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  • Holding

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Graham Norton
  • Narrated by: Graham Norton
  • Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (67 ratings)

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Holding cover art

Holding

Written by: Graham Norton
Narrated by: Graham Norton
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Publisher's Summary

From Graham Norton, the BAFTA-award-winning Irish television host and author of the "sparkling and impish" (Daily Mail) memoirs The Life and Loves of a He Devil and So Me, comes a charming debut novel set in an idyllic Irish village where a bumbling investigator has to sort through decades of gossip and secrets to solve a mysterious crime.

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama, but when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be those of Tommy Burke - a former lover of two different inhabitants - the village's dark past begins to unravel. As the frustrated sergeant PJ Collins struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community's worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.

In this darkly comic, touching and, at times, heartbreaking novel, perfect for fans of J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, Graham Norton employs his acerbic wit to breathe life into a host of loveable characters and explore - with searing honesty - the complexities and contradictions that make us human.

©2016 Graham Norton and Hodder & Stoughton (P)2017 Simon and Schuster Audio

What listeners say about Holding

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Pleasantly surprised!

Not really sure what I was expecting with this novel but it was quite good. The storyline kept you guessing, the characters were interesting and I enjoy listening to Graham’s storytelling. A good listen! Highly recommend it

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!!

I enjoyed everything about this story. A great blend of comedy and drama. Having Graham Norton read it himself was the cherry on the top.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bravo

I've been a longtime fan of Graham's entertainment skills and only just discovered his novels this year. A very entertaining read.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

wonderfully character driven

Not sure if it's designed as a mystery or a work of fiction -as a mystery it's easy to figure out. As a fiction it's really character driven and the development of the town is all encompassing. good weekend read overall.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great

Great performance... Good story... Kept me engaged... Not sure why I need 15 words to leave a review

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun and unpredictable.

I enjoy Mr Norton as a TV host so I really wasn't sure what to expect from his novel. He is obviously the perfect choice of narrators, and brought his characters to life.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • cj
  • 2023-08-29

So reliably good

Just another enjoyable read (listen). I’m hoping this becomes a series I’d enjoy getting to know PJ a little more.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing story

really enjoyed this book kept me coming back for more. Thank You Graham, please keep telling your wonderful stories!!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • K
  • 2018-12-18

Surprisingly Good

One tends to be a bit cautious about buying books written by celebrities outside their realm. I know Graham Norton as a great talk-show host (rejuvenated my taste for the genre), but had not known of his other talents. I liked him enough to give it a chance.
I was pleasantly surprised by "Holding". The story was well-developed, and the characters interesting. I did feel the key character sergeant PJ Collins was a bit borrowed from John Michael McDonagh (movie: "The Guard", starring Brendan Gleeson), but that actually added to the visualization.
The best part is Norton's narration. I have found at times that authors are not the best narrator. Sort of the same situation as where songwriters are not always the best singers/performers of their songs. Sometimes it's better to leave performance to those with talent for it. Graham Norton, however, has talent (apparently) in both fields and does a good job of bringing his characters to life.
It is a bitter-sweet story, well worth the time to listen.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Very charming!

This is a very charming read! I was immersed in the cast of smalltown characters and gossip, each brought to life very well by Graham Norton himself. I very much hope he releases more works.

#Audible1

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