Dermot Bolger’s first book for young adults is many things. It’s a gripping thriller set in the south Dublin suburb of Blackrock. It’s an unsettling supernatural horror story. It’s a tenderly evocative look at teenage friendship and romance. It’s a reminder to be careful what you wish for. By turns chilling and tender, and always compulsively readable, New Town Soul is an excellent novel, and Bolger’s distinctive voice is a welcome addition to the world of Irish children’s fiction.