Chloe Michelle Howarth - Heap Earth Upon It (VERVE BOOKS) | Literary Fiction Paperback

From the multi-award nominated author of Sunburn comes Heap Earth Upon It, a creeping story of sibling rivalry and dangerous obsession set in rural Ireland. This literary fiction novel delves into claustrophobic relationships and tangled identities, leaving readers questioning trust until the final page.

The narrative begins in January 1965 when the orphaned O'Leary siblings—Tom, Jack, Anna, and Peggy—arrive in the village of Ballycrea, seeking a fresh start while keeping their troubled past secret. After initial suspicion from locals, the family finds acceptance under the wing of their neighbors, Bill and Betty Nevan, who offer work and companionship. However, for one of the siblings, this new friendship ignites an intense attachment that endangers everyone.

• Explores sibling rivalry, dangerous obsession, and buried secrets.
• Combines emotional intensity and slow-burn sapphic obsession reminiscent of Julia Armfield and Yael van der Wouden.
• Features unsettling gothic undertones comparable to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and Shirley Jackson's fiction.
• A brutal exploration of the corrosive impact of shame and secrecy.

Chloe Michelle Howarth, recognized as one of Ireland's exciting queer voices, delivers a masterful, character-driven prose in this second novel.

• Author: Chloe Michelle Howarth
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Print Length: 288 pages
• Publication Date: May 5, 2026
• ISBN-13: 978-0857309471
• Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 20mm
• Weight: 198 g
• Edition: 1st

Immerse yourself in this tense, gripping, and atmospheric rural Gothic novel perfect for readers who appreciate deep character studies and suspenseful narratives.