The Last Will of Moira Leahy: A Novel

(available now in hard cover, and in trade paperback on 8/3/10)

“I lost my twin to a harsh November nine years ago. Ever since, I’ve felt the span of that month like no other, as if each of the calendar’s thirty perfect little squares split in two on the page.”   • read excerpt

Maeve Leahy is a busy professor of languages at a university in upstate New York. So busy that she leaves little time for memories—the memory of her lost twin, Moira, and of her many lost opportunities.

Until a childhood relic and a series of anonymous notes changes everything—resurrects her long-dead dreams, a lost language, her most painful recollections, and prompts her to cross an ocean in search of ancient history.

There, Maeve will learn new truths about her past, and come face to face with the one thing she truly fears. Only then can she choose between the safe yet lonely life she's built for herself and one of risk, with bonds she knows can be both heart-breakingly delicate and more enduring than time.

Published by Random House; available to purchase everywhere:

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• read all of the reviews on the News/Reviews page»

“Walsh’s debut seamlessly weaves together past and present. This tender tale of sisterhood, self-discovery, and forgiveness will captivate fans of contemporary women’s fiction.”

- Library Journal

 

“Walsh’s debut is a magical, involving journey, one that mixes a compelling mystery from the past with a suspenseful search in the present.”

- Booklist

 

“Walsh's satisfying novel follows Maeve Leahy, a brilliant young professor, in her pursuit for answers about her family and herself. [She] ably shifts between Maeve's current quest and flashbacks showing the twins as children, revealing little by little the story behind Maeve's grief. . . . [A] pleasing blend of mystery, romance and the supernatural.”

- Publishers Weekly

 

“Therese Walsh’s strange, fascinating novel of psychological suspense is suffused with the supernatural.

(It's) an imaginative exploration of the bond between twins.”

-The Boston Globe

 

“The Last Will of Moira Leahy is haunting, exotic and romantic—the way Gothic tales are romantic, wrapped in luscious, dark atmosphere.  It's a magical debut and I can't wait for more from Therese Walsh.  She's one to watch.”

- Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of Garden Spells

 

“A hauntingly beautiful story about grief, the language of twins, and the healing power of a bond that is stronger than death. The characters of Moira and Maeve will linger long after you finish this amazing first novel.”

- Brunonia Barry, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Lace Reader

 

“Is there anything more worthwhile than being taken by the hand by a true and gifted storyteller and shown a world that is at once mysterious, mesmerizing and filled with characters who deeply touch your heart? A dark psychological tale of secrets and betrayal, suspense and passion, The Last Will is a book that makes you forget everything and just spend the rest of the day and night reading. Like Rebecca, this is a tale so well told that it keeps you in its grip and doesn't let go, haunting you long after you've turned the last page. If it were written by a seasoned novelist, The Last Will would be a feat. That it is a debut makes it all the more amazing. Bravo!”

- M.J. Rose, international bestseller, author of The Memorist

 

“This book made me want to ignore my work and neglect my children. The Last Will of Moira Leahy offers an irresistible combination of mystery, romance, psychological complexity, and lovely writing. I devoured it.”

- Leah Stewart, author of The Myth of You and Me

 

• read a comprehensive Q&A with the author »

1.  I love the twining of the two stories, the contemporary adventure and the flashback sequences of the twins. Why did you choose this method to tell the story instead of laying it out in a linear fashion? What sorts of challenges did you face with the two narratives? ...

• visit the For Readers page for extras» 

Maeve Leahy’s Photo Journal 
Snippets from the Cutting Room Floor
Research: The Making of The Last Will of Moira Leahy

Discussion Group Guide (PDF) for The Last Will of Moira Leahy