The small Irish town of Ballina is enjoying the weeklong Salmon Festival, and the bars, hotels and streets are full. Doll English is ready to party, though his girlfriend, Nicky Hennigan, is a bit hesitant. Nicky has felt frustrated lately, both in her relationship with Doll and with her life in Ballina. After an uncomfortable visit with Doll’s older brother, Cillian, a sad-sack junkie and local thug, the two head out for the night. Their fun ends in a fight, Doll leaves, and Nicky makes her way back to his house early in the morning only to find that he never made it home.

Meanwhile, in his isolated farmhouse out of town, Dev Hendrick is far --- both physically and emotionally --- from the revelry. And when his lawbreaking cousins, Gabe and Sketch Ferdia, arrive with Doll in tow, Dev is drawn into a maelstrom of violence and danger of the sort that he has tried to avoid for years.

"There are moments big and small here, and Barrett handles them all with an artful solemnity that avoids being heavy-handed or moralistic."

Colin Barrett’s WILD HOUSES tells the story of Doll’s revenge and money-motivated abduction, intersecting three criminal lives with three innocent ones. Nicky grows increasingly worried about Doll’s absence, and Dev grows increasingly agitated by Doll’s presence in his home. For both Nicky and Dev, Doll’s kidnapping forces them to confront their pasts and what the future may hold for them in Ballina and beyond.

Cillian owes some money, and the Ferdia brothers grab Doll to hold him as collateral against the debt. They bring him to Dev’s place, which is where they often stash illicit goods, with only the most begrudging permission from Dev himself. As uncomfortable as his cousins and their work make him, Dev would be all but alone in the world without their visits. He lives in the home he shared with his now-deceased mother, and his only companion is her small and aggressive dog. Dev was bullied for years, and while he chooses to be alone, his loneliness has bloomed into depression. Despite being turned off by Doll’s abduction and how he’s being treated, Dev is glad for the forced company and does his best to extend some kindness to Doll. At the same time, a nervous and scared Nicky is wondering what has happened to her boyfriend.

For Dev, Doll’s kidnapping is fodder for reflection, contemplation and an examination of his solitude. Nicky feels lonely as well, even when busy at work or surrounded by friends. Both Dev and Nicky feel powerless to rescue Doll, yet they do what they can. The narrative is tense with not-so-unexpected outbursts of violence but is still mostly introspective as it follows Dev and Nicky over the handful of days that Doll is held by Gabe and Sketch.

Dev and Nicky never interact in WILD HOUSES, but their stories have parallels and intersect in compelling ways. There are moments big and small here, and Barrett handles them all with an artful solemnity that avoids being heavy-handed or moralistic. The book is thoughtful and impactful, and Barrett’s writing is efficient and memorable.