'An instantly gripping page-turner' Sunday Independent Life Magazine
'A hugely engaging novel from a talented new writer' John Boyne
**Shortlisted for Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2021**
A young woman's body floats in the Dubai marina. Her death alters the fates of six people, each one striving for a better life in an unforgiving city.
A young Irish man comes to stay with his sister, keen to erase his troubled past in the heat of the Dubai sun. A Russian sex worker has outsmarted the system so far - but will her luck run out? A Pakistani taxi driver dreams of a future for his daughters. An Emirate man hides the truth about who he really is. An Ethiopian maid tries to carve out a path of her own.
From every corner of the globe, Dubai has made promises to them all. Promises of gilded opportunities and bright new horizons, the chance to forget the past and protect long-held secrets.
But Dubai breaks its promises, with deadly consequences. In a city of mirages, how do you find your way out?
'A really fantastic read' Sinéad Moriarty
'As a writer he has a talent for subtle observation . . . a promising first novel' Sunday Independent
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Readers love Diving for Pearls
***** 'An absolutely brilliant book, the setting of Dubai making this story into something quite unique.'
***** 'An excellent read . . . the ending felt like a true reflection of real life.'
***** 'A sinister and claustrophobic atmosphere quietly simmers throughout, which kept me enthralled.'
Review
If you're after a total page turner then try Diving for Pearls . . . A fantastic debut novel - Stellar
[O'Connell's] talent is clear - The Ryan Tubridy Show
It's tough to link so many narrative threads . . . but O'Connell pulls it off with aplomb - Irish Times
A hugely engaging novel from a talented new writer -- John Boyne
A compelling tale uncovering a world of secrets, injustice and, for the lucky few, escape -- Anne Griffin - author of When All is Said
Shimmering, beguiling and ruthless. A fizzing and assured debut - Colin Barrett
Sprawling and encompassing so many worlds, it's utterly gripping. Excellent. - Sophie White, author of Corpsing
Love this . . . a really fantastic read -- Sinéad Moriarty
This page-turner is the debut offering from Cork writer O'Connell and the sign of great things to come from him - Irish Examiner
The opening chapter grabbed me right away . . . I'm gripped - The Art House, 96FM
An instantly gripping page-turner - Sunday Independent Life Magazine
From the first pages I knew I was in for a treat and the book delivered, over and over again - Books Ireland
A cast of characters you think you will know, trapped in a world you definitely won't. Illuminating, claustrophobic, addictive -- Ciaran McMenamin
Wonderful depictions of life in Dubai and an intriguing, interwoven plot - Zoë Miller, author of The Perfect Sister
A literary thriller set in Dubai... O'Connell's debut does mainly reinforce the notion that expats are terribly entitled people but there's nuance in the few characters desperately seeking a better, more meaningful life. - Guardian
About the Author
Jamie O'Connell has had short stories highly commended by the Costa Short Story Award and the Irish Book Award Short Story of the Year. He has been longlisted for BBC Radio 4 Opening Lines Short Story Competition and shortlisted for the Maeve Binchy Travel Award and the Sky Arts Futures Fund. He has an MFA and MA in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. He has worked for Penguin Random House, Gill Books and O'Brien Press. Diving for Pearls is his first novel.
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