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The Convictions of John Delahunt
On a cold December morning, a small boy is enticed away from his mother and his throat savagely cut. This could be just one more small, sad death in a city riven by poverty, inequality and political unrest, but this killing causes a public outcry. For it appears the culprit – a feckless student named John Delahunt – is also an informant and in the pay of the authorities at Dublin Castle. And strangely, this young man seems neither to regret what he did nor fear his punishment. Indeed, as he awaits the hangman in his cell in Kilmainham Gaol, John Delahunt decides to tell his story in this, his final, deeply unsettling statement . . .
Set amidst Dublin’s taverns, tenements, courtrooms and alleyways and with a rich, Dickensian cast of characters – carousing students, unscrupulous lowlifes, dissectionists, phrenologists, blackmailers and the sinister agents of Dublin Castle – The Convictions of John Delahunt is based on true events that convulsed Victorian Ireland.
Beautifully observed, seductive and laced with dark humour, this gripping historical thriller about a man who betrays his family, his friends and, ultimately, himself marks the debut of an exciting and assured new literary voice.
Set amidst Dublin’s taverns, tenements, courtrooms and alleyways and with a rich, Dickensian cast of characters – carousing students, unscrupulous lowlifes, dissectionists, phrenologists, blackmailers and the sinister agents of Dublin Castle – The Convictions of John Delahunt is based on true events that convulsed Victorian Ireland.
Beautifully observed, seductive and laced with dark humour, this gripping historical thriller about a man who betrays his family, his friends and, ultimately, himself marks the debut of an exciting and assured new literary voice.
342 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2011
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2009 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Hughes
6 books76 followersBorn in Co. Wexford, ANDREW HUGHES was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. A qualified archivist, he worked for RTE before going freelance. It was while researching his acclaimed social history of Fitzwilliam Square – 'Lives Less Ordinary: Dublin’s Fitzwilliam Square, 1798-1922' – that he first came across the true story of John Delahunt that inspired his debut novel, THE CONVICTIONS OF JOHN DELAHUNT.
Andrew Hughes lives in Dublin.
Andrew Hughes lives in Dublin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 22, 2014
On a cold December morning, a small boy is enticed away from his mother and his throat savagely cut. This could be just one more small, sad death in a city riven by poverty, inequality and political unrest, but this killing causes a public outcry. For it appears the culprit – a feckless student named John Delahunt – is also an informant and in the pay of the authorities at Dublin Castle. And strangely, this young man seems neither to regret what he did nor fear his punishment. Indeed, as he awaits the hangman in his cell in Kilmainham Gaol, John Delahunt decides to tell his story in this, his final, deeply unsettling statement . . .
This is a terrific tale based on a true story and a real page turner of the highest order. I was immediately captivated by the ambience of the setting and the truly strange and wonderful character of John Delahunt.
There are two excellent things in this novel – firstly the main protagonist – not a nice man, no not at all. Needy and selfish, with a hard edge, it is unsurprising that he ends up where he does and yet – he is probably not the most nefarious character here. Malleable and dangerous he is manipulated by dangerous men…
Then you have an absolutely authentic setting, chilling in its intensity, a snapshot of a different time – you will be transported there entirely, following Mr Delahunts life as it unfolds and leads to tragedy and murder..
Utterly compelling, completely fascinating and ultimately a sad and intense tale of violence and greed. Hard to put down and even harder to put away from your mind once done, this is a hugely impressive debut. Highly Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
This is a terrific tale based on a true story and a real page turner of the highest order. I was immediately captivated by the ambience of the setting and the truly strange and wonderful character of John Delahunt.
There are two excellent things in this novel – firstly the main protagonist – not a nice man, no not at all. Needy and selfish, with a hard edge, it is unsurprising that he ends up where he does and yet – he is probably not the most nefarious character here. Malleable and dangerous he is manipulated by dangerous men…
Then you have an absolutely authentic setting, chilling in its intensity, a snapshot of a different time – you will be transported there entirely, following Mr Delahunts life as it unfolds and leads to tragedy and murder..
Utterly compelling, completely fascinating and ultimately a sad and intense tale of violence and greed. Hard to put down and even harder to put away from your mind once done, this is a hugely impressive debut. Highly Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
March 24, 2014
Imagine you're a poor student at Dublin's Trinity College in the 1840s. You're newly married and living with your wife in a squalid tenement, cut off from friends and family. The future looks bleak, so when the authorities at Dublin Castle suggest that you become an informer, it seems to be the perfect solution. You will be rewarded well for any information you can give them leading to a conviction...and if you could just manage to witness a few murders, your money troubles could be over!
This is the situation in which our narrator finds himself in this wonderfully moody and sinister historical crime novel, The Convictions of John Delahunt. As the novel opens, John is sitting in a prison cell awaiting his death. We're not sure exactly what he has done, except that it appears to involve the murder of a child. As he begins to write his final testimony, we are taken back to the origins of John's dangerous career as an informer and discover how and why this young student of natural philosophy has been sentenced to hang.
Andrew Hughes is also the author of a non-fiction book about the residents of Dublin's Fitzwilliam Square, Lives Less Ordinary, and so he has been able to draw on his knowledge of the city's history to make John Delahunt's world feel authentic and real. Because of the circles in which Delahunt moves, the focus is on the darker side of society – workhouses, grave robbing, illegal abortions, rat-killing and laudanum addiction are all explored. Dublin's streets and alleys, taverns and parks, courtrooms and drawing rooms are all vividly described and although the language the author uses is modern enough to be accessible and easy to read, it never feels out of place with the Victorian setting.
