The gravedigger's story - Ged Simmons

A promiscuous 1960s teenager falls pregnant to an unknown man, much to the distress of her Irish Catholic parents. To preserve the family's honour, a neighbouring widower agrees to marry her and give the child, Mason, the saving grace of social respectability.

While Mason's mother has little time for him, his stepfather - the neighbour - Dadda, dotes on him completely. Mason has many happy memories of the first seven years of his life but this all ends abruptly when his mother leaves town with another man, taking her son with her and ruthlessly cutting off all contact with his beloved Dadda.

Matters only get worse - his mother moves from one horrendous partner to the next, creating an unstable and disturbed environment within which Mason evolves into a social misfit. Eventually breaking free from his mother's destructive influence, Mason embarks upon a soul-searching journey, living an itinerant lifestyle while working menial jobs. Ultimately his search results in a long-awaited reunion with Dadda, but brings with it an unforseen and shocking twist. The Gravedigger's Story is a compelling hybrid of Alan Bennett and the classics, a riveting read and a breathtaking debut.