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If These Walls Could Talk
Hazel McNamara is on the phone with her husband Darragh when she hears the screech of tyres. He screams her name - then, silence. The jeep he was driving is soon found, overturned in a field off the motorway, but Darragh has vanished. As days pass and the Gardaí investigate, Hazel's carefully built life starts to crumble.
She soon discovers that her charismatic property developer husband has been keeping secrets - personal and financial - that could put her family's safety and future at risk. But where is he? Is something sinister afoot, after he got into bed with the wrong people? And what is the connection to an abandoned mental asylum in a small town in County Galway? The answer, when she eventually gets it, will shock Hazel beyond belief.
Taut, unsettling, rich with suspense, If These Walls Could Talk is a gripping West of Ireland thriller about deception, obsession and the haunting truths we hide - even from those closest to us.
She soon discovers that her charismatic property developer husband has been keeping secrets - personal and financial - that could put her family's safety and future at risk. But where is he? Is something sinister afoot, after he got into bed with the wrong people? And what is the connection to an abandoned mental asylum in a small town in County Galway? The answer, when she eventually gets it, will shock Hazel beyond belief.
Taut, unsettling, rich with suspense, If These Walls Could Talk is a gripping West of Ireland thriller about deception, obsession and the haunting truths we hide - even from those closest to us.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 29, 2026
3.5 Stars
A solid 3.5-star read and the perfect book to pack for a holiday. If These Walls Could Talk kept me guessing right to the end, with enough twists and red herrings to keep the pages turning. Michelle McDonagh has a real knack for creating stories that draw you in quickly and make it easy to become invested in her characters.
While I found parts of the plot a little repetitive, the pacing was good overall and the mystery remained engaging throughout. It’s an entertaining, undemanding read that delivers exactly what you’re looking for when you want to relax with a book without sacrificing suspense.
Michelle McDonagh continues to be an author I enjoy because she knows how to keep her readers hooked, and I’ll happily pick up her next novel.
A solid 3.5-star read and the perfect book to pack for a holiday. If These Walls Could Talk kept me guessing right to the end, with enough twists and red herrings to keep the pages turning. Michelle McDonagh has a real knack for creating stories that draw you in quickly and make it easy to become invested in her characters.
While I found parts of the plot a little repetitive, the pacing was good overall and the mystery remained engaging throughout. It’s an entertaining, undemanding read that delivers exactly what you’re looking for when you want to relax with a book without sacrificing suspense.
Michelle McDonagh continues to be an author I enjoy because she knows how to keep her readers hooked, and I’ll happily pick up her next novel.
March 27, 2026
Thanks to Net Galley for the advance copy of this book.
Another superb read from Michelle McDonagh.
Hazel is on the phone to her husband Darragh when he has a car accident. When the guards get to the car Darragh is nowhere to be seen. Very quickly Hazel’s lovely life starts to unravel. Where is Darragh?
This is very enjoyable. It’s a decent mystery with plenty of tension and a nice mix of characters. I know it’s an advance copy but some of the print made it hard to read.
My only criticism, I feel like this about all this authors books but this was the worst for it, is that it’s a bit too ranty. She is trying too hard to shoehorn her opinion on current affairs in Ireland into her stories. In this we had a rant about hospitals and a lack of services relating. We had animal abuse & MADRA thrown in and others. We all know these things, we don’t need a soapbox moment in every book.
Another superb read from Michelle McDonagh.
Hazel is on the phone to her husband Darragh when he has a car accident. When the guards get to the car Darragh is nowhere to be seen. Very quickly Hazel’s lovely life starts to unravel. Where is Darragh?
This is very enjoyable. It’s a decent mystery with plenty of tension and a nice mix of characters. I know it’s an advance copy but some of the print made it hard to read.
My only criticism, I feel like this about all this authors books but this was the worst for it, is that it’s a bit too ranty. She is trying too hard to shoehorn her opinion on current affairs in Ireland into her stories. In this we had a rant about hospitals and a lack of services relating. We had animal abuse & MADRA thrown in and others. We all know these things, we don’t need a soapbox moment in every book.
June 26, 2026
If These Walls Could Talk by Michelle McDonagh published June 18th with Hachette Ireland and is described as ‘taut, unsettling, rich with suspense, a gripping West of Ireland thriller about deception, obsession and the haunting truths we hide – even from those closest to us.’
If These Walls Could Talk sees Michelle McDonagh return to the town of Glenbeg, the fictional setting for her fabulous debut novel There’s Something I Have to Tell You. Loosely based on Ballinasloe, Glenbeg is the location of St. Brendan’s asylum, a building that was inspired by St. Brigid’s, the now abandoned and renowned psychiatric facility in this Galway town.
Hazel McNamara is a GP in a thriving practice but her days are very busy. With three sons at varying stages of education and an elderly father requiring assistance, Hazel is very much a member of the sandwich generation. Her husband Darragh is a property developer with a base in Dublin from where he commutes back to Galway on a weekly basis. Darragh has struggled financially in the past but, in recent times, he climbed back on top giving the family a state-of-the-art home on the west coast, convincing Hazel that all is well. He lives a flashy lifestyle, quite the opposite of what Hazel desires but she loves Darragh, even with all his faults. They have three wonderful boys and a good lifestyle – or so Hazel believes.
On a call to Darragh one wet and wild night, he tells her he is unexpectedly travelling to Dublin that night but not to worry. The next thing Hazel hears is Darragh, with panic in his voice, and a loud screech of tyres. The call is cut and Hazel is left hanging. Shocked and frightened, she rings the emergency services but she can offer no specific location for Darragh, only that he is somewhere between Athlone and Dublin. The next few hours are shattering for Hazel and the family but suddenly a glimmer of hope transpires when Darragh’s Porsche is discovered. But there is no trace of Darragh….
Hazel tries to be strong but she can’t help her imagination from spiralling as the horror of what happened sinks in. What if Darragh is bleeding out in some abandoned old shed? What if the emergency services are too late? She tries to calm her boys but she has her own work issues to deal with so is struggling to remain composed. As multiple threads begin to unravel, Hazel feels herself unravelling also. To stay strong requires too much. As the police start to uncover some further information, Hazel’s mood swings between pain, anger and shock. Where is Darragh and what has he been up to? A web of intrigue and lies unfolds as Hazel has to accept a new reality but will Darragh be part of that new reality?
If These Walls Could Talk is a twisty tale but it is also a snapshot of society in Ireland, both past and present, as Michelle incorporates many real-life news events into the novel. If you are an Irish reader you will be familiar with some of the cases, places and the people that are referred to. Michelle has also spoken openly about the initial inspiration for this novel which was a similar motor accident involving her husband, but he didn’t disappear!
With a varied cast of characters, criss-crossing different strands, If These Walls Could Talk captures the parochial nature of small-town Ireland where multi-generational trauma still lingers and a claustrophobic atmosphere prevails. Michelle McDonagh is known as The Queen of Rural Noir, turning ordinary people from the west of Ireland into rather nefarious characters, and she does it with style. As crime-fiction writer Catherine Kirwan says, it is ‘a gripping read that will have McDonagh’s many fans turning the pages late into the night’. I think we really need to see Glenbeg on our TV screens, like Glenroe but with a darker twist (IYKYK).
If These Walls Could Talk sees Michelle McDonagh return to the town of Glenbeg, the fictional setting for her fabulous debut novel There’s Something I Have to Tell You. Loosely based on Ballinasloe, Glenbeg is the location of St. Brendan’s asylum, a building that was inspired by St. Brigid’s, the now abandoned and renowned psychiatric facility in this Galway town.
Hazel McNamara is a GP in a thriving practice but her days are very busy. With three sons at varying stages of education and an elderly father requiring assistance, Hazel is very much a member of the sandwich generation. Her husband Darragh is a property developer with a base in Dublin from where he commutes back to Galway on a weekly basis. Darragh has struggled financially in the past but, in recent times, he climbed back on top giving the family a state-of-the-art home on the west coast, convincing Hazel that all is well. He lives a flashy lifestyle, quite the opposite of what Hazel desires but she loves Darragh, even with all his faults. They have three wonderful boys and a good lifestyle – or so Hazel believes.
On a call to Darragh one wet and wild night, he tells her he is unexpectedly travelling to Dublin that night but not to worry. The next thing Hazel hears is Darragh, with panic in his voice, and a loud screech of tyres. The call is cut and Hazel is left hanging. Shocked and frightened, she rings the emergency services but she can offer no specific location for Darragh, only that he is somewhere between Athlone and Dublin. The next few hours are shattering for Hazel and the family but suddenly a glimmer of hope transpires when Darragh’s Porsche is discovered. But there is no trace of Darragh….
