An Act of Worship - Kate Thompson

Sarah is taking a break from her eco-warrior activities, looking after her sister's wholefood shop in a small west of Ireland town. When a dying calf is found on the local dump, she begins to make some enquiries. Before long, the dark shadow cast by modern beef production begins to emerge in another, more sinister form, and Sarah finds that her path keeps crossing that of the town butcher, Malachy Glynn.

Their outlooks on life are clearly polarised, yet they find themselves uneasy allies. Because something even more compelling than the grisly events of the parish is drawing them together. Sarah and Malachy have a lot more in common than they know.

An Act of Worship is an exploration of the treatment of cattle in Ireland and the ethics surrounding their slaughter. At a time of increasing concern about animal rights and the discussion about diet on an overheating planet, An Act of Worship is more relevant now than ever.