John Delahunt himself is an intriguing narrator, though not always entirely reliable. He is certainly not easy to like – one of his first actions in the book is to tell a lie to the police that leads to a friend being found guilty of a crime he didn't commit – yet I could still feel for him when things didn't go according to plan and when he saw his life beginning to disintegrate around him.
A large part of John's story revolves around his relationship with his wife, Helen, who is another interesting character – although we never get to see things from her perspective as John is narrating in the first person. At first Helen seems to be on the same wavelength as her husband, attending a hanging with him and even helping him to compile a list of friends, family and neighbours to inform on. Later in the book she experiences a personal tragedy and after this she seems to undergo a change, though because we only see her through John’s eyes, her true thoughts and emotions are not very clear.
I loved this dark and atmospheric book and was completely gripped by John Delahunt's fascinating story (based on true events, by the way). A word of advice to potential readers – don't start reading it in your lunch break at work or in bed when you need to be up early the next day, as you may find that you really don't want to put it down!
This is the situation in which our narrator finds himself in this wonderfully moody and sinister historical crime novel, The Convictions of John Delahunt. As the novel opens, John is sitting in a prison cell awaiting his death. We're not sure exactly what he has done, except that it appears to involve the murder of a child. As he begins to write his final testimony, we are taken back to the origins of John's dangerous career as an informer and discover how and why this young student of natural philosophy has been sentenced to hang.
Andrew Hughes is also the author of a non-fiction book about the residents of Dublin's Fitzwilliam Square, Lives Less Ordinary, and so he has been able to draw on his knowledge of the city's history to make John Delahunt's world feel authentic and real. Because of the circles in which Delahunt moves, the focus is on the darker side of society – workhouses, grave robbing, illegal abortions, rat-killing and laudanum addiction are all explored. Dublin's streets and alleys, taverns and parks, courtrooms and drawing rooms are all vividly described and although the language the author uses is modern enough to be accessible and easy to read, it never feels out of place with the Victorian setting.
John Delahunt himself is an intriguing narrator, though not always entirely reliable. He is certainly not easy to like – one of his first actions in the book is to tell a lie to the police that leads to a friend being found guilty of a crime he didn't commit – yet I could still feel for him when things didn't go according to plan and when he saw his life beginning to disintegrate around him.
A large part of John's story revolves around his relationship with his wife, Helen, who is another interesting character – although we never get to see things from her perspective as John is narrating in the first person. At first Helen seems to be on the same wavelength as her husband, attending a hanging with him and even helping him to compile a list of friends, family and neighbours to inform on. Later in the book she experiences a personal tragedy and after this she seems to undergo a change, though because we only see her through John’s eyes, her true thoughts and emotions are not very clear.
I loved this dark and atmospheric book and was completely gripped by John Delahunt's fascinating story (based on true events, by the way). A word of advice to potential readers – don't start reading it in your lunch break at work or in bed when you need to be up early the next day, as you may find that you really don't want to put it down!
April 10, 2014
In the novel, The Convictions of John Delahunt, author Andrew Hughes takes us deep in the mind of a serial killer. Based on a true story, John Delahunt was a man who was convicted and hanged for the murder of a very young boy in England in the year 1842. He slashed the young boys throat.
The story begins while John is in jail awaiting his execution. He is given an opportunity to write about his life and crimes. Through flashbacks, John reflects on his life and his crimes. Married and in love with Helen, a wealthy young woman whose family disowned her for marrying John. They live in poverty, where every day is an ordea. By chance, John becomes an informant and operative for the corrupt Dublin Castle, a semi-law enforcement agency with ruthless and evil tendencies, using extortion, and even murder to achieve their aspirations. As John becomes ever more dependent and involved in his machinations with Dublin Castle, he falls into a life of crime, and becomes a killer without remorse.
Although this is a very dark, sinister story about a violent and heartless killer, the character of John isn't completely hateful. His brutality is stark and ruthless, but sometimes he is a victim too, and there are moments when the reader will feel sympathy for the particular plight he finds himself in.
The story is not for the faint of heart, but for those who love being thrilled, gripped by an unputdownable book, and who loves reading about the dark side of life, then this is the book for them. This chilling novel is amazing and I loved every page. Simply fabulous.
The story begins while John is in jail awaiting his execution. He is given an opportunity to write about his life and crimes. Through flashbacks, John reflects on his life and his crimes. Married and in love with Helen, a wealthy young woman whose family disowned her for marrying John. They live in poverty, where every day is an ordea. By chance, John becomes an informant and operative for the corrupt Dublin Castle, a semi-law enforcement agency with ruthless and evil tendencies, using extortion, and even murder to achieve their aspirations. As John becomes ever more dependent and involved in his machinations with Dublin Castle, he falls into a life of crime, and becomes a killer without remorse.
Although this is a very dark, sinister story about a violent and heartless killer, the character of John isn't completely hateful. His brutality is stark and ruthless, but sometimes he is a victim too, and there are moments when the reader will feel sympathy for the particular plight he finds himself in.
The story is not for the faint of heart, but for those who love being thrilled, gripped by an unputdownable book, and who loves reading about the dark side of life, then this is the book for them. This chilling novel is amazing and I loved every page. Simply fabulous.
September 30, 2020
Ah John, canım John. 1841’de Dublin’deyiz. Hikayeyi John Delahunt’ın gözünden okuyoruz. Eski zamanlarda geçen ne film ne kitap severim. Bunu yıkmak için tekrar deneyeyim dedim ama olmadı.
