Mr Hoo & other stories is the latest short story collection from award-winning writer John O’Donnell. Loneliness, vengeance, sorrow, and desire are among the themes featuring in these compelling stories of schemers and survivors: a gullible bird-lover, a woman seeking revenge against an author, a brooding survivor of the Titanic, a young murderer trying to cheat the gallows. Here are almost-winners and not-quite losers, a grieving father and a desperate mother, an unhappy judge, and a troubled client. Love and loss, redemption and remorse, yearning and heartbreak; in clear, incisive language these exhilarating stories movingly examine the human condition.

‘O'Donnell's stories hit you like little bullets of astute observations, tightly wrought explorations of complex truths, narrated in beautiful, fluid, uncomplicated prose.’ – Sunday Independent

‘Captivating...the detail of the writing makes the stories sing... a natural storyteller’ – Irish Times

‘Sharply observed short stories that catch the complexity of life...O’Donnell’s maturity as a writer shines through...’ – The Business Post

‘An exquisite and touching story… sustained beautifully but never overplayed… This is the work of a talented, visionary writer … a truly memorable creation.’ – What the judges said about ‘Mr Hoo,’ winner of the RTE Short Story Competition in honour of Francis McManus.