
Tom Burne Has Left The Chat
by Seán Farrelly
AUCK IN STOCK
WGTN IN STOCK
352
15 Sept 2026
Paperback
Faber & Faber, Limited
9780571388219
A stunning new voice in YA, exploring grief and loneliness. Perfect for fans of Kathleen Glasgow and John Green.
This wasn't my phone. This was real. Tom had died today, literally died, and here I was, picking through the digital carrion like some sort of virtual vulture.
What happens to your phone when you die and who has access to your online legacy? When micro-influencer Tom Burne takes his own life, he leaves behind his phone, its password and a cryptic message that needs decoding.
Seventeen-year-old Jamie doesn't intend to take the phone, but once he does, he knows it was meant for him. Fuelled by his own sense of isolation and the recent passing of his father, Jamie loses himself in uncovering the truth. The more he investigates the digital fragments contained within the phone, the deeper into Tom's dark world he falls.
As his own grief resurfaces and with his mother pushing for them to move to a different country for a fresh start, Jamie has very little time to find out the harsh reality that led to Tom's tragic end.
Can he clear Tom's name before it is too late?
'Touching, beautiful and wholly unique.' - Margaret McDonald, Carnegie Award winning author of Glasgow Boys
'Clever, moving - this is a terrific novel.' Roddy Doyle, Booker Prize winning author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
'A gorgeous YA debut from a stunning new talent.' Simon James Green, author of Boy Like Me.
'Achingly tender.. It had me hooked from the first page.' Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, author of Sisters of the Moon
This intriguing YA debut asks a compelling question: What happens to our digital footprint when we're gone? When Tom Burne takes his life, he leaves behind no explanation, only a cryptic message on his phone. By pure chance, Jamie finds the phone and pockets it on instinct. Still struggling with the loss of his father, Jamie is unsure of himself and his choices lately. But the deeper he digs into Tom's online life, the more he convinces himself that the phone was meant for him. What follows is a gripping mystery and honest exploration of grief in the digital age. This is one of those books that has you internally yelling, "What are you doing?" at the protagonist as you rip through the pages. It's an emotional roller-coaster that balances its heavy themes with humour, heart, and suspense.



