The Last Will of Moira Leahy

I should start by mentioning that this is quite a different book from the sorts I usually read. Normally I read mainstream literary fiction. This book is mostly mainstream literary fiction, but with a distinct twist. In writing style and character development this book certainly fits the bill, but Walsh adds distinct threads of the fantastic and supernatural as she weaves the story of Maeve Leahy and her departed twin, Moira. Maeve Leahy lost her twin at sixteen. Nine years later she finds herself drawn to an antique Javanese knife, a keris, which seems,s somehow, to embody her sister's spirit. After purchase of the keris at auction strange elements of the past reappear in Maeve's life. It's difficult to explain the progression of the show more plot or what is so different about it without giving away important parts of the story, except to say that Maeve travels to Rome to try and unlock the mystery of the keris, and there finds danger and surprise she hadn't anticipated. Walsh does an excellent job building suspense as Maeve travels to Rome in search of an expert who can explain the keris to her. She has written what is certainly a gripping mystery. The writing is good and the characters are well developed. I do, however, generally prefer more concrete explanations in my fiction, obviously other readers' mileage may vary depending on their tastes, and even for someone such as myself who doesn't generally venture into the realms of fantasy or supernatural, what Leahy has done seems well-done, at least to my untrained mind. What I did find difficult, or perhaps distracting, was that Maeve was never very believeable as a foreign language professor. Her character appeared to have minimal research skills, and little ability to track down information or experts. Also, it's nearly impossible that a foreign language professor with an academic appointment could have never left the country, or have cloistered herself at home in the ways that Maeve apparantly does-- research and conferences would have commanded that. I will fully admit this is a bit nick-picking, and likely will not affect the majority of readers, but if you live in what is Maeve's academic world, you'll likely find it implausible. I also disliked the discussion of Maeve's relationship with her friend/maybe-boyfriend Noel. I've read a number of books lately where the female protagonists treat their maybe-boyfriends poorly, and this seemed to fall into the same trap. show less

The Last Will of Moira Leahy is a captivating, haunting debut novel by Therese Walsh. This is a heart wrenching, soul searching story of grief and loss, as the surviving sister, Maeve, tries to reconcile herself to a life without her identical twin, Moira. Normally at this point I would say what genre this novel would fit into, however; The Last Will of Moira Leahy does not fit into any one specific category. Walsh wrote this novel much like knitting a multi-coloured sweater. It is not blue nor red nor purple but a pleasing blend of suspense, woman’s fiction, mysticism, coming-of-age story, romance, a journey and a sprinkling of the paranormal, while exploring the family dynamics of grief, as well as, the actions and reactions of show more those left behind. Beautifully written, The Last Will of Moira Leahy will reach in and squeeze your heart.

What makes a novel exceptional is not necessarily the story itself, but the manner and method used to construct the story. The Last Will of Moira Leahy is written in alternating first person current time and third person back story from 1995 to 2000; two separate story lines that build on each other in momentum and suspense. The pace of the story adds greatly to the suspense as all the right notes are pitch perfect. Walsh manages with both her lovely writing style and the manner in which she has constructed her novel, to demonstrate how family dynamics both pulls and pushes its members closer and further apart much like magnets as they can simultaneously attract and repulse.


Maeve’s story is from the first person view point in current time and is gripping in its description of isolation and loneliness, emphasizing oneness and being alone. The reader is confronted with a pervading sadness as we meet this character who is not only separated her friends and family, but, from her true self as well. The Maeve we meet in the beginning of the novel does not stray from routine and has virtually erased herself to the point that she has bleached her once dramatic red hair. Once a musical protégée, Maeve has suppressed this talent and has been living an isolated life in academia as a professor of languages. She is haunted by sounds of piano music and dreams of little girls with red hair; Maeve fears for her own sanity. She quietly keeps these fears to herself. Maeve attends an auction to distract herself from her tragic memories of November and becomes obsessed with purchasing a Javanese dagger, keris. The keris is very similar to a knife that belonged to her grandfather lost years ago by herself and Moira playing pirate out in the bay in Castine, Maine. Reminded of happier times with Moira, Maeve forcefully bids and successfully purchases the keris. A note from the previous owner is later found with an invitation to Rome with the incentive to find out more about the meaning behind this specially carved blade. Completely out of character, Maeve embarks on a on a journey to Rome in search of the origins of the keris, only to be led on a journey of self discovery and healing.

The back story of Maeve and Moira’s childhood is told from Moira’s point of view, third person set at a distance, emphasizing the distance in time and place. As children Maeve and Moira are extremely close to the point that they feel each others emotions and pains, and even have their own language. Their mother wants the girls to have separate identities and emphasizes the difference between the girls. Adding stress to family life, the girl’s mother takes on the care of their grandfather after he suffers a stroke. Maeve becomes the talented fun loving twin and Moira the dependable home body, her mother’s good girl. As the girls enter adolescence, Moira, living in her sister’s shadow, begins to pull away from Maeve in a desperate search for a separate identity and self worth. Moira’s need to define herself and exert her own will in opposition to the expectations of both her mother and sister comes to a head when both girls become attracted to the same boy. Moira craves adventure, and, willfully, embarks on a secret romance. In doing so she must sever her most intimate relationship with her sister, Maeve.

