All Them Dogs: One of the most anticipated debuts of 2026: A heartbreaking literary thriller from one of Ireland’s most exciting writers

***SELECTED AS A 2026 BOOK TO WATCH IN THE TIMES, NEW STATESMAN, IRISH TIMES, SUNDAY INDEPENDENT, RTE***

‘An electrifying debut’ Economist

‘One of the debuts of the year’ Irish Times

‘A stylish, adroit and gritty debut’ Anne Enright

‘A book you inhale, devour, grapple with, and reel from more than read’ Marlon James

‘Exhilarating and often frightening … a hugely satisfying read’ Roddy Doyle

‘As beautiful and tough as an uncut jewel’ Colin Walsh

‘A moving, fast-paced novel … written in prose at once glittering and tender’ Sarah Moss

‘Frenetic and exhilarating … has the energy and drama of a shoot-out’ Rob Doyle

Things are different since Tony Ward landed back in town. The West Dublin gangland has changed. His old mentor is dead, and his best pal Kenny Boyle is on the straight and narrow.

After five years keeping quiet across the way, Tony is keen to reinstate himself, and when the opportunity arises to work side by side with Darren ‘Flute’ Walsh, a top enforcer of notorious crime boss Aengus Lavelle, it feels like a no brainer.

Biting off more than he can chew has never bothered Tony Ward, but Flute Walsh is not the meek, quiet boy Tony remembers from school. Brooding, stoic, and unpredictably dangerous, Tony finds himself drawn to his new associate in more ways than one.

With retribution from his past actions always close in the rear view, the protection offered by Flute’s standing in the gang is crucial. But how safe is Tony really, when a mutual attraction starts to complicate matters?

By turns savage, thrilling and unexpectedly tender, All Them Dogs is a gripping story of violence, lust, and greed that explores one man’s struggles to find his place in an unsparing world.

‘A claustrophobic masterpiece … a brilliantly tender love story’ Isaac Fitzgerald

‘A dazzling, unsettling, fever dream of a novel’ Declan Hughes