Purblind

June 1963. Crawford Earley, an ambitious young reporter, has been sent by his Boston newspaper to cover the visit to Ireland of President John F Kennedy. In a small town in County Wexford, where Kennedy is scheduled to visit, Earley uncovers a different and more compelling story, about the unsolved murder of a young disabled boy the previous year. His investigation triggers a spate of poison pen letters that threaten to tear the town apart. Undeterred, Earley is determined to find the truth. As he continues his search, he finds himself falling in love with Aisling Gunn, the mother of the young victim. But when he names the person he believes to be the author of the letters, a factory owner in the town who himself lives a secret life, it leads to further tragedy. Running parallel to the main narrative is the behind-the-scenes story of JFK’s visit to Ireland, and the hero worship that he enjoys to this day among the older generation in Ireland. The triumph of public image over truth is a parable for our own times.

June 1963. Crawford Earley, an ambitious young reporter, has been sent by his Boston newspaper to cover the visit to Ireland of President John F Kennedy. In a small town in County Wexford, where Kennedy is scheduled to visit, Earley uncovers a different and more compelling story, about the unsolved murder of a young disabled boy the previous year. His investigation triggers a spate of poison pen letters that threaten to tear the town apart. Undeterred, Earley is determined to find the truth. As he continues his search, he finds himself falling in love with Aisling Gunn, the mother of the young victim. But when he names the person he believes to be the author of the letters, a factory owner in the town who himself lives a secret life, it leads to further tragedy. Running parallel to the main narrative is the behind-the-scenes story of JFK’s visit to Ireland, and the hero worship that he enjoys to this day among the older generation in Ireland. The triumph of public image over truth is a parable for our own times. Reminiscent of great mystery such as Thomas H Cook in its carefully plotted story line and fine character studies, Purblind is much more than a mystery novel. It transcends the genre and is an accomplished debut by a writer who is one to watch.

Mike Philpott has worked as a journalist for the Manchester Evening News group, the Belfast Telegraph and the BBC. He lives in Northern Ireland. He is the winner of a Hennessy Award for his short story "Telecommunications." Purblind is his first novel. He is married and has two sons.