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Prestige Drama
Not yet published
Expected 18 Aug 26Derry is already abuzz with news that famous American actor, Monica Logue, has flown to the city and will be starring in a new series set during the Troubles. And then she goes missing...
All eyes are on Diarmuid, the flaky scriptwriter who was the last to see Monica alive. From budding young actors hoping for a role to grieving parent whose story forms the backbone of the narrative; newspaper editors covering the mystery to taxi drivers hearing all the news from their clients, The Dogs in the Street follows the city's cast as they all try to locate themselves in Monica's disappearance.
Séamas O'Reilly's debut novel is a comedy about dramatising tragedy, and the responsibilities of a teller to a tale. It brings to life the voices of a city, the people, families and communities who find themselves obsessed with, and terrified of, interrogating their past.
All eyes are on Diarmuid, the flaky scriptwriter who was the last to see Monica alive. From budding young actors hoping for a role to grieving parent whose story forms the backbone of the narrative; newspaper editors covering the mystery to taxi drivers hearing all the news from their clients, The Dogs in the Street follows the city's cast as they all try to locate themselves in Monica's disappearance.
Séamas O'Reilly's debut novel is a comedy about dramatising tragedy, and the responsibilities of a teller to a tale. It brings to life the voices of a city, the people, families and communities who find themselves obsessed with, and terrified of, interrogating their past.
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 18, 2026
23 people are currently reading
7507 people want to read
About the author
Séamas O'Reilly
2 books155 followersSéamas O’Reilly is a columnist for the Observer and writes about media and politics for the Irish Times, New Statesman, Guts, and VICE. He lives in Hackney with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 30, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Thank you to NetGalley, and Little, Brown Book Group for the chance to read this ARC.
Prestige Drama is a compelling and engaging novel that explores how a Northern Irish community grapples with its past when a Hollywood film crew arrives in Derry to make a movie about the Troubles. The story takes a turn when the lead actress goes missing, and the Derry locals conversations reveal a range of perspectives on memory, history, and identity. Some wish to forget the past, while others are willing to confront it. This tension between older and younger generations gives the novel depth and nuance, showing how the legacy of conflict continues to shape individual lives and collective memory.
O’Reilly’s prose is authentic and colloquial to Northern Ireland, with long, conversational sentences that capture the rhythms of Northern Irish speech and make the characters feel real. The longer running sentences made it feel conversational rather than like reading a book, and brought an intimacy to the novel. The dialogue is sharp, often witty, and infused with warmth and humour. As someone from Antrim in Northern Ireland this intimacy was felt on a personal level.
The characters feel like people you could meet on the streets of Derry, and while I was reading it I could almost hear the dialect in the writing. While this is familiar to locals, at the same time, it remains highly accessible to readers outside of Northern Ireland, offering a nuanced understanding of the Troubles through an unmistakably Irish lens.
The ending, without spoilers, really does underline the enduring impact of the Troubles. Fans of Derry Girls will appreciate the humour and local authenticity, while readers who enjoyed The Bee Sting by Paul Murray will recognise the blend of sharp wit and deeper, contemplative themes. Prestige Drama is a remarkable blend of insight, humour, and humanity, and I believe it will resonate strongly with readers both in Northern Ireland but also offering international readers a powerful and accessible entry point into this history.
The only minor gripe I had with this was that it was not long enough. I will be buying this for my friends and family, as I know they will appreciate it too!!
Thank you to NetGalley, and Little, Brown Book Group for the chance to read this ARC.
Prestige Drama is a compelling and engaging novel that explores how a Northern Irish community grapples with its past when a Hollywood film crew arrives in Derry to make a movie about the Troubles. The story takes a turn when the lead actress goes missing, and the Derry locals conversations reveal a range of perspectives on memory, history, and identity. Some wish to forget the past, while others are willing to confront it. This tension between older and younger generations gives the novel depth and nuance, showing how the legacy of conflict continues to shape individual lives and collective memory.
O’Reilly’s prose is authentic and colloquial to Northern Ireland, with long, conversational sentences that capture the rhythms of Northern Irish speech and make the characters feel real. The longer running sentences made it feel conversational rather than like reading a book, and brought an intimacy to the novel. The dialogue is sharp, often witty, and infused with warmth and humour. As someone from Antrim in Northern Ireland this intimacy was felt on a personal level.
The characters feel like people you could meet on the streets of Derry, and while I was reading it I could almost hear the dialect in the writing. While this is familiar to locals, at the same time, it remains highly accessible to readers outside of Northern Ireland, offering a nuanced understanding of the Troubles through an unmistakably Irish lens.
The ending, without spoilers, really does underline the enduring impact of the Troubles. Fans of Derry Girls will appreciate the humour and local authenticity, while readers who enjoyed The Bee Sting by Paul Murray will recognise the blend of sharp wit and deeper, contemplative themes. Prestige Drama is a remarkable blend of insight, humour, and humanity, and I believe it will resonate strongly with readers both in Northern Ireland but also offering international readers a powerful and accessible entry point into this history.
The only minor gripe I had with this was that it was not long enough. I will be buying this for my friends and family, as I know they will appreciate it too!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
"𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵, 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵?"
A few years ago, I read Séamas O'Reilly’s memoir 𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘠𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘋𝘪𝘦𝘥 and have been waiting to see him make his official foray into fiction. Enter 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮.
When Hollywood decides to take over Derry and create a production centered around the Troubles, it spurs the locals to confront and reconcile their own memories and history of the violent time. Some wish to forget and keep the past in the past; others are finally ready to face it. And everyone has a thought or two about the missing lead actress.
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 packs quite a bit into its quaint size of roughly 200 pages. Through a mosaic of perspectives, including the screenwriter who’s returned home, a mother who’s still grieving, and an ex-IRA member, a compelling portrait is drawn displaying how the conflict’s legacy persists within their collective memory and how it continues to shape their lives years later.
O’Reilly’s prose offers an unmistakable Irish lens. The colloquial dialogue and stream of conscious style in the characters’ narratives add authenticity and intimacy; it feels as though you’re having a personal, genuine conversation with these characters. So many use self-deprecating humor as camouflage and armor in a highly relatable way. There’s also a conversation to be had on the commercialization of this troubled piece of history, and O’Reilly doesn’t shy away from having it.
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 is an overall complex and engaging fictional debut from O’Reilly. It’s sharp, witty, and insightful, and fans of Irish literature (hey, hi, hello) will eat it up.
✨️ Thanks to Cordelia at Cardinal Publishing for the ARC! [𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 5•5•2026]
A few years ago, I read Séamas O'Reilly’s memoir 𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘠𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘋𝘪𝘦𝘥 and have been waiting to see him make his official foray into fiction. Enter 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮.
When Hollywood decides to take over Derry and create a production centered around the Troubles, it spurs the locals to confront and reconcile their own memories and history of the violent time. Some wish to forget and keep the past in the past; others are finally ready to face it. And everyone has a thought or two about the missing lead actress.
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 packs quite a bit into its quaint size of roughly 200 pages. Through a mosaic of perspectives, including the screenwriter who’s returned home, a mother who’s still grieving, and an ex-IRA member, a compelling portrait is drawn displaying how the conflict’s legacy persists within their collective memory and how it continues to shape their lives years later.
O’Reilly’s prose offers an unmistakable Irish lens. The colloquial dialogue and stream of conscious style in the characters’ narratives add authenticity and intimacy; it feels as though you’re having a personal, genuine conversation with these characters. So many use self-deprecating humor as camouflage and armor in a highly relatable way. There’s also a conversation to be had on the commercialization of this troubled piece of history, and O’Reilly doesn’t shy away from having it.
