Una Mannion Books in Order

Need a complete list of Una Mannion books in order? This complete reading order guide covers all the books from first to latest, and is always updated so you won’t miss a release!

Una Mannion is a name that has quickly become familiar to fans of emotional, powerful, and thought-provoking fiction. Born in Philadelphia, but with deep roots in Ireland, she brings a unique voice to the world of literary and mystery fiction. Her writing blends sharp insight with poetic storytelling, often exploring family, memory, identity, and the unspoken emotions that shape our lives. With novels like A Crooked Tree and Tell Me What I Am, Mannion has proven herself to be a master of the quiet tension and emotional undercurrents that make great fiction truly unforgettable.

Though she was born in the United States, Una’s heart belongs to two places. She spent much of her childhood and youth in Strandhill, County Sligo—her father’s hometown. In the 1990s, she moved there permanently with her husband. Now, she lives in Sligo with her family, where she writes, teaches, and continues to explore the deep connection between people and place. Her love for both Ireland and the United States comes through in her work, often creating a sense of longing, displacement, and dual identity that feels both personal and universal.

Una’s journey to becoming an author was not the traditional one, but it was filled with passion and purpose. She studied English at Sewanee, the University of the South, after graduating from Notre Dame Academy in Villanova. Later, she earned her Master’s degree in English at Temple University. However, it wasn’t until she joined the Sandy Field Writers’ Group in Sligo in 2014 that her path as a fiction writer truly began. Encouraged by success in local writing competitions—and a fateful encounter with Irish author and editor Sinéad Gleeson—Una found both confidence and opportunity. Gleeson connected her with a literary agent, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Her debut novel A Crooked Tree captured the attention of readers and critics alike. It’s a haunting coming-of-age story about a teenage girl navigating fear, trust, and fractured family dynamics after a moment of parental recklessness sets off a chain of events. The novel was praised for its emotional depth and subtle suspense—earning Mannion the prestigious Kate O’Brien Award in 2022. Only a year later, she followed up with Tell Me What I Am, a layered and powerful story about two women trying to uncover the truth behind a loved one’s disappearance. These novels have been described as “sharp,” “poignant,” and “haunting” by acclaimed authors like Marian Keyes and Chris Whitaker, and it’s easy to see why.

In addition to fiction, Una Mannion also writes poetry and short stories, often touching on themes of belonging, family, and memory. Her poem Crouched Burial won the Seamus Heaney Memorial Poetry Prize, and her short fiction has been recognized by several literary competitions including the Cuirt New Writing Prize and the Bare Fiction Prize. Her stories have appeared in respected journals such as Ambit, The Incubator, and The Irish Times.

Outside the world of publishing, Una is also an educator and literary mentor. She leads the BA in Writing and Literature at Atlantic Technological University (formerly IT Sligo) and teaches performing arts. Her dedication to fostering new writers and encouraging creative exploration adds another layer to her impact in the literary world.

Una Mannion’s work stands out not just because of her talent, but because of the emotional truth that runs through every page. Whether you’re reading one of her novels, poems, or short stories, you can feel her deep care for her characters, her fascination with the complexities of human connection, and her love for the landscapes—both real and emotional—that shape our stories. If you’re discovering Una Mannion for the first time, you’re in for a moving and unforgettable reading experience.