Multi award-winning Irish film maker and writer, Declan Cassidy, reads his novel, Pins and Needles, in regular instalments. The book was number 3 on the Hodges Figgis Best Seller list in Ireland when it was published in 2017. According to the Dublin People newspaper, it is "a mystical journey full of wonder, wisdom and self-discovery." The novel is set against the backdrop of Spain's world-famous Camino de Santiago. According to a review: "this superbly crafted novel introduces an exciting new genre in literary fiction – Celtic magical realism."
An opportunistic theft leaves the priest in his boxer shorts, while Mark, coming to the rescue of his Camino-nemesis, finds himself with a new companion. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
The vagabundo has a brainwave the promises to support he and the priest upon the way and a flasher lies in wait for a peregrina victim to chance along... If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
A traumatic event for Angela reveals her heroes while Mark and Johanna awkwardly part ways. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Isabel makes a discovery that confirms her worst fears and makes plans to confront her rival. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Mark spends an evening with Johanna and finds himself opening up to her about his troubled childhood. Night time finds her in his thoughts in place of his long-distance girlfriend Adelina. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Helen, sorting her daughter and granddaughter's house for the removal people, has a revelation that sends her to make a long-distance call. Meanwhile, Isabel returns to her home, accompanied by Subinspector Pedrosa, who has gauged that she's fearful of returning to the scene of the intruder's death. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Isabel has a crisis of conscience as specialists struggle to understand Anxo's illness, we meet Brad and Tanya and the vagabundo teaches the priest a thing or two about scavenging. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Having abandoned the freshly baked bread at the monument of San Telmo, according to the sadistic instructions of his fitness instructor, Mark walks wearily on until he comes across two Spaniards and a crippled Finn... If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
At the memorial to San Telmo, in a forest near Tui, Mark finds strength, the priest finds a sign and the vagabundo realises that he's not in trouble... If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Mark sets out on his Camino and meets his first, harsh trial. Fr Delucci gets the miraculous sign that he craves and a vagabond makes a wonderful discovery. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Angela's new life in Australia is working out but, in Santiago, death comes to the household of Isabel and Anxo... If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Mark steps off the Autna bus from Porto, to begin his weight-loss bootcamp mission and is plunged into a world where he is playing 'catch-up' from the very start... If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Helio is behind schedule on his murderous mission for Anxo, but, with a lethal butcher's knife and a deranged plan, he is about to get back on track. Meanwhile, Isabel's work colleague, Paula, is playing Cupid between her friend and a love-smitten police official. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
It looks like Helio has failed to keep his side of Anxo's murderous bargain, but Isabel's husband spots an opportunity. Meanwhile, Angela and her mother wait for the taxi to take them away to a new life with Uncle Tony in Australia – but without Granny. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Angela is making the most of her final few evenings with Granny, who won't be joining her and Mammy on their move to Australia. Meanwhile, Fr Delucci arrives in Portugal and finds himself somewhat out of his depth. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Angela's granny arrives from Spain and Fr Delucci, somewhat displaced and unnerved, starts his journey, travelling from Boston to Portugal. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Anxo does enough to sew doubt in Isabel's mind and buy himself some time. Without waiting around, he heads directly to the old barrio to look up Helio – an old friend from the days before Anxo moved uptown. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
What starts off as a good day for Isabel's huband, Anxo, turns rapidly sour as he falls foul of his mistress and his boss. Angry, his thoughts turn to dark ideas. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Fr Delucci watches his oversized haversack fill up with gadgets ahead of his trek, while Mark gets a package from shay@Igottalosemyfatass.com... If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Isabel, at her job in the charity shop, serves a customer who is travelling back to Ireland to see her granddaughter Angela - a little girl who hasn't spoken since the police man called to say that her daddy was dead. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Fr Delucci faces his Bishop after realising that there is something his must do, while Mark turns to the internet for help in his quest to shed half his body weight in a matter of weeks. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
Isabel makes a devastating discovery that sees the foundations of her marriage crumble. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
The final key character in our four intertwining stories is introduced here. Angela suffers from selective mutism – she hasn't spoken since the day that the policeman knocked to say that Daddy was dead. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
We meet the third of the principal characters in the story – Mark, first as a chubby boy at school whose computer skills keeps him on the right side of the 'popular' group, and then in his cold, rented flat where he gets good news... that makes his blood run cold. If you're finding the reading too slow, you can buy the book from Amazon in paperback or Kindle eBook form https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pins-Needles-Santiago-Compostela-destination-ebook/dp/B074HYF7X3
We meet the second key character of the story, Fr Joe Delucci. From the time that he was a small boy, Joe's parents had no doubt that their son was destined for a priestly life. A chance encounter with a book, however, has shaken the priest to the core.
The book commences in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It's twelve years ago and Isabel, then a teenager, is walking behind her father as he leads the procession for the feast day of the city's patron saint. Slouched against a column of the long portico that runs alongside one of the narrow streets of the old town, Anxo is watching.
Read by author, Declan Cassidy, this is short introduction to the book to give the listener an idea what to expect
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