The Long Falling by Keith Ridgway, Faber and Faber, 305pp, £6.99 in UK

Novels examining the confused interweavings of contemporary rural and urban Ireland are a rarity, so Keith Ridgway certainly deserves applause for including this theme in what was his first fictional venture. If he gives himself more material than can comfortably be handled - marital violence, homosexuality, murder, abortion and the intense emotions it stirs - this is never dealt with in a sensationalist manner. Instead, Ridgway's tone is one of sympathetic understanding of the various predicaments of his characters. In particular, Grace Quinn, who occupies a central place in the narrative, is delineated with memorable warmth. The understated nature of Ridgway's prose also helps to ensure that a tale which might tip into melodrama stays credible and vivid.