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The Irish Inheritance: Totally unputdownable and heartbreaking Irish fiction
Not yet published
Expected 18 May 26Tara took in the grand farmhouse sitting high on the hill amidst the emerald grass. She never knew her mother came from money. Now, this house will be passed down to her. But how can Tara accept it when there is still a mystery hiding within the faded walls?
When Tara Hourihan’s mother receives a letter informing her she’s inherited a house down south in Roone Bay, Tara sees her mother pale. Aoife hasn’t been back to her tiny hometown in years.
When mother and daughter arrive in town, the lawyer handling the estate gives them some shocking the inheritance may be split. There is evidence that Aoife’s twin sister Eithne, thought to have died as a teenager, may still be alive. Her name is listed as a patient at a local mother and baby home.
With the help of handsome local garda, Declan Ford, Tara and Aoife must untangle a decades old family secret and a possible terrible cover-up that tore the sisters apart. Did Aoife’s parents lie to her about Eithne?
What the women discover will change everything they thought they knew about their history. But can they finally put the past to rest, before it is too late?
A totally gripping and heartbreaking tale about family secrets, the ties that bind mothers and daughters and the tragedy of the Irish mother and baby homes. Fans of Kathleen McGurl, Tricia O’Malley and Maeve Binchy will be utterly swept away.
Readers love Daisy O’
‘OMG! OMG!!… Beautiful… Absolutely gorgeous!!!… Swept me away from the beginning to the end!!!… I devoured it in one sitting!!!… Gorgeous, heart-warming… Clear your schedules and grab the tissues… Stunning.’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh my aching heart!… Heartbreaking… In tears… I was holding my breath. Tears were streaming from my eyes… I had a rush of tears when I said goodbye to this beautiful island… Fiercely pulled at my heart… I loved this… Wonderful… Be prepared with tissues… Will capture your imagination and soften your soul.’ Cindy L Spear, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautiful… I was totally immersed in this emotional read… Just perfect.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The magic of Ireland!… wonderful… Will keep you enthralled to the last page.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Finds its way into your heart… lovely… this really is a memorable story… stays with you long after the last page’ Jaffareadstoo, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fall in love with Roone Bay… I felt as if I were right there, by the sea… will stay with you for a long time after you finish… I can’t stop thinking about [it]… magical
When Tara Hourihan’s mother receives a letter informing her she’s inherited a house down south in Roone Bay, Tara sees her mother pale. Aoife hasn’t been back to her tiny hometown in years.
When mother and daughter arrive in town, the lawyer handling the estate gives them some shocking the inheritance may be split. There is evidence that Aoife’s twin sister Eithne, thought to have died as a teenager, may still be alive. Her name is listed as a patient at a local mother and baby home.
With the help of handsome local garda, Declan Ford, Tara and Aoife must untangle a decades old family secret and a possible terrible cover-up that tore the sisters apart. Did Aoife’s parents lie to her about Eithne?
What the women discover will change everything they thought they knew about their history. But can they finally put the past to rest, before it is too late?
A totally gripping and heartbreaking tale about family secrets, the ties that bind mothers and daughters and the tragedy of the Irish mother and baby homes. Fans of Kathleen McGurl, Tricia O’Malley and Maeve Binchy will be utterly swept away.
Readers love Daisy O’
‘OMG! OMG!!… Beautiful… Absolutely gorgeous!!!… Swept me away from the beginning to the end!!!… I devoured it in one sitting!!!… Gorgeous, heart-warming… Clear your schedules and grab the tissues… Stunning.’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh my aching heart!… Heartbreaking… In tears… I was holding my breath. Tears were streaming from my eyes… I had a rush of tears when I said goodbye to this beautiful island… Fiercely pulled at my heart… I loved this… Wonderful… Be prepared with tissues… Will capture your imagination and soften your soul.’ Cindy L Spear, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautiful… I was totally immersed in this emotional read… Just perfect.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The magic of Ireland!… wonderful… Will keep you enthralled to the last page.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Finds its way into your heart… lovely… this really is a memorable story… stays with you long after the last page’ Jaffareadstoo, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fall in love with Roone Bay… I felt as if I were right there, by the sea… will stay with you for a long time after you finish… I can’t stop thinking about [it]… magical
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 18, 2026
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Daisy O'Shea
20 books67 followersWrites women's fiction with a touch of romance.
Currently lives in West Cork, Ireland.
Signed in August 2023 for a three book deal with Bookouture.
Currently lives in West Cork, Ireland.
Signed in August 2023 for a three book deal with Bookouture.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m sorry to report that I need to DNF this at 45%. I can’t handle the child abuse content. The writing is ok…it’s the troubling content. I wish there had been a content warning. Readers who can handle the content will probably find the story compelling. I have loved other books by the author.
May 1, 2026
The Irish Inheritance is a deeply powerful mystery novel, beautifully written. This complex story contains, as the author says in her notes, dark subject matter. It exposes the shocking cruelty and prejudice toward unwed Irish mothers and their children in the past. What went on behind closed doors (including religious ones) was awful. Child abuse is never a welcomed topic but Daisy O’Shea handles it with tender respect and direct honesty. There are some difficult scenes and retelling of incidents that would break a caring heart. It must have been hard to write those for the novel. There are numerous articles on the historical mistreatment of Irish women, especially those who got pregnant outside of marriage through romantic relationships or were victims of rape. The Catholic Church’s power over these individuals and their outcomes was alarming. I can see how such topics would inspire a novel. The facts aren’t pretty but it is important to know what happened by tearing down the walls of secrecy—to give these wounded and violated souls a voice. I think Daisy O’Shea has done that well through her courageous writing of such incidents.
The story is set in mythical Roone Bay, Ireland. The novel opens with the Prologue in 1950 with a sliver of Eithne’s sad story. Eithne is a twin sister of Aoife. They have different personalities. But worse, they are treated differently by their parents. Eithne, the less popular twin, is being transported from home: ‘ripped from the only place she had ever known and was frightened.’ She is sent to a ‘special school’, to her new home after an incident is discovered by what seems to be a caring teacher nun. Eithne is afraid but the thought of a place where she might find new friends and be with people who are nice and kind, gives her hope. For as we learn, she has had a very rough life. Sadly, she discovers, things are not as expected or promised.
The book is divided up into chapters with Tara, Aoife’s daughter (present), and Eithne (past)—telling the story. Tara’s mother receives a letter that she has inherited a house in Roone Bay—in the hometown of her childhood. She is hesitant to take the trip as it is a place of many unhappy memories. But with Tara’s help and strength she manages. We get to know both Tara and Aoife quite well on their journey to check out the inheritance. The stories they share reveal a lot about themselves and the culture of the past.
When Tara and Aoife see the solicitor and learn the particulars of the inheritance, lots of things begin to happen—including a few mysteries that need to be solved. It was a joy to watch mother and daughter interact and get a real sense of their bond. I also loved the romantic sparks between Tara and local garda (police) Declan. He was a gem of a gentleman and fiercely protective and persistent with Tara! And a real asset in retrieving important information the ladies need. There are plenty of lies floating around and they need to uncover the truth concerning Aoife’s father, mother and what become of her sister. There will be some shocking reveals!
There is more than one mystery happening in this story. Beside the mystery of Eithne’s past and those surrounding her, some troubling incidents are happening to Tara, who sent her husband packing when he betrayed her. What she discovers about him will be both disturbing and liberating. She goes through some changes and feels unexpected emotions. Roone Bay and its residents will make a big impact on her heart and even send her life in a different direction. Her mother, too, in facing the past and sifting through the ruins, finds her own freedom after encountering plenty of surprises—and laying ghosts to rest.
This is a heart gripping novel that will shake and rattle you to the core with the horrors of abuse and prejudice that prevailed far too long. But amid the trauma, out of the ashes of grief, love sparks and the novel ends on a very positive and uplifting note. Family secrets, romantic relationships, twin bonds, mystery adventures, second chances, tearful reunions and more are at the centre of this novel. I could not set it down and read it through the night. Definitely recommend. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
The story is set in mythical Roone Bay, Ireland. The novel opens with the Prologue in 1950 with a sliver of Eithne’s sad story. Eithne is a twin sister of Aoife. They have different personalities. But worse, they are treated differently by their parents. Eithne, the less popular twin, is being transported from home: ‘ripped from the only place she had ever known and was frightened.’ She is sent to a ‘special school’, to her new home after an incident is discovered by what seems to be a caring teacher nun. Eithne is afraid but the thought of a place where she might find new friends and be with people who are nice and kind, gives her hope. For as we learn, she has had a very rough life. Sadly, she discovers, things are not as expected or promised.
The book is divided up into chapters with Tara, Aoife’s daughter (present), and Eithne (past)—telling the story. Tara’s mother receives a letter that she has inherited a house in Roone Bay—in the hometown of her childhood. She is hesitant to take the trip as it is a place of many unhappy memories. But with Tara’s help and strength she manages. We get to know both Tara and Aoife quite well on their journey to check out the inheritance. The stories they share reveal a lot about themselves and the culture of the past.
When Tara and Aoife see the solicitor and learn the particulars of the inheritance, lots of things begin to happen—including a few mysteries that need to be solved. It was a joy to watch mother and daughter interact and get a real sense of their bond. I also loved the romantic sparks between Tara and local garda (police) Declan. He was a gem of a gentleman and fiercely protective and persistent with Tara! And a real asset in retrieving important information the ladies need. There are plenty of lies floating around and they need to uncover the truth concerning Aoife’s father, mother and what become of her sister. There will be some shocking reveals!
There is more than one mystery happening in this story. Beside the mystery of Eithne’s past and those surrounding her, some troubling incidents are happening to Tara, who sent her husband packing when he betrayed her. What she discovers about him will be both disturbing and liberating. She goes through some changes and feels unexpected emotions. Roone Bay and its residents will make a big impact on her heart and even send her life in a different direction. Her mother, too, in facing the past and sifting through the ruins, finds her own freedom after encountering plenty of surprises—and laying ghosts to rest.
This is a heart gripping novel that will shake and rattle you to the core with the horrors of abuse and prejudice that prevailed far too long. But amid the trauma, out of the ashes of grief, love sparks and the novel ends on a very positive and uplifting note. Family secrets, romantic relationships, twin bonds, mystery adventures, second chances, tearful reunions and more are at the centre of this novel. I could not set it down and read it through the night. Definitely recommend. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Reading the latest book from Daisy O’Shea, The Irish Inheritance, is akin to taking a visit to Ireland as her descriptive use of language and dialogue brings not only the people, but the landscape alive, as well as the tragic past that even today, still influences so much of the culture.
When Tara and her Mam, Aoife, make the decision to go to Bantry at the request of Solicitor Lorcan they have no idea what lays in wait for them, as what appears to be a straightforward inheritance, all– be-it a surprising one, that of Aoife inheriting Gate Cottage, a house in which she spent her young years, becomes so much more.
The information Lorcan Byrne imparts rocks the very foundations of what Tara has always believed, as her Mam seems to have had a sister who died at a very young age, a mother who had become the Mother Superior of an order of Nuns and a father who had died in challenging circumstances.
In 1950, Eithne is sent away from her home, classed as a troublesome child who needed special care and attention. Aoife was told she had died. The rules of society, especially those in the Roman Catholic dominated areas of Ireland were strict, patriarchal and formidable. The Priests and Nuns where dominant and domineering, influencing all avenues of life.
As Aoife struggles with her past, Tara is beginning to understand that there is far more to this missing sister Eithne’s life than is at first apparent, not only because it appears she did not die, but possibly had a child out of wedlock; a terrible sin during those very Catholic years.
Where was she, what had become of her and possibly her child, must be discovered before the inheritance can be settled and they can return to their very structured life in Athlone, or will they. As each day passes little by little the dark and terrible history of the family comes to light telling a story of tragedy, horror and salvation which spans decades.
Rich in the telling, heart wrenching in the history The Irish Inheritance transports you to a world so vastly different as Tara and Aoife move away from the shadows of the past into a fresh new world.
When Tara and her Mam, Aoife, make the decision to go to Bantry at the request of Solicitor Lorcan they have no idea what lays in wait for them, as what appears to be a straightforward inheritance, all– be-it a surprising one, that of Aoife inheriting Gate Cottage, a house in which she spent her young years, becomes so much more.
The information Lorcan Byrne imparts rocks the very foundations of what Tara has always believed, as her Mam seems to have had a sister who died at a very young age, a mother who had become the Mother Superior of an order of Nuns and a father who had died in challenging circumstances.
In 1950, Eithne is sent away from her home, classed as a troublesome child who needed special care and attention. Aoife was told she had died. The rules of society, especially those in the Roman Catholic dominated areas of Ireland were strict, patriarchal and formidable. The Priests and Nuns where dominant and domineering, influencing all avenues of life.
As Aoife struggles with her past, Tara is beginning to understand that there is far more to this missing sister Eithne’s life than is at first apparent, not only because it appears she did not die, but possibly had a child out of wedlock; a terrible sin during those very Catholic years.
Where was she, what had become of her and possibly her child, must be discovered before the inheritance can be settled and they can return to their very structured life in Athlone, or will they. As each day passes little by little the dark and terrible history of the family comes to light telling a story of tragedy, horror and salvation which spans decades.
Rich in the telling, heart wrenching in the history The Irish Inheritance transports you to a world so vastly different as Tara and Aoife move away from the shadows of the past into a fresh new world.
May 2, 2026
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. Out May 18th.
The Irish Inheritance is a heartbreaking story of abuse, abandonment, family secrets, and years of carefully buried lies.
I do think stories about Church abuse in Ireland are incredibly important and need to be written about — Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes, industrial schools, and the long-lasting trauma left behind. These are not easy subjects, but they matter.
That said, my biggest issue with this book was the lack of a clear content/trigger warning, especially around child abuse. For Irish readers, some of the historical context may be more familiar, but for non-Irish readers who may not know this part of Ireland’s history, some of the darker elements could come as a real shock.
At the centre of the story are twin sisters who were separated, lied to, and forced to uncover the truth about their childhood. That part of the story was emotional and compelling, and the family mystery did keep me reading.
However, I did feel the book became a little overloaded with side plots. Tara’s stalker storyline, in particular, felt unnecessary to me, and I think her husband’s arc was already enough without adding another layer. The current timeline also felt slightly confusing at times — as a non-Irish person living in Ireland, I found myself checking dates around divorce, contraception, and social history just to place the story properly.
Overall, this was an important and emotional read with a strong central premise, but for me, the multiple storylines made it feel a little messy in places. A worthwhile read, but one I think really needed clearer content warnings.
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
The Irish Inheritance is a heartbreaking story of abuse, abandonment, family secrets, and years of carefully buried lies.
I do think stories about Church abuse in Ireland are incredibly important and need to be written about — Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes, industrial schools, and the long-lasting trauma left behind. These are not easy subjects, but they matter.
That said, my biggest issue with this book was the lack of a clear content/trigger warning, especially around child abuse. For Irish readers, some of the historical context may be more familiar, but for non-Irish readers who may not know this part of Ireland’s history, some of the darker elements could come as a real shock.
At the centre of the story are twin sisters who were separated, lied to, and forced to uncover the truth about their childhood. That part of the story was emotional and compelling, and the family mystery did keep me reading.
However, I did feel the book became a little overloaded with side plots. Tara’s stalker storyline, in particular, felt unnecessary to me, and I think her husband’s arc was already enough without adding another layer. The current timeline also felt slightly confusing at times — as a non-Irish person living in Ireland, I found myself checking dates around divorce, contraception, and social history just to place the story properly.
Overall, this was an important and emotional read with a strong central premise, but for me, the multiple storylines made it feel a little messy in places. A worthwhile read, but one I think really needed clearer content warnings.
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
My thoughts:
The story is told in duel timeline of the 1950’s and present day.
The Irish Inheritance revolves around twin girls, Aoife and Eithne. When they were young, Eithne is sent away and later said to have died. Their parents were not very nice people.
When Aoife is contacted by a lawyer about inheriting the family home, her daughter, Tara, thinks they should go see what this is all about.
There is so much going on within the story. So much heartbreak and mystery.
What a very intense and heartbreaking story. The main theme of the story is quite dark, sad and emotional. Please be aware of the child abuse content throughout the story. Was this hard to read about? Of course it was. But, we must never forget what has happened in the past.
I am still thinking about this book….I can’t get it out of mind.
Definitely recommended.
The story is told in duel timeline of the 1950’s and present day.
The Irish Inheritance revolves around twin girls, Aoife and Eithne. When they were young, Eithne is sent away and later said to have died. Their parents were not very nice people.
When Aoife is contacted by a lawyer about inheriting the family home, her daughter, Tara, thinks they should go see what this is all about.
There is so much going on within the story. So much heartbreak and mystery.
What a very intense and heartbreaking story. The main theme of the story is quite dark, sad and emotional. Please be aware of the child abuse content throughout the story. Was this hard to read about? Of course it was. But, we must never forget what has happened in the past.
I am still thinking about this book….I can’t get it out of mind.
Definitely recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A brilliant poignant read. However, don’t be fooled by the cover, this is not a light and fluffy read of the returning Irish diaspora finding their roots and love back in the old country. While there are elements of moving on to better things this book covers some very dark themes while accurately delving into some of the worst history of Ireland, in relation to the treatment of their women. An engrossing tale with relatable characters. A brilliant educational read which was all the more enjoyable as we briefly meet again some of the other inhabitants of Roone Bay we first met in the previous books set here.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews