Edinburgh based author Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin’s debut novel Ordinary Saints follows protagonist Jay, a queer Irish woman living in London, through a tumultuous process: her brother is becoming canonised as a saint. It is 13 years after Ferdia’s death, and this process causes Jay’s new and old lives to collide. As she comes face-to-face with the deep-running secrecy within the church and her own family, Jay has to make the decision whether to follow her parents in supporting the cause, which will involve the exhumation of her brother’s body, or avoid any involvement (as her girlfriend wishes).
The structure of Ordinary Saints mirrors Jay’s struggle —Ní Mhaoileoin weaves memories of Ferdia between sections of the present just as Jay is pulled between Ireland and London; past and present. The author highlights the abuses of the Irish Catholic Church through the lived experiences of the characters, such as the homophobia Jay experiences, with conservative religious values often becoming a barrier between Jay and other figures in the novel.
Ordinary Saints contains mystical aspects but remains grounded in reality. The introduction of an archaic concept such as sainthood to a modern context piques readers’ interests, but it is the prose which is most striking. Ní Mhaoileoin’s use of religious imagery is tasteful and tailored well to the story. The dialogue is well written and it is easy to become invested in the character dynamics and relationships. The characterisation is occasionally inconsistent, but the story arc is well executed. and Jay’s grief is palpable through the prose. With memories of Ferdia continually resurfacing, this is a book which emphasises that grief is not something to be overcome, but lives with you.
Overall, Ordinary Saints is a story about family and grief — themes which will resonate with many readers.
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