The Trout

For Alex and Kay in Canada, normal life is only a surface veneer, a thin casing covering a world of childhood secrets and lies from the land they left behind. In a spellbinding story of one man’s search for the crucial secret locked in his memory since childhood, The Trout bursts through the conventions and falsehoods of the past and hangs, beautiful and shimmering, in the clear light of truth.

About the Author :
Peter Cunningham is from Waterford in the south east of Ireland. He is the author of the Monument series, widely acclaimed novels set in a fictional version of his home town. His novel, The Taoiseach was a controversial best seller; The Sea and the Silence won the prestigious Prix de l’Europe. He is a member of Aosdána, the Irish academy of arts and letters, and lives with his wife, not far from Dublin.

Review :
‘The charm of this novel lies in beautifully rendered observations of small, still moments. Cunningham knows exactly how to cast line after line with a deftness and grace that summon the truth from the depths of the past up to the surface, at last.’ ‘Peter Cunningham’s superbly crafted psychological thriller echoes the terse battle of wits between a wily angler and a wilier trout who has mastered how to hide unseen in plain sight.It is a masterly study of a man whose life is turned upside-down by childhood secrets in an Ireland where evil could hide in plain sight because nobody had the courage to confront it. Now the consequences of his past must be confronted, no matter at what danger to himself and to those he loves. Packed with canny and uncanny insight, The Trout grows into a mesmerising read.’ ‘A poet walks through these pages weaving time past and time present into sadness and grace.’ ‘Cunningham’s engaging novel challenges us to create our own metaphors so we may, like the trout, raise our head above the surface towards truth.’ ‘The reader is never less than fascinated.’ ‘A perfect storm of a novel . . . The Trout is a film in waiting.’ ‘This is a well-crafted crisply written, gripping story.’ ‘...well-crafted psychological thriller.’ ‘Hooking the reader with immediately accessible characters, The Trout is a ‘read at one or two sittings’ story. The gentle familiarity of the characters deceives while several layers of tension are introduced. ’ ‘The strong characters, the excellent pacing, the sense of mystery, the undercurrent of menace and the beauty of the writing all come together to such you in- in what is essentially a perfect storm of a novel. ’ ‘With its woven motifs, its tragic memories and its reflection on the quest for beginnings, The Trout subtly explores an existence forever marked by a childhood trauma. The precise and masterful use of suspense makes this a thrilling and emotional novel.’ ‘This sensitive and liberating investigation shows how hidden trauma, silences and lies can ruin a life, many lives.’ ‘The subtle construction of this novel about trauma is supported by a writing which, also, hides behind appearances, as descriptive and vigorous, as psychological and poignant as the fear of a child late at night, when an adult puts a hand on his shoulder…’ ‘Subtle, powerful, and beautifully written, The Trout captivates from the first page and never lets up. This book provides rich, character-driven suspense of a very high order. I simply loved it.’ ‘...thoughtful, exquisitely told tale. ’