Monks

About the Book: 

Ye must've searche out solitude in yer life. At least once.

Three men are off from Coatbridge to an idyllic Italian monastic retreat in search of inner peace and sanctuary. ...like hell they are. Italian food, sunshine and women - it's the perfect holiday in exchange for some easy construction work at the monastery. Some holiday it turns out to be, what with optional Mass at five in the morning, a mad monk with a ball and chain, and the salami fiasco - to say nothing of the language barrier. But even on this remote and tranquil mountain, they can't hide from the chilling story of Jummy Brogan. Suddenly the past explodes into the present, and they find more redemption than they ever bargained for.

Reviews: 

Not just about racism or bigotry or an antiquated sense of male power - Dillen wants to pummel language too, and religion and the identity of the individual into the bargain. That he holds on to the big questions without losing the humanity of his hero is a trick Dillon manages with a magician's dexterity. THE SCOTSMAN on Monks (first published as The Big Q)

About the Author:

DES DILLON was born and brought up in Coatbridge. He is a poet, short story writer, novelist and dramatist writing for radio, stage, television and film. He has had several of his books adapted for film and television. He was writer in residence at Castlemilk 1998-2000, and has worked as a teacher of English, a creative writing tutor, and as a TV scriptwriter. His novels have been translated into Russian and Italian. He now lives in Galloway.