Murphy Who Talks

by Ronan O'Shea

'Murphy likes things quiet. As the barman at the Pursers’ Retainer, a half-forgotten pub in North London, he treasures the silence left behind by absent customers. The empty seats are both a blessing and a curse: his sanctuary is safe, but the pub is on the brink of closure. Murphy has a gift for talking people into leaving him alone—long, winding stories that trap questions rather than answer them. But when the threat of redundancy looms, he sees an unlikely win-win: turn the pub into London’s first silent pub. No phones. No chatter. Just the perfect place for peace—until Instagram and the media get hold of it.'

Paperback

About the author

Ronan O'Shea is an Irish writer from London.

His debut novel, Murphy Who Talks, was published by Indie Novella in October 2025.

'Murphy likes things quiet. As the barman at the Pursers’ Retainer, a half-forgotten pub in North London, he treasures the silence left behind by absent customers. The empty seats are both a blessing and a curse: his sanctuary is safe, but the pub is on the brink of closure. Murphy has a gift for talking people into leaving him alone—long, winding stories that trap questions rather than answer them. But when the threat of redundancy looms, he sees an unlikely win-win: turn the pub into London’s first silent pub. No phones. No chatter. Just the perfect place for peace—until Instagram and the media get hold of it.'

Reviews

[Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murphy made me quite the raucous reader. I snorted, huffed, and out and out laughed as I made my way through this novel. The narrator is conversational in the best way, and by the end, the reader finds they have played a role in his development. Highly enjoyable read.

[noushting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this — it’s dry, funny, and has that slightly wonky, sideways humour that made me think of Bob Mortimer from the first few pages.
Murphy Who Talks takes a man who just wants a bit of peace and throws him into the absolute opposite, and watching it all unravel is both ridiculous and strangely touching.

The idea of a “silent pub” is genius — very British, very doomed, and very entertaining. O’Shea writes with this effortless, deadpan charm that makes even Murphy’s rambling, avoidant monologues feel brilliant. It’s satire without being smug, and comedy with proper heart.

What surprised me was how much emotion sits underneath the humour. As Murphy’s world gets louder and messier, you start to see the grief and loneliness he’s been hiding behind all that quiet. His relationship with Rebecca adds a lovely warmth to the chaos, and you end up rooting for him even when he’s being… well, Murphy.

Smart, tender, funny, and a little odd — in the best way — this is a great read if you like contemporary British fiction with humour that actually lands.

It was 07:42.

[Niall M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant. Murphy Who Talks is a book that's both dry-witted and surprisingly touching.
I found myself laughing out loud frequently, but what truly resonated was the emotional journey. The sweet love story with Rebecca helps Murphy finally confront the grief and isolation he'd been hiding. Their connection adds a beautiful warmth.
Highly recommend for fans of witty British fiction that packs an emotional punch.

[Jim Pownall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and engaging novel, filled with humour and sympathetic characters. O'Shea has written a fantastic novel here, one that I'd gladly reread. I also had the good fortune to see him discuss his work at a creative writing festival back in November, and he has piqued my interest to hear more about process and what-have-you. Nice one. 5/5.

Give it a read and support this brilliant publisher too.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great read. Murphy is lovable even with his dry humour and offbeat ideas for the pub he works at. I loved the pace of the book and the chapter introductions. It was surprisingly touching, and I really enjoyed watching the relationships develop—especially between Murphy, his friends, and Rebecca.

[Aisling Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murphy Who Talks is an excellent read. A genuinely funny and clever novel, but with a tenderness that lingers long after finishing. Seeing Murphy's industriousness in trying to make the Pursers' Retainer survive, as well as his all too human experience with love and relationships makes the reader root for him. Highly recommend.

[Ms Breda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the dry humour. You can imagine being in The Pursers' Retainer and eavesdropping on the exchanges between Murphy and Mr Handley. I was almost inspired to campaign for Taytos at my local, but we'd probably end up with the wrong ones. I think a phone ban might work though...

[Mike Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really, genuinely funny book, frequently insightful and often beautiful, and one of those novels that has the great quality of being quietly thrilling even when ostensibly no plot is happening. Love it.

[Paul Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of insight and humour, Murphy Who Talks is a razor-sharp book on friendship, the pub and the state of modern Britain.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murphy Who Talks felt like sitting down with an old friend. Excellently written. Murphy’s voice lingered with me long after I closed the book.