came out I began to understand why. Also there were some areas that I can only describe as well heavy. Woods that seemed to go on forever, areas that one didn't want to hang around in. Places that I and others feared to tread. This all came back to me reading this novel, a very atmospheric and thriller. The Counting Game, the debut of novelist Sinéad Nolan is a story about a missing child, a woman dealing with loss, a patient in fear of sharing, the secrets that a society holds on to, and what might be out in the dark, deep woods.

The time is 1995, and Ireland is going through a resurgence in many places. Other places time goes on like it always had. Especially in the southwest of Ireland. Two children siblings journey into the woods, thirteen-year-old Saoirse Kellough and her brother Jack who is nine. Saoirse does not come out, and Jack refuses to speak to anyone about what happened or what he saw. The only thing known is that they were playing the counting game when Saoirse disappeared. The Garda, the Irish police are called and a search party and investigation is started, which stalls as there is no information to work on. The woods are known for their not letting children leave. Freya Hemmings, a psychotherapist, is brought in to try to reach Jack. Freya is not doing well either, still coming to grips with the fact that she has lost her child, and does not react well to Jack at first. Their sessions are more like battles in a multi-front war, and Freya seems no closer to finding out what happened. The woods have a powerful pull on the people, and Jack has sworn not to hurt them, even if it means trouble to those he loves.

A dark thriller, both a procedural and a poetic examination of loss and trauma. There are lots of beautiful sections here, even in the darkest of writing. Nolan is very good at capturing the atmosphere of the unnerving. The strange discomfort of being in dark woods, dealing with entrenched ideas, and customs. The modern idea of policing meeting the ancient ideas of spirits and ghosts. The sessions between Freya and Jack are very enthralling, and add much to the story, and the uncomfortable feeling that runs throughout the narrative. There is a time limit, the reader knows that, but what and when, is unknown, and Nolan very carefully parses that out. A very accomplished thriller.

Fans of Tanya French will enjoy this look at Irish crime and missing people. A very stylish and narratively strong debut, from an author I think people will be talking about. I can't wait to read more by Sinéad Nolan.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I really enjoyed many elements of this thriller, but as a whole, it did not quite work for me. Nolan does a wonderful job here with setting the mood; the woods and Irish village are appropriately ominous and melancholy and there are some beautiful turns of phrase throughout. This descriptive prose is where Nolan’s writing really shines.

There were some decent twists here and there that had me second-guessing who the culprit really was—I did make a correct prediction pretty early on—but it also felt like there were a lot of details/plot points that either weren’t really fleshed out enough, or the author changed her mind about midway through writing. I also thought the Irish lore of the woods was only partially explained—I would have loved more of that woven into the plot. I also found it strange that everyone just acted like it was fine that the Kellough children’s father abandoned them with their mentally ill mother and that their aunt allowed the older sister to step in as guardian, when it was clear she was also mentally unwell. There was a lot of neglect that wasn’t really addressed.

I noticed an error that was mentioned by another reviewer, which has hopefully already been caught by editors—an incorrect narrator for chapters 27 and 28. Nolan also tends to overuse adverbs—for instance, she uses the word tiredly twice within one page, but this may just be a personal preference. There were also sentences throughout that had me confused because they didn’t fit with prior plot or character development. Overall, I felt like the ARC I received needed another editing pass.

The characters and dialogue felt rather formulaic and the plot dragged on a bit too long for my taste. I did enjoy the therapy sessions with Freya and Jack, in which it seems Nolan was drawing on her own expertise as a counselor. However, as is often the case in adult novels with child characters, the character of Jack simply did not behave, think, or speak in an age-appropriate manner. As a teacher, this is such a pet peeve of mine! I had to reread to confirm that the character of Jack was supposed to be almost 10 years old; the way he spoke, behaved, and thought was indicative of a preschooler. For instance, I don’t know any fourth grader who would want to be tickled (nor do I think any good therapist would tickle a client) and doesn’t know the word “hospital.” I am assuming some of this is supposed to be regression due to trauma, but other than his not speaking in the beginning of the novel, it is never mentioned by any of his family members that any of his behavior was new.

This book is being compared to THE GOD OF THE WOODS, but it doesn’t rate nearly as high, in my opinion. I’d be interested to read future thrillers from Nolan. There’s a lot of good here, but not quite enough to take it beyond average for me.

Many thanks to Mackenzie at Simon and Schuster for this advanced reader copy!

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Sinéad Nolan’s debut novel “The Counting Game” is a haunting psychological crime thriller that combines the unease of Irish folklore with the grit of small-town secrets. Atmospheric, unsettling, and deeply emotional, it marks Nolan as a fresh voice to watch in Irish crime fiction.

Set in 1995 in the fictional village of Drumsuin, the story begins with the disappearance of thirteen-year-old Saoirse Kellough, who vanishes while playing the eerie “Counting Game” with her younger brother Jack. This chilling game, passed down from their late mother, is both a motif and a mystery at the heart of the book. Jack, traumatized and unable to speak, becomes the case’s most important witness; his disturbing artwork offering glimpses of what may have happened in the woods.

Enter Freya, a psychotherapist brought in to help Jack recover his memories. As an outsider in the close-knit village, Freya is met with suspicion, but her compassion and persistence gradually peel back layers of trauma, superstition, and buried truths. The villagers whisper of a creature in the forest that punishes those who disrespect it, while rumors of past tragedies, including missing girls and shadows of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries, deepen the story’s eerie texture.

The book unfolds through multiple points of view and shifting timelines, weaving together perspectives from Freya, Jack, and others in the village. While the structure requires attention and the slow-burn pacing may test some readers, the payoff is a taut, emotionally charged climax. The twist, though somewhat predictable, lands with impact thanks to the groundwork of atmosphere and character development.

Nolan excels at crafting mood: the dark forests feel alive with menace, the village suffocates with secrecy, and the silence between Jack’s words speaks louder than anything else. Freya is a standout protagonist; she is tough yet vulnerable, and shaped by Nolan’s own background in psychotherapy, which lends authenticity to her relationship with Jack.

Though some plot elements stretch believability, and the supernatural threads are left deliberately ambiguous, these choices enhance rather than diminish the story’s haunting quality. At its core, this is a story about grief, memory, and the painful legacies families and communities carry.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

A missing girl, a silent brother, and a village full of secrets, The Counting Game is a haunting psychological thriller that got under my skin.

In 1995, 13-year-old Saoirse vanishes after playing a mysterious game in the woods with her brother. When therapist Freya Hemmings arrives to help the traumatized boy speak, she uncovers the village’s dark secrets and the chilling truth behind the disappearance.

This was my first read by Sinéad Nolan, and I was immediately drawn into her atmospheric, haunting writing. Her vivid descriptions and slow-building psychological tension kept me fully immersed from start to finish.

I don’t usually gravitate toward this blend of genres, psychological thriller mixed with a touch of folklore and literary suspense, but I wanted to try something different, and I’m glad I did. It turned out to be a refreshing change of pace and a surprisingly unique mix that I ended up really enjoying.

I really liked how The Counting Game blended atmosphere and emotion, it’s haunting, beautifully written, and full of slow-building tension that keeps you guessing. The eerie setting and folklore added a fresh twist to the usual missing-person story, and Nolan’s writing style made it easy to picture every scene. That said, the pacing dragged a little in places, and the multiple perspectives sometimes made it harder to stay fully locked into one character. Still, the chilling mood and emotional depth easily made up for it.

All in all, The Counting Game is an eerie, beautifully written debut that stuck with me after I finished. It’s a great pick if you like slow-burn psychological thrillers with a mix of emotion, suspense, and a touch of folklore. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Sinéad Nolan writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Holly Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The counting game - what an original concept of a psychological thriller.

This is a crime fiction novel set in Ireland and a fictional place called Drumsuin.

This story is set with the Kellough family who have had quite a turmoil and difficult few years which isn’t helped when Saorise goes missing. Her disappearance is explored through supernatural themes intertwined with locals in a small village. Multiple POV’s are included to build up the suspense and discovery of what has happened to Saorise.

Her younger brother Jack was there when she went missing and due to the trauma the events have been ‘erased’ from his memory. A psychotherapist Freya helps Jack to uncover this trauma which is expressed through his paintings. Freya works alongside the Gardaí (police in Ireland) to help uncover the case and find Saorise.

I found myself constantly switching suspicions among the different characters in this book & this was kept suspenseful with the multiple POV. I also felt sympathetic for Jack & Saorise though-out the book due to their troubled upbringing which left me feeling quite emotional at the end of the book and this isn’t something I always expect from a thriller.

Really can’t wait to see what Sinead writes next what a fab debut novel! Thank you to HarperNorth (Harper Collins) & the author for providing me with a copy for an honest review.

[Maria Kring · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Counting Game by Sinéad Nolan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to HarperCollins Ireland for sending me a copy of this book!

Creepy woods, small-town secrets, and a game you definitely don’t want to play - The Counting Game is a haunting debut that hooked me right away.

Set in 1995 in rural Ireland, the story follows the disappearance of Saoirse, a teenage girl last seen playing the eerie “Counting Game” in the forest. The case rattles the whole village, and with nine-year-old Jack as the only witness (and refusing to speak), psychotherapist Freya is brought in to help. What follows is an atmospheric, unsettling mystery that blurs superstition, trauma, and truth.

At first, I found the switch between first- and third-person narration a little tricky to settle into, but once I adjusted, I actually grew to enjoy how it added texture to the story and gave different perspectives room to breathe.

I loved the eerie Irish setting - Sinéad Nolan captures that claustrophobic small-town tension so well. The pacing is taut, the writing is moody and lyrical, and Jack’s silence adds a chilling layer of suspense. It’s dark, emotional, and definitely not the kind of story that lets you breathe easy.

This is a strong, haunting debut - perfect if you like your crime fiction atmospheric, psychological, and tinged with folklore.

[Rachel Sargeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack is a traumatised child who is being raised by his sister Kate following the death of his mentally ill mother. He and his other sister, 13-year-old Saoirse, play a dangerous counting game in the forest to keep The Creature at bay. One evening Saoirse disappears during the game. Next morning a full-scale police hunt is launched.
Freya, an expert at supporting traumatised children, is brought in to gain Jack's confidence and find out what he isn't telling police. Freya soon realises big sister Kate and aunt Bronagh may also be concealing information.
Jack is a main viewpoint character. He's nine but appears much younger as he observes the case going on around him and he also has flashbacks to games in the forest.
Freya is the first-person narrator, warm and competent but with her own tragic backstory.
We also have chapters from Saoirse’s viewpoint dating back to difficult times with their mother.
There is a strong sense of place in the Irish coastal village setting with a good cast of secondary characters.
This is written in a literary style and is as much a study of trauma, grief and dysfunction as it is a mystery.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Counting Game’ by Sinéad Nolan is set in Drumsuin, a small village that has been plagued by several disappearances in the last decades. In 1995 a young girl named Saoirse disappeared while she was out playing in the forest with her little brother.

Freya, a psychotherapist is called to help find out what happened by talking to Jack and his family. As she tried to uncover the truth, she finds out that strange things have been happening in this forest for a long time.

I do not read many crime/ mystery novels like this, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this. There are many aspects to the story along with the missing person plot.
I was interested in finding out what happened and how the family dynamics worked in this book. As I am not really familiar with books like this so don’t know if I am the best person to say something about this “mystery-plot-wise”.

I found Freya quite unprofessional and therefore not so likable, while I do think she was meant to be liked. I also think there were a few things that did not really add up, but the story did keep me intrigued until the end. The flashback chapters were the most interesting to me.

Thank you so much to harper collins for sending me a gifted copy.

[Richard Quist · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE COUNTING GAME by Sinéad Nolan is an outstanding, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ missing person tale set in the village of Drumsuin in southwest Ireland in 1995. The Kellough family has had a rough time of it lately and then young teenager Saoirse Kellough goes into the forest with her younger brother Jack, but only he returns. Is she just lost in the woods? A runaway? A victim of some sad accident? Or the latest in a series of girls who have gone missing in the area over the last 20 years? The Gardai (police) need Jack's help to understand what happened... but he's not talking.

Therapist Freya Hemmings is enlisted to help unlock the secrets that Jack is keeping, in hopes of providing the Gardai with the information they need to find Saoirse and bring her home safely. As Freya slowly begins to gain Jack's trust, she learns more about the family's past and their difficulties, as well as the town's widespread fear of the forest. The more she learns, the more she questions what may have really happened.

This story drew me in - Nolan's characters are compelling, intriguing and tragic - each with their own strengths, weaknesses and secrets. The rural setting is beautifully described and the nearby forest is almost a character in and of itself.

