"In her inspired debut novel, Stephanie Downey introduces Cara Connelly, a gifted young photojournalist documenting the brutal conflict in Northern Ireland. Told with sensitivity and empathy, The Bogside Saints is the unflinching story of Cara’s experiences with violence, love, betrayal, and redemption." —Susan Elia MacNeal

"THE BOGSIDE SAINTS is a gritty, gutsy, unflinching look at the violent conflict of northern Ireland in the 1970s, seen through the eyes of the people on the ground for whom the line between friend and enemy, terrorism and warfare are inextricably blurred. Budding photographer Cara finds herself ideologically stranded between her firebrand lover Malachy whose hatred of the English overlords draws him into the IRA, and her gentle brother Liam who condemns IRA tactics in favor of peace at all costs. Cara wants only to get away from the never-ending violence but a devastating loss sends her into a lethal undercover mission that may cost everything she has left. Stephanie Downey has penned a triple-threat read: all at once a compelling page turner, a moving romance, and a book to make you think long after the last page is turned." —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author

"One of the most gripping books I've read in some time. Downey vividly recreates both the visual landscape of war-torn Northern Ireland and the emotional landscape of her heroine, a young photojournalist whose sole wish is that she and her loved ones survive the Troubles physically and spiritually. The pace is relentless, the tension nerve shredding, with "what would I do in that situation" choices in almost every chapter. I honestly did not know how this would end, but the author found the ideal balance of hope and heartbreak." —Mariah Fredericks, author of The Girl in the Green Dress


“The Bogside Saints is a brilliantly rendered story of The Troubles in Ireland, taking us through danger, devotion, and impossible choices. Downey pens an intimate portrait of love and loyalty in a world where innocence cannot survive untouched. Cara Connelly is a young woman trying to understand the violence around her through the lens of her camera. We fall in love with this unforgettable heroine who is caught between the brother who believes in peace and the boy she loves who is drawn into war. The Bogside Saints asks what we owe to family, to country, and to our own hearts when every choice carries a cost. Stephanie Downey’s vivid prose takes us deep into the heart of Ireland on a wild and deeply moving journey through survival, sacrifice, and the bonds that both save and break us. A beautiful, devastating, and morally complex story made even richer by the love that illuminates every page.” —Patti Callahan Henry, NYT Bestselling author of Heart of the Wild.