Skip to main content
book cover for Conshee

Conshee

Sign In or Register Now to see if this title is available for request.

Buy on Amazon Buy on Bookshop.org Buy on Kobo Buy on Waterstones
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app


1

To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.

2

Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.

Pub Date 28 Aug 2026 | Archive Date 28 Sep 2026


Talking about this book? Use #Conshee #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

A Scottish ex-pat has moved abroad for work, marriage and to try and escape his guilt over the loss of his younger sister many years earlier. He also has desperately tried to bury how his family were castigated and tormented for being conscientious objectors from the time of World War Two. Even after the war this has continued with the word ‘CONSHEE’ being repainted on their house wall for over five decades. With this tradition seemingly forever in place he also inherited the sobriquet, ‘Conshee’, when he attended secondary school as a child.

As there had been no definite evidence of his sister’s body being found, the mystery of her disappearance remains overwhelming. Suddenly, strange seemingly unrelated occurrences and deaths draw him back into the body of his family who have endured longstanding acrimony. He must now forgo any thoughts of pacifism as the quest escalates. His journey to find out the truth behind the unusual events will require the assistance of an ex-military uncle and a callow cousin and will take them away from their home district and country, encountering high danger and great risk along this path they must now follow.

A Scottish ex-pat has moved abroad for work, marriage and to try and escape his guilt over the loss of his younger sister many years earlier. He also has desperately tried to bury how his family were...


A Note From the Publisher

Johnnie Rua has worked in Medicine for over thirty years but always held a desire to write. Taking early retirement, he started to write the novel that he would have loved to read as someone growing up in the Highlands. But now he has had the life experience of a busy occupation as well as exposure to travel to aid him in this quest.

Johnnie Rua has worked in Medicine for over thirty years but always held a desire to write. Taking early retirement, he started to write the novel that he would have loved to read as someone growing...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781806349050
PRICE £5.99 (GBP)
PAGES 384

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Reader (EPUB)
NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)
Send to Kobo (EPUB)
Download (EPUB)

Available to Buy

Buy on Amazon Buy on Bookshop.org Buy on Kobo Buy on Waterstones
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

Average rating from 3 members


Featured Reviews

5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars

Love how the first few pages gave us the dog’s pov and then came Lisa and flora and dear trampas with the exciting adventures of the lot. Shirley and alcohol consumption were mentioned to warn off people from that dark place it leads them to.
All in all, perfect story .

5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc.

Conshee by Johnnie Rua is a compelling blend of mystery, family drama, and historical reflection that keeps readers invested from beginning to end. At its heart is a deeply personal story about guilt, loss, and the lasting impact of prejudice, as a Scottish expatriate is forced to confront a past he has spent years trying to leave behind.
The novel's strongest element is its emotional depth. The unresolved disappearance of the protagonist's younger sister hangs over the story, creating a powerful sense of grief and unanswered questions. Equally impactful is the exploration of how his family endured decades of hostility for being conscientious objectors, a legacy that continues to shape their lives long after the war has ended.
As strange events and unexplained deaths begin to surface, the suspense steadily intensifies. The investigation unfolds at a measured pace, revealing secrets, old wounds, and unexpected dangers. The relationship between the protagonist, his ex-military uncle, and his inexperienced cousin adds warmth and authenticity to the story, while their journey provides plenty of tension and intrigue.

4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
Was this review helpful?
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC to read and review.

I was invested from the very start. Such a emotionally mysterious story. I enjoyed every bit of it from the start to the end. Highly recommend.

4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: