The Gospel of Orla

A novel about a young grieving shoplifter, who crashes into Jesus as she runs away from home. She's a cunning, wild-hearted girl; Jesus a young immigrant from the Middle East; she drags him off on a crazy ride, to try to raise her mother from the dead.

Most anticipated in the IRISH TIMES, TORONTO STAR, and the BOOK CULTURE newsletter; an INDIE NEXT LIST PICK; featured in LIBRARY READS SELECTION

“Utterly convincing and fresh and original.” —Colm Tóibín, author of The Magician

“A melancholic, funny, and magical coming-of-age story, The Gospel of Orla is glorious, wise, and totally weird. I loved it.” —Annie Hartnett, author of Unlikely Animals

“The Derry, Northern Ireland poet Eoghan Walls is a storyteller, as it turns out, of the absolute first rank. From the very first scene of this — I’m reading it right now — where a young woman tries to run away from home on a bicycle and doesn’t succeed in doing so. Incredibly good reading. If you looking to dip your toes a little further into the waters of international literature which is really my passion, I am here to tell you…. check out The Gospel of Orla, it’s really a great read.” —John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats

Click here to buy; if you would rather read a sample first, the first chapter is available on Lit Hub here.