Maryrose Cuskelly

Cuskelly interrogates the intersections of crime, social issues, and human behavior through her works, which span both fiction and non-fiction. Her purpose as a writer is to delve into real-world events, exploring the complex themes they present and making them accessible and engaging to a broad audience. The Cane, her debut novel, became a bestseller and was shortlisted for the Best Crime Fiction Debut in the 2023 Davitt Awards, underscoring her ability to captivate readers with gripping narratives. Meanwhile, Wedderburn: A True Tale of Blood and Dust further solidifies her reputation in the true crime genre, having been longlisted for Best Debut and Best True Crime in the 2019 Davitt Awards. \n\nCuskelly’s method of combining narrative elements with meticulous research allows readers to not only enjoy compelling stories but also gain insights into broader societal issues. Her non-fiction work, The End of Charity: Time for Social Enterprise, co-written with Nic Frances, reflects her commitment to exploring and advocating for social change, earning the Iremonger Award for Writing on Public Issues. By examining topics such as the marvels of human skin in Original Skin: Exploring the Marvels of the Human Hide, she offers readers a diverse range of subjects to engage with. Through these works, readers benefit from an enriched understanding of the human condition and the societal structures they navigate. Her writing invites readers who are interested in crime, social issues, and human behavior to reflect deeply on these themes.