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Robert E. Kearns is the author of multiple novels, novellas and short stories, many of which have received critical acclaim.
He lives and writes in Dublin
Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
Unto Dust by Robert E. Kearns introduces readers to the O’Leary clan, a long-standing line of undertakers. Their funeral home has been a steady presence in their small Irish town since the 1600s. For just as long, the business has passed from father to son, along with unspoken guidelines and regulations for their family to live by. They include strict routines and a quiet faith. When Francis O’Leary becomes head of the firm, his wife gives birth to twin boys, Christopher and Andrew. This breaks the single-heir streak that has persisted for generations. Francis is unsettled by this fact. As the boys grow up, their differences become more visible, and their father begins to see one of them in a new light and with admiration. One night, an event changes everything, setting off a chain of events that will shape the future of the business and those in it.
Unto Dust by Robert E. Kearns pulled me in with its unusual setting and the way it lingers over the day-to-day world of the O’Leary funeral business. I’ve never read a book that explores death in quite this way before. The writing sets a tone that is calm on the surface, but creates a steady undercurrent of tension that builds as the twins grow up. This is when the story takes a darker turn. I didn’t expect many of the twists this tale delivers from that point on. It was quite compelling. I also appreciated how the book explores the themes of family duty, faith, and the pressure of being “the good son” in a way that is quite believable. Readers who like family dramas with a darker tone and a strong sense of place will find this an engaging, difficult-to-put-down read.
