Crookedwood

by Liza Costello

ONE PERSON'S BANISHED MEMORY IS ANOTHER'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS
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'Liza Costello writes beautifully and there are echoes of Donal Ryan and Tana French in this intriguing slice of slow-burn rural noir.' Catherine Kirwan, author of Cruel Deeds


'Captures the claustrophobic nature of small town life with its gossip and innuendo, secrets and lies... Filled with characters you care about, Crookedwood keeps you guessing right to the end.' Louise Phillips, author

Crookedwood, quiet Irish midlands town, place of secrets, past and present. Sarah left it behind years ago for life in the city, where she's now a rising star of the Dublin culinary scene.

She's home to help her mother sell the family farm. One evening, while out walking in the nearby woods, Sarah is chased by a man and his vicious dog, narrowly escaping injury. In the days to follow - as painful memories resurface of another dark night in the woods years before - further unsettling events unfold, and Sarah becomes convinced that she is under threat, despite the reassurances of those close to her.

What might she have stumbled upon on her walk? Who could be after her, and why? As Sarah closes in on hidden agendas at work in the town, dangerous forces close in on her.

It soon becomes clear that, in order to survive, Sarah must return to the dark place where it all began.

Crookedwood is a compulsive psychological thriller about buried trauma, small town vendettas and how, in the dark woods, the only person who can save you is yourself.

320 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2022

About the author

Born in County Westmeath and living in Dublin (Ireland), Liza Costello writes short fiction and poetry. Her writing has been published in a wide number of magazines and broadcast on national radio. She won the Dromineer Literary Festival Poetry Award and was joint runner up for the Patrick Kavanagh Award for a collection of poetry.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sarah works at a restaurant in Dublin, much to her mother Nancy's chagrin. Nancy would much rather Sarah returned home to their small Midlands town, Crookedwood, and help her give their family farm a new lease of life. With a local developer trying to garner support for a new injection of businesses and property in the town, Nancy and Sarah find themselves on opposing sides. Someone doesn't want Sarah poking her nose around - they're determined to make her return to Dublin as soon as possible.

I hated how Neil's wife was spoken about. An alcoholic with depression referred to as "dangerous" is a dated and damaging stereotype. Also, it was disappointing to see the word "kn*cker" in a book published in 2022.

Not for me, and I'm really glad I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it. I have seen some good reviews though, so by all means if this was on your TBR don't let me put you off. Give it a go if you like thrillers set in Ireland. It was nice to find one set in the Midlands as opposed to the usual Dublin/Cork.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crookedwood by Liza Costello was just published June 2nd with Hachette Ireland and is described as ‘a compulsive psychological thriller’.

Rural politics move to a whole new level in this absorbing thriller set in small-town Ireland. Sarah has long left Crookedwood working her way up through the ranks of a very renowned Dublin restaurant. Sarah’s father died when she was a young girl. He had a small farm-holding and had ambitions for his family. Following his death it was a foregone conclusion that Sarah would study agriculture and return to the land, assisting her mother. But college didn’t really suit Sarah. She found it challenging to settle there and, after finding part-time work as a pot-scrubber in a busy kitchen, she soon became fascinated with the culinary creations being served up. Sarah had a natural yet, up to that point, undiscovered flair for food that was instantly recognised by the head chef. He nurtured her, encouraged her to upskill and soon Sarah left her college life behind her, working full-time at the restaurant.

Sarah’s mother, Nancy, always hoped that Sarah would come back to Crookedwood and they could work the farm together. But Sarah’s heart was no longer in the land. A decision was made that the family home and land would be sold and Nancy could move into the town. Sarah heads off to Crookedwood for a few days to assist Nancy with the sale with no comprehension of the threat in her path.

One dark evening Sarah feels hemmed in by her mother’s wittering and heads out for a walk. Having grown up around these parts, Sarah is unconcerned for own safety but soon she realises that she is not alone. There is someone else out there. A threatening chase by a terrifying male and his equally terrifying dog leaves Sarah breathless and fearful for her life. In the light of day she questions her own understanding of what passed that evening and plays it down. Nancy is concerned for Sarah but is wrapped up with a local campaign to prevent a new development receiving planning. There is a fear among some locals that this new building work will result in Crookedwood losing its community and rural appeal. With new roads and supermarkets, it will lose its identity. Sarah has a different perspective than her mother leading to more than a few troubled words between the pair. When circumstances take a strange turn, Sarah is forced to look into her past in the hope of finding the answers.

Crookedwood is great entertainment to keep any reader’s attention captivated. Its rural setting is depicted very vividly with the concern of the locals wonderfully portrayed as they try to face down the redevelopment of their town. Inflicting urban ideals on a rural setting is happening in many parts of the world today, with local communities trying to fight corporations in order to hang on to their existing lifestyle. Many face dangers on a daily basis as they protect their rights. In Crookedwood it is a small cohort fighting the good fight but the dangers faced are far from small. As issues arise and trouble escalates, Sarah has to sift through old memories to unlock the key. Something very sinister is happening in Crookedwood and Sarah is soon in the midst of it, fighting for her very survival.

Crookedwood has a steady undercurrent of danger that elicits a sense of unease throughout. A solid page-turner with a fine cast of characters, Crookedwood is an atmospheric and relatable page-turner that I happily recommend to all looking for a solid thriller.

[Susan Lanigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to this - the narrow, claustrophobic sense of living in a small midlands town in the height of the Celtic Tiger (it felt like Westmeath) and the controversy caused by a proposed property development near the motorway. Aoife MacMahon, the narrator, absolutely nails the pacing and dialogue and the characters and their motives are believable. Liza Costello has created a milieu that is quintessentially Irish and with all the strengths and (many) weaknesses that entails. I was listening to the last 2 hours any minute I could, I was so eager to find out what was going on. So well plotted, excellently written, and really stays in the mind afterwards.

[Karen Makeham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah returns to her home town to help her mother sell the farm. Sarah is having an affair with a married man in the same town, who has applied for a large planning permission for an estate. This is causing disruption in the town. Frightening things happen to Sarah, and she wonders if it is connected to her past. Something dangerous is going on. Brilliant book, vivid descriptions of the landscape, great mystery. Lots of twists and a great wow at the end! Loved it!

[Emma Foran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Read as though it is a book for teenagers? Also sooo many unanswered questions, more than you usually have at the end of a book.

I only got through it as I had a long hair appointment and had not much else to do.

Unfortunately I don’t recommend it however there is a great twist at the end which was somewhat enjoyable. Overall it was slow and slightly all over it place in terms of plot and characters.

[Ellen Quinlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was okay, it took me ages to read it, so it didn’t exactly hook me in from the start - it was nice to see a little crossover between this book and the estate (the use of the town dunlone). i really liked the irish references throughout the book (i’m irish ☘️).
i wouldn’t read it again, but it was grand all the same.