Bruise A Novel
Bruise, a novel by Adrian Markle, is published by Brindle and Glass in 2024 and spans 224 pages. This debut work presents the story of Jamie Stuart, an injured MMA fighter who returns to his coastal hometown after a lengthy absence. Arriving six months late for his father’s funeral, Jamie grapples with his past and the strained relationship with his older brother, Sid, who is struggling with alcoholism and the lingering effects of family tragedy.
In Bruise, readers will find an exploration of themes such as family dynamics, the impact of sports on personal identity, and the challenges of coming of age in a small town. As Jamie attempts to reconnect with his brother and navigate the complexities of his former life, he faces the temptation of a new opportunity that could provide financial security but also risks further entrenching him in a cycle of despair. Set against the backdrop of familiar streets and beaches, the novel delves into the emotional landscape of returning home and the struggle to reconcile past ambitions with present realities.
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“Compelling and driven. Markle’s lean prose is perfectly matched to his exploration of the possibilities of coming back home.” –Wyl Menmuir, Booker-longlisted author of The Draw of the Sea
An understated but fierce novel of family, sport and growing up, Adrian Markle’s debut tells the story of an injured MMA fighter who returns to his coastal hometown.
Arriving on the Greyhound, six months late for his father’s funeral, Jamie Stuart is injured but unwilling to declare himself retired from the MMA fighting career that has kept him away from his coastal hometown since he was a teenager. His attempts to reconnect with his now-alcoholic older brother, Sid, are thwarted both by Sid’s mysterious disappearances from the house and his unwillingness to discuss the death of their younger brother fifteen years earlier.
In the absence of the training schedule that has governed his adult life so far, Jamie sinks into a routine of drinking with Sid and arguing with the regulars at the bar owned by his high-school crush. Then, when he’s at his lowest, he is handed an opportunity that offers the money and security he needs. But with it comes the risk of Jamie never finding his way back out.
Set on quiet streets and beaches choked with childhood memories, haunted by the highs of an international athletic career cut short, Bruise is an understated but fierce novel of family, sport, homecomings, and growing up.
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