Whale Harbor

From New York Times bestselling author of the “magnificent” (Fresh Air), “propulsive” (People), and “profound” (Vogue) Ask Again, Yes, a sweeping multi-generational saga inspired by the author’s own family history, following eleven brothers torn apart and set on different paths between Ireland, England, Montana, and New York.1960s, Ireland. In the wake of tragedy, a father makes choices for his eleven grieving sons. The older brothers will emigrate to England for work, while the younger ones will stay behind. The second eldest, Macdara, is offered a job on a Montana cattle ranch and sets off. His spirited younger brother Rian begs Mac to take him along and Mac promises to bring Rian to America as soon as he’s old enough. But then one day Mac gets a call that Rian has disappeared. It’s a call that will haunt Mac and his family across decades.

Spanning lifetimes and continents, Whale Harbor is an expansive and unforgettable novel written with award-winning author Mary Beth Keane’s signature wit, eloquence, and attention to the emotional resonance of family.

“I couldn’t stop reading. The gang of brothers, the father, the daughter, the whole family, Ireland, everything—it’s a great story, and beautifully written.”
–Roddy Doyle

“Whale Harbor is an epic, almost mythic novel. Mary Beth Keane is a master storyteller.”
–Claire Kilroy, author of Soldier Sailor

“Tender, immersive and exquisitely written… I missed this book whenever I wasn’t read it. Mary Beth Keane is one of my favorite storytellers and here she’s at her finest.” –Florence Knapp, author of The Names

“Whale Harbor is a very special book, the kind that comes along rarely. It is epic in scope yet, at the same time, so intimate and immersive I could scarcely catch my breath as I read.” –Clare Leslie Hall, author of Broken Country

“Epic in scope and rich in detail, Whale Harbor understands the complex nature of family bonds, and the way that certain places never relinquish their hold on our imaginations.” –Roisín O’Donnell, author of Nesting

“No one writes about the long arc of family—its loyalties, betrayals, and returns—like Mary Beth Keane.”–Kathy Wang, author of The Satisfaction Cafe