The Clever One

(Paperback)

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Description

If she decided to move in with him and bring up the baby your nephew in a house where drugs, drink and danger are de rigueur Would you try to make her see sense Rescue her Rescue the baby

Gifted teenager Maeve Hogan is an outsider in her own family. She is the clever one , studious, hard-working and destined for good things. When her sister has a baby with Big, a petty drug dealer and lowlife, she fears the worst for the baby s upbringing. While Maeve s mother seems content to go along with the charade of happy families, her brother Cian is too busy trying to figure out his sexual orientation to care. orientation to care. Frustrated, Maeve decides to take drastic action alone to remedy the situation. She poses for a series of sexually provocative photographs that frame Big as the photographer.

But when her plan goes awry with disastrous consequences, Maeve must rethink everything she thought she understood as she tries to pick up the pieces.

Reviews

'A remarkable book that expands the frontiers of Irish popular fiction' (The Cut of Love) - Irish Times

A fantastic book, both heart-wrenching and rewarding at the same time - RTE Guide

A realistic, painful story that has moments of great tenderness - Irish Independent

'Bravely written, raw, funny, at times politically incorrect but always captivating, The Clever One explores the boundaries of love, loyalty, family ties and the lengths we're prepared to go to in protecting them.

In Maeve, Helena Close has not only created an extraordinary heroine but also a credible one. An impressive, relevant and entertaining read.' - Irish Independent

Author Bio

Helena Close was born in Cork in 1959 but moved to Limerick at the age of five. She attended UCG where she studied English and Sociology and has worked in a variety of jobs while rearing her four children. She has been writing full time for the past eight years and has co written four books with her best friend Trisha Rainsford. Her own first novel, Pinhead Duffy, was published in 2005. The Cut of Love, her second novel, was published in 2009. She has recently moved to the wilds of Liscannor, Co. Clare, much to her and her husband's delight and her children's disgust! She is an avid sports fan and a huge Munster and Liverpool supporter. When she's not writing she likes to run, swim, work out in the gym and drink good coffee.