Old God's Time: Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2023

Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry centres on Tom Kettle, a widower and retired policeman who has moved into a new home in Dalkey, looking out over the sea. Settling into a quiet routine, he is drawn back towards a case from decades earlier when two former colleagues arrive with questions about an experience he has never fully put to rest.

His fragile calm is further unsettled when a new neighbour, described as a mysterious young mother, asks for his help. Presented as a haunting story in which appearances cannot be relied upon, the novel is described as an exploration of family, loss and love. It was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2023, noted as a Sunday Times top ten bestseller, and linked to Costa Book of the Year recognition.

Key details

• Author: Sebastian Barry
• Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2023
• Sunday Times top ten bestseller
• Associated with Costa Book of the Year recognition
• Set in Dalkey with sea views

Synopsis

Tom Kettle, newly retired from the police and living alone after his wife’s death, tries to find steadiness in his new surroundings. When two former colleagues return to question him about a traumatic case from long ago, the past begins to intrude on the present.

A request for help from a new neighbour adds to the sense of uncertainty, as the story moves through shifting appearances. The novel is described as a haunting exploration of family, loss and love.