“The Inheritance” by Cauvery Madhavan – Book Review #BlogTour #TheInheritance @hoperoadpublish @CauveryMadhavan @RandomTTours #BookReview

A compelling modern Irish novel of religion, culture and family life in rural
communities, interwoven with the true history of The Long March of
O’Sullivan Beara in 1601.

Having visited Ireland earlier this year, the author’s descriptions of the Irish landscape brought my fond  memories vividly to life. “The Inheritance” brought the Irish people and their often tragic history resoundingly alive.

Marlo O’Sullivan was a very likeable young man. Thoughtful, empathetic, and kind to animals, he was compassionate and kind.

When he first moves to the Beara Penninsula, after inheriting a ramshackle cottage, he is warmly welcomed by his neighbours once they realize his family connections to the place. When, just a few short months later, one of those neighbours dies, Marlo steps into the breach to help his widow by taking over the minibus run. There are many regulars who use the bus each day to go to work and Marlo is loathe to let anyone down. Also on the bus is a mute, six-year-old boy named Sully. Sully does not get off the bus, rather he does the entire round trip. The bus serves as a sort of baby-sitter while his single mother works.

Kitty works for the same wealthy couple that Marlo does odd jobs for in his spare time. Marlo is attracted to her and was surprised to learn that Kitty is Sully’s mother. The boy is mute but gifted in other ways, especially art. Sully enjoys walking in the forest with his mother – where he seems to have an invisible friend… This leads to a second timeline narrative putting a human face on the tragic history of Ireland’s ‘Long March of O’Sullivan Beare‘. Back then, there was another mute boy whose family were slain in the Dursey Massacre. The author links these two timelines in a way that is both clever and more than a touch mystical.

The novel’s title refers to more than just Marlo’s inheritance of the old cottage. In addition he inherits a strong community with a tragic history.

This is a richly woven novel. A novel of community, kinship, forgiveness, belonging, acceptance, and history. Also a book that will make you chuckle on more than one occasion at the Irish banter in their own unique conversational lilt. With a satisfying ending that will warm your heart, I can easily recommend “The Inheritance”.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent on the Beara Peninsula and look forward to reading more of this talented author’s work.

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Hope Road Publishing via Anne Cater in order to participate in this blog tour.   It was published by Hope Road Publishing on September 19, 2024.

ISBN: ‎ 9781913109325 –   296 pages

Cauvery Madhavan was born in India and moved to Ireland 37 years ago. Her books Paddy Indian and The Uncoupling were published to critical acclaim. Her last novel, The Tainted was chosen by Laureate Sebastian
Barry for his Laureate Picks 2020. It was one of An Post Book Awards’ TopSummer Reads. The book won the  runner-up prize for the SAHR Prize for Military Fiction and was chosen by The Times, UK, for their list of top 40
Historical Fiction novels. A very keen golfer and cook, she lives with her husband in County Kildare.

Connect with author Cauvery Madhavan – her website ; Twitter ; Instagram.