THERE CAN BE no doubt that Irish authors are having a moment.

Whether it’s Marian Keyes, whose book Grown Ups is being adapted for the screen by Netflix, or the enduring popularity of Sally Rooney, Ireland continues to solidify its spot as a stronghold for greatness when it comes to the written word,

The latest good news is that Amanda Cassidy, author of several popular crime novels, has secured one of the most exciting international book deals signed by an Irish author in recent years.

While still a relatively new author, Cassidy is no stranger to success. Her first novel, Breaking, was shortlisted for the 2023 CWA John Creasey Dagger Award, and it appears she is going only from strength to strength.

Cassidy is now very much on a roll. Her fourth book The Stranger Inside hit the shelves this summer, but it is her fifth novel — Beautiful Liars — that is currently grabbing the headlines. Slated for release in 2027, Beautiful Liars was subject to huge attention from international publishers.

Century secured the UK rights to the book, and across the Atlantic the novel will be published by Putnam, the publishing house behind such mega-success stories such as Big Little Lies, a novel which was eventually developed into a Emmy and Golden Globe-winning television series starring Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern and Nicole Kidman. 

Putnam is already home to some of the world’s most popular fiction writers, such as Tom Clancy, Megan Abbott and Delia Owens. Cassidy’s work being showcased for the UK and US market takes her into the stratosphere, with every chance that the book could end up becoming the next international sensation.

Speaking to the The Journal, Cassidy has described her next novel as a story that cracks the facade of South Dublin and delves into a world of mystery, motherhood and crime, originally inspired by a fairytale.

“I wanted to write a contemporary retelling of little Red Riding Hood but I couldn’t resist playing with some of the elitism when it comes to certain communities,” Cassidy said.

“As a former journalist, I’ve always loved storytelling and Beautiful Liars is my favourite book yet.”

Beautiful Liars is set in an affluent south Dublin coastal town, playing with the idea that these idyllic locations can often conceal something more sinister underneath. The plot follows the story of a 17-year-old girl named Saskia Foley who vanishes during what was meant to be a harmless game of dares in the woods. The story then focuses on three mothers, each connected to the incident in some way.

Cassidy’s work rate so far has been prodigious, and since releasing her debut novel she is averaging a book a year.

Now that she’s making an impression internationally, it seems like it might be only a matter of time before one of Cassidy’s stories is adapted for the screen. You can get ahead of the curve now by heading to your nearest bookshop and checking out The Stranger Inside, which has been on sale since July.