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 is an overall complex and engaging fictional debut from O’Reilly. It’s sharp, witty, and insightful, and fans of Irish literature (hey, hi, hello) will eat it up.
✨️ Thanks to Cordelia at Cardinal Publishing for the ARC! [𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 5•5•2026]
Read
April 28, 2026#Gifted
Like many people, I loved Séamas O’ Reilly’s memoir “Did Ye Hear Mammy Died” a few years back so I had high expectations for his first novel; “Prestige Drama”, and I was not disappointed.
Famous American actress Monica Logue (I was absolutely picturing Gillian Anderson here) has flown in to Derry to star in a new series set during the Troubles. The locals all have varying opinions on this; Scriptwriter Diarmuid sees it as his redemption for being a failure up to this point, and as a way to prove everyone wrong. Some folks like that Derry and the Troubles will be in the spotlight again, whereas others wish the film crews would all just feck off.
Anne-Marie in particular who is still grieving her murdered son is struggling with the thoughts of another dramatisation of their lives.
That’s all a moot point anyway, as Monica Logue has disappeared almost immediately after arriving in the city. Diarmuid is the main suspect as he saw her last, but really everyone has a theory and soon enough all sorts of sightings of the actress are being whispered about.
This is such an incredibly well-written book; it’s crisp and fresh, actually laugh-out-loud funny but simultaneously poignant and deeply honest. I marked so many sections I wanted to read aloud to my husband that for a finish I just told him to read it himself 😅.
As it’s narrated by several different people we get a genuine feel for both the past and present of Derry. The conversational tone and colloquial language make it feel very real and I think this book will resonate with a lot of people, both in Ireland and further afield.
Basically, I loved it and can’t say enough good things about it. I would have read another 200 pages of this writing, and can’t wait to see what O’ Reilly does next.
With many thanks @elaineeganbooks @fleetreads for my early copy. Prestige Drama is out on the 7th of May. All opinions are my own, as always.
Like many people, I loved Séamas O’ Reilly’s memoir “Did Ye Hear Mammy Died” a few years back so I had high expectations for his first novel; “Prestige Drama”, and I was not disappointed.
Famous American actress Monica Logue (I was absolutely picturing Gillian Anderson here) has flown in to Derry to star in a new series set during the Troubles. The locals all have varying opinions on this; Scriptwriter Diarmuid sees it as his redemption for being a failure up to this point, and as a way to prove everyone wrong. Some folks like that Derry and the Troubles will be in the spotlight again, whereas others wish the film crews would all just feck off.
Anne-Marie in particular who is still grieving her murdered son is struggling with the thoughts of another dramatisation of their lives.
That’s all a moot point anyway, as Monica Logue has disappeared almost immediately after arriving in the city. Diarmuid is the main suspect as he saw her last, but really everyone has a theory and soon enough all sorts of sightings of the actress are being whispered about.
This is such an incredibly well-written book; it’s crisp and fresh, actually laugh-out-loud funny but simultaneously poignant and deeply honest. I marked so many sections I wanted to read aloud to my husband that for a finish I just told him to read it himself 😅.
As it’s narrated by several different people we get a genuine feel for both the past and present of Derry. The conversational tone and colloquial language make it feel very real and I think this book will resonate with a lot of people, both in Ireland and further afield.
Basically, I loved it and can’t say enough good things about it. I would have read another 200 pages of this writing, and can’t wait to see what O’ Reilly does next.
With many thanks @elaineeganbooks @fleetreads for my early copy. Prestige Drama is out on the 7th of May. All opinions are my own, as always.
May 5, 2026
I thought this was a very strange book. I didn't really like. I thought it could have had a better storyline. I am not real sure that I would recommend this book.
May 6, 2026
Short, satirical, lyrical, and at times bitter and sweet, this is a difficult but unforgettable read. (I say difficult because it takes a little getting used to, to read it as Northern Irishmen speak it.).
Written in long, conversational sentences from the point of view of multiple characters, but faithful to Irish conversation, descriptive and full of wit, and wisdom.
*I gratefully received this bo mmk 8ok from the publisher and author in exchange for a review. Thank you! Júiu7j
Written in long, conversational sentences from the point of view of multiple characters, but faithful to Irish conversation, descriptive and full of wit, and wisdom.
*I gratefully received this bo mmk 8ok from the publisher and author in exchange for a review. Thank you! Júiu7j
April 30, 2026
Derry is abuzz because extremely famous actor Monica Logue is in town. She's taken the lead role in a series about the Troubles and has arrived early for research. Then she goes missing. We get a load of different perspectives from locals talking about the show, Monica, the screenwriter Diarmuid and sometimes just random petty grievances.
This is so well done. It is actually funny, I'd laughed out loud a few times by page 10. It asks the question 'who gets to tell these stories?' because although the screenwriter is a local fella, the film crew, production company, lead actor are all a combination of American and British. Also, for people whose life is being fictionalised for this show, do they even want the story told?
You can tell Séamas O'Reilly has repeatedly been asked "have you read Say Nothing?" lol. Really excellent stuff, he's such a brilliant writer.
*read via Netgalley
This is so well done. It is actually funny, I'd laughed out loud a few times by page 10. It asks the question 'who gets to tell these stories?' because although the screenwriter is a local fella, the film crew, production company, lead actor are all a combination of American and British. Also, for people whose life is being fictionalised for this show, do they even want the story told?
You can tell Séamas O'Reilly has repeatedly been asked "have you read Say Nothing?" lol. Really excellent stuff, he's such a brilliant writer.
*read via Netgalley
November 28, 2025
Prestige Drama has great writing that can swoop from hilarity to horror in a sentence. Each chapter is narrated by a different character – with the exception of the screenwriter, Diarmuid, whose voice recurs at different points in the novel. It's a brilliant device – simultaneously satirising the way people cannibalise the stories of communities under stress to sell a story, while also telling that story, and there are some clever twists along the way.
It highlights the different impacts of the Troubles and their aftermath - how the violence destroyed lives, but also for some meant identity and purpose. (One character highlights that more people have died since the Good Friday Agreement by suicide, than were killed during the Troubles.) It’s an entertaining read, full of inventive language, but the brutality and absurdity it portrays stay with you.
*
Copy from NetGalley
It highlights the different impacts of the Troubles and their aftermath - how the violence destroyed lives, but also for some meant identity and purpose. (One character highlights that more people have died since the Good Friday Agreement by suicide, than were killed during the Troubles.) It’s an entertaining read, full of inventive language, but the brutality and absurdity it portrays stay with you.
*
Copy from NetGalley
October 2, 2025
The journalist and non-fiction writer Seamas O'Reilly's debut novel, Prestige Drama, is a look at the Troubles and their legacy in Northern Ireland through the prism of a TV drama about to be made there - until the leading actress goes missing. From this crime novel like concept, O'Reilly spins a novel which is both comedic and dramatic, told from a number of differing viewpoints, to create something which is both memorable and moving. It is a short novel which I read in one sitting, entirely engaged by O'Reilly's prose which really captures the cadence and voice of the Northern Irish, and his characterisation was spot-on. This is a very fine debut with a broad appeal, and I really enjoyed reading this one.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I got this as an ARC and have mixed feelings about it. In some ways I found the writing style to be hard to follow, but I could also truly "hear" the voices of the characters and their rapid fire stream of consciousness dialogue. There were many humorous moments. The ending left me unsatisfied though. I'm torn between 3 stars and 3.5 stars.