Oldukça detaylı bir kitap. Betimlemeler epey yer kaplıyor hatta konuşmadan çok betimleme var diyebilirim. Konusu idare eder olsa da anlatış çok yavaş ve yavan. İlgi çekmiyor ve sürüklemiyor. Herhangi bir sayfada bu kadar yeter deyip bırakabilirsiniz. Ben beğenmedim.
Oldukça detaylı bir kitap. Betimlemeler epey yer kaplıyor hatta konuşmadan çok betimleme var diyebilirim. Konusu idare eder olsa da anlatış çok yavaş ve yavan. İlgi çekmiyor ve sürüklemiyor. Herhangi bir sayfada bu kadar yeter deyip bırakabilirsiniz. Ben beğenmedim.
January 21, 2019
Yazar Fitzwilliam Sakinleri üzerine yaptığı bir araştırmada tesadüfen rastlıyor John Delahunt ismine. İrlanda istihbaratı Kale'ye muhbirlik yapan Dublinli bir üniversite öğrencisinin hayatı çerçevesinde hikayesini okuyoruz. Karakterin kayıtsızlığı beni zaman zaman rahatsız ve huzursuz etse de oldukça ilginç bir hikaye.
January 3, 2018
Extremely compelling and atmospheric tale set in Dublin in about 1840. Our narrator is an unusual man; his tale is dark and violent. This book is extremely difficult to put down.
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November 11, 2021When I bought The Convictions of John Delahunt a couple of years ago (!), I of course only considered the primary meaning of the word "conviction" in the title - I was sure this is a book about a man who's done something wrong and has therefore been convicted. But as I kept reading it, I kept thinking of the word's other meaningsas well: the feeling that what you say or believe is true.
The Convictions of John Delahunt is about Dublin in the 1840's and 1850's and its system of informers, secret reports and delations under thr British crown. It's a system I'm well familiar with as it's no stranger to my post-communist home country's past, but it was quite a shocking revelation to know that this has been "a thing" in the Western World as well back in the day, and as early as the 19th century at that! On the one hand, we have Dublin Castle which collects reports from secret informers (neighbours, shop assistants, classmates, random passers by) and stores them in an archive to be used against people in the future in case they're ever convenient or "needed". As in, to make a lawyer drop a case the Castle doesn't want them to pursue, or to force someone into "working together". Naturally, they pay money in exchange for information, and even more money if the said report results in a conviction. On the other hand, we have John Delahunt, a student of natural and experimental philosophy at Trinity College Dublin, whose luck is failing him. His brother is off to war, his sister is getting married off, his cold and unsupportive father leaves him a house full of debts, and he ellopes with a young girl without her family's approval. Social suicide if I've ever read one. So what should young John do if he needs money to survive? This is where the other meanings of the word "conviction" come: the conviction that someone will is guilty, the conviction that it's OK to do something wrong to save yourself, and the conviction that things will one day get better and will be back to normal.
This was a very interesting book in the sense that it gave me insight into a part of Ireland's history which I was not aware of, and also of the social instabilities and social dynamics prevalent in the country in the 19th century. I also enjoyed and writing and the style, which was crisp and informative. A fantastic historical fiction account of Dublin during its darker times.
The Convictions of John Delahunt is about Dublin in the 1840's and 1850's and its system of informers, secret reports and delations under thr British crown. It's a system I'm well familiar with as it's no stranger to my post-communist home country's past, but it was quite a shocking revelation to know that this has been "a thing" in the Western World as well back in the day, and as early as the 19th century at that! On the one hand, we have Dublin Castle which collects reports from secret informers (neighbours, shop assistants, classmates, random passers by) and stores them in an archive to be used against people in the future in case they're ever convenient or "needed". As in, to make a lawyer drop a case the Castle doesn't want them to pursue, or to force someone into "working together". Naturally, they pay money in exchange for information, and even more money if the said report results in a conviction. On the other hand, we have John Delahunt, a student of natural and experimental philosophy at Trinity College Dublin, whose luck is failing him. His brother is off to war, his sister is getting married off, his cold and unsupportive father leaves him a house full of debts, and he ellopes with a young girl without her family's approval. Social suicide if I've ever read one. So what should young John do if he needs money to survive? This is where the other meanings of the word "conviction" come: the conviction that someone will is guilty, the conviction that it's OK to do something wrong to save yourself, and the conviction that things will one day get better and will be back to normal.
This was a very interesting book in the sense that it gave me insight into a part of Ireland's history which I was not aware of, and also of the social instabilities and social dynamics prevalent in the country in the 19th century. I also enjoyed and writing and the style, which was crisp and informative. A fantastic historical fiction account of Dublin during its darker times.
September 26, 2022
Kitabı, arka kapak yazısı “Dublin, 1841.” İle başladığı için almıştım. Bu kadarı yetmişti. Uzun zamandır kitaplığımda bekliyordu. Bu sefer okumak için elime aldığımda arka kapak yazısının tümünü okudum. Buradan hikâyenin gerçek olaylara dayandığını, gotik bir havası olduğunu ve yazarın Dickensvari bir anlatımı olduğunu görünce içim içime sığmadı.
