Liz Nugent - “I only ever had bad dreams – I’d wake up thinking I’d murdered someone”

Oliver Ryan appears to have a perfect life with his devoted wife Alice, co-authors of award-winning children's books, until he suddenly beats her into a coma. The novel peels back layers of his past through the viewpoints of friends, family, lovers, and acquaintances, revealing a history marked by abandonment, envy, repressed desires, and sociopathic tendencies that shaped him into a deeply troubled man. While not excusing his monstrous acts, it provides a gripping exploration of the factors behind his violence, blending thriller elements with profound psychological insight.

Liz Nugent's 'The Truth About Ruby Cooper' follows sisters Ruby and Erin after a damaging incident at age sixteen reshapes their lives and those of the next generation. The novel explores themes of addiction, deception, family secrets, and the consequences of a fundamental lie told by a central character. Nugent examines what her characters want versus what they need, particularly the tension between escape and truth. The book blends psychological insight with suspenseful plotting characteristic of Nugent's work, focusing on how past events haunt the present. It situates misogyny and grooming by powerful men as part of the social backdrop that informs the characters' choices.