Catchlights

by Niamh Prior

'Each story is a perfectly formed jewel . . . vivid characterization, ingenious plotting and intelligent structuring amount to a most engaging read as we put the jigsaw of these lives back together' LIZ NUGENT

An Irish vagrant with a strange ability wanders Kew Gardens. She knows that the fine weather is going to break and the impending rain casts her mind back to a riverbank where a shady fisherman once asked for her help.

The same fisherman, years later, runs into a childhood friend and becomes intrigued by his wife. She in turn is charmed by his boldness and his confidence. One day she goes out for a walk and never returns.

In another time, in another place, a photographer notices two ghostly figures - of a man and a woman - on pictures developed from his vintage lens. The images become clearer with each roll of film, but his dogged investigation of the mystery could cost him dearly.

So spool out the lives in Catchlights : the past contains the present and future; shallow and deep acts of cruelty, love, selfishness and kindness reverberate for years.

Genres: Short Stories

224 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2023

Reviews

[Fran]

A collection of well-written stories with a good variety of topics and characters. I give no more than 3 stars because I feel that the stories miss a little bit of grunt: there is a sort of a low-key tone that flattens all the stories out: none is really good or really bad.

[Eithne Murray]

An intricate beautifully woven story. Language can be very poetic at times. Elements of fantasy. This book deserves to be better known than it is

[Noelle Sojka-Howell]

This is a book I picked up in a small, local bookstore in Ireland. It is part of a new author release program. The book store owner told me I picked a good one when I purchased it. I love books that shift characters by chapter. This author told the story through the perspective of different characters over the course of many years. Really human characters - flaws and all, which was great. It is interesting where this book started and how it ended. I didn’t see where this was going until almost the end. I really enjoyed it.

[Catherine Bailey]

A dark and twisty book that made for some thoughtful reading. It took a while for me to get started, but once you start fitting the jigsaw together it becomes immensely satisfying towards the end. Just make sure to pay attention to the stories and details at the start and all will become clear!
(Disclosure : I very kindly received a signed copy from the author. Excellent writer!)

[Ruthita]

Many tales woven into each other, starting off as what seems like short stories at first, become chapters forming different characters perspectives, and sometime shifts in time.

Interspersed is quotes inspired from the ladybird books - my favourite of this combination was the ‘fishing’ chapter, it was humorous (as often the ladybird’s interspersed nature was) making a lighter tone of a more heavier theme. I also loved the tastes of India in the India chapter, and many more. Definitely could connect with some of the early 2000’s setting in some of the stories, which felt reminiscent for me.

My friend is a friend is the author! So thank you for Sharing to our bookclub ❤️🌟✨

[Chanel Chapters]

4.5

At first I thought these were separate short stories - but they are all interwoven, filled with love and tradgedy, a reflection of the human life.

[Molly Coburn]

Amazing! This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. A very talented author who I will keenly follow from now on.

[Laura Murphy]

A beautifully poetic and well crafted gem. The characters are loaded and so real.. make me feel love, hate, disgust and courage. Read.

[Shannon Darbyshire]

Amazing read and so well crafted; I could not put it down.

[janet]

I loved this book, hooked me in. A series of subtlety interconnected short stories. So clever.

[Avril Dalton]

Not usually a fan of short stories, but love how this all connected.