Reading order · 6 books · 1995 to 2022 · Set in Dublin
The Walsh family Books in Order
The Walsh family novels follow five sisters from Dublin, Claire, Rachel, Maggie, Anna and Helen, each facing a crisis, with their formidable Mammy Walsh in the background. Funny, wise books about serious subjects.
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Series facts
- Books
- 6
- Published
- 1995 to 2022
- First book
- Watermelon
- Latest
- Again, Rachel (2022)
- Setting
- Set in Dublin
The reading order
Every The Walsh family book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
6 books · Set in Dublin
- 1Watermelon1995On the day she gives birth to their first child, Claire Walsh’s husband tells her he is leaving her.Buy on Amazon
- 2Rachel's Holiday1998Rachel Walsh is sent to a rehabilitation clinic in Wicklow after a drugs crisis, convinced it will be like a spa.Buy on Amazon
- 3Angels2002Maggie Walsh, the good sister, leaves her marriage and runs away to Los Angeles.Buy on Amazon
- 4Anybody Out There?2006Anna Walsh is recovering at her parents’ home in Dublin after a terrible accident, and is desperate to get back to her life in New York.Buy on Amazon
- 5The Mystery of Mercy Close2012Helen Walsh, a private investigator, is hired to find a missing member of a famous boy band, just before their reunion concert.Buy on Amazon
- 6Again, Rachel2022Rachel Walsh, now a counsellor at the clinic where she once recovered, meets her old love, Luke, again.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Each book follows a different sister and stands alone. Read in order, starting with Watermelon.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Claire Walsh | Rachel Walsh | Maggie Walsh | Anna Walsh | Helen Walsh | Mammy Walsh | Luke Costello |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Watermelon | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 2 Rachel's Holiday | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 3 Angels | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 4 Anybody Out There? | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 5 The Mystery of Mercy Close | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 6 Again, Rachel | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor |
Characters in the The Walsh family books
7 characters from Marian Keyes’s chart, with the number of The Walsh family books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Claire WalshEldest sister, left on the day she gives birth | 6 | Watermelon 1995 |
| Rachel WalshSister in a Wicklow clinic | 6 | Watermelon 1995 |
| Maggie WalshThe "good" sister | 6 | Watermelon 1995 |
| Anna WalshSister who works in cosmetics PR in New York | 6 | Watermelon 1995 |
| Helen WalshYoungest sister, a private investigator | 6 | Watermelon 1995 |
| Mammy WalshTheir mother | 6 | Watermelon 1995 |
| Luke CostelloRachel's love | 2 | Rachel's Holiday 1998 |