October 20, 2025
Derry boy Diarmurd Walsh is writing a drama about the Troubles.
This one is based on the murder of Jamie Devenney, a local boy shot in the head by a young British soldier.
The drama ‘Dead City’ has been snapped up by Tinseltown and a famous Hollywood actress Monica Logue, who is due to play the part of the dead boy’s mother, has come over to talk to the locals and work on her accent.
Trouble is she’s gone missing.
The story is told in short chapters by Diarmurd and other local residents, many of whom want to be cast in the forthcoming production and are helping in the search for her.
It’s funny, although bleak at times, particularly the thoughts of Anne-Marie, Jamie’s mother and his friend Jonny.
It highlights the tensions of present day Derry well, particularly the thoughts of the older generation who lived through it all and still carry their secrets.
The voices are authentic, the Northern Irish dialect brought to life in a close and conversational manner.
I did find it a bit disjointed in parts and wasn’t altogether convinced by the ending.
However it’s a great fiction debut from Séamas O’Reilly that deserves to do well.
This one is based on the murder of Jamie Devenney, a local boy shot in the head by a young British soldier.
The drama ‘Dead City’ has been snapped up by Tinseltown and a famous Hollywood actress Monica Logue, who is due to play the part of the dead boy’s mother, has come over to talk to the locals and work on her accent.
Trouble is she’s gone missing.
The story is told in short chapters by Diarmurd and other local residents, many of whom want to be cast in the forthcoming production and are helping in the search for her.
It’s funny, although bleak at times, particularly the thoughts of Anne-Marie, Jamie’s mother and his friend Jonny.
It highlights the tensions of present day Derry well, particularly the thoughts of the older generation who lived through it all and still carry their secrets.
The voices are authentic, the Northern Irish dialect brought to life in a close and conversational manner.
I did find it a bit disjointed in parts and wasn’t altogether convinced by the ending.
However it’s a great fiction debut from Séamas O’Reilly that deserves to do well.
May 6, 2026
Real Rating: 4.5* of five
The Publisher Says: Derry is already abuzz with news that famous American actor, Monica Logue, has flown to the city and will be starring in a new series set during the Troubles. And then she goes missing...
All eyes are on Diarmuid, the flaky scriptwriter who was the last to see Monica alive. From budding young actors hoping for a role to grieving parent whose story forms the backbone of the narrative; newspaper editors covering the mystery to taxi drivers hearing all the news from their clients, The Dogs in the Street follows the city's cast as they all try to locate themselves in Monica's disappearance.
Séamas O'Reilly's debut novel is a comedy about dramatising tragedy, and the responsibilities of a teller to a tale. It brings to life the voices of a city, the people, families and communities who find themselves obsessed with, and terrified of, interrogating their past.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Author of the poignant, hilarious memoir Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? delivers a novel of The Troubles™...this seems to be a rite of passage for Irish writers born after 1950...via a lens I found mostly successful. A TV production hub in factual reality, Northern Ireland was a violent and terrifying place not that long ago. A multi-part limited series being made there is a welcome boost to the economy, and to the good image the country badly needs to project into the world.
But a film being made about The Troubles™ is a different proposition altogether. That topic is quite sensitive. So when Monica Logue starts researching her starring role in this prestige drama, the mere act of talking to people about the past..."How do you talk about the past as a person still living it, in a place that barely survived it?" the author has a character muse...sets off explosions of the same emotions that threatened to destroy the societal fabric of the place. Is it any wonder she just vanishes? The real question is "how." Did she run away from threats and intimidation, was she kidnapped by people she frightened with her research, was this another ugly political assassination to silence a voice digging in dirt some powerful people buried bodies in?
A very short read of under 200pp ought not to offer satisfying conclusions to these questions, that's just too little space. "Hold my beer" says Author Séamas, and delivers a series of tight storytelling-heavy chapters from multiple points of view. The only one you see more than once is, unsurprisingly, Diarmuid the writer of the television series. Each of them flows into the next, not always seamlessly, but that did not jar me out of the narrative flow. All the chapters are, as mentioned, storytelling-heavy...focused on making your idea of what's happening in that moment illuminate the journey to the resolution of the plot.
As a debut novel, this is the cream of the crop. Author Séamas is an experienced storyteller, his writing-craft chops are well-exercised from prior work done. In the places I was less that ecstatic, it was down to my feelings about the choice he made to have the novel mirror a screenplay in its tightness, its use of the delightful discursiveness of his characters mainly in dialogue. I'd've enjoyed more "Irishness" throughout. I found his memoir so very delighful because it had observations expressed in the same voice as the dialogue. That, of course, works better in personal and factual contexts. It adds distance in that setting, allowing truly horrendously painful memories to be seen as past, not immediate and awful...which is why I found their relative absence odd here.
I'm in no way trying to put you off the read, please understand that. It was a delight, well mostly a delight to learn why Monica was treated as she was. I want the pleasures of this read to be the main take-away you have for this story. I have a minor few cavils, none of which made me think I should move on to the next DRC on the Kindle.
A debut novel from a stellar storyteller that's a treasure of time to read.
The Publisher Says: Derry is already abuzz with news that famous American actor, Monica Logue, has flown to the city and will be starring in a new series set during the Troubles. And then she goes missing...
All eyes are on Diarmuid, the flaky scriptwriter who was the last to see Monica alive. From budding young actors hoping for a role to grieving parent whose story forms the backbone of the narrative; newspaper editors covering the mystery to taxi drivers hearing all the news from their clients, The Dogs in the Street follows the city's cast as they all try to locate themselves in Monica's disappearance.
Séamas O'Reilly's debut novel is a comedy about dramatising tragedy, and the responsibilities of a teller to a tale. It brings to life the voices of a city, the people, families and communities who find themselves obsessed with, and terrified of, interrogating their past.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Author of the poignant, hilarious memoir Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? delivers a novel of The Troubles™...this seems to be a rite of passage for Irish writers born after 1950...via a lens I found mostly successful. A TV production hub in factual reality, Northern Ireland was a violent and terrifying place not that long ago. A multi-part limited series being made there is a welcome boost to the economy, and to the good image the country badly needs to project into the world.
But a film being made about The Troubles™ is a different proposition altogether. That topic is quite sensitive. So when Monica Logue starts researching her starring role in this prestige drama, the mere act of talking to people about the past..."How do you talk about the past as a person still living it, in a place that barely survived it?" the author has a character muse...sets off explosions of the same emotions that threatened to destroy the societal fabric of the place. Is it any wonder she just vanishes? The real question is "how." Did she run away from threats and intimidation, was she kidnapped by people she frightened with her research, was this another ugly political assassination to silence a voice digging in dirt some powerful people buried bodies in?
A very short read of under 200pp ought not to offer satisfying conclusions to these questions, that's just too little space. "Hold my beer" says Author Séamas, and delivers a series of tight storytelling-heavy chapters from multiple points of view. The only one you see more than once is, unsurprisingly, Diarmuid the writer of the television series. Each of them flows into the next, not always seamlessly, but that did not jar me out of the narrative flow. All the chapters are, as mentioned, storytelling-heavy...focused on making your idea of what's happening in that moment illuminate the journey to the resolution of the plot.
