This was an Irish Cosy murder, mystery, A small village turned upside down by the discovery of a body on a building site. Secrets are gradually revealed and the mystery is solved. Some great characters descriptions and the atmosphere of the village life feels very real. The conclusion is very dramatic and then the village returns to its sleepy existence. Great fun to read.

An enjoyable easy read, which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys cosy mysteries.

Nothing earth shattering happens in the story, but the plot is well structured, the writing good and the characters interesting. As a good first novel, and I'm sure that there will be more to follow.

Holding is a charming, cozy mystery set in a small Irish town. Graham Norton makes the reader care about his characters, even when you don’t always like them. He kept me guessing whodunnit for most of the book. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more books by Graham Norton.

I requested this book because I love Graham Norton and I wanted to see how his wit and sense of humor would translate into a mystery. The answer is very well! The revelation was that he crafted these fascinating characters that keeps the reader glued to the book page after riveting page. I look forward to reading other books he may publish in the future.

I'm a fan of Graham Norton, so when I discovered that he had written a fiction book, I jumped at the chance to read it. I already was familiar with his abilities as a storyteller, and this book did not disappoint. The characters are well-developed and engaging, and the story flows nicely. Mystery is not my usual preferred genre, but this was a very enjoyable read, and I'd be glad to read more from him.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me enthralled the whole way through. I just couldn't put it down. I love a good mystery and the names in the novel were funny as well. Detective Dunne was by far my favorite character. He was a jerk but he had a rugged honesty about him that made you over look his other flaws. The way his thoughts and comments flowed he reminds me of me. Don't think that's good though but hey. Honesty is a good quality I've been told. Anyway, I definitely recommend this book.

A nice, cozy mystery. I was able to figure out who had done it, and why, about halfway through the book, but I don't feel like that really took away from it. I read this pretty much straight through in one day. Worth a read, preferably on a rainy day with a warm blanket and a fire in the fireplace.

Holding, a debut novel by UK talk show host Graham Norton, was a surprisingly sweet read considering it was a mystery novel that centered around human remains found at a building site in a quaint rural village in Ireland. It contained some witty, humorous writing rare in a crime novel. Norton is good at storytelling, surprising plot twists and characterization. As the novel opens, we meet the local Garda, Sgt. PJ Collins, middle aged and overweight, experiencing yet another ordinary day in quiet, out-of-the-way Duneen, Ireland. ( PJ’s housekeeper Mrs. Meany keeps him well-supplied with food.) “It was widely accepted by the residents of Duneen that, should a crime be committed and Sergeant Collins managed to apprehend the culprit, it would be very unlikely that the arrest had involved a pursuit on foot.” When the human remains are uncovered, PJ’s life undergoes a transformation. A hotshot detective from the city sent to investigate soon discovers that PJ, despite his appearance and mannerisms, is a surprisingly good policeman. Angst long buried comes to the surface when local gossips assume the body is that of Tommy Burke who supposedly left for England 20 years ago just before his impending nuptials. Sgt. Burke doesn't have much experience with women—"he had managed to get through decades of adulthood without emotional attachment”. He manages, however, to quickly develop inappropriate relationships with Tommy’s two former love interests—Evelyn Ross and Brid Riordan—who have gone on to live unhappy lives. I enjoyed the setting of the quiet Irish town very much and meeting its inhabitants and was consistently surprised by the plausible, but unexpected plot twists. This novel was a well done first effort. Thank you Hodder & Stoughton/Atria and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book and for allowing me to review it.

Reading Holding by Graham Norton is like being welcomed with open arms into the fictional Irish village of Duneen - privy to the main street gossip, the cutting asides, the nudges and winks in the pub, the highs and lows of small country life.

Sergeant PJ Collins - kindly, conscientious, lonely and overweight – has become weary of life passing him by. So when human remains are found on a local farm, he’s both thrilled by and nervous of the possibilities they present. Possibilities he may only achieve by impressing the far worldlier Detective Superintendent (come all the way from Cork), Linus Dunne.

Highly perceptive and observant, Norton introduces a gentle, well-rounded cast of characters, who are a pleasure to get to know. If you enjoy your crime fiction hard-boiled, pitting your wits against a twisting plot, then Holding might not be for you. However, if you’re a fan of lighter, Sunday night drama type crime, then Norton’s moving, witty, poignant style means you’re in for a real treat. Let’s hope the residents of Duneen misbehave soon, so we get to spend more time in the company of the wonderful Sergeant PJ Collins.

I asked to review Holding because I’m a big fan of Graham Norton’s TV chat show, and I read and enjoyed one of his memoirs. So I was intrigued by the idea he’d written a novel …

Holding is a mystery novel set in the small Irish village of Duneen, where everyone knows everyone else and their business. The possible exception to this is Sergeant PJ Collings, the local policeman, who discovers the ins and outs of everyone’s business as we do.

The novel starts with the discovery of human bones on the site of the Burke farm. Could it be Tommy Burke, who ran off after some girl trouble? It’s up to Sgt Collins to find out, with the assistance of a detective from Cork, and with plenty of help (hindrance) from local ladies.

