Part of Irish Country, book 5
First published 2010
Dr. Barry Laverty has spent nearly a year in the Ulster village of Ballybucklebo, just months away from becoming a full partner in the local practice. A romantic disappointment makes him wonder if treating everyday ailments in County Down will satisfy him for life. When interesting cases like tropical diseases arrive, he can only refer them to specialists in the city. His mentor, Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, faces his own complications. After decades of mourning his late wife, O'Reilly has begun courting again. Their housekeeper Kinky Kincaid resents this new woman and fears losing her place in the household. The village keeps both doctors busy with fresh challenges. A strange illness spreads through the local school. A swindler targets an unfortunate racehorse owner. Barry and O'Reilly must solve these mysteries while managing their personal upheavals. The two men will need patience and Irish charm to restore harmony to their practice and their lives.
Genres: fiction, romance, medical, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
Setting: Ballybucklebo, County Down, Ulster
Period: 20th-century
464 pages · Hardcover · Forge Books