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Derville Murphy
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If Only She Knew: Love, art and espionage, in a compelling, stylish drama set in the Victorian artworlds of Dublin and Manchester Paperback – January 26, 2021

by Derville Murphy (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 43 ratings
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A compelling drama about love, courage and betrayal set in Victorian Dublin and Manchester during the Home Rule debate. Fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale will be enthralled.

Julia Benson, spirited Irish artist and photographer from a Unionist family, is having an affair with Fenian Donal O’Keefe. To prevent her from squandering the family’s dwindling fortunes and to end her relationship with Donal, her father’s will makes her dependent on her younger sister Harriet’s controlling husband, Edward.

Donal’s brother, the supercilious solicitor Eoin O’Keefe, persuades Julia that to contest the will is futile, and Harriet and Edward move to Manchester to start a new life without her. Shortly afterwards, Julia receives a disturbing visitor in the photography studio who tells her that Donal, who had travelled to America to raise funds for the Nationalist cause, is now missing in England and his life is in danger.

To find Donal, Julia moves to Manchester where she tries to establish herself in the art world by raising awareness of Ireland’s plight through her painting. But, to her dismay, she becomes increasingly entangled in a web of Fenian espionage. Reluctantly, she turns to Eoin O’Keefe for help when she becomes involved in a plot so horrific that it could ruin all their lives forever, destroying the Nationalist cause and any hopes of Home Rule for Ireland.

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  1. Print length
    408 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    January 26, 2021
  4. Dimensions
    5 x 0.92 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    178199417X
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1781994177
  7. See all details
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From the Publisher

Fiction
Fiction

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Poolbeg Press (January 26, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 408 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 178199417X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1781994177
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.92 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 43 ratings

About the author

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Derville Murphy

Derville Murphy

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Derville Murphy was born in 1956 in Birmingham, UK. When she was thirteen her family returned home to Ireland. She qualified from DIT as an architect in 1978 and then worked for over twenty years as an architect and art curator. At fifty-two, she went back to college and completed an MPhil in Irish Art History – and in 2015, at UCD, a Ph.D. in art and architecture. Since then she has worked as an art consultant. Murphy is also an artist who has exhibited widely in Ireland and her works are in several art collections. Although she has written articles for academic journals, The Art Collectors Daughter is her debut novel. She lives in Dublin, is married with two daughters and ‘adorable’ twin grandchildren.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
43 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Diane Secchiaroli
3.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2021
This historical novel is set in the late 19th century, Julia a budding artist learns that instead of receiving her father’s inheritance, her younger sister Harriet and her soon to be husband Edward have inherited the business and money. Julia, an independent woman had planned to go to Paris to study her art but is instead left to manage the business while Harriet and Edward move to Manchester England. Julia is in love with Dinal a freedom fighter for the Nationalist party which is fighting for Ireland’s independence from England. Donal moves to America to handle his uncle’s estate and hooks up with an organization also fighting for Ireland’s independence. After awhile Donal’s letters cease only to find out Edward has been paying someone to intercept the letters. When Julia goes to Manchester to confront Edward she finds out that Harriet has been living in poverty and decides to remain and help her sister. Meanwhile Edward treats her as a servant and hits in her. She finds out that Donal has returned to Manchester and is in prison. In an effort to release Donal from prison Julia is caught up in a plot to discredit the Nationalist cause and any hopes of home rule. There is a lot of suspense and intrigue surrounding the plot which Donal is caught up in over his objections. This is a story of woman’s roles in Victorian Ireland and England, a story of love, courage, perseverance and betrayal. I didn’t think the characters were well defined or developed. I thought there could have been more in depth view of that time period. I found it just a so-so novel which was compared to Nightingale but was not anyway as interesting.
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Deacon Tom
4.0 out of 5 stars Step Into the Past
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2021
Derville Murphy’s “If She only Knew” was a really captivating story. It focuses on the sisters Harriet and Julia in a family saga by telling the story from the perspective of each member.

A spectacular drama about love, courage and betrayal set in Dublin and Manchester during the Home Rule debate.

The plot is complex, engaging and full of suspense, and the central story of a woman striving for self determination and to achieve recognition in the art world and how she fights being constrained by what was expected of her in the 19th century

It is an exceptionally well researched book giving an precise view into the life of people in Dublin and Manchester.

I personally have been to Dublin and Manchester and no the cities very well. I also have read a number of books/articles about both cities. I think this author did a very good job of giving that same experience to the reader.

All in all, it is a very well written book with the language that pulls us back to the 19 century.

Highly recommendt
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Jeanne
4.0 out of 5 stars Irish freedom and tragedy
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2021
A really interesting story about a family set amidst the potato famine, English rule and the Irish Republican Brotherhood fighting for Irish freedom. Intrigue, lots of reminders about the inheritance laws and the expectations of women to remain morally correct and subservient to the men they were beholden to for their lives. A really good book. Worth the read.
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Amber R.
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Historical Fiction Novel
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2021
If Only She Knew is a great historical fiction novel set in Victorian Ireland. I loved the premise and characters and definitely plan on following the author for more great content.
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Top reviews from other countries

Yvonne Brewer,Cork, Ireland
5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite book of the year!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed If Only She Knew. There are so many aspects of this story to admire from the author's apparent knowledge of architecture, art and history to the captivating story line with so many twists and turns. Historical fiction is not a genre that I normally am drawn to but after reading If Only She Knew I want to continue reading this type of book. I adored the character of Julia and kept turning the pages to find out what would her fate be. Highly recommend this book and definitely my favourite book that I have read this year !
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Lisheen
4.0 out of 5 stars Derville is a great story crafter
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2021
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Derville uses her art background to great effect and kept me wondering how it would end right to the final pages!
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Maybelle
5.0 out of 5 stars Suspenseful and engaging historical novel
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2021
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A meticulously researched and written historical novel with period detail that effortlessly evokes art history and the settings of Victorian Dublin and Manchester.
For readers unfamiliar with the late nineteenth century in Irish history, it’s well explained. The author captures the dilemma that Irish nationalists faced: to join an illegal organisation, potentially wasting their lives on a lost cause - or else to do nothing about an unjust system of government which had exacerbated and prolonged the effects of the Famine.
The plot is complex, engaging and full of suspense, and the central story of a woman striving for self determination and to achieve recognition in the art world will resonate with today’s reader.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Love, a woman's independence and the struggle for Irish Freedom.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
I loved this book. I felt like I went back in time to the 19th century. To me the story is about a strong woman who didn't want to be constrained by what was expected of her by her class in 19th century Dublin but who also felt the need to look after her sister. The book gives you a great insight in to life in Dublin and life in Manchester for the Irish who fled there for a better life. It also gives a great insight into the complexity of the struggle for Irish freedom and women's struggle to become independent. Highly recommend it.
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NIALL M REYNOLDS
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
It gave a great sense of life in WestlandRow in Dublin and Manchester, UK at the end of the 19th. Century but what I did not expect was a thriller page turner. I wasn't sure if I could make it to the conclusion before my Kindle battery ran out.

Once again I really enjoyed the historical visual arts and social insights
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