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Gerald Hansen
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An Embarrassment of Riches (Derry Women Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Gerald Hansen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.5 out of 5 stars 394 ratings
Note: For those of you who prefer a gentler reading experience, a PG version of this book is also available here on Amazon.
"A masterpiece!"--Colin Quinn
"The Irish family at the heart of this hilarious novel is so tawdry and despicable, it's a wonder they don't kill off each other in the first few pages. ...The central figure is Ursula, whose husband had won the lottery and has since gambled away much of the winnings. Ursula's new (and fading) riches have strained many of her personal relationships, particularly with her sister-in-law, Fionnuala, a first-rate villain who concocts get-rich-quick schemes based on the misery of others. ...Once the vulgarity and shenanigans set in, the novel is as absorbing as it is hysterical."--Publishers Weekly

When Ursula Barnett and her husband Jed win the Irish lottery, they think their troubles are over. But they are just beginning. Ursula coerces her Yank husband to retire in her hometown of Derry, Northern Ireland, hoping to atone for her youthful sins as a collaborator with the IRA in the 1970s. At the first sniff of Ursula s lotto win, however, her chronically greedy sister-in-law Fionnuala Flood rallies the family against Ursula.

Fionnuala's life is a misery. She is married to a boozing fish-packing plant worker and raising seven seedy hooligans, from a convict son to an eight-year-old devil-daughter who will resort to desperate measures to secure the perfect Holy Communion gown. Between two part-time jobs, Fionnuala still finds the energy to put into motion plans which pit husbands against wives, daughters against mothers, the lawless against the law and Fionnuala against anyone fool enough to cross her path.

Family saga and black comedy, love story and courtroom drama, An Embarrassment of Riches will take you on a journey to Northern Ireland and beyond, where Protestants and Catholics wage battle daily, and where crossing family with finance leads to passion and tragedy, heartache and hilarity.

“Wildly amusing…a cross between a roller-coaster and a carousel!”
--Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson. Readerviews.com
"Clearly the work of a craftsman! (The characters) careen around Derry with the grace of a drunken and horny bull!"
--Chris Gerrib, Podpeople.com
“Classic, I-can’t-stop-reading literature!”—
--Jonathan Henderson, Jonhenderscon.com
"Hansen does a wonderful job with this dark comedy...an excellent novel for anyone to read again and again!"
--Ashley Merrill, Front Street Reviews
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  1. Book 1 of 13
    The Derry Women Series
  2. Print length
    317 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 9, 2007
  5. File size
    1.1 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Shop this series

 See full series
There are 13 books in this series.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Publishers Weekly: "The Irish family at the heart of this hilarious novel is so tawdry and despicable, it's a wonder they don't kill off each other in the first few pages. ...The central figure is Ursula, whose husband had won the lottery and has since gambled away much of the winnings. Ursula's new (and fading) riches have strained many of her personal relationships, particularly with her sister-in-law, Fionnuala, a first-rate villain who concocts get-rich-quick schemes based on the misery of others. ...Once the vulgarity and shenanigans set in, the novel is as absorbing as it is hysterical."

About the Author

Gerald Hansen lived for years in his mother's hometown of Derry, Northern Ireland and attended Dublin City University. As a Navy brat, he grew up in California, Thailand, London, Iceland and Germany. His debut novel, An Embarrassment of Riches was an Amazon Breakthrough Novel semifinalist in 2010, and the sequel, Hand In The Till, will come out in 2011. Gerald now lives in New York City.
Photo by Marcin Kaliski

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002Z7G0LO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mint Books (October 9, 2007)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 9, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 317 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.5 out of 5 stars 394 ratings

About the author

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Gerald Hansen

Gerald Hansen

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Member of the Mystery Writers of America and the Crime Writers Association, bestselling author Gerald Hansen was a Navy brat. He started school in Thailand, graduated high school in Iceland, with Germany, California and his mother's hometown of Derry, Northern Ireland in between. He attended Dublin City University, and also lived in London and Berlin. His crime series, the Derry Murder Mysteries, has been a great success, #1 Police Procedural, #1 International Mystery & Suspense, #1 Crime and #1 Northern Irish Crime. The first of his Derry Women Series, An Embarrassment of Riches, was an ABNA semifinalist in 2011.He also has a travelogue series, Around The World With Jet Lag Jerry. He loves music, spicy food, wearing Ben Sherman and traveling the world (still). He now lives in New York City.

Author pic by Marcin Kaliski

Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
394 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-paced and appreciate its educational value, with one review noting how it provides insight into life in Derry. The readability and humor receive mixed reactions - while some find it captivating and hilarious, others say it's confusing to read and find the story depressing. Character development is also mixed, with some finding them perfectly in character while others describe them as unlikable.

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5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book well-paced, with one customer noting that the pages flow seamlessly and another mentioning it's a fast read.

"...Unlike other reviewers, I had no problems keeping up with it and I don't think it could have been written in any other way...." Read more

"A funny, refreshing, articulate and perfectly paced book!..." Read more

"...structure (thanks to the handy guide on page 10) the pages were flowing seamlessly after...." Read more

"...The story I thought was a easy and fast read. I would recommend the book." Read more

3 customers mention "Education"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the educational value of the book, with one mentioning its insightful interpretations of life in Derry and another noting how it introduces readers to different cultures.

"...It was a fascinating view into a culture - Northern Ireland - about which I don't know much and for that experience alone, I got my money's worth..." Read more

"...Mr. Hansen's grip on humor and insightful interpretations of life in Derry, Ireland truly keep you reading...." Read more

"Funny as all get out! Loved being introduced to different culture. Author did a great job and I will look for more books by him." Read more

87 customers mention "Readability"50 positive37 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability, with some finding it captivating and fun to read, while others find it confusing and note that the vernacular is difficult to follow initially.

"...Skilfully written and superbly plotted, this is far more than a very funny and compelling yarn with a riotous crew of vivid and memorable characters...." Read more

"I found very little true "humor" in this book and the two sequels, and certainly nothing "hysterically funny"...." Read more

"...Gerald Hansen has written a well crafted, tightly woven gem of a book, it has drama (buckets of it) comedy, you'll laugh at some of the events that..." Read more

"While the premise looked darkly entertaining, I stopped reading shortly after finding a three page dictionary (literally, in the midst of a chapter)..." Read more

39 customers mention "Humor"26 positive13 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the humor in the book, with some finding it hilarious and laugh-out-loud hysterical, while others say it's not a fun story and find it depressing.

"...Skilfully written and superbly plotted, this is far more than a very funny and compelling yarn with a riotous crew of vivid and memorable characters...." Read more

"..."humor" in this book and the two sequels, and certainly nothing "hysterically funny"...." Read more

"...crafted, tightly woven gem of a book, it has drama (buckets of it) comedy, you'll laugh at some of the events that are as sad as they are funny, so..." Read more

"...That he maintains the hilarity while weaving an undercurrent of contemporary temptation and its outcomes, is nothing short of a feat...." Read more

22 customers mention "Character development"13 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them perfectly in character and hilarious, while others describe them as unlikable and filled with awful people.

"...very funny and compelling yarn with a riotous crew of vivid and memorable characters...." Read more

"...Characters did not mesh for me. It starts out in a courtroom with no explanation of facts...." Read more

"...The characters are absolutely histerical, so drop deadeadingly entertaining, so much i had to make up a word to express how I feel about these..." Read more

"This book is well written with good character development, even though most of the characters are rather unlikable...." Read more

17 customers mention "Sadness"6 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the sadness in the book, with some finding it very sad, while one customer describes it as a darkly humorous roller coaster.

"...This book was such a downer and the people so depressing I was ready to gag by the time it ended and I am a lover of the weird, off-the-wall, even..." Read more

"...It was a darkly humorous roller coaster and I loved it! Looking forward to reading the rest of the series I've downloaded 😁..." Read more

"...I didn't like the book much because it was sad and depressing. There were moments of levity, but too much jealousy and anger to be really enjoyable." Read more

"...The book was captivating, but too sad." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • ExpatMaddie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wickedly hilarious and a masterpiece of black comedy
    Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This is an hilarious, irreverent,rip-roaring, and grand broth of a book! I've never been to Northern Ireland, but, after a few pages of learning the meaning of unfamiliar words ( glossary provided) and adjusting to their syntax, I was easily able to understand and thoroughly enjoy it.

    Gerald Hansen has the ability to convey a great deal in very few words. Skilfully written and superbly plotted, this is far more than a very funny and compelling yarn with a riotous crew of vivid and memorable characters. In this time of economic upheaval and uncertainty, when kids are rioting and looting in the streets of Britain, and when we are well aware that the powerful have allowed an unscrupulous and selfish few to plunder the rest of us, this is a very well-timed cautionary tale explaining the "Politics of Envy." That is: how the dispossessed, uninvested in the status quo, can easily become so bitter and resentful that they feel entitled to demand or TAKE what they want, or, failing that, to gratuitously attack others, especially those who have what they covet, or wantonly destroy their possessions.

    Several clear strands of plot are masterfully braided together in this book, and all within a rollicking, and very Irish, format that keeps us laughing. The main characters are well-drawn and memorable. Fionnuala Flood and her kin are colorful and larger than life, as befits their function in a wicked black comedy, and though they start with no insight into their own intolerance, covetousness, and general lack of kindness, we easily trace in them a glimmer of recognition that something has to change. Great utility is made of the peripheral characters, through whom we get a surprisingly sympathetic insight into life in the Bogside. It is this insight that helps us to understand why Fionnuala and her brood are so brutalized and burdened with a pain and hatred that has been stewing for generations. A clear affection for the characters is shown through the thoughts of the priests, the lawyer, the shopkeeper and the policeman, which are used to soften the harshness evident in people who, nevertheless, are much enjoyed for their quick wit and ability to endure life on the economic and social margins.

    Gerald Hansen made me care about these characters and the future of Northern Ireland. There are wickedly hilarious scenes ( the confession of Siofra is my favorite) that made me laugh until my face ached. This is a fabulous respite from the suffocating political correctness that has hobbled life today, I adore it and recommend it people who can handle black comedy everywhere.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Julia
    3.0 out of 5 stars Looking for humor? Not found here!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I found very little true "humor" in this book and the two sequels, and certainly nothing "hysterically funny". In fact, there were scenes of outright cruelty in the way that only family can be cruel to one another. I'm a fan of black or dark humor, so it wasn't that I read it wrong or didn't "get it". I got it: they were wicked mean to each other.

    In spite of that, and there was a LOT of that, sometimes to the point that I literally cringed, I kept reading. It was well-written and the Irish dialogue was, as far as I can tell, spot on. Unlike other reviewers, I had no problems keeping up with it and I don't think it could have been written in any other way. It was a fascinating view into a culture - Northern Ireland - about which I don't know much and for that experience alone, I got my money's worth and more.

    I'm not saying it's not a good book; I'm saying that if you're expecting light-hearted, rambunctious comedy, look elsewhere. I was quickly caught up in the story lines and read all three books straight through.

    If I'd been Ursula, though, I'd have kicked the shite of Derry off my boots and never once looked back. Ne-VER. Her family, to a wane, can only be described as ungrateful, greedy, selfish and spiteful. If the author was truly and accurately representing life in Northern Ireland, it's almost understandable and I almost have sympathy for them.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Lara O'Brien
    4.0 out of 5 stars A gem of an Irish tale.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The lives of the Floods are torn to shreds with the good fortune of a lottery win for one sibling and her cowboy of a husband. I loved this book, I really did. It opens in the court room so you know, right from the get-go the direction this is going. The backstory of the lives of the Floods, goes from bad to worse and would but the fear of all the Gods in you and you will come away thanking them for the family you have and not be born into the likes of this one.

    Gerald Hansen has written a well crafted, tightly woven gem of a book, it has drama (buckets of it) comedy, you'll laugh at some of the events that are as sad as they are funny, so much so, you might wonder if it is possible for a family to be this dysfunctional (think Shameless) but Hansen's dialog and dialect are so authentic and tight you are with these characters 100%.

    The climactic ending was a chaos of events that made me vow never to visit that part of the North, but then I remembered. It's just fiction, right?! Brilliantly done. It'll be on the look out for more from Gerald.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Goth Gone Grey
    1.0 out of 5 stars Can't get past the dialect...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    While the premise looked darkly entertaining, I stopped reading shortly after finding a three page dictionary (literally, in the midst of a chapter) to be able to understand the dialogue. Kindle loses over a printed book in this this regard - at least with a printed book you can leave a finger in the dictionary page to flip back and forth until you're familiar with it. I can understand such a thing for a fantasy world, but it makes this a laborious read that's not worth the effort. DNF at 10%.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mary Wood
    5.0 out of 5 stars A journey of laughter, life as criminals live it, tragedy and insight into life lived through the troubles of Ireland
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    This book is amazing. I laughed, I felt: tension, indignation, loyalty to Ursula, (one of the main characters) sorrow at the divides Ireland went through, and the scars it left. I wanted to kick Fionnuala (the other main character)in the butt and varied between pity for her kids (that is when I wasn't laughing at their antics) and wanting to shake them.

    These are the amazing characters the author has created. Ursula, the mis understood, (by herself as well as others) lottery winner who thinks everything she does is for the good of others and cannot understand why she is stabbed in the back and unloved. She is a fiery red-head whose temper gets her into more trouble than she deserves and who carried out an action in the past which haunts her life today. (though when you find out what it is, it depends on where on the fence of life and the troubles of Ireland, how you judge it) Fionnuala her sister in law - a bigoted, selfish woman who brings her kids up to steal, lie, sell drugs, anything as long as it doesn't involve the prodestants (unless taking their money of course). She even uses God! She goes to confession to confess the sins she is planning to commit and then goes and does so with a clear conscience - hilarious. Siofra a child of Fionnuala's who has taken after her mother in every way, but with a child take on the deeds, her antics will have you splitting your sides. All of the characters are well drawn and believable, earthy and a product of their life and times.

    A wonderful book, which tells it as it is.

    The Irish dialect adds flavour and depth and to help with some of the more unusual words the author has provided a dictionary page. Once you have these words in your head you know how much they add to the enjoyment of your journey. I even use some of them everyday now, much to my husbands amusement. Anything that annoys me is now a 'fecking thing'.

    I thoroughly recommend this book. No matter what your favourite genre, this black comedy will fit well into your reading list. It will give you a whole range of emotions, laughter being the predominent one.

    It should be made into a film.

    I finished reading it yesterday and today I feel I am missing something in my life. All good books should do that to you and this is a cracking good book. An Embarrassment of Riches is written by Gerald Hansen a man with a richness of talent.
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  • Heather
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarity and hostility...
    Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book was hilarious but also sad due to the hostility between the family members when Ursula and her husband decide to retire in Derry after winning the lottery. You just have to laugh at the shenanigans that the family gets up to in the name of greed.

    I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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  • Krupa Chirravoori
    1.0 out of 5 stars Not for me, no
    Reviewed in India on June 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book - and two more of this author's - via The Fussy Librarian's recommendations. I was excited to read these, but it's unfortunate that I am not finding it to be an easy read. The Derry-speak is very draining for me. It's sad, because I was excited to read a best-selling author's works. I will try to give a shot to the other two free books of his, but I doubt much will change because they are about this Fiona (can't get her name right) character again, and she speaks a version of English I just don't understand.
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  • Peter Dare
    5.0 out of 5 stars Feuding Families
    Reviewed in Spain on September 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The phrase_you can choose your friends but not your family, comes to mind. Highly dysfunctional people brilliantly described and written with wit and down to earth language.
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  • PJ Bookish
    3.0 out of 5 stars Well..
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    ..This is the most dysfunctional family I've ever read about, and I read a lot of books! They are an utter mess, like watching a car crash in slow motion I couldn't look away.
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