Communion

An Observer Best Debut Novel of 2026
In the spirit of Close to Home, a stunning debut of a young man reckoning with his community, his faith, and the violent confession of a young woman from his past.

'Marks the arrival of an explosive new talent' Observer
'Rich and involving and emotionally charged' Guardian
'An immaculate debut with dirt under its fingernails' Colin Walsh, author of Kala

Just so we're clear, she said, I know the rules of confession. What I say cannot be repeated. Not to anyone.

When Mack O'Brien left his home in Port Talbot for the seminary as a teenager, he didn't imagine he'd be back a decade later, unordained and still at a loss as to what makes for a moral life. He takes a job as a security guard at the local steelworks and begins an uneasy transition into the world he once rejected. When the men of the steelworks organise an unprecedented strike in protest against job cuts, he sees no reason not to go along with it.

The last person Mack expects to see in the local club is Siwan Roderick - the woman who appeared out of the blue at the seminary one day to make a confession and swear him to secrecy. Mack kept his word. But as the day of the strike nears, and as he begins to fully understand what Siwan is planning, Mack is forced to reckon with his loyalty to her and the question of whether an act of violence can ever be justified.

'A rare novel . This is poignant, resounding writing'
Cynan Jones, author of Pulse

'Each paragraph arrives like a short, beautiful breath'
Andrew McMillan, author of Pity

'Electric'
Kasim Ali, author of Good Intentions

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.