Nolan delivers captivating characters, tense situations, lots of possibilities about what happened and who might have been involved, and a surprising ending.

Recommended!

Thanks to #Netgalley and Gallery Books for the early review copy!

[Jessica Emery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love The Counting Game by Sinéad Nolan, and while it definitely kept me turning pages, it never fully clicked for me.

The premise is interesting and there’s a quiet, creeping sense of unease that runs through the story, especially at the beginning. I appreciated the slower, atmospheric build and the overall mood Nolan creates — it’s unsettling in a subtle way rather than outright shocking.

That said, the pacing felt uneven. Some parts dragged while others rushed through moments that could’ve used more depth. I also struggled to fully connect with the characters, which kept me at a bit of an emotional distance the entire time. I was curious about where the story was going, but the payoff didn’t hit as hard as I hoped.

Overall, this was a solid, readable psychological thriller with a creepy concept, but not one that really stood out for me. Worth picking up if you enjoy slower, mood-heavy suspense, but it ultimately landed in “good, not great” territory for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark, atmospheric, psychological thriller with touches of supernatural elements. Irish folklore, and a lot of suspicious characters that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I really enjoyed that this was a fresh take on the genre. Gone was the unreliable female narrator and the typical cheating husband narrative. Nolan crafted a plot centered around a wide range of characters of all ages, including a character in the forest that keeps the reader questioning if there really is something supernatural going on. Told from 3 different POVs, I found myself changing who I thought the culprit could be, just as much as Freya, the therapist did.

The only thing that bothered me was that Jack, the 9 year old brother, was portrayed as having the intelligence of that of a 5 year old. I know he has trauma and it takes place in the mid 1990s, but I have a 9 year old and it was just too unrealistic.

Even still, I appreciated that all the side plots wrapped up nicely in the end. Everything actually made sense and there was closure. I’d give it a 3.5 but am rounding up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for this ARC edition in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelly Veit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy, a little spooky and atmospheric with a supernatural vibe going on. The whole time I was reading I was wondering if there was actually a supernatural explanation for the mysterious happenings. I’ll leave that answer for you to figure out if you decide this sounds like something you would like. Parts of the story were slow and somewhat repetitive and the pacing felt off. I did find myself racing towards the end to find out what happened to Saoirse and how her little brother, Jack, might be involved. I liked Freya, the child therapist, that was brought in by the garda (police) to help coax out of Jack what he knew about his sister’s disappearance. The twist toward the end definitely had me fooled. There are plenty of characters introduced that could possibly be responsible for Saoirse’s disappearance. At times, the reader is lead astray, to believe certain characters might be the culprit. If you like creepy, strange mysteries that have you really trying to puzzle out the answers, then this one is for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own and freely given.

[Heidireadsitall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely pulled into this debut novel. It is haunting, emotional, and so beautifully layered. The three different points of view worked perfectly and made the story feel rich and immersive. Each character felt real, interesting, and surprisingly easy to care about, which made the tension hit even harder as the mystery deepened.

The atmosphere is incredible. The small town history, the eerie woods, and the long buried secrets created a setting that felt alive and unsettling in the best way. I kept guessing the whole time and never saw the final twist coming. It genuinely shocked me.

The writing is strong and thoughtful, especially in the way it explores difficult themes like bipolar disorder, suicide, and self harm. The author handled these topics with care and honesty, which added emotional weight to the story without overwhelming it.

A powerful, gripping debut that left me thinking about it long after I finished. A solid 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ebook copy. These thoughts are my own.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Counting Game is a dark, compelling psychological thriller set in a small Irish village where old beliefs and hidden truths collide. When a young boy becomes the key to understanding a recent tragedy, an outsider is brought in to help uncover what really happened—though the community isn’t eager to talk.

Sinéad Nolan crafts an eerie, atmospheric story that blends suspense with emotional depth. The tension is expertly maintained, and the writing explores themes of trauma, tradition, and the silence that often surrounds painful events. With strong character work and a vivid setting, the book keeps readers engaged without relying on sensational twists.

A gripping and thoughtful debut that balances psychological intrigue with a haunting, slow-burn mystery. Ideal for readers who enjoy crime fiction with emotional weight and a strong sense of place.