As a debut novel, this is the cream of the crop. Author Séamas is an experienced storyteller, his writing-craft chops are well-exercised from prior work done. In the places I was less that ecstatic, it was down to my feelings about the choice he made to have the novel mirror a screenplay in its tightness, its use of the delightful discursiveness of his characters mainly in dialogue. I'd've enjoyed more "Irishness" throughout. I found his memoir so very delighful because it had observations expressed in the same voice as the dialogue. That, of course, works better in personal and factual contexts. It adds distance in that setting, allowing truly horrendously painful memories to be seen as past, not immediate and awful...which is why I found their relative absence odd here.
I'm in no way trying to put you off the read, please understand that. It was a delight, well mostly a delight to learn why Monica was treated as she was. I want the pleasures of this read to be the main take-away you have for this story. I have a minor few cavils, none of which made me think I should move on to the next DRC on the Kindle.
A debut novel from a stellar storyteller that's a treasure of time to read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Prestige Drama
By Séamas O'Reilly
Prestige Drama will be released in the United States on May 5, 2026.
As soon as I read the first few pages, I knew this book was special. And hilarious!
The novel’s voice is strong and distinctive, with Northern Irish dialect and turns of phrase. The voices are unique in different chapters. Each chapter is from a different character’s perspective, except there are recurring chapters throughout from Diarmuid the screenwriter’s perspective. There is so much social satire, funny critique of characters and events, and a slightly gossipy tone that mostly runs on kindness, rather than meanness.
I could not stop laughing out loud during Dympna’s chapter. She is a mom of one of the young actors, who is auditioning for the TV show, Patricia.
Okay, so the plot. Diarmuid is a screenwriter who went to London to make it big in playwriting, but it didn’t pan out. Yet then he sells his screenplay of a “prestige drama” about the Troubles. Filming is all set to start soon in Derry, and a high-profile American actress, well-known for crime dramas, is attached to the project. She arrives in town unexpectedly to get a feel for the place and work on her accent, which needs major work.
Everyone in town wants a part, but Diarmuid seems to have writer’s block, and then the lead actress has gone missing…uh-oh…Meanwhile everyone and their brother is trying to audition, get a part in the show, consult, or something.
If you like the dark sense of humor and zany family dynamics of Derry Girls, this book is for you. The book is set in Derry, but the time is set in present day (unlike Derry Girls, which is set during the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland). Prestige Drama, in my opinion, has a similar tone to the show Bodkin, also set in Ireland, which has a murder mystery, a podcast, and absurd comedy along with a cast of “quirky” townspeople.
I feel like the author has seen all of these TV shows and films and went off to write his own more hilarious version. With all the laughs, there are serious themes about how to reckon with a history of violence, who is left behind after death and war, and how different characters deal with grief, loss, and the fallout from the Troubles. With all of the distinctive characters, you can see they are people who are not going to let the past define them.
Throughout the book, Diarmuid’s TV show about the Troubles is described as a “lavish prestige drama,” and fun is poked at the Brits and American producers/showrunners for their love of adapting Irish books or making films and movies set during The Troubles (think Say Nothing and Derry Girls).
This book is 192 pages, and it flew by for me. Genre-wise, it leans more toward a literary mystery as far as the pacing, not a true thriller or murder mystery, with the social satire and character studies. And I do believe there is a very good chance Prestige Drama will be snapped up by producers and made into a comedy and drama. Not that that’s the be all and end all for the life of a book, becoming IP, but I think the irony would be funny, and I would watch it, for sure.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Cardinal and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
By Séamas O'Reilly
Prestige Drama will be released in the United States on May 5, 2026.
As soon as I read the first few pages, I knew this book was special. And hilarious!
The novel’s voice is strong and distinctive, with Northern Irish dialect and turns of phrase. The voices are unique in different chapters. Each chapter is from a different character’s perspective, except there are recurring chapters throughout from Diarmuid the screenwriter’s perspective. There is so much social satire, funny critique of characters and events, and a slightly gossipy tone that mostly runs on kindness, rather than meanness.
I could not stop laughing out loud during Dympna’s chapter. She is a mom of one of the young actors, who is auditioning for the TV show, Patricia.
Okay, so the plot. Diarmuid is a screenwriter who went to London to make it big in playwriting, but it didn’t pan out. Yet then he sells his screenplay of a “prestige drama” about the Troubles. Filming is all set to start soon in Derry, and a high-profile American actress, well-known for crime dramas, is attached to the project. She arrives in town unexpectedly to get a feel for the place and work on her accent, which needs major work.
Everyone in town wants a part, but Diarmuid seems to have writer’s block, and then the lead actress has gone missing…uh-oh…Meanwhile everyone and their brother is trying to audition, get a part in the show, consult, or something.
If you like the dark sense of humor and zany family dynamics of Derry Girls, this book is for you. The book is set in Derry, but the time is set in present day (unlike Derry Girls, which is set during the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland). Prestige Drama, in my opinion, has a similar tone to the show Bodkin, also set in Ireland, which has a murder mystery, a podcast, and absurd comedy along with a cast of “quirky” townspeople.
I feel like the author has seen all of these TV shows and films and went off to write his own more hilarious version. With all the laughs, there are serious themes about how to reckon with a history of violence, who is left behind after death and war, and how different characters deal with grief, loss, and the fallout from the Troubles. With all of the distinctive characters, you can see they are people who are not going to let the past define them.
Throughout the book, Diarmuid’s TV show about the Troubles is described as a “lavish prestige drama,” and fun is poked at the Brits and American producers/showrunners for their love of adapting Irish books or making films and movies set during The Troubles (think Say Nothing and Derry Girls).
This book is 192 pages, and it flew by for me. Genre-wise, it leans more toward a literary mystery as far as the pacing, not a true thriller or murder mystery, with the social satire and character studies. And I do believe there is a very good chance Prestige Drama will be snapped up by producers and made into a comedy and drama. Not that that’s the be all and end all for the life of a book, becoming IP, but I think the irony would be funny, and I would watch it, for sure.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Cardinal and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Prestige Drama, by Séamas O’Reilly, from Grand Central Publishing | Cardinal/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
Also, found out a few weeks later that I'd won a hard copy of this in a Goodreads Giveaway, woohoo! Delighted that I'll be able to literally press it into someone else's hands now.
⭐ 4.4 ⭐
I started reading this book while on a break from yard work Saturday afternoon, and—in what was a simply AMAZING display of self-control, if I do say so myself—put it down after two chapters and did not pick it up again until two whole days later.
That’s because this book was so freaking good from the outset that I knew that to truly appreciate and enjoy it I would need to read it in one sitting, and yesterday was going to be the first time I would have such a stretch of time available to me.
I was right!!
I started at the beginning and didn’t hardly break for breath nor water until finishing it. I kinda figured from reading about it that it would be my cuppa, given how much I love, Love, LOVE Derry Girls. (As in, I think I’ve watched the first season five times, maybe six; at least three of those times were to introduce someone else to the show. Need to go back and watch the whole series start to finish again, now that I think of it.)
Anywhoodles, once again I was right. Reading this made me hear those voices I love so much in my head again—“Catch yerself on!” And, oh, my, the stories those voices were sharing…..
Wish it were a longer book, and wish the ending had been just a wee bit more straightforward. I actually went back and reread the parts that were troubling me (ugh, sorry, couldn’t help meself there, then), and made a little more peace with it. But I’m still not sure if what I think happened, happened. Read some actual reviews (vs my sort of carrying on) and I’m not the only one who felt such a way. Here’s a link to one: Jill Thomson: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And here’s a link to just a straight-up glowing review that I thought was very nicely done:
Marybeth: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Very much now looking forward to reading Séamas O’Reilly’s memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? And very much hope he writes more novels, too, then!
