The Last Resort — Dan Binchy

Returning to the village of Brulagh introduced in his highly praised debut The Neon Madonna, Dan Binchy's hilarious second novel offers a delightful tale of the eccentricities of rural life in the Republic of Ireland.
Luke Diverali, a suave, sophisticated American, is touring Ireland in an attempt to escape from a rather inconvenient investigation into his banking activities. His speculator's eye finds Brulagh not only attractive but, more importantly, ripe for development. If he can only overcome the obstacles that present themselves, both in business and in love, he can see huge profits just over the horizon.
Luke encounters familiar characters from The Neon Madonna, such as the endearing Father Jerry, as well as a host of new ones - at the races, at the dances, and in his relentless pursuit of money. But in the funny, unconventional, and completely absorbing Ireland of Dan Binchy's tale nothing turns out quite as planned.