Hazel tries to be strong but she can’t help her imagination from spiralling as the horror of what happened sinks in. What if Darragh is bleeding out in some abandoned old shed? What if the emergency services are too late? She tries to calm her boys but she has her own work issues to deal with so is struggling to remain composed. As multiple threads begin to unravel, Hazel feels herself unravelling also. To stay strong requires too much. As the police start to uncover some further information, Hazel’s mood swings between pain, anger and shock. Where is Darragh and what has he been up to? A web of intrigue and lies unfolds as Hazel has to accept a new reality but will Darragh be part of that new reality?
If These Walls Could Talk is a twisty tale but it is also a snapshot of society in Ireland, both past and present, as Michelle incorporates many real-life news events into the novel. If you are an Irish reader you will be familiar with some of the cases, places and the people that are referred to. Michelle has also spoken openly about the initial inspiration for this novel which was a similar motor accident involving her husband, but he didn’t disappear!
With a varied cast of characters, criss-crossing different strands, If These Walls Could Talk captures the parochial nature of small-town Ireland where multi-generational trauma still lingers and a claustrophobic atmosphere prevails. Michelle McDonagh is known as The Queen of Rural Noir, turning ordinary people from the west of Ireland into rather nefarious characters, and she does it with style. As crime-fiction writer Catherine Kirwan says, it is ‘a gripping read that will have McDonagh’s many fans turning the pages late into the night’. I think we really need to see Glenbeg on our TV screens, like Glenroe but with a darker twist (IYKYK).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If These Walls Could Talk is one of those thrillers that grips you from its very first moment of panic. Hazel is on the phone to her husband when the screech of tyres cuts through the conversation, followed by his terrified cry of her name—and then nothing. It’s a chilling opening, and the silence that follows becomes the heartbeat of the novel as Hazel’s world begins to fracture.
What unfolds is a taut, unsettling descent into the secrets Darragh left behind. Hazel’s grief is raw, but it’s the confusion that really lingers—how well can you ever know the person you share your life with? As the Gardaí search for answers, Hazel starts to uncover the cracks in her marriage: the financial risks, the hidden dealings, the charm that may have masked something far more dangerous. The more she learns, the more the ground shifts beneath her feet.
The thread leading to the abandoned mental asylum in County Galway adds a wonderfully eerie layer to the story. There’s something about forgotten buildings and the echoes they hold that fits perfectly with the novel’s themes of deception and buried truths. Each revelation feels like peeling back wallpaper in an old house—what’s underneath is darker than you expect, and once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it.
Hazel is a compelling protagonist because she’s not a detective; she’s a woman trying to hold her life together while realising it may have been built on lies. Her fear, her determination, her disbelief—they all feel painfully real. And when the truth finally comes, it lands with the kind of shock that makes you sit back for a moment before turning the next page.
Atmospheric, suspenseful, and rich with emotional tension, If These Walls Could Talk is a gripping West of Ireland thriller that explores the secrets we keep, the ones we inherit, and the ones that refuse to stay buried.
With thanks to Michelle McDonagh, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
What unfolds is a taut, unsettling descent into the secrets Darragh left behind. Hazel’s grief is raw, but it’s the confusion that really lingers—how well can you ever know the person you share your life with? As the Gardaí search for answers, Hazel starts to uncover the cracks in her marriage: the financial risks, the hidden dealings, the charm that may have masked something far more dangerous. The more she learns, the more the ground shifts beneath her feet.
The thread leading to the abandoned mental asylum in County Galway adds a wonderfully eerie layer to the story. There’s something about forgotten buildings and the echoes they hold that fits perfectly with the novel’s themes of deception and buried truths. Each revelation feels like peeling back wallpaper in an old house—what’s underneath is darker than you expect, and once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it.
Hazel is a compelling protagonist because she’s not a detective; she’s a woman trying to hold her life together while realising it may have been built on lies. Her fear, her determination, her disbelief—they all feel painfully real. And when the truth finally comes, it lands with the kind of shock that makes you sit back for a moment before turning the next page.
Atmospheric, suspenseful, and rich with emotional tension, If These Walls Could Talk is a gripping West of Ireland thriller that explores the secrets we keep, the ones we inherit, and the ones that refuse to stay buried.
With thanks to Michelle McDonagh, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Hazel's charismatic husband, a successful entrepreneur who has risen from an earlier bout of bankruptcy to rebuild his business empire, goes inexplicably missing after an awful vehicular mishap that leaves his expensive car totally destroyed, speculation is right about what happened to Darragh.
And as the police Investigation uncovers one shock after another, leaving her and her three sons reeling, overworked GP Hazel begins to realise that she may not have known her husband as well as she thought...
Michelle McDonagh is a talented author who can always be relied upon to deliver a story full of unexpected insights and uncomfortable emotions, and this story is no exception. Ireland's tragic history with mental health patients features heavily in the book, It is a dark meditation on secret, lies, preoccupations and obsessions.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
And as the police Investigation uncovers one shock after another, leaving her and her three sons reeling, overworked GP Hazel begins to realise that she may not have known her husband as well as she thought...
Michelle McDonagh is a talented author who can always be relied upon to deliver a story full of unexpected insights and uncomfortable emotions, and this story is no exception. Ireland's tragic history with mental health patients features heavily in the book, It is a dark meditation on secret, lies, preoccupations and obsessions.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Michelle McDonagh is the queen of Irish Rural Noir and her latest thriller 'If These Walls Could Talk' is a brilliant example! I devoured this pageturner in no time, was completely hooked by the story.
Hazel, a GP in an Irish country town, is on the phone to her husband Darragh, a property developer, when he seemingly has an accident and the connection breaks. Darragh's car is found beside the motorway but there is no sign of him. In the course of the investigation some dark facts come to light. They alter Hazel's perception of who her husband really is and has wide reaching consequences for her and her family. But will he be found alive?
This is a gripping read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I love the rural West of Ireland setting. Hazel is a very likeable character. From living with migraines to money laundering and mental institutions many current themes are touched. Another storyline is effortlessly woven into the main mystery which adds interest and depth to the novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Ireland for the very enjoyable ARC.
Hazel, a GP in an Irish country town, is on the phone to her husband Darragh, a property developer, when he seemingly has an accident and the connection breaks. Darragh's car is found beside the motorway but there is no sign of him. In the course of the investigation some dark facts come to light. They alter Hazel's perception of who her husband really is and has wide reaching consequences for her and her family. But will he be found alive?
This is a gripping read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I love the rural West of Ireland setting. Hazel is a very likeable character. From living with migraines to money laundering and mental institutions many current themes are touched. Another storyline is effortlessly woven into the main mystery which adds interest and depth to the novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Ireland for the very enjoyable ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A squeal of brakes, her husband Darragh gasping her name mid phone call, then nothing.
It wasn't long before the Gardaí found his top of the range Porsche was found wrecked in a field the only link to him a very expensive mud covered leather shoe
Hazels marriage wasn't perfect but they were a close family, their three sons had turned out well and they were respected in the local community. But as each day passes without Darragh being found and the Gardai investigation uncovers questions that need answering Hazel begins to wonder how well she really knew her husband.
The characters are well written, a family unravelling, searching for answers and totally unprepared for what they're about to find out.
This one grabbed me from the opening pages. A good read.
It wasn't long before the Gardaí found his top of the range Porsche was found wrecked in a field the only link to him a very expensive mud covered leather shoe
Hazels marriage wasn't perfect but they were a close family, their three sons had turned out well and they were respected in the local community. But as each day passes without Darragh being found and the Gardai investigation uncovers questions that need answering Hazel begins to wonder how well she really knew her husband.
The characters are well written, a family unravelling, searching for answers and totally unprepared for what they're about to find out.
This one grabbed me from the opening pages. A good read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Darragh goes missing after a car accident and Hazel discovers that he has been unfaithful (again), been taking drugs (again) and has disastrous financial problems (again). I found this slow - Hazel only begins to work out what Darragh has been up to at the 39% mark - and rather dull, even when skim read. The revelation of what has happened to Darragh was unpleasant and I found the side story about Hazel's patient much more engrossing than the main plot. Hazel muses at one point that she hopes she isn't one of 'those women' who pay no attention to their joint finances - I'm afraid you definitely are, Hazel.
Darragh goes missing after a car accident and Hazel discovers that he has been unfaithful (again), been taking drugs (again) and has disastrous financial problems (again). I found this slow - Hazel only begins to work out what Darragh has been up to at the 39% mark - and rather dull, even when skim read. The revelation of what has happened to Darragh was unpleasant and I found the side story about Hazel's patient much more engrossing than the main plot. Hazel muses at one point that she hopes she isn't one of 'those women' who pay no attention to their joint finances - I'm afraid you definitely are, Hazel.
May 28, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the arc
On a wet miserable night, Hazel is on the phone to her husband Darragh when she hears his tyres screech, he calls her name and then silence.
