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Derry Women #7
Useless
Fionnuala is mortified when son Padraig’s two front teeth are knocked out in a common street brawl. Whatever will the neighbors think? The dentist’s waiting list is months long, so she must go private. But where will she get the money?
While desperately cramming to appear on the TV quiz show Useless to win the funds, Fionnuala discovers many things about the world she had never cared to know. The most alarming to her is what scientists are up to in an underground tunnel in Switzerland: smashing atoms together at close to the speed of light. She’s heard that toying with these things will lead to all manner of unmentionable catastrophes, such as portals into other universes, black holes, maybe even Armageddon.
It’s like a knife in Fionnuala’s heart when she learns that one of those scientists is none other than her estranged daughter Moira. How could her firstborn betray her mother so?
Determined for a showdown, Fionnuala must somehow get to Switzerland and, once she steps off the plane, she’ll decide if she’s there to punish or save her daughter. Or to save the entire world from destruction. How will she get to Switzerland, though? It so far away and she hasn’t two pennies to rub together. But when Fionnuala sets her mind to something...
Throw into the mix Fionnuala's arch enemies, Ursula and Jed Barnett, and you have a touching and uproarious darkly comic tale with a little science, a lot of family dysfunction and hopefully some reconciliation.
Contains the previously-released prequel A Difficult Birth.
Although this novel is part of the DERRY WOMEN SERIES, it's a complete story and can be enjoyed without having read the previous books.
While desperately cramming to appear on the TV quiz show Useless to win the funds, Fionnuala discovers many things about the world she had never cared to know. The most alarming to her is what scientists are up to in an underground tunnel in Switzerland: smashing atoms together at close to the speed of light. She’s heard that toying with these things will lead to all manner of unmentionable catastrophes, such as portals into other universes, black holes, maybe even Armageddon.
It’s like a knife in Fionnuala’s heart when she learns that one of those scientists is none other than her estranged daughter Moira. How could her firstborn betray her mother so?
Determined for a showdown, Fionnuala must somehow get to Switzerland and, once she steps off the plane, she’ll decide if she’s there to punish or save her daughter. Or to save the entire world from destruction. How will she get to Switzerland, though? It so far away and she hasn’t two pennies to rub together. But when Fionnuala sets her mind to something...
Throw into the mix Fionnuala's arch enemies, Ursula and Jed Barnett, and you have a touching and uproarious darkly comic tale with a little science, a lot of family dysfunction and hopefully some reconciliation.
Contains the previously-released prequel A Difficult Birth.
Although this novel is part of the DERRY WOMEN SERIES, it's a complete story and can be enjoyed without having read the previous books.
- GenresAmazon
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2020
176 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Hansen
25 books64 followersMember of the Mystery Writers of America and the Crime Writers Association, best-selling author Gerald Hansen was a Navy brat. He started school in Thailand, graduated high school in Iceland, with Germany, California and his mother's hometown of Derry, Northern Ireland in between. He attended Dublin City University, and also lived in London and Berlin. The first of his Derry Women Series, An Embarrassment of Riches, was an ABNA semifinalist in 2011. His Derry Murder Mysteries series has been a great success. He also has a travelogue series, Around the World with Jet Lag Jerry. He loves spicy food, wearing Ben Sherman and traveling around the world (still). He lives in NYC.
Author pic by Marcin Kaliski
For special deals and freebies, sign up for his mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/cKqMYD
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 1, 2021
Fionnuala's grudges get in her own way
Her grudges get in her own way. Fionnuala, the mother of all mothers, worries about reading her daughter’s email, and finally decides she could read the first sentence and figure out the tone. “But that Moira was a cunning wee bitch, especially where writing was concerned. Fionnuala remembered Lotto Balls of Shame….Maybe Moira would start the email in a friendly way, lure her mother in, only to drop some bomb in the next paragraph, followed by insult after insult after insult.”
This compilation of the Derry Women histories, Moira’s European travels, plus dark comedy in quiz shows, science, superstition, spy thriller and an overblown HR department is total crack-up much needed right now. Enjoyed much.
Her grudges get in her own way. Fionnuala, the mother of all mothers, worries about reading her daughter’s email, and finally decides she could read the first sentence and figure out the tone. “But that Moira was a cunning wee bitch, especially where writing was concerned. Fionnuala remembered Lotto Balls of Shame….Maybe Moira would start the email in a friendly way, lure her mother in, only to drop some bomb in the next paragraph, followed by insult after insult after insult.”
This compilation of the Derry Women histories, Moira’s European travels, plus dark comedy in quiz shows, science, superstition, spy thriller and an overblown HR department is total crack-up much needed right now. Enjoyed much.
December 6, 2020
Love This Series
I just love the Floods and their adventures. I liked that this part focused on the relationship between Finnoula and Moira. The comic relief of Ursula and Jed going back to Derry and hiding in the caravan that Finnoula has been banished to in a previous story was just hilarious, I can't wait for the next part of this excellent series
I just love the Floods and their adventures. I liked that this part focused on the relationship between Finnoula and Moira. The comic relief of Ursula and Jed going back to Derry and hiding in the caravan that Finnoula has been banished to in a previous story was just hilarious, I can't wait for the next part of this excellent series
February 20, 2021
Love the Derry Series!!
March 10, 2023
Another great story
Ugh, these books are so hard to put down. The wild happenings just keep calling me to pick it up and continue reading. This family is so funny and so nuts.
Ugh, these books are so hard to put down. The wild happenings just keep calling me to pick it up and continue reading. This family is so funny and so nuts.
February 15, 2021
My review
I loved this book! I haven't laughed so much! That little black book! F this family didn't have such bad luck, they wouldn't have any at all. It was a great read.
I loved this book! I haven't laughed so much! That little black book! F this family didn't have such bad luck, they wouldn't have any at all. It was a great read.
February 16, 2021
His books just get better and better!
March 9, 2024
This is another book in the series of Derry Women that Gerald Hansen has written. The author starts at the very beginning of the feud between Fionnuala and Ursula. As it happened, the feud began when Fionnuala was giving birth to Moira, while Paddy and his friends were at the bar celebrating the pre-birth of the baby. It flashes back to the present day and ends well for the two of them. If you like the Derry Women series you will like this.
October 25, 2025
pretty good
The story was all over the place, but entertaining. I enjoyed the Belfast vernacular; the ridiculous intrigue, not quite so much.
The story was all over the place, but entertaining. I enjoyed the Belfast vernacular; the ridiculous intrigue, not quite so much.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews