Obsession by Lucy O’Callaghan is a story about stalkers, secrets, and second chances, set in Galway.
We watch people all the time – on Instagram, Facebook, and reality TV shows that flood our channels, on the bus or train on our daily commute, or having lunch in a café. Observing comes naturally to us and so does making assumptions about what we see. In my second novel, Obsession, this was the premise I started with.
Inspired by the TV series, The Affair, with Dominic West and Ruth Wilson, I was interested by how the two main character’s viewpoints were shown in each half of the episode, viewing the same thing happening, and how different their interpretations of these events were. It was an idea that I wanted to explore in Obsession.
Obsession introduces us to Peter, an ordinary man, seemingly down on his luck but hiding a dependency on painkillers and alcohol, and Rachel who has a desire to help those who need it most. She needs to help. He needs her help. It’s that simple, or is it? Using multiple point-of-view chapters as in my first novel, The Irish Times bestseller, The Lies Beneath, I like to give the reader an intimacy to the story. It is an opportunity to show how things aren’t always as they seem. As the reader is privy to all four character’s insights, they are well aware of the danger of misplaced beliefs.
Writing in this way gives the reader access to Peter’s developing obsession and Rachel’s naivety to it as she’s immersed in her own demons and her need to help others. This mirrors real life too – we observe other people and think we know what’s going on and yet we are only seeing what they want us to see. Social media is a great example of this. People rarely share when they’ve had a bad day, or a row with someone, they share lovely family time, a tasty dinner, or a night out looking fabulous. They rarely mention that they tried on ten outfits before going out, that they are holding their handbag over the stomach they want to hide, or that they’ve used filters to smooth out the wrinkles. It is like the analogy of the apple – on one side it is shiny and ripe, yet, on the other, the side you cannot see in the picture, is bruised and damaged. In Obsession, Rachel sees in Peter what she wants to see, based on what he’s showing her – a man struggling. But, there is more to it than that, and her interpretation of him is wrong, very wrong.
Reading it might make you think twice about your perceptions of people.
(c) Lucy O’Callaghan
Eason on Shop Street in Galway are hosting the book launch on Saturday 5th April at 6.30 pm. All are welcome.
Obsession by Lucy O’Callaghan is out now and available in all good bookshops.
About Obsession by Lucy O’Callaghan:
When a woman’s desire to help those who need it most sparks a dangerous obsession in one man, will she be able to see what is right in front of her?
Since losing her brother to suicide five years ago, Rachel has thrown herself into her job, supporting men in getting back to work and rebuilding their self-esteem. Men like Peter, an ordinary man, seemingly down on his luck, but hiding a dependency on painkillers and alcohol.
Peter mistakes Rachel’s kindness for something more and believes they are destined to be together – even if she needs a little help along the way to realise it.
While Rachel is consumed with helping others, she is blind not only to Peter’s growing infatuation but also to family secrets emerging from the past.
Will Rachel recognise Peter’s obsession before it is too late?
Order your copy of Obsession online here.
Lucy writes the weekly Really Useful Resources column for Writing.ie – see here.
