The Bee Sting: Comedy meets tragedy in this hilarious Booker Prize shortlisted novel

Name: The Bee Sting: Comedy meets tragedy in this hilarious Booker Prize shortlisted novel
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.8 (24254 reviews)
Author: Paul Murray

by Paul Murray

Contemporary Fiction Literary Fiction

3.8 (24,254)

3.8 stars from 24,254 reviews. One of the highest rated Contemporary Fiction books we track.

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Last checked: Jun 28, 2026

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Perfect for you if...

You love novels that balance comedy and tragedy without falling into sentimentality, finding humour in genuine pain.
You appreciate sprawling family sagas that zoom in on small moments and zoom out to the bigger picture with equal skill.
You want a Booker Prize shortlisted novel that's actually a page-turner, not a slog.

Maybe not for you if...

You prefer tidy plots that resolve neatly or self-help-style redemption arcs.
You find Irish family dysfunction exhausting rather than compelling.
You're looking for a quick, light read to pass the time.

About this book

The Barnes family faces mounting crises. Once owners of the town's largest business, they now approach bankruptcy. Dickie and Imelda's marriage deteriorates; their straight-A student Cass spirals out of control; their son PJ owes significant debt to a school bully. As unresolved mistakes from the past resurface, the family remains too consumed by immediate problems to recognize the approaching danger. The novel won the Nero Book Award for Fiction 2023, the Sky Arts Award for Literature 2024, and An Post Irish Book of the Year 2023. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2023.

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Currently around #253K in the Kindle store — a niche title. Sales have softened 56% recently.

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Currently 3.8★ from 24,254 reviews

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