Not Untrue and Not Unkind

Dec 12, 2025 11:42 AM

Author:Ed O'Loughlin

Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2009.

In Dublin, a newspaper editor is found dead. One of his colleagues, Owen Simmons, discovers a dossier on the dead man's desk. And in the dossier Owen finds a photograph, which brings him back, once again, to a dusty road in Africa and to the woman he once loved ...

Not Untrue and Not Unkind is Owen's story - a gripping story of friendship, rivalry and betrayal amongst a group of journalists and photographers covering Africa's wars. A remarkably assured and mature debut, it is a tale utterly for our times.

'A simply brilliant debut by an author of great poise and power' Tim Butcher, author of Blood River

'A fine, darkly authoritative novel' Joseph O'Neill, author of Netherland

'The most exciting first novel I have read in many years' Anne Enright, winner of the Man Booker Prize 2007

'Graceful' Guardian

'Superb' The Times

'Gripping' Daily Mail

Reviews

Superb

—— The Times

A simply brilliant debut by an author of great poise and power

—— Tim Butcher, author of BLOOD RIVER

A page-turning novel ... gripping

—— Daily Mail

Graceful

—— Guardian

Gripping . . . splendidly conjures up the sounds, sights, and smells of Dark Age Britain

—— HARRY SIDEBOTTOM, author of the "Warrior of Rome" series

Stroud peppers his story with tales reminiscent of ancient Norse myths, giving this book the feel of an epic saga. Halli is a great lead character . . .

—— Flipside

A high adventure with any twists and turns

—— Derby Evening Telegraph

An entertaining book full of boyhood adventures, heroes and excitement

—— Caroline Davison , East Anglian Daily Times

Jonathan is already building up a strong fan base among young lovers of fantasy fiction and his latest novel will certainly not disappoint his young readers

—— Hertfordshire Life

While it is a totally new direction and a different type of tale to what pulls you right in, proving that the cream will always rise to the top

—— www.sci-fi-london.com

This latest novel will certainly not disappoint his young readers

—— Hertfordshire Life

This is an entertaining book full of boyhood adventures, heroes and excitement

—— Bradford Telegraph and Argus

An author who can rightly be dubbed a master storyteller . . . Heroes Of The Valley is . . . epic, vibrant and colourful

—— Phil Hewitt , Bognore Regis Observer

It is every inch the assured and stunning debut that everyone suggests

—— Dovegreyreader.com

Wyld is a languorous writer with great skill in characterisation...will delight

—— Philip Womack , Sunday Telegraph

This is a young writer with talent to burn

—— Emma Hagestadt , Independent

Told with quiet, characterful poise, the noel succeeds in evoking not only Australia's epic geographical landscape, but its literary terrain too summoning echoes of some of that country's finest writers,

—— Hephzibah Anderson , Daily Mail

This is a highly accomplished first novel. Evie Wyld is not a show off writer. She has a clean, clear prose style which is exactly right in the service if her story, and the best ear for dialogue in a long time.

—— Susan Hill , The Lady

Wyld's debut novel dissects the misery that seeps inexorably from one generation to the next

—— Anna Scott , Guardian

Wyld can write very well, in a vivid descriptive style reminiscent of Tim Winton's.

—— Christina Koning , The Times

Wyld's superb skills at portraying a hot, dusty landscape and her psychological insight will pull you inexorably in.

—— Louise Doughty , Psychologies

Superb assured first novel about fathers and sons. Pitch-perfect prose

—— Woman & Home

A very impressive first novel. Wise and wry, it uses its Australian bush setting to great effect, Wyld's protagonists fleeing there from wars, both literal and familial. She writes great characters and makes you love them as she nails them.

—— Rachel Seiffert , Sunday Herald, Christmas round up

This is a sad yet beautiful story of fathers and sons, their wars and the things they will never know about each other

—— NI Homes

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