The Secret of my Face

'I will sleep in ugliness and wake to beauty.'

Fourteen-year-old Veronica Broderick has lived a life of quiet, internal solitude, her existence shaped by a facial disfigurement that has rendered her effectively mute. After a visit from the young Dr. Geraghty, she becomes enchanted by the possibility of change, running away from home to a new life with her wealthy relatives in Dublin, where she appears to blossom. But Veronica's naivety renders her vulnerable in this sophisticated milieu and she starts playing a dangerous game. As Veronica nears the operating theatre, the stage is set for all involved to grasp at their own personal vision of beauty. But some dreams will always stay out of reach...

Karen Ardiff's debut novel is a dark, haunting yet beautiful tale of love and tragedy.

Praise for The Secret of my Face:

'A powerful and incredibly accomplished first novel, a compelling narrative enhanced by an utterly captivating cast of characters, whose distinctive voices resonate long after the final page has been turned' Books Ireland

'The Secret of My Face is a brave and exciting novel in the field of Irish writing, haunting in its denouement...The telling? It works, it works very well' The Irish Times

'Karen Ardiff's book is an astonishing debut. It is unpredictable and - towards the end shocking. I put it down in tears' Hugh Leonard, Sunday Independent

'The Secret of My Face is more of a romance with a twist and one that will certainly take most readers by surprise' Sunday Tribune

'The Secret of My Face is an interesting, original and confident book and Ardiff a welcome new voice' Sunday Independent

'After the first 10 pages I was totally absorbed. It's a real page-turner...this definitely isn't a run of the mill book!'  Woman's Way

'Karen Ardiff is a talented writer and The Secret of My Face is a strangely haunting book' Irish Mail on Sunday

'A charming novel with a slammer of a whiplash ending that changes everything that came before it. [There is an] utter shock that comes with every page turned. A brilliant debut!'  Lucille Redmond, Evening Herald

'A powerful debut novel - the characters stay in the mind of the reader long after the book has been closed' Bookview Ireland

'Beautifully observed and exquisitely written. A really, really poignant book' Best-selling author Kate Thompson

'An assured debut' Metro