An Unrelated PS
The other day I found myself right put out with an author for saying the atmosphere in a house “smelled eerie.”
No, no, no, I thought. It _felt_ eerie. That’s what they should’ve written. And I felt so strongly about it that I almost put it in a note to the publisher on NetGalley (the line was in an ARC). But, in the end, that was the least of that particular book’s problems, so I didn’t bother.
I mention this because earlier today I was out working in the yard (are you picking up on how wildly exciting my life is?), and a fellow who was at our place said something to the effect of what a great day it was to be outside. I agreed, and said, “Plus it smells so pretty out here!”
Really, Kristi? You can say something smells pretty but were gonna dog someone else for eerie?
Catch yerself on.
DESCRIPTION
“Séamas O’Reilly has created a vast mosaic of voices, each sparkling with heartache and wit. I’m in love with every character in this novel, and like most prestige dramas, it ended far too soon.” —Caroline O'Donoghue, author of The Rachel Incident
A dazzling novel about a community where an upcoming film production brings their past into sharp focus—and nobody’s version is the same.
In Derry, the locals are already in a twist about the arrival of Hollywood actress Monica Logue to research her role for a show about the Troubles—and then she goes missing. Everyone has a story to tell—about Monica’s possible whereabouts, and about the historic events that brought her here in the first place: the show’s screenwriter, desperate for this last shot at success; the grieving mother whose story he’s adapting; the ex-IRA member who knows the price of survival; the local psychic who’s seen too much ...
Prestige Drama brings to life a chorus of characters as they locate themselves in Monica's disappearance, and in the truth about their own history. From the author of the acclaimed memoir Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?, Prestige Drama is heartbreaking, hilarious, and profound, an indelible portrait of a community both obsessed with its past, and desperate to forget it.
Received a complimentary copy of Prestige Drama, by Séamas O’Reilly, from Grand Central Publishing | Cardinal/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
Also, found out a few weeks later that I'd won a hard copy of this in a Goodreads Giveaway, woohoo! Delighted that I'll be able to literally press it into someone else's hands now.
⭐ 4.4 ⭐
I started reading this book while on a break from yard work Saturday afternoon, and—in what was a simply AMAZING display of self-control, if I do say so myself—put it down after two chapters and did not pick it up again until two whole days later.
That’s because this book was so freaking good from the outset that I knew that to truly appreciate and enjoy it I would need to read it in one sitting, and yesterday was going to be the first time I would have such a stretch of time available to me.
I was right!!
I started at the beginning and didn’t hardly break for breath nor water until finishing it. I kinda figured from reading about it that it would be my cuppa, given how much I love, Love, LOVE Derry Girls. (As in, I think I’ve watched the first season five times, maybe six; at least three of those times were to introduce someone else to the show. Need to go back and watch the whole series start to finish again, now that I think of it.)
Anywhoodles, once again I was right. Reading this made me hear those voices I love so much in my head again—“Catch yerself on!” And, oh, my, the stories those voices were sharing…..
Wish it were a longer book, and wish the ending had been just a wee bit more straightforward. I actually went back and reread the parts that were troubling me (ugh, sorry, couldn’t help meself there, then), and made a little more peace with it. But I’m still not sure if what I think happened, happened. Read some actual reviews (vs my sort of carrying on) and I’m not the only one who felt such a way. Here’s a link to one: Jill Thomson: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And here’s a link to just a straight-up glowing review that I thought was very nicely done:
Marybeth: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Very much now looking forward to reading Séamas O’Reilly’s memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? And very much hope he writes more novels, too, then!
An Unrelated PS
The other day I found myself right put out with an author for saying the atmosphere in a house “smelled eerie.”
No, no, no, I thought. It _felt_ eerie. That’s what they should’ve written. And I felt so strongly about it that I almost put it in a note to the publisher on NetGalley (the line was in an ARC). But, in the end, that was the least of that particular book’s problems, so I didn’t bother.
I mention this because earlier today I was out working in the yard (are you picking up on how wildly exciting my life is?), and a fellow who was at our place said something to the effect of what a great day it was to be outside. I agreed, and said, “Plus it smells so pretty out here!”
Really, Kristi? You can say something smells pretty but were gonna dog someone else for eerie?
Catch yerself on.
DESCRIPTION
“Séamas O’Reilly has created a vast mosaic of voices, each sparkling with heartache and wit. I’m in love with every character in this novel, and like most prestige dramas, it ended far too soon.” —Caroline O'Donoghue, author of The Rachel Incident
A dazzling novel about a community where an upcoming film production brings their past into sharp focus—and nobody’s version is the same.
In Derry, the locals are already in a twist about the arrival of Hollywood actress Monica Logue to research her role for a show about the Troubles—and then she goes missing. Everyone has a story to tell—about Monica’s possible whereabouts, and about the historic events that brought her here in the first place: the show’s screenwriter, desperate for this last shot at success; the grieving mother whose story he’s adapting; the ex-IRA member who knows the price of survival; the local psychic who’s seen too much ...
Prestige Drama brings to life a chorus of characters as they locate themselves in Monica's disappearance, and in the truth about their own history. From the author of the acclaimed memoir Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?, Prestige Drama is heartbreaking, hilarious, and profound, an indelible portrait of a community both obsessed with its past, and desperate to forget it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Prestige Drama by Séamas O’ Reilly publishes May 7th with Fleet and is described as ‘the ‘hilarious and profound’ debut novel from the bestselling author of Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?'
Set in Derry post 1998 (The Good Friday Agreement), Prestige Drama is a novel full of vitality, bursting at the seams with the stories that make up humanity. It is a character-led story with the underlying heartbeat of a community defiant in their survival. When Hollywood comes knocking on the city’s doors to make a new series, everyone has an opinion, with the general expectation that the city and people will benefit. There is a palpable excitement as locations are scouted and casting sessions are in full swing. The writer, local author Diarmuid O’Sullivan, is living it up, being treated like royalty. When word gets out that American actor Monica Logue is in town, the city is animated with talk of sightings and conversations had.
The series, Dead City, inspired by true events, will be a fictional retelling of a tragedy that struck the heart of a community and many families. There is a nervousness about how the individual characters will be played but overall the series development is welcomed in a city that has been through some extraordinarily challenging and traumatic years.
But everything changes when Monica Logue disappears. Rumours circulate and there are sightings of her all over the county and beyond, yet none are her. Diarmuid Walsh was the last person to see her alive so the gossip is laden with insinuation and possible scenarios. Did Diarmuid murder Monica Logue or has she absconded in search of her Irish ancestors?
As the speculation over Monica Logue’s disappearance continues, a story unfolds of a people very much affected by their experiences of the Troubles. Everyone has an opinion, with individual reflections on what came before and what might be coming down the road. Told through different perspectives Prestige Drama is a snapshot of a moment in time in a city going through dramatic change.
What unfolds is a wonderfully witty, yet tragic, story told with a striking use of language and descriptions that bring a people and a place alive. Kevin Barry immediately springs to mind, with O’Reilly’s style having that similar quirkiness and appeal that lifts the soul but also has an underlying rumble of something undefined. Prestige Drama leaves a lingering presence in its wake. It is a warm and compassionate story, a perceptive tale, a striking debut.