The threads of the story weave together as Maeve, now in Rome, learns of the magical properties of the keris that mysteriously links to the past she has tried to forget. Notes are nailed to Maeve’s door with only the Javanese word eling, meaning remember. Maeve is joined by Noel, a long time friend and not quite yet a boyfriend. Afraid of becoming too close again to another, Maeve must confront her fears of intimacy as Maeve and Noel together search Rome for the previous, and now, elusive owner of the keris. More mysterious notes direct Maeve to different locations within the city where she finds painful memories of her tragic past along with the beautiful sites of Rome. The keris exerting its own will, leads Maeve back to remember and confront her past. Only in her memories of her sister, Moira, can Maeve find the forgiveness she needs to allow herself to let go of this past, and, the will to really live her life.

Even though the reader is well aware that Maeve lost her twin tragically at 16 from the very first page of the story, this is a novel of exquisite suspense as Walsh delivers a well paced story leading the reader irresistibly to the surprising conclusion. The book was impossible to put down. Walsh has written a wonderful story of grief and forgiveness, remembering and letting go. We would all be so lucky to have a magic knife or keris fly into our lives to cut through the illusions and delusions in which we surround ourselves, and help us clearly see our selves and those people who are most important to us, and; in doing so, help us find our own truth. Therese Walsh you are very talented and must write more books.

Highly Recommend. show less

This novel is a fast-paced and heady mixture of mystery, supernatural elements, suspense, romance, and secrets. The protagonist, Maeve, lives a quiet, narrow life since losing her identical twin sister Moira years ago. The discovery and purchase of a keris at an auction house sends her on an adventure that is both romantic and dangerous.

The novel moves back and forth in time between Maeve and Moira's childhood, and Maeve's present day life. As it progresses, bits of information fall into place like puzzle pieces and begin to provide answers to the mystery of what happened to Moira. In the meantime, Maeve is grappling with some pretty significant apparent posttraumatic stress symptoms as well as emerging feelings for her longtime friend, show more Noel. Maeve is a flawed and endearing protagonist with a quick wit, and it's easy to be drawn into her story. The characters come to life and the plot keeps you hanging on, following the wonderfully fascinating, and addicting, mysteries.

It's not high literature, and it's not brain candy either--instead it's a quite nice in-between. This is a great read in which to lose yourself. I look forward to reading more by this author. show less

The Last Will of Moira Leahy by Theresa Walsh is a very intriguing and engaging read. Maeve and Moira Leahy were identical twins who were incredibly close. They grew up in Maine. Maeve is a saxophone prodigy, and as a child, was fearless, free thinking, and uninhibited. Moira felt like she stood in her sister's shadow. She loved Maeve, but where Maeve was outspoken Moira was quieter. Where Maeve loved adventures, Moira enjoyed reading Jane Eyre. Maeve was an acknowledged saxophone player, Moira was a good, but not great, piano player. Maeve longed to leave her hometown. Moira was content to stay.

When the story opens, the reader knows that Maeve lost her sister 9 years ago and she has drastically changed her physical appearance so that show more she no longer resembles her sister. She has given up her music, and is psychologically fragile. Maeve has insulated herself, always playing things safe. She is estranged from her mother. She has found success as a professor of languages at Betheny University, but she is a workaholic, staying as busy as possible so that she does not need to think about her sister or the circumstances that led to her loss. With the exception of a childhood friend and her roommate, Kit, she distances herself from any personal relationships. Upon winning an auction-house bid on a Keris, a Javanese dagger, that reminds Maeve of her carefree childhood with her sister, Maeve's life begins to change.

I read a tremendous amount, and I am always looking for a story that is different or takes a new approach. In this regard, the book was excellent. It almost has a psychological thriller feel to it. Never would I have thought any story about a Keris would interest me, but it did. It captured my attention and I kept reading to find out more. Admittedly, there were parts about the Keris and a journey to find out more about it that lingered a little too long for me, but not enough to spoil the read. I would have loved to have learned more about some of the amazing secondary characters as well. show less

Enough. Just light enough. Just dark enough. Just perfectly balanced and just enough.
Maeve and Moira were twin girls who lived with their family on the Penobscot. They lived
with loving parents, an adventuring grandfather and good friends and neighbors.

Like so many twins they shared a special closeness, and even a language between just the
two of them. For years they had all that they needed in just themselves in the security of their
family. Time passes. Things change. A mothers well meaning choices came back to haunt them all. One
day, a boy came into their lives and things changed forever.

The story of how Maeve lived after the changes, and what happened to this loving family..
is entrancing, magical at times and filled with sorrow show more and loneliness. Just for a while.. and
then as they do, things changed. They changed because Maeve found a strength in her she didn't know she had.
She was prodded by her father to step out, step forward and to live. A wise man, he was. He set both of his daughters free.

Read this book. Highly recommended. show less

Oh, tsk. Tsk tsk tsk. Another twins book that fails to give me joy. Another twins book with all the magical realism. Another twinny twinny magical realism book.

Oh, I am so sour. It wasn't actually bad. There were good parts, and I liked the dad; I liked the shop owner Garrick. It was the slow pace, and the back-and-forth past/present setup that failed to engage me, and that, after all, is a personal taste. If you enjoy a very slow reveal, and this kind of construction, this could be the book for you. But I think I need to take a break from twins AND magical realism for a while until I am feeling less jaded.

An interesting book, at times rich and dense in language, other times fluid with action, THE LAST WILL OF MOIRA LEAHY will leave readers questioning the assumptions they might have about twins and about the mysteries of how deeply you can truly know someone.