Longlisted for the Dublin Literary Award 2025

Book blurb

Cerys receives an unexpected inheritance but there are rules attached. Three simple rules that must be followed.

As she settles into her new life, she begins to feel trapped: the past is ever-present. She convinces herself that the villagers are watching her and, desperate to control her own future, she tries to break free…

My thoughts

I’d heard good things about this book recently and remembered I had a copy on my TBR . As this is both Reading Ireland 🇮🇪 and Reading Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 month I felt it was the right time to pick it up and read. I’m not sure what I expected but this turned out to be quite an unusual story.

Cerys is at a funeral in Wales when the book opens. Her sister’s mother-in-law has died and Cerys is devastated. Once again I thought that I would be reading about why it was such a big loss for her and how she – and her sister, brother-in-law – would deal with the loss. In one way it does do that but for a different reason.

Cerys takes a walk and her sister comes to find her as they want to get going. She goes into a small chapel, an open coffin is in there. An older man is laid out. Perhaps because she is in a heightened mood of sadness Cerys is moved by this and writes a note in the book of condolence.

A little while later Cerys receives a message saying that she has come into an inheritance. This is a surprise but she goes to meet with the solicitor who explains how it has come about. It is a life changing opportunity and Cerys is drawn to accept it even though it comes with some rules that must not be broken.

She accepts. Now begins a somewhat surreal experience for Cerys. Moving into a new home, being able to live an unbelievable life. However, the rules take a toll on her, she’s doesn’t have the closet of relationships with her sister but the decision to take the inheritance is causing a rift. Cerys misses her friends back in London. She feels that she’s being watched and there’s the man with a bike who seems to be everywhere Cerys is. He has a beard, Cerys names him Jesus, it’s very disconcerting. Along with this is the rather strange way that the solicitor and the other people connected to the administration and maintenance of the Will its money and estate behave.

The book turns a bit dark. There is a tension that builds. Cerys finds confrontation difficult. She begins to question her decision. Is there a way around some of the rules? What if she just gave it all up?

This is a powerful story of loss, of understanding that having money can be a burden as well as a blessing and of greed. As the saying* goes “The love of money is the root of all evil” it is not money itself but our love of it that causes problems. As a crime fiction reader this is not perhaps a great revelation as money is often the cause of crimes being committed. Cerys realises that this inheritance is not the solution to her problems and that, after an initial period of enjoying her new found wealth, she is in fact unhappy, alone and unable to live the selfish life that she must, that has been bestowed on her through the inheritance it makes her reconsider what she wants. Giving it up, as she finds out, will cost her a great deal. In fact it will cost her far more than even she could know.

Christ on a Bike is an amazing story that fully captured my attention, a dark tale that I very much enjoyed reading and had an ending that was so good.

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*It is in fact a quotation from the Bible – 1 Timothy 6:10

Reading Ireland Month 2026

Hosted by Cathy @ 746books this is its 12th year.

Christ on a Bike by Orla Owen is my second book for this challenge.

Reading Wales Month 2026

Reading Wales Month is hosted by Karen at BookerTalks and Kath Eastman from Nut Press. This will the ninth year in which we turn the spotlight on authors from Wales and celebrate literature from this Celtic nation.

Christ on a Bike by Orla Owen is my third book for this challenge.

Information

Published: Bluemoose Books Ltd | 25 Jan 2024 | 280 pp | ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1915693150

Buy: Bluemoose Books Ltd | Bookshop.org (affiliate link) | Hive | Amazon

Author

Orla Owen is an Irish writer and former actress, known for her compelling narratives that delve into the darker aspects of family life. Her debut novel, The Lost Thumb, was published in 2019, followed by PAH in 2021. Christ on a Bike, her third novel, was released by Bluemoose Books in January 2024 and has been longlisted for the 2025 Dublin Literary Award. Owen’s writing has garnered praise for its originality and psychological depth, drawing comparisons to works by Shirley Jackson and Black Mirror. Before transitioning to writing, she studied Theatre at Bretton Hall College of the Arts and worked as an actress and drama practitioner. She is also passionate about supporting women in writing and has been involved in mentoring schemes, including assisting author Kerry Hudson at the WoMentoring Project.

Orla Owen Website |

Books

The Lost Thumb | PAH | Christ on a Bike