The legendary Edna O''Brien''s tale of a mysterious stranger spellbinding an Irish village ''reminds you why you read books in the first place'' (Observer).

''The great Edna O''Brien has written her masterpiece.'' Philip Roth
''Extraordinary . . . Courageous.'' J.M. Coetzee
''Fierce and beautiful.'' Anne Enright
''Exemplary.'' Colm Tóibín

ONE OF THE SUNDAY TIMES'' TOP 100 NOVELS OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

When a man who calls himself a faith healer arrives in a small, west-coast Irish village, the community is soon under the spell of this charismatic stranger from the Balkans. One woman in particular, Fidelma McBride, becomes enthralled in a fatal attraction that leads to unimaginable consequences.

''Magnificent'' (Sunday Times)
''Beautiful'' (Financial Times)
''Enthralling'' (Times)
''Extraordinary'' (Independent)
''Astonishing'' (New Yorker)