Hazel has a vague idea of where the accident happened and when the car is found, there is no sign of Darragh.
This book reminded me of those little Russian dolls, the deeper you go there is more to be found. In Hazels situation this is most definitely the case. As the guards try to solve the mystery, another area is unravelled.
There were three storylines going on in this book and although it was a slow start, I loved how this author was able to tie the stories back seamlessly.
On a wet miserable night, Hazel is on the phone to her husband Darragh when she hears his tyres screech, he calls her name and then silence.
Hazel has a vague idea of where the accident happened and when the car is found, there is no sign of Darragh.
This book reminded me of those little Russian dolls, the deeper you go there is more to be found. In Hazels situation this is most definitely the case. As the guards try to solve the mystery, another area is unravelled.
There were three storylines going on in this book and although it was a slow start, I loved how this author was able to tie the stories back seamlessly.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beautifully written, I really do love the author's writing style and her observations of small town Ireland. It's easy to get sucked into the lives of her characters as every setting feels familiar and we all know mirror images of her characters. I wasn't as gripped by the story itself as three different strands tried to come together I felt they were fighting against each other. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy.
June 23, 2026
I know that Michelle McDonagh is a brilliant writer. I think that this book is her best yet.
It was such a wonderful story, I never knew what was going to happen next.
There were many interesting people/characters. Could help but love them all, especially the protagonist Hazel. Darragh was quite a nasty person
It was a mystery and a thriller, to me anyway. I hugely recommend this power book to everyone.
It was such a wonderful story, I never knew what was going to happen next.
There were many interesting people/characters. Could help but love them all, especially the protagonist Hazel. Darragh was quite a nasty person
It was a mystery and a thriller, to me anyway. I hugely recommend this power book to everyone.
June 23, 2026
Many thanks to Netgalley and also Hachette Books Ireland for this ARC!
I have to admit, I wish I would have liked it more. Like, the blurb did sound really promising. But I found the book itself really slow, and not even the three different storylines going on did help here. Even with skipping some parts, I did have a rough time staying really interested and yes, I am sad about it. Still might give the author a second chance when there will be an opportunity to do so.
I have to admit, I wish I would have liked it more. Like, the blurb did sound really promising. But I found the book itself really slow, and not even the three different storylines going on did help here. Even with skipping some parts, I did have a rough time staying really interested and yes, I am sad about it. Still might give the author a second chance when there will be an opportunity to do so.
June 30, 2026
Such a well paced novel with a great plot and believable characters. This is the author’s fourth book and it’s by far her best. It’s contemporary Ireland about a family shook by an event which leads to secrets being unearthed.
It’s a domestic noir with the backdrop of Ireland’s troubled past re the treatment of mental health for one.
It’s such an easy read despite its dark subject matter.
Highly recommended.
It’s a domestic noir with the backdrop of Ireland’s troubled past re the treatment of mental health for one.
It’s such an easy read despite its dark subject matter.
Highly recommended.
June 24, 2026
Michelle McDonagh is one of my favourite authors and I really enjoyed this latest book of hers. If I’m honest I don’t think it would be the best of her stories and for me the whole mental institution/ podcast sections could have been left out and better replaced with something less complicated. However it’s a heck of a good read and I strongly recommend it.
June 28, 2026
Superb as always. Inhaled it.
Read
July 15, 2026Enjoyed every minute of it
August 3, 2026
Not as good as other books from author
August 5, 2026
Probably closer to a 3.5 star but actually really enjoyed it. It was a very easy read and liked that it was set in Ireland, made me feel a little nostalgic. Ending was a little predictable but still a fun book
July 24, 2026
Hazel’s husband calls her from his car when suddenly the worst happens. The guards recover his vehicle but her husband is nowhere to be found…
The story follows Hazel as she tries to comfort their three adult/teen sons while continuing to work as a GP and care for an aging parent amid the investigation into her husband’s disappearance. When anomalies in her husband’s life come to light, Hazel begins to wonder if she ever really knew him.
It was a gripping story that diligently and sensitively explored some tough themes, such as mental health crises.
The story follows Hazel as she tries to comfort their three adult/teen sons while continuing to work as a GP and care for an aging parent amid the investigation into her husband’s disappearance. When anomalies in her husband’s life come to light, Hazel begins to wonder if she ever really knew him.
It was a gripping story that diligently and sensitively explored some tough themes, such as mental health crises.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews