Anne Griffin

Anne Griffin has published 2 books. The recommended reading order starts with When All Is Said (2019).
Anne Griffin is an Irish novelist who writes intimate, searching fiction about memory, obligation, and the weight of what we carry. Born in Dublin in 1969, she studied history at University College Dublin, then spent eight years at Waterstone's in Dublin and London before earning a postgraduate diploma in Community and Youth Work at Maynooth University. She worked for Women's Aid, Youth Work Ireland, and the Dyslexia Association of Ireland, and did not begin writing seriously until 2013, when she took a creative writing course at UCD.
Her short fiction earned the John McGahern Award for Literature and shortlistings for the Hennessy New Irish Writing Awards, the Sunday Business Post Short Story Award, and the Benedict Kiely Competition. In 2019, at fifty, she published her first novel, When All Is Said, the story of Maurice Hannigan raising five toasts at a hotel bar to the five people who shaped his life. Sceptre released it in the UK and Ireland, Thomas Dunne Books in the US and Canada, and it became an international bestseller. In 2019, she won Newcomer of the Year at the Irish Book Awards.
Her three novels—When All Is Said, Listening Still, and The Island of Longing—have been published in twenty-five territories, from Taiwan to Lithuania. Listening Still follows Jeanie Masterson struggling under the weight of her family's funeral business, and The Island of Longing follows Rosie Driscoll searching for her daughter Saoirse, missing for eight years.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Standalone Novels
- Tagsliterary-fictionDescriptionWhat does it mean to distill an entire life into five toasts, five people, five moments that shaped everything that came after? Anne Griffin's When All Is Said poses this question with quiet gravity, inviting readers into the solitary vigil of Maurice Hannigan, an eighty-four-year-old Irishman who has chosen this particular evening, in the bar of a grand hotel in his small town, to finally reckon with his past. Over the course of one night, Maurice raises his glass five times, each toast honoring someone who left an indelible mark on his long and complicated life. These are not simple tributes but excavations of memory—stories laced with unspoken joy and lingering regret, a hidden tragedy that has shadowed him for decades, and a love so fierce it never found the courage to speak its own name. As Maurice talks, the contours of his existence emerge with startling clarity: the choices made and unmade, the silences that grew into chasms, the moments of grace that flickered and faded. Griffin constructs this narrative with the intimacy of a confession and the precision of a eulogy, allowing one man's voice to carry the weight of universal longing and loss. By the time Maurice sets down his glass, readers will have witnessed not just a life laid bare, but the tender, aching beauty of what it means to remember, to honor, and to finally let go.Publication dateMarch 5 2019Amazon rating4.3/5Print length324LanguageEnglishPublisherThomas Dunne Books
- Tagsliterary-fictionDescriptionThis is a book about hearing the dead. Not in a spooky way. In the way that grief actually works—when the people we've lost keep talking to us, whether we're ready or not. Jeanie Masterson has lived her whole life with this gift, or curse, depending on the day. She hears the final words of the dead. Their last thoughts. Their unfinished business. It's shaped everything about her—her relationships, her choices, the careful distance she keeps. Anne Griffin writes her with such tenderness and specificity that you'll forget this is magical realism. It feels like truth. The novel moves through Jeanie's life in reverse, peeling back layers to show us how she became the woman she is. Each chapter is a reckoning. Each voice she hears—a parent, a friend, a stranger—reveals something about love, regret, and the impossible weight of listening. Griffin's prose is quiet but devastating. She knows how to land an emotional punch without raising her voice. This is a book about what we carry, what we owe the dead, and whether we can ever really let them go. It will break your heart in the best way.Publication dateMarch 1 2022Amazon rating3.9/5Print length349LanguageEnglishPublisherSt. Martin's Press
Frequently Asked Questions about Anne Griffin
Anne Griffin writes standalone novels. The books can be read in any order. Her first novel was When All Is Said, published in 2019. Her second novel, Listening Still, was published in 2022. Both books explore themes of family, memory, and identity through the lives of their characters. Readers often find that the emotional depth and character development resonate regardless of the order in which the books are read. Starting with When All Is Said offers a look at her debut work, while Listening Still presents a slightly different narrative style and focus.
A good starting point for Anne Griffin's novels is her debut, When All Is Said, published in 2019. This novel introduces her distinctive voice and her ability to craft compelling narratives centered on character. It explores the life of Maurice Hannigan as he reflects on the people who shaped his existence. The book has been noted for its emotional resonance and its exploration of themes like regret, love, and the passage of time. Following this with Listening Still, her second novel, provides a different yet equally engaging experience of her writing.
Anne Griffin's novels are standalone, meaning they do not need to be read in a specific order. Each book offers a complete story with its own cast of characters and narrative arc. When All Is Said, published in 2019, and Listening Still, published in 2022, can be enjoyed independently. Readers can choose to begin with either novel based on their preference. The themes of memory, family, and the complexities of human relationships are present in both, but they are explored through distinct plots and characters.
Anne Griffin writes standalone novels. She has not written any series to date. Her published works, When All Is Said (2019) and Listening Still (2022), are individual stories that do not require prior reading of another book to be understood or enjoyed. Each novel presents a self-contained narrative, allowing readers to begin with whichever title they choose. This approach means that each book offers a complete experience without any reliance on a preceding or subsequent installment.
Anne Griffin has written two novels. Her first novel, When All Is Said, was published in 2019. Her second novel, Listening Still, was published in 2022. Both books are standalone works, meaning they are individual stories and not part of a larger series. The number of books published by an author can change over time, but as of now, her published output consists of these two titles.
The first book Anne Griffin wrote and published was When All Is Said. This novel was released in 2019. It introduced readers to her style of writing, which often focuses on character introspection and the exploration of personal histories. When All Is Said tells the story of Maurice Hannigan and his reflections on the people who were important in his life. It established her as a writer of emotionally resonant fiction.
Anne Griffin's most recent book is Listening Still, published in 2022. This novel follows the story of Sheila who is contacted by the ghost of her husband. Like her debut novel, When All Is Said, Listening Still is a standalone work. It explores themes of love, loss, and the afterlife, offering a different narrative focus while maintaining the characteristic depth and emotional intelligence found in her earlier work.
Anne Griffin writes literary fiction with a focus on character-driven narratives. Her novels often explore themes of family, memory, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. While not strictly adhering to a single genre, her work is characterized by its emotional depth and introspective quality. Both When All Is Said and Listening Still can be categorized as contemporary fiction that delves into the inner lives of its characters and their personal histories.
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James Clavell
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We verified the reading order for Anne Griffin's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: March 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Anne Griffin Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/anne-griffin








