'Wendy Erskine is a natural-born story-teller.' Kevin Barry

'Wry and wise, gripping and funny' David Nicholls (on Sweet Home)

Frankie, Miriam and Bronagh are all mothers to 18-year-old boys living in Belfast, though that's about all they have in common. Glamorous Frankie, now married to a wealthy, older man, grew up in care. Miriam has recently lost her beloved husband Kahlil in ambiguous circumstances. Bronagh, the CEO of a children's services charity, is high on the celebrity and prestige this brings her.

They do not know each other yet, but when their sons are accused of sexually assaulting a young woman whose family lacks the wealth and social-standing of their own, they'll leverage all the power of their position and class to protect their children.

The Benefactors is a novel about mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, about privilege, entitlement and the transformative power of money. It's about how the actions of one night can have devastating consequences. But most of all, it's about the people involved - you feel for them, you hate them, and they make you laugh.