The novel is full of Norton’s trademark humour (it’s also full of Norton’s trademark swearing, so if you object to the gratuitous use of the f-word, this is not the book for you). It’s written in omniscient point of view, which isn’t my favourite, but Norton made it work. I think it helped that Holding was a mystery, so it was actually useful to be able to read the thoughts of all the characters.

Once I got past the omniscient point of view, the writing was surprisingly good, with some real gems of description:

Time didn’t pass in Duneen; it seeped away.

There were plenty of twists in the plot, and while I did guess whodunit, I didn’t guess the why or the how, and the end was a definitely a surprise. All in all, a most enjoyable novel.

Recommended for Norton fans, mystery fans, and those who enjoy Irish humour. Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Graham has found a new career - as a writer! Lovely, quaint story that reminds me one of Barbara Pym or Graham Greene. Surprisingly accomplished. Great read.

I will admit that, while the description of this book intrigued me, my primary interest in reading this was because it was written by Graham Norton. I love his show; I appreciate his wit and humor and enjoy watching him interact with his guests and the audience members. With that said, I found the same intelligence and creativity needed for a successful talk show was demonstrated in this novel. The characters are sharp and believable, the descriptions of the settings make it easy to visualize, and the undercurrents of emotions kept me engaged in the story.

The title had me wondering, but after finishing the book, I see how it’s appropriate. The primary characters are either in a holding pattern, they are holding out hope, they are holding on to the past, they are holding on to a dream…

The quiet Irish town of Duneen keeps their secrets well hidden. Even local Garda P.J. Collins doesn’t know everything. Obese and terribly unhappy, P.J. spends most of his days wedged into his car; waiting for something to happen so he can feel as though his presence is necessary. His only constant human contact is with his housekeeper, Mrs. Meany, who cooks three huge meals a day and chatters on about everything under the sun.

Evelyn Ross lives on the family estate, Ard Carraig, with her older sisters Abigail and Florence. Florence is the local schoolteacher, while Evelyn takes care of the house. Abigail watches over the estate and makes sure everything runs smoothly.

Brid Riordan is unhappily married and drinks heavily, drowning her sorrows at her realization that her husband only married her for her farm. Her fiancé, Tommy Burke, disappeared years earlier, leaving her shamed and embarrassed.

When bones are discovered at the construction site on the old Burke farm, the town is stunned. P.J. is excited to have a legitimate case to work on, but resents the presence of the superintendent from the main office. Even DNA tests and official interviews may not be enough for P.J. and Superintendent Dunne to learn the story behind the bones.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This novel was surprisingly quite wonderful. I would put this in it's own mystery category of more than a cozy mystery but not as intense as a psychological thriller, however, this one does make you think!

This novel follows Sergeant PJ Collins, who is a small town police officer, and two women Brid and Evelyn, who's lives inextricably intertwine as human remains are found on some old farm land. As we are introduced to these characters we find out about their current lives as well as their pasts which brought them to where they are today. This reads like what one would categorize as a cozy mystery because it's just easy and smooth to read. However, with the plot twists and a bit of a psychological bend this is a novel all it's own. To top the wonderful story off we have the witty sense of humor of Graham Norton to boot!!! I would HIGHLY recommend this novel to anyone and I would love to see what our hysterical friend has to offer next!

I'm giving this 4 stars but mostly because I really wanted to love this book by one of my favorite people on TV, Graham Norton. It's a lovely little Irish mystery and nicely written, but it lacks the pizzazz and wit for which Norton is so well known. Here's hoping he'll continue to write and bring more of himself to his work.

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ Collins hasn't always been this overweight; mother of­ two Brid Riordan hasn't always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn't always felt that her life was a total waste.

So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke - a former­ love of both Brid and Evelyn - the village's dark past begins to unravel. As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community's worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.

Darkly comic, touching and at times profoundly sad. Graham Norton employs his acerbic wit to breathe life into a host of loveable characters, and explore - with searing honesty - the complexities and contradictions that make us human

2* for the writing, 1*for overall story and 1* for whodunnit (or rather, what-happened-to-who.)

Two women cry over a man for twenty-five years and blame his absent self for their pathetic, unendurable lives. And the way Robert Ross committed suicide (with one untied boot lace) was suspicious too.

I loved this book as it reminded me of my days of watching Columbo! P.J. is a great character. You root for him and want him to solve the crime and get the girl! You become so engaged with all the characters and the town of Duneen. I would love to have this book as on of my book club reads. It's one of those stories where the characters are almost more interesting than finding out whodunit. But I must admit, that was greatly satisfying as well.

This book did not grab me right away, but once it did - I was hooked. The author did such a great job with the characters in this book. I felt like they were real as to the way he developed them. I knew their feelings, their fears and their hopes.

This was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed. While I was hesitant at first about the book, it really didn't take me long to negate that thought and enjoy the journey.

Thanks to Atria Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

It is not what I thought it was going to be. There's nothing madcap about this book, but if you love Graham Norton, this will make you love him all the more. Warm, perceptive, sad at times. He has a strong sense of story telling and doles out just enough details to let the characters and plot develop at a good pace.

Brilliant character descriptions and story telling. I would prefer the ending to have a bit more of a twist as it was very predictable, but I would highly recommend the book.