Best-selling Laois author to hold book signing in Portlaoise Library

BEST-SELLING crime fiction author Andrea Carter from Ballyfin will hold a book-signing event in Portlaoise Library for the release of her latest novel *** There Came A-Tapping***.

The story is mainly set in the Slieve Bloom Mountains in her home county of Laois.

Andrea’s seventh novel hits bookshops in Ireland and the UK on Thursday 27 March.

On Wednesday 2 April at 7pm, the renowned author will read from her new book in Portlaoise Library. There will also be an interview with local freelance journalist Claire O’Brien, a question and answer session with the audience and a book signing.

Andrea has ‘parked’ her ***Inishowen Mysteries*** series, which are currently in development for television. They feature solicitor-cum-sleuth Ben O’Keefe and Sergeant Tom Molloy along with lovable characters and rogues. However, Andrea said that her latest novel is “a little darker”.

Speaking to the ***Laois Nationalist*** recently, the former barrister said: “***There Came A-Tapping*** is my first standalone book. The six ***Inishowen Mysteries*** are golden age Agatha Christie traditional-style mysteries where there’s a body in the beginning, a limited number of suspects, an amateur sleuth and a solution at the end.

“My new book is not part of the series and moves into darker territories. It has a slightly ghostly element to it, so it is different. It has two stories, one in the present day and one in the late 1800s, traveling side-by-side and told in an odd way.

“The present-day story is of a woman called Alison, whose husband has gone missing and the historical story from the 1800s centres on Eliza, who lived in the property where Alison currently resides, but back in that time. The book is a departure from the ***Inishowen Mysteries*** in that sense because there’s also a historical narrative and there are echoes of the past in the present. It is also different because it’s my first book that isn’t set in Donegal.

“I’ve come back to my roots and set ***There Came A-Tapping*** partly in Dublin but mostly in a fictitious village called Rath in the Slieve Blooms. Certain placenames are real. For example, there’s a scene in the new library in Portlaoise with two fictitious librarians and certain real places in the Slieve Blooms are mentioned, too.” Andrea will attend quite a few book festivals this year, but said that she is very happy to have been invited to hold an event in Laois, especially in Portlaoise Library, where one of the book’s scenes is set.

Branch manager of Portlaoise Library Aoife Moore said: “Staff are delighted to welcome Andrea Carter back to the library. Andrea has done several events for us over the years and we are very excited that she has chosen the library to hold this event for her new book.

“Everyone is welcome to attend the free event. The in-conversation with Claire O’Brien will be exciting and everyone can meet the author and have their books signed, too. People can bring their own copies to the event and Andrea’s books will be available to purchase from All Books on the night also.” ***There Came A-Tapping*** can be ordered online and in all book shops.

Booking for the event is advised. Portlaoise Library can be contacted on 057 8622333 or email portlaoiselibrary@laoiscoco.ie.