Kildare author publishes first crime fiction book

A Kildare-born writer is set to make his debut in Irish crime fiction this May with a novel already tipped as a strong summer read.

Cormac Quinn will publish his first book, On Lough Derg, on 7 May through Mercier Press. The novel is set along Lough Derg and blends a traditional country house mystery with a modern twist.

The story follows foreign correspondent Jack Myers, who travels to the lakeside setting seeking a quiet family holiday. However, the atmosphere shifts dramatically when a prominent yacht club figure dies in suspicious circumstances during a midsummer ball.

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As a heatwave grips Ireland, tensions rise among the close-knit community, and the journalist is drawn into uncovering secrets beneath the surface of an otherwise tranquil setting.

Quinn, now based in Dublin, previously worked as a journalist and news editor in Asia. A lifelong fan of detective fiction, this marks his first published novel, with further books in the series already in development.

The book has been described as appealing to readers of classic crime writers such as Agatha Christie, while offering a contemporary Irish setting.

With its strong local connection and summery backdrop, On Lough Derg is expected to feature prominently in seasonal reading lists across Kildare and beyond.