Set in Derry post 1998 (The Good Friday Agreement), Prestige Drama is a novel full of vitality, bursting at the seams with the stories that make up humanity. It is a character-led story with the underlying heartbeat of a community defiant in their survival. When Hollywood comes knocking on the city’s doors to make a new series, everyone has an opinion, with the general expectation that the city and people will benefit. There is a palpable excitement as locations are scouted and casting sessions are in full swing. The writer, local author Diarmuid O’Sullivan, is living it up, being treated like royalty. When word gets out that American actor Monica Logue is in town, the city is animated with talk of sightings and conversations had.
The series, Dead City, inspired by true events, will be a fictional retelling of a tragedy that struck the heart of a community and many families. There is a nervousness about how the individual characters will be played but overall the series development is welcomed in a city that has been through some extraordinarily challenging and traumatic years.
But everything changes when Monica Logue disappears. Rumours circulate and there are sightings of her all over the county and beyond, yet none are her. Diarmuid Walsh was the last person to see her alive so the gossip is laden with insinuation and possible scenarios. Did Diarmuid murder Monica Logue or has she absconded in search of her Irish ancestors?
As the speculation over Monica Logue’s disappearance continues, a story unfolds of a people very much affected by their experiences of the Troubles. Everyone has an opinion, with individual reflections on what came before and what might be coming down the road. Told through different perspectives Prestige Drama is a snapshot of a moment in time in a city going through dramatic change.
What unfolds is a wonderfully witty, yet tragic, story told with a striking use of language and descriptions that bring a people and a place alive. Kevin Barry immediately springs to mind, with O’Reilly’s style having that similar quirkiness and appeal that lifts the soul but also has an underlying rumble of something undefined. Prestige Drama leaves a lingering presence in its wake. It is a warm and compassionate story, a perceptive tale, a striking debut.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Derry Girls has a lot to answer for. At least if you are concerned about the growing number of Irish popular culture properties set in or around The Troubles and its impact. So much so that when the main character of Séamus O’Reilly’s new novel Prestige Drama takes himself to a writing for the screen workshop the participants are told in not so uncertain terms not to bring anything that includes The Troubles. So the question is why is the scriptwriter Diarmuid now writing a peak TV drama set in Derry based on the killing of a teenager during The Troubles. And more importantly to this story, why has the big name American star who is attached to the project, Monica Logue gone missing?
While Diarmuid is at the centre of this tale – as both the creator of the TV show about to start production in Derry, and the last person to see Monica before she disappeared. Prestige Drama is very much an ensemble piece. Every other chapter is narrated by a different member of the community, slowly filling in the picture of both the historical events and the current ructions in the town being caused by the impending filming of the tv show that is loosely based on their lives. Whether it is the mother of the boy who died or his best friend from the time or the owner of the house in which they want to film or the local taxi driver. Everyone has a story and everyone has an angle.
And if there is any criticism of this book is that all of the characters are too keen to tell their stories and all talk fast and densely. And all follow a fairly similar pattern. So while this is a fairly short book it is full of lengthy, often tragi-comic discursive passages that beg to be read in a Derry accent.
What slowly emerges from this narrative through is a picture of a community that is still coming to terms with a violent history. Of people striving to make a living, whether it be legitimately or with a bit of a dodge (Diarmuid included). Of a tightly connected, gossipy community that loves a good chat and a whinge. Prestige Drama is Irish tragicomic satire at its best – funny, acerbic, insightful, dark and poignant often all in the same page.
While Diarmuid is at the centre of this tale – as both the creator of the TV show about to start production in Derry, and the last person to see Monica before she disappeared. Prestige Drama is very much an ensemble piece. Every other chapter is narrated by a different member of the community, slowly filling in the picture of both the historical events and the current ructions in the town being caused by the impending filming of the tv show that is loosely based on their lives. Whether it is the mother of the boy who died or his best friend from the time or the owner of the house in which they want to film or the local taxi driver. Everyone has a story and everyone has an angle.
And if there is any criticism of this book is that all of the characters are too keen to tell their stories and all talk fast and densely. And all follow a fairly similar pattern. So while this is a fairly short book it is full of lengthy, often tragi-comic discursive passages that beg to be read in a Derry accent.
What slowly emerges from this narrative through is a picture of a community that is still coming to terms with a violent history. Of people striving to make a living, whether it be legitimately or with a bit of a dodge (Diarmuid included). Of a tightly connected, gossipy community that loves a good chat and a whinge. Prestige Drama is Irish tragicomic satire at its best – funny, acerbic, insightful, dark and poignant often all in the same page.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"She pulled a notebook from her coat pocket, crumpled and covered in notes. On it were written numerous lines of dialogue. Here, she said, before jumping into performance, sher the douggs in the strayt know what Pawwddy McMenamin is up te, naw if he wants te get past us he'll have to roise aaarlier than that in de mooarning.
I paused, now caught not in the blinding light of her charisma, but in the horror of one of the worst attempts at my accent that I'd ever heard."
Prestige Drama by Séamas O’Reilly made me laugh out loud so many times while reading it. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and I agree with another reviewer that some of the references or nuance may be lost on me because I’m not Irish or from Derry. The author really captures the dark and self-deprecating humor in Northern Ireland and how it's used as a camouflage for many who want to move on or not acknowledge the past. In a way, this kind of humor is how the characters survive and relate to one another (whether they want to or not).
There are hints dropped throughout about the missing American actress that the characters weave together through their different POVs. I also did not know that more people in Northern Ireland have taken their own lives since the Good Friday Agreement than were killed in political violence during the Troubles.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Prestige Drama and look forward to reading more by Séamas O'Reilly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I paused, now caught not in the blinding light of her charisma, but in the horror of one of the worst attempts at my accent that I'd ever heard."
Prestige Drama by Séamas O’Reilly made me laugh out loud so many times while reading it. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and I agree with another reviewer that some of the references or nuance may be lost on me because I’m not Irish or from Derry. The author really captures the dark and self-deprecating humor in Northern Ireland and how it's used as a camouflage for many who want to move on or not acknowledge the past. In a way, this kind of humor is how the characters survive and relate to one another (whether they want to or not).
There are hints dropped throughout about the missing American actress that the characters weave together through their different POVs. I also did not know that more people in Northern Ireland have taken their own lives since the Good Friday Agreement than were killed in political violence during the Troubles.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Prestige Drama and look forward to reading more by Séamas O'Reilly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Prestige Drama by Séamas O’Reilly is set in Derry as the city reacts to the arrival of a Hollywood production about the Troubles. When the American star, Monica Logue, suddenly goes missing, the focus shifts from the film itself to the ripple effect her disappearance has across the community.
The novel follows a wide cast of characters — from the slightly hapless screenwriter Diarmuid, who was the last to see her, to aspiring actors, taxi drivers, journalists, and those whose own histories are bound up in the events being dramatised. Through these overlapping perspectives, the book builds a picture of a city both fascinated by and wary of how its past is being retold.
It’s an engaging, quick read, and the structure — a mosaic of voices — gives it momentum. There’s a clear interest in how stories are shaped and who gets to tell them, particularly when it comes to something as complex as the legacy of the Troubles. The generational tension between those who want to move on and those who feel the need to confront the past adds a thoughtful layer.
What stands out most is the voice. The prose leans into a conversational, colloquial style that captures the rhythms of Northern Irish speech, giving the novel a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The dialogue is often sharp and quietly funny, with that familiar mix of warmth and self-deprecation.
It packs quite a lot into a relatively short book, and while it stays accessible and readable throughout, it still leaves you with a sense of the weight of history and how it continues to shape everyday lives.
The novel follows a wide cast of characters — from the slightly hapless screenwriter Diarmuid, who was the last to see her, to aspiring actors, taxi drivers, journalists, and those whose own histories are bound up in the events being dramatised. Through these overlapping perspectives, the book builds a picture of a city both fascinated by and wary of how its past is being retold.
It’s an engaging, quick read, and the structure — a mosaic of voices — gives it momentum. There’s a clear interest in how stories are shaped and who gets to tell them, particularly when it comes to something as complex as the legacy of the Troubles. The generational tension between those who want to move on and those who feel the need to confront the past adds a thoughtful layer.
What stands out most is the voice. The prose leans into a conversational, colloquial style that captures the rhythms of Northern Irish speech, giving the novel a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The dialogue is often sharp and quietly funny, with that familiar mix of warmth and self-deprecation.
It packs quite a lot into a relatively short book, and while it stays accessible and readable throughout, it still leaves you with a sense of the weight of history and how it continues to shape everyday lives.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read a free advance digital review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Diarmuid Walsh, failing actor, is suddenly in vogue in his home town because he’s sold a script about the Troubles in Derry in the 1970s. The story is to be made into a “prestige drama” miniseries featuring big American star Monica Logue, who has come to town to get a feel for it and to talk to Diarmuid and some people who were particularly affected by the violence of the time, like Ann-Marie Devenny, whose teenage son, Jamie, had his head blown off by a British soldier in front of a crowd of witnesses. Monica is to play a matriarch named Yvonne Mulvey, whose life is one of trauma and the struggle to get through it—and it’s clear that Ann-Marie must be the model for Yvonne.
But now Monica Logue seems to have disappeared, last seen by Diarmuid after treating him to the worst attempt at the local accent—or any accent for that matter—that he’d ever heard. Short chapters are narrated by Diarmuid and various neighbors, speculating on the disappearance, and opining about the old times. It’s quite a tragicomic tale, sometimes with a laugh turning to something brutally sad in the next sentence. Anybody who’s been to an Irish wake will know the feeling of being buffeted between laughter and tears.
I was enjoying the stories and the voices, but that turned to not so much. The book flags as it goes on, and then there is an odd and abrupt ending. It dampened my overall enjoyment.
Diarmuid Walsh, failing actor, is suddenly in vogue in his home town because he’s sold a script about the Troubles in Derry in the 1970s. The story is to be made into a “prestige drama” miniseries featuring big American star Monica Logue, who has come to town to get a feel for it and to talk to Diarmuid and some people who were particularly affected by the violence of the time, like Ann-Marie Devenny, whose teenage son, Jamie, had his head blown off by a British soldier in front of a crowd of witnesses. Monica is to play a matriarch named Yvonne Mulvey, whose life is one of trauma and the struggle to get through it—and it’s clear that Ann-Marie must be the model for Yvonne.
But now Monica Logue seems to have disappeared, last seen by Diarmuid after treating him to the worst attempt at the local accent—or any accent for that matter—that he’d ever heard. Short chapters are narrated by Diarmuid and various neighbors, speculating on the disappearance, and opining about the old times. It’s quite a tragicomic tale, sometimes with a laugh turning to something brutally sad in the next sentence. Anybody who’s been to an Irish wake will know the feeling of being buffeted between laughter and tears.
I was enjoying the stories and the voices, but that turned to not so much. The book flags as it goes on, and then there is an odd and abrupt ending. It dampened my overall enjoyment.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 stars
This is a fast-paced read, like listening to a one-sided conversation with a fast Irish talker. The chapters alternate between characters but the main one is Diarmuid, a scriptwriter from Derry who has returned with a story set in the Troubles. The community is abuzz with the possibility of American tv filming there, and the presence and then sudden disappearance of the leading lady only adds fuel to the fire.
There is a great deal of humor here, but it is interspersed with sadness and the often brutal horror of that time. The author definitely has some interesting things to say about the commercialization of Ireland's troubled history. We hear from the mother of a murdered boy, a cab driver, several people who witnessed and participated in the riots, and several more.
The chapters are short and this book moves right along. There are some secrets revealed as it winds down. I don't quite know what to make of the ending. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a fast-paced read, like listening to a one-sided conversation with a fast Irish talker. The chapters alternate between characters but the main one is Diarmuid, a scriptwriter from Derry who has returned with a story set in the Troubles. The community is abuzz with the possibility of American tv filming there, and the presence and then sudden disappearance of the leading lady only adds fuel to the fire.
There is a great deal of humor here, but it is interspersed with sadness and the often brutal horror of that time. The author definitely has some interesting things to say about the commercialization of Ireland's troubled history. We hear from the mother of a murdered boy, a cab driver, several people who witnessed and participated in the riots, and several more.
The chapters are short and this book moves right along. There are some secrets revealed as it winds down. I don't quite know what to make of the ending. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
All of Derry is buzzing about the show that is being made about a local murder during the Troubles. Some people are obsessed with talking about it, everyone is trying to find their place in it and in the city's past. When the starring actress goes missing, the buzz becomes even louder. From this description, it sounds like a plot driven novel, but that's not the case. O'Reilly tells the story in alternating points of view from various people connected with the current filming of the show and people connected to the actual murder of the young man during the Troubles. There is plenty in here to laugh about - the writing is wicked sharp. There is also a lot that is profound and touching about how we deal with the past and how it remains a part of our present. I appreciated the skill of the author a great deal, but I still felt like some of the elements didn't pull together as well as I would have liked - but maybe that's just fiction reflecting reality. Due out in May of 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Though 'Prestige Drama' is a quick read, it's an absolute delight that doesn't hold your hand.
It's told from the perspectives of different people from Derry, with Diarmuid (the screenwriter) as the only unifying voice/perspective. Each person in the town has their own opinion of the TV show, where the lead actress has disappeared to, and the Troubles themselves.
I laughed out loud multiple times from the young actor who knows based on the character he's reading for's sideburns that he's gonna be a punk rocker and should learn to play the guitar to one up the British guy they'll inevitably offer the part to, to the guys recreating a mural who have to tone down their skills after years of painting to make it look as godawful as when it first went up.
With some twists along the way, 'Prestige Drama' explores questions of authenticity, belonging, and who does history/who do these stories really belong to.
4 stars. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!
It's told from the perspectives of different people from Derry, with Diarmuid (the screenwriter) as the only unifying voice/perspective. Each person in the town has their own opinion of the TV show, where the lead actress has disappeared to, and the Troubles themselves.
I laughed out loud multiple times from the young actor who knows based on the character he's reading for's sideburns that he's gonna be a punk rocker and should learn to play the guitar to one up the British guy they'll inevitably offer the part to, to the guys recreating a mural who have to tone down their skills after years of painting to make it look as godawful as when it first went up.
With some twists along the way, 'Prestige Drama' explores questions of authenticity, belonging, and who does history/who do these stories really belong to.
4 stars. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
This book takes us to Derry in Northern Ireland where Monica, a famous American actress, is on location filming a show about the Troubles when she goes missing. Told from the first person perspective of multiple locals, we encounter a wide cast of characters seeking to insert themselves into Monica’s story: the show’s writer, the woman Monica is portraying, the eager actor hoping to get a part and more.
The voices are so whole and funny and Irish. The book is droll and moving in parts, and everyone has an opinion about everything. But the overall plot felt a bit thin, with the ending leaving me unsatisfied. I wonder if the audiobook would have made me enjoy it more given how dynamic and strong the voicing is.
