The Bee Sting

by Paul Murray

Is the Barnes family haunted? Cursed? Disenchanted, in the fairy tale sense? Anyway, the recession isn't helping. This tale of an Irish family in crisis is a rollicking tragicomedy at the end of the world. Murray has little mercy for his characters, but an abundance of empathy. I couldn't put it down.

Nora, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison