Paraic O'Donnell is the author of The House on Vesper Sands and The Maker of Swans. He lives in Wicklow, Ireland, with his wife and two children, and can usually be found in the garden.

"This Victorian mystery novel is Dickens meets Sherlock Holmes meets La Femme Nikita, and it wears its genre conventions proudly." --NPR, A Best Book of the Year

"Exceptional. . . . a delicious, breathtaking romp that will have readers looking over their shoulders as they quickly turn its pages."--Book Page, Starred Review

"Dynamic. . . . O'Donnell's expert pacing never falters as he explores what makes his characters tick. . . . Series fans will be captivated."--Publishers Weekly

"Takes readers back to dark and gloomy Victorian London with a relentless killer on the loose."--B&N Poured Over

"O'Donnell revivifies Victorian and Gothic genre conventions. . . . lyrical, clever, and evocative, rich in detail without being overstuffed. . . . a delectable mixture of old-fashioned storytelling and contemporary verve."--Adroit Journal

"Bliss and Cutter are two of the most intriguing investigators this reviewer has encountered".--Historical Novel Society

"he Naming of the Birds is something very special: meaty, dark, exuberant, full of complicated people doing difficult things in terrible circumstances, and gesturing mutely towards love. I recommend it to both those who love Victorian Gothic, and those who usually run a mile from anything described as that but enjoy having their preconceptions confounded." --Jon McGregor

Publisher: Tin House

Pub date: 2026-08-25

Length: 336 pages