Ana karakterimiz John annesini küçük yaşta kaybetmiş, yatalak babasıyla yaşayan bir Trinity öğrencisi. Bir gün bir birahanede içtikten sonra oradan üç arkadaş ayrılıyorlar ve sonra bir polisin yaralandığı bir tartışma yaşanıyor. John olaya tanık oluyor ve gizli bir istihbarat teşkilatı olan Kale’den bir ajan onu sorgulamaya geliyor. Bu olaydaki rolünden sonra John bu teşkilatın bir parçası oluyor, onlara ücret karşılığında muhbirlik etmeye başlıyor. Aslında her şey, kitabın başlığındaki “cinayetin” hikâyesi de böyle başlıyor.
Arka kapakta vaat edilen gotik atmosfer ve Dickensvari anlatım konusunda kitabın okuru yüzde yüz tatmin ettiğini söylemem gerek. Ben yazarın anlatımını gerçekten çok beğendim, ilk kitabı olmasına rağmen son derece etkileyici bir üslupla kaleme almış hikâyeyi. Dickens’ın yanında ben tarzını Robert L. Stevenson’a benzettim. Bu iki yazarın etkisinde kalmış gibi hissettim, iyi ki de kalmış! İç-dış mekan tasvirleri, iklim-atmosfer tasvirleri, karakter tasvirleri çok çok başarılıydı. Kısacası anlatım-üsluptan maksimum düzeyde keyif aldım diyebilirim.
1800ler İrlandasını da yine etkileyici bir şekilde yansıttığını, döneme toplumsal-gerçekçi bir yaklaşımla eleştiri getirdiğini de söylemeden geçmek istemiyorum.
Tek bir olumsuz yorumum var o da ana karakterin duygusal kişiliğinin okura pek yansımamış olması. Yani yapıp ettiklerini okurken bunu neden yaptığını anlıyoruz, kendi içinde mantıklı şeyler yapıyor ama bunlar hakkında ne hissettiğiyle ilgili hiçbir şey bilmiyoruz. Sadece düşüncelerini, takip ettiği mantıksal izleği okuyor gibiyiz. Oysa John da bir insan, hatta özünde iyi olduğunu düşünen bir insan ve elbette onun da duyguları var. Yaptıklarıyla ilgili hisleri bir yana, sevdiği kadına, Helen’a karşı olan duyguları çok muğlak kalmış. Bu da karaktere karşı sempati kurmayı imkânsızlaştırıyor bana göre.
Bunun dışında bir olumsuz bir eleştirim de yok. İlginç hikâyesi, muhteşem anlatımı, gotik atmosferi ve dupduru olduğu kadar bilgilendirici çevirisiyle kitap iyi ki okumuşum dediklerim arasına girdi.
Ana karakterimiz John annesini küçük yaşta kaybetmiş, yatalak babasıyla yaşayan bir Trinity öğrencisi. Bir gün bir birahanede içtikten sonra oradan üç arkadaş ayrılıyorlar ve sonra bir polisin yaralandığı bir tartışma yaşanıyor. John olaya tanık oluyor ve gizli bir istihbarat teşkilatı olan Kale’den bir ajan onu sorgulamaya geliyor. Bu olaydaki rolünden sonra John bu teşkilatın bir parçası oluyor, onlara ücret karşılığında muhbirlik etmeye başlıyor. Aslında her şey, kitabın başlığındaki “cinayetin” hikâyesi de böyle başlıyor.
Arka kapakta vaat edilen gotik atmosfer ve Dickensvari anlatım konusunda kitabın okuru yüzde yüz tatmin ettiğini söylemem gerek. Ben yazarın anlatımını gerçekten çok beğendim, ilk kitabı olmasına rağmen son derece etkileyici bir üslupla kaleme almış hikâyeyi. Dickens’ın yanında ben tarzını Robert L. Stevenson’a benzettim. Bu iki yazarın etkisinde kalmış gibi hissettim, iyi ki de kalmış! İç-dış mekan tasvirleri, iklim-atmosfer tasvirleri, karakter tasvirleri çok çok başarılıydı. Kısacası anlatım-üsluptan maksimum düzeyde keyif aldım diyebilirim.
1800ler İrlandasını da yine etkileyici bir şekilde yansıttığını, döneme toplumsal-gerçekçi bir yaklaşımla eleştiri getirdiğini de söylemeden geçmek istemiyorum.
Tek bir olumsuz yorumum var o da ana karakterin duygusal kişiliğinin okura pek yansımamış olması. Yani yapıp ettiklerini okurken bunu neden yaptığını anlıyoruz, kendi içinde mantıklı şeyler yapıyor ama bunlar hakkında ne hissettiğiyle ilgili hiçbir şey bilmiyoruz. Sadece düşüncelerini, takip ettiği mantıksal izleği okuyor gibiyiz. Oysa John da bir insan, hatta özünde iyi olduğunu düşünen bir insan ve elbette onun da duyguları var. Yaptıklarıyla ilgili hisleri bir yana, sevdiği kadına, Helen’a karşı olan duyguları çok muğlak kalmış. Bu da karaktere karşı sempati kurmayı imkânsızlaştırıyor bana göre.
Bunun dışında bir olumsuz bir eleştirim de yok. İlginç hikâyesi, muhteşem anlatımı, gotik atmosferi ve dupduru olduğu kadar bilgilendirici çevirisiyle kitap iyi ki okumuşum dediklerim arasına girdi.
May 3, 2014
Dark, gloomy, and oppressive, the Victorian Dublin we're presented with in The Convictions of John Delahunt is eerily like Dickensian London and yet quite different. In his debut novel Andrew Hughes takes us to this harsh, but beautiful city to tell us the tale of the murderer John Delahunt. A figure of historical record with documented crimes, Delahunt is the beating heart of this tale, yet it's not just his tale. It's also a look at how the Dublin police force functioned at the time and it's a love story and an unexpected one at that.
When we meet John Delahunt he's awaiting his execution in Kilmainham prison and he is allowed to write down his final testimony. He decides to do so and tell his entire story. So we zip back to his time as a rather feckless student of natural philosophy and learn about the evening that set the events in motion that end up with him in this cell awaiting his death. And it is rather unnerving how one incident can set of this cascade of events. And the reader must wonder whether there isn't more to John's development than this moment in time. Getting drawn into the nefarious goings-on in the Castle doesn't truly excuse some of the actions John takes, as they don't seem out of character for him and I'd expected many people in the same situation didn't make that choice.
John also isn't a very likeable or even sympathetic character, yet he's compelling and I wanted to know how he got where he was when we met him, so I kept reading even if I didn't actually like him. John is indolent, selfish and self-absorbed. He also came across as callous and cruel. There were a few story lines that did make him somewhat more sympathetic, such as his recounting of his childhood and how his father changed after his mother's death and of course his relationship with Helen. At first I thought his involvement with Helen was one of convenience and strategy as he seemed rather indifferent to her, but it is only in the latter half of his narrative that his true feelings for her come to the fore. And I have to say as his marriage came apart at the seams I did feel sorry for him.
Helen was quite interesting as well. On the one hand she's the demure daughter of a prosperous Dublin society family, hemmed in by rules and zealously watched over by a governess. On the other she's strong-willed and adventurous, setting her cap at John and going after him as well, even suggesting that they elope when John doesn't get her father's consent to marry her. Similarly, she's an active participant in John work for the Castle, helping him make lists of acquaintances and thinking off information to provide the Castle on them. Her story broke my heart and while her sudden return to a virtuous patrician's daughter was jarring, I also felt glad she was able to return to her family and with a chance at re-entering society and building a happier life for herself.
Hughes' portrayal of Castle practices and the way they collect and hoard information on citizens and put that information to use is chilling. It rather reminded me of the argument used in the whole NSA discussion, that even if you've done nothing wrong you don't want people to keep all this information on you, because it's all about how that information is interpreted and how an interpretation can be used against you. It was also frightening how quickly and far John went down the rabbit hole once the agents at the Castle got their hooks in him. They are corrupt and unscrupulous and to satisfy their demands, John commits increasingly baser and crueller acts though he doesn't seem to suffer huge pangs of conscience over it.
Due to the nature of the narrative – a first-person confession – at times the reader has to wonder about its reliability. Not only the usual caveats of a first-person limited narration apply, but in addition we know John isn't the most trustworthy person, so how much faith should we place in his veracity? This kept going through my mind throughout the book, especially as there are several scenes were John asks to see Sibthorpe, the chief intelligencer, and gets told that there is no such person. In the end though, even if Delahunt twists some things to put himself in a better light, I do think his narration is largely reliable. The fact that he seems to feel a need for honesty in his last hours and the purpose he puts his testimony to argue in his favour.
The Convictions of John Delahunt is a fascinating story, compellingly written, featuring a protagonist who would have been called grimdark had he been the star of a fantasy novel. Andrew Hughes paints his story with swift, sure strokes and manages to create a vivid picture of Victorian Dublin complete with a murky atmosphere that matches that of the time's penny dreadfuls. I very much enjoyed Hughes' debut, it was a rich and gripping reading experience. If this is his first novel, I can't wait to see where he goes in the future. The Convictions of John Delahunt comes highly recommended.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
When we meet John Delahunt he's awaiting his execution in Kilmainham prison and he is allowed to write down his final testimony. He decides to do so and tell his entire story. So we zip back to his time as a rather feckless student of natural philosophy and learn about the evening that set the events in motion that end up with him in this cell awaiting his death. And it is rather unnerving how one incident can set of this cascade of events. And the reader must wonder whether there isn't more to John's development than this moment in time. Getting drawn into the nefarious goings-on in the Castle doesn't truly excuse some of the actions John takes, as they don't seem out of character for him and I'd expected many people in the same situation didn't make that choice.
John also isn't a very likeable or even sympathetic character, yet he's compelling and I wanted to know how he got where he was when we met him, so I kept reading even if I didn't actually like him. John is indolent, selfish and self-absorbed. He also came across as callous and cruel. There were a few story lines that did make him somewhat more sympathetic, such as his recounting of his childhood and how his father changed after his mother's death and of course his relationship with Helen. At first I thought his involvement with Helen was one of convenience and strategy as he seemed rather indifferent to her, but it is only in the latter half of his narrative that his true feelings for her come to the fore. And I have to say as his marriage came apart at the seams I did feel sorry for him.
Helen was quite interesting as well. On the one hand she's the demure daughter of a prosperous Dublin society family, hemmed in by rules and zealously watched over by a governess. On the other she's strong-willed and adventurous, setting her cap at John and going after him as well, even suggesting that they elope when John doesn't get her father's consent to marry her. Similarly, she's an active participant in John work for the Castle, helping him make lists of acquaintances and thinking off information to provide the Castle on them. Her story broke my heart and while her sudden return to a virtuous patrician's daughter was jarring, I also felt glad she was able to return to her family and with a chance at re-entering society and building a happier life for herself.
Hughes' portrayal of Castle practices and the way they collect and hoard information on citizens and put that information to use is chilling. It rather reminded me of the argument used in the whole NSA discussion, that even if you've done nothing wrong you don't want people to keep all this information on you, because it's all about how that information is interpreted and how an interpretation can be used against you. It was also frightening how quickly and far John went down the rabbit hole once the agents at the Castle got their hooks in him. They are corrupt and unscrupulous and to satisfy their demands, John commits increasingly baser and crueller acts though he doesn't seem to suffer huge pangs of conscience over it.
Due to the nature of the narrative – a first-person confession – at times the reader has to wonder about its reliability. Not only the usual caveats of a first-person limited narration apply, but in addition we know John isn't the most trustworthy person, so how much faith should we place in his veracity? This kept going through my mind throughout the book, especially as there are several scenes were John asks to see Sibthorpe, the chief intelligencer, and gets told that there is no such person. In the end though, even if Delahunt twists some things to put himself in a better light, I do think his narration is largely reliable. The fact that he seems to feel a need for honesty in his last hours and the purpose he puts his testimony to argue in his favour.
The Convictions of John Delahunt is a fascinating story, compellingly written, featuring a protagonist who would have been called grimdark had he been the star of a fantasy novel. Andrew Hughes paints his story with swift, sure strokes and manages to create a vivid picture of Victorian Dublin complete with a murky atmosphere that matches that of the time's penny dreadfuls. I very much enjoyed Hughes' debut, it was a rich and gripping reading experience. If this is his first novel, I can't wait to see where he goes in the future. The Convictions of John Delahunt comes highly recommended.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
February 9, 2019
I was recommended The Convictions of John Delahunt through Goodreads because I liked Wolf Winter, actually, and liked the summary. I figured I'd be getting a dark, atmospheric novel about Dublin in the 1840s and, of course, the murder of a young child. That's not really want I got.
When I first started reading, I figured my inability to focus on it would go away soon, as I got more and more into the novel. In fact, I knew it would take me a little time to get acquainted with these books, as my experiences with Wolf Winter and Burial Rites attested to- Wolf Winter's writing style didn't immediately click with me and Burial Rites was just too slow for my tastes at the beginning. But as I got further and further along in The Convictions of John Delahunt, I found myself just taping the screen on my iPad listlessly, uninterested in anything that was going on. Even the sizable body count the characters in this book were racking up made it hard to care, because the writing style and the lack of depth behind the characters made it hard for me to care.
Not only that, there was none of that atmosphere I love in these types of historical mysteries. Hughes didn't take full advantage of the creepiness his chosen setting of Dublin in the 1840s could have provided us. In fact, Dublin felt like another generic Victorian city, like it could have been Edinburgh or London or any of the other major cities in that part of the world. One of the biggest things I look for in any of the books I read, but especially historical fiction, is strength of setting. I like feeling like I'm right there with the protagonists, like I can practically taste the whiskey or smell the smog. The Dublin Murder Squad series isn't a historical fiction series, but one of the biggest draws those books have is their Irishness. I was hoping for something along the same lines as those books in a Victorian-era setting and I was disappointing.
Which is a shame, because The Convictions of John Delahunt is a good story, but Hughes just didn't do a very good job at executing it. I understand that he was trying to go for a Crime and Punishment feel to it, with Delahunt acting as Raskolnikov, and Hughes is trying to show us how poverty drove him to committing the crimes he did. In that case, I wish the book opened up with the murder and followed Delahunt as he covered up the crime, and slowly goes more and more crazy due to hiding it, and also due to the horrific nature of the crime. That is, after all, the main appeal to Crime and Punishment, the psychological aspects. Perhaps if Hughes had amped up the psychological distress he would have created a more engrossing novel.
Andrew Hughes had a great idea with The Convictions of John Delahunt and a lackluster execution. This isn't the worst novel I've read this month, but it is one I was underwhelmed and disinterested by, and I don't really think I'd recommend it out much.
When I first started reading, I figured my inability to focus on it would go away soon, as I got more and more into the novel. In fact, I knew it would take me a little time to get acquainted with these books, as my experiences with Wolf Winter and Burial Rites attested to- Wolf Winter's writing style didn't immediately click with me and Burial Rites was just too slow for my tastes at the beginning. But as I got further and further along in The Convictions of John Delahunt, I found myself just taping the screen on my iPad listlessly, uninterested in anything that was going on. Even the sizable body count the characters in this book were racking up made it hard to care, because the writing style and the lack of depth behind the characters made it hard for me to care.
Not only that, there was none of that atmosphere I love in these types of historical mysteries. Hughes didn't take full advantage of the creepiness his chosen setting of Dublin in the 1840s could have provided us. In fact, Dublin felt like another generic Victorian city, like it could have been Edinburgh or London or any of the other major cities in that part of the world. One of the biggest things I look for in any of the books I read, but especially historical fiction, is strength of setting. I like feeling like I'm right there with the protagonists, like I can practically taste the whiskey or smell the smog. The Dublin Murder Squad series isn't a historical fiction series, but one of the biggest draws those books have is their Irishness. I was hoping for something along the same lines as those books in a Victorian-era setting and I was disappointing.
Which is a shame, because The Convictions of John Delahunt is a good story, but Hughes just didn't do a very good job at executing it. I understand that he was trying to go for a Crime and Punishment feel to it, with Delahunt acting as Raskolnikov, and Hughes is trying to show us how poverty drove him to committing the crimes he did. In that case, I wish the book opened up with the murder and followed Delahunt as he covered up the crime, and slowly goes more and more crazy due to hiding it, and also due to the horrific nature of the crime. That is, after all, the main appeal to Crime and Punishment, the psychological aspects. Perhaps if Hughes had amped up the psychological distress he would have created a more engrossing novel.
Andrew Hughes had a great idea with The Convictions of John Delahunt and a lackluster execution. This isn't the worst novel I've read this month, but it is one I was underwhelmed and disinterested by, and I don't really think I'd recommend it out much.
August 4, 2015
A chilling insight into the mind of a killer based on an actual murder case in 19th century Ireland.
While researching for a non-fiction social history, archivist Andrew Hughes stumbled upon references to a sensational murder that had been problematic for police in Dublin in the 1840s. This led him to the real John Delahunt who sparked his imagination and resulted in this excellent first novel.
The recreated Delahunt is an amoral young man who becomes a tool of a clandestine government agency, informing on others for pay. He soon discovers the highest reward is for murder and, when there are none to report, has no compunction about doing the deed himself and putting the blame on others.
Delahunt is abetted in his decline by Helen, an odd young woman he courts (among their first ‘romantic’ outings is attendance at a hanging) and with whom he eventually elopes after her family rejects him as a suitor. Despite abject poverty, Helen stands by her man for the greater part of the novel until he learns near the end she is, like him, a manipulative liar.
Hughes’ skill at depicting the harsh life of Dublin’s poor is reminiscent of Dickens and Wilkie Collins. Despite the grim nature of the subject, there are passages of dark humor and there were moments when I found myself sympathizing with Delahunt’s plight as the narrative brought him closer to the gallows. A gripping read.
While researching for a non-fiction social history, archivist Andrew Hughes stumbled upon references to a sensational murder that had been problematic for police in Dublin in the 1840s. This led him to the real John Delahunt who sparked his imagination and resulted in this excellent first novel.
The recreated Delahunt is an amoral young man who becomes a tool of a clandestine government agency, informing on others for pay. He soon discovers the highest reward is for murder and, when there are none to report, has no compunction about doing the deed himself and putting the blame on others.
Delahunt is abetted in his decline by Helen, an odd young woman he courts (among their first ‘romantic’ outings is attendance at a hanging) and with whom he eventually elopes after her family rejects him as a suitor. Despite abject poverty, Helen stands by her man for the greater part of the novel until he learns near the end she is, like him, a manipulative liar.
Hughes’ skill at depicting the harsh life of Dublin’s poor is reminiscent of Dickens and Wilkie Collins. Despite the grim nature of the subject, there are passages of dark humor and there were moments when I found myself sympathizing with Delahunt’s plight as the narrative brought him closer to the gallows. A gripping read.
August 13, 2015
A fascinating story of how one mans character flaw, lazziness, lands him in jail for child murder. When John Delahunt can't summon the wherewithal to pass his final exams he stumbles upon the job of snitching on his neighbors to the police. When he is no longer of use as an informer he starts to get creative and play loose with the law in order to get his payday. It is no secret, as we learn in the first few pages, that things don't go so well for the scheming John.
I loved the gothic mood of this novel based on an actual crime in the 1800's in Dublin. Hughes dark tale takes the reader on the journey of John Delahunt, a man of dubious morals who starts out on the right side of the law but because of his greed and aversion to real work, ends up on the end of the hangman's noose. Once you start this book you won't want to put it down until you reach the final twisty conclusion.
I loved the gothic mood of this novel based on an actual crime in the 1800's in Dublin. Hughes dark tale takes the reader on the journey of John Delahunt, a man of dubious morals who starts out on the right side of the law but because of his greed and aversion to real work, ends up on the end of the hangman's noose. Once you start this book you won't want to put it down until you reach the final twisty conclusion.
March 22, 2014
A fantastic debut novel/thriller set in Dublin in the early 1840s. Brings the city at that time to life, including all the intrigue of Dublin Castle and its system of informants. What I particularly enjoyed was how likeably unlikeable the protagonist-narrator is - the author did an excellent job bringing him to life. What makes it all the more compelling is that it is based on an actual murder and murderer.
August 25, 2014
Loved it. I got if out from the library wit little expectation and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. The atmosphere of mid 19th century Ireland is vividly recreated, the plot winds through many twists and turns to the inevitable conclusion but through the narration I found myself at the end liking the character of Delahunt and feeling more than a little sympathy for his outcome.
Well written.
Well written.
November 21, 2015
Excellant! Read quickly in short amount of time. Page turner! Dublin, 1840s. John Delahunt is a victim of his own crimes. He falls into a trap and can't get himself out. Truth blends with lies. I cannot say much without giving it away. It has black moments but overall a very powerful book. Want more from this author.
October 7, 2013
A dark, atmospheric and thoroughly detailed recreation of Georgian Dublin is the setting for this tale of murder and deceit. The narrator and protagonist fascinates throughout, as the audience is brought on his journey from respectability to Kilmainham Gaol.
October 12, 2013
Immensely enjoyable. Narration and observance is superb. Characters are rich and evolved. Great novel
July 29, 2020
Laundum, murder, failed potential...this book had EVERYTHING. Ireland's hottest book club/genre - depressing stories set in "The Troubles" Honestly, it truly was great and it's a crime that it didn't get a larger print run in the US. Maybe we just don't deserve it. I'd put it up there with a Dickens type story and would recommend it to anyone who I thought had good taste.
June 30, 2014
I read a lot of good books, and a lot of fiction set in victorian times. And I must say The Convictions of John Delahunt stands out. I devoured it over a few days, completely pulled in by the voice of John Delahunt, and unable to put it down. It will be a hard act to follow.
We know from the beginning that the young man John Delahunt has been convicted of the brutal murder of a child and is on the death row in a Dublin prison. He sets out to put his story in writing before his hanging. His account starts with the events of an evening out with fellow students that turned out to be the beginning of the course that led him to this cell only a few years later.
His account and tone is mostly rather unsentimental and very straightforward, and we gradually discover that John is a complex man - naive in some ways and a little out of touch with other people, but also very cynical and egoistic. John is a very convincing plotter and lier, and he gets involved with the police department in The Castle, which uses informers to gather information on people, carefully filed for later use. There is good money to be earned if you deliver useful information and can get people convicted for crimes, the most serious of course being murder. And so all Johns trouble begins. It's a tempting way to earn money, especially when you've just discovered that your inheritance after your father is a debt trap, and you've married a young woman against the wishes of her family, which makes her just as penniless as yourself.
There are very few truly likable characters in the book, and you start to you ask yourself if John is really the worst of them. He is mostly surrounded by ruthless, manipulating people, and while he plays the game himself and sees through some of the manipulations, he gets caught in others. His wife Helen is a rather adept manipulator herself, and we soon get a feeling that she has the same ruthless and very practical approach to convenient morals as John. She prefers to stay in writing on a worthless novel and deftly talks John into working for The Castle, when she realizes there is good money to be made. They seem like idle dreamers, unable to make realistic plans for the future. She with her writing novels, and he with his lack of interest in his academic career and unwillingness to do something else. Still they somehow hope and think they can leave The Castle and their poor one-room lodgings behind them and get back into good society.
As a reader you see the story told through the eyes of John, and he might be an urealiable narrator, as we know he has a knack for lying and generally likes to see himself in a flattering light, or perhaps simply fails to see himself otherwise. The clerk who takes his information to the police at one points calls him ”An honest informant” when he answers rather a bit too truthfully to a question about whether Helen is a beauty. On the other hand John himself notices at one point ”that people only seem to believe me when I'm being dishonest”. I don't know if he is supposed to come across as someone who in todays society would have been labelled with a diagnosis of some sort, but he often reacts based on what he thinks a normal reaction would be, and when he senses others are waiting for a response from him he tries to figure out what they want him to say or do, rather than just react from natural instincts and empathy.
The book is well rounded in style, historical setting, characters and plot and the writing quite flawless, but the main point of interest is John himself. Why did he take the path he did? Is it his sudden circumstances of poverty? Because of the manipulations of others? Did something happen in his childhood that changed him, or was it inevitable? How far does his flaws really push him? Occasionally, especially towards the end of his account, his unattached tone wavers and we see glimpses that makes us wonder about the true nature of John Delahunt. The author manages to draw a complex picture, that draws you in and makes you wonder for a long time afterwards.
We know from the beginning that the young man John Delahunt has been convicted of the brutal murder of a child and is on the death row in a Dublin prison. He sets out to put his story in writing before his hanging. His account starts with the events of an evening out with fellow students that turned out to be the beginning of the course that led him to this cell only a few years later.
His account and tone is mostly rather unsentimental and very straightforward, and we gradually discover that John is a complex man - naive in some ways and a little out of touch with other people, but also very cynical and egoistic. John is a very convincing plotter and lier, and he gets involved with the police department in The Castle, which uses informers to gather information on people, carefully filed for later use. There is good money to be earned if you deliver useful information and can get people convicted for crimes, the most serious of course being murder. And so all Johns trouble begins. It's a tempting way to earn money, especially when you've just discovered that your inheritance after your father is a debt trap, and you've married a young woman against the wishes of her family, which makes her just as penniless as yourself.
There are very few truly likable characters in the book, and you start to you ask yourself if John is really the worst of them. He is mostly surrounded by ruthless, manipulating people, and while he plays the game himself and sees through some of the manipulations, he gets caught in others. His wife Helen is a rather adept manipulator herself, and we soon get a feeling that she has the same ruthless and very practical approach to convenient morals as John. She prefers to stay in writing on a worthless novel and deftly talks John into working for The Castle, when she realizes there is good money to be made. They seem like idle dreamers, unable to make realistic plans for the future. She with her writing novels, and he with his lack of interest in his academic career and unwillingness to do something else. Still they somehow hope and think they can leave The Castle and their poor one-room lodgings behind them and get back into good society.
As a reader you see the story told through the eyes of John, and he might be an urealiable narrator, as we know he has a knack for lying and generally likes to see himself in a flattering light, or perhaps simply fails to see himself otherwise. The clerk who takes his information to the police at one points calls him ”An honest informant” when he answers rather a bit too truthfully to a question about whether Helen is a beauty. On the other hand John himself notices at one point ”that people only seem to believe me when I'm being dishonest”. I don't know if he is supposed to come across as someone who in todays society would have been labelled with a diagnosis of some sort, but he often reacts based on what he thinks a normal reaction would be, and when he senses others are waiting for a response from him he tries to figure out what they want him to say or do, rather than just react from natural instincts and empathy.
The book is well rounded in style, historical setting, characters and plot and the writing quite flawless, but the main point of interest is John himself. Why did he take the path he did? Is it his sudden circumstances of poverty? Because of the manipulations of others? Did something happen in his childhood that changed him, or was it inevitable? How far does his flaws really push him? Occasionally, especially towards the end of his account, his unattached tone wavers and we see glimpