An exemplary debut from Olivia Fitzsimons! What a writer! "The Quiet Whispers Never Stop" is simply stunning. It's beautifully written, moving, raw and real. It's about mothers and daughters, and how alike they can be, despite years of separation. Also, fathers and daughters who struggle to relate to one another. "The Quiet Whispers Never Stop'' reverberates with unfulfilled dreams and ennui, shot through with tiny slivers of hope and a whole lot of longing. Fitzsimons relays the horrors of the Troubles in Northern Ireland with stark honesty. She shows us how it feels to live in a community permanently steeped in fear. The central theme is an exploration of the old adage "every girl loves a bad boy". I felt so much compassion for both Sam and her mother - a testament to the skill of the author, as she strips back the layers of a character who isn't, on the surface, very sympathetic. I really loved everything about this book and can't wait to see what this author does next. An absolute belter of a debut and surely an award-winner.