This Is How

The brilliant new novel from the author of the Man-Booker-shortlisted Carry Me Down 'A complete original . . . she aims straight for the truth and the heart' Hilary Mantel Patrick is a loner, an intelligent but unhappy young man struggling to find his place in the world. But, not long after he leaves home to begin a new life in a boarding house in a remote seaside town, he commits an act of violence and must face the awful and chilling consequences. This is How is a compelling and unsettling journey into the dark side of human existence and a powerful meditation on the nature of guilt and redemption. 'An expertly paced, gripping novel that doesn't falter and never compromises its emotional truth' The Times 'M.J. Hyland's prose is in for the kill' Metro 'Remarkable for its authenticity . . . there are moments of extreme tenderness that bring tears to your eyes' Irish Mail 'An eerie, commanding book . . . thrilling, moving and compassionate' New York Times All actions have consequences. This is how life goes. Patrick is a loner, an intelligent but disturbed young man struggling to find his place in the world. He ventures out on his own, and, as he begins to find happiness, he commits an act of violence that sends his life horribly and irreversibly out of control. But should a person's life be judged by a single bad act? This is How is a compelling and macabre journey into the dark side of human existence and a powerful meditation on the nature of guilt and redemption.