Overall there were some really interesting and compelling components, and I love this author’s humor. A decent debut.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. The book is out in May!
This book takes us to Derry in Northern Ireland where Monica, a famous American actress, is on location filming a show about the Troubles when she goes missing. Told from the first person perspective of multiple locals, we encounter a wide cast of characters seeking to insert themselves into Monica’s story: the show’s writer, the woman Monica is portraying, the eager actor hoping to get a part and more.
The voices are so whole and funny and Irish. The book is droll and moving in parts, and everyone has an opinion about everything. But the overall plot felt a bit thin, with the ending leaving me unsatisfied. I wonder if the audiobook would have made me enjoy it more given how dynamic and strong the voicing is.
Overall there were some really interesting and compelling components, and I love this author’s humor. A decent debut.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. The book is out in May!
October 29, 2025
Diarmuid is a struggling playwright who, after several failed plays has managed to create a screen play about the Troubles in Northern Ireland which the television companies are wild about. The script is picked up and shooting will begin in Derry very soon, or it would, if the leading lady hadn't mysteriously disappeared. As the police begin searching for her and the rumour mill kicks into overdrive, many people have theories about where she might be and about the whole thing in general. Each chapter is told from the point of view of a different person involved, from the location scout to other cast members, from Diarmuid himself to townspeople who were around at the time. Not everyone is convinced it will be a good thing and old memories that may be best forgotten are stirred. This is sharp, funny and at times bleakly twisted. I loved it.
Review of advance copy
Thank you to the always wonderful Monkey Wrench books in Morgantown for the ARC!
This book was fantastic. A friend introduced me to Séamas O'Reilly's memoir and I loved it, so I was hyped to get an ARC of his new novel. O'Reilly has such a gift for delving into sobering topics with nuance and humor and he absolutely pulls this off here. The novel is at turns gut-punching and laugh out loud funny. It had me switching between soberly gazing into the distance to process, underlining moving and profound passages (something I rarely do in fiction), and cackling. The novel is voicey and interesting and absolutely has something important to say while also allowing for moments of levity and humor. I wish it had been 500 pages.
This book was fantastic. A friend introduced me to Séamas O'Reilly's memoir and I loved it, so I was hyped to get an ARC of his new novel. O'Reilly has such a gift for delving into sobering topics with nuance and humor and he absolutely pulls this off here. The novel is at turns gut-punching and laugh out loud funny. It had me switching between soberly gazing into the distance to process, underlining moving and profound passages (something I rarely do in fiction), and cackling. The novel is voicey and interesting and absolutely has something important to say while also allowing for moments of levity and humor. I wish it had been 500 pages.
October 21, 2025
Prestige Drama is set in Derry and centres around a TV show about the Troubles due to be shot there. An American actress has been cast as the central role of a grieving mother, but goes missing before filming can begin.
The novel contains multi-narratives , each with a distinct voice, weaving the tale as they speak about their own lives- the past and the present. I personally admired Seamas O'Reilly's work more than I loved it, but I was never bored. As a Northern Irish person, the sense of culture and place rang true and the cadence of the Derry people was captured on page.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The novel contains multi-narratives , each with a distinct voice, weaving the tale as they speak about their own lives- the past and the present. I personally admired Seamas O'Reilly's work more than I loved it, but I was never bored. As a Northern Irish person, the sense of culture and place rang true and the cadence of the Derry people was captured on page.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I received an ARC of this book.
I am not really sure how to review this book. It is about an American actress who signs on to star in a drama series about the Troubles, but soon goes missing. Instead of a linear narrative about the television show, the residents of Derry, or the disappearance of the actress, the book is more like vignettes from the perspectives of those involved in the inspiration, creation, and making of the series.
Some aspects were great. For example the actual writing really let the reader get an insight into various characters. The problem is that sometimes, because the reader just seems to be listening to each character as they describe their feelings, actions, or motivations, it's hard to differentiate the characters. We just know what they are telling us (which can be great and impactful). But sometimes as the reader we need to see the characters "from the outside" to also more deeply understand them. While a great deal of the "narration" from each character was extremely well-written, at times humorous, poignant, and revelatory, it was also the weakness of the book. It felt like I, as the reader, was looking at everything through a microscope, or at various individual puzzle pieces. And while each slide or puzzle piece (or chapter) was intriguing, it was too difficult for me to "zoom out," or put the puzzle together. And that could just be my fault, and not the fault of the book or the author.
I am not really sure how to review this book. It is about an American actress who signs on to star in a drama series about the Troubles, but soon goes missing. Instead of a linear narrative about the television show, the residents of Derry, or the disappearance of the actress, the book is more like vignettes from the perspectives of those involved in the inspiration, creation, and making of the series.
Some aspects were great. For example the actual writing really let the reader get an insight into various characters. The problem is that sometimes, because the reader just seems to be listening to each character as they describe their feelings, actions, or motivations, it's hard to differentiate the characters. We just know what they are telling us (which can be great and impactful). But sometimes as the reader we need to see the characters "from the outside" to also more deeply understand them. While a great deal of the "narration" from each character was extremely well-written, at times humorous, poignant, and revelatory, it was also the weakness of the book. It felt like I, as the reader, was looking at everything through a microscope, or at various individual puzzle pieces. And while each slide or puzzle piece (or chapter) was intriguing, it was too difficult for me to "zoom out," or put the puzzle together. And that could just be my fault, and not the fault of the book or the author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
* thanks to Cardinal for the NetGalley review copy (pub date: May 5, 2026)
I LOVED O'Reilly's memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?, and was super jazzed to get an early copy of Prestige Drama. This had some of the humor I was hoping for, but it didn't hit quite the same level of hilarity as Mammy -- and the mystery felt very confusing and didn't feel like it really fit with the rest of what was going on. I'll chalk this one up to "not quite for me" but will still happily read any future books by O'Reilly -- because when he's funny, he is FUNNY.
I LOVED O'Reilly's memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?, and was super jazzed to get an early copy of Prestige Drama. This had some of the humor I was hoping for, but it didn't hit quite the same level of hilarity as Mammy -- and the mystery felt very confusing and didn't feel like it really fit with the rest of what was going on. I'll chalk this one up to "not quite for me" but will still happily read any future books by O'Reilly -- because when he's funny, he is FUNNY.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Monica's gone missing and just about everyone in Derry has something to say about it. O'Reilly uses the American actress in town for a series about the Troubles as a catalyst to show how they continues to echo and impact. Every chapter is narrated by someone else. Well, almost every chapter because Diarmuid, the writer has the most input. This mosaic is written in colloquial style (you might find yourself reading a sentence out loud) but it makes the whole thing feel alive. It's funny in spots, tragic in others. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A very good read.
April 2, 2026
The narrative style was definitely a little challenging for me to initially get into, but I felt like there was more of a flow as I got further into the book. I definitely should have done some historical research on this one because I wasn’t familiar with the Troubles before this, and it was kind of difficult to piece together from the characters. Very interesting premise though, I still enjoyed it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Diarmuid has written a screenplay about the troubles, it is going to be filmed in the city of its setting, Derry. The story is told from different people’s views, whether they are hoping to get a part in the film or they are the troubled Diarmuid, or AnneMarie, whose son’s death is the heart of the story, or Monica the big American star who is to have the starring role.
An excellent book that is so different, my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
An excellent book that is so different, my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
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