Why a Booktrail?
1975, 2010: The disturbing case of murder linked to the notorious Magdalene Laundries.
With Our Blessing
What you need to know before your trail
1975 : A baby, minutes old, is forcibly taken from its devastated mother.
2010: The body of an elderly woman is found in a Dublin park having been tortured and displayed in a grotesque manner.
Detective Inspector Tom Reynolds is put on the case. It soon becomes clear that the murder could be linked to historical events that took place in the notorious Magdalene Laundries. This is not going to be an easy case to investigate let alone solve. Then the trail leads them to an isolated convent in the Irish countryside.
Once inside, it becomes disturbingly clear that the killer is amongst them . . . and is determined to exact further vengeance for the sins of the past.
Travel Guide
Ireland and the Magdalene laundries
This book is a work of fiction and the town Kilcross in Limerick as the convent and other places mentioned are fictional.
However the author states that there were in fact many towns and convents which were involved with the real life accounts of what is said to have taken place during the 1970s in the so called Magdalene laundries.
Dublin is on the map as the crime takes place in a very nice and central park and the local Garda are the ones who investigate the trail which leads them to the convent of Kilcross…
Magdalene Laundries
Magdalene Laundries were also known as Magdalene asylums, and were institutions of confinement. They were run by Roman Catholic orders and existed for many years from the 18th to the late 20th centuries.
They were meant to look after so called “fallen women” and thousands of women of all walks of life were sent there. They were later found to be not what people had expected them to be and the media investigated claims of torture, confinement and the removal of the babies to other homes. A state apology was given in 2013.
Streetview Maps
C) Dublin - Phoenix Park
D) Dublin - Blanchardtown Garda
Booktrailer Review
Susan: @thebooktrailer
This is quite a remarkable novel. It’s been on the TBR pile for a while but I’m so glad I’ve read this as it’s made me think about it ever since.
If like me, you thought it might be a bit uncomfortable about the Magdalene laundries, then I can say that this is only the main focus – it’s more of a crime mystery steeped in awful Irish history. Once you get past that opening scene, (there’s an image which will stay with me) it’s a fascinating delve into history, community, the Church, society’s beliefs and so much more.
It felt raw and very much real – not just because the last of these places was closed only in the late 1990s – but the writing is haunting too, slow and self-assured. The plot is steady and you’re not sure if you want to find certain things out or not.
Despite the dark subject matter, I warmed to the characters and felt as nervous as they did when staying in the convent. The nuns were fascinating to spend time with and throughout the novel I felt as cold, chilled and as claustrophobic as I think the characters do. The theme of abandonment, loss and imprisonment come out in the setting so well it’s scary.
This would make a great book club choice as the the way single mothers are looked upon, the role of women in Ireland and so much besides. Jo Spain is definitely on my list of authors I have to ensure I read everything she does.
Booktrail Boarding Pass: With Our Blessing
Destination: Dublin, Limerick Author/Guide: Jo Spain Departure Time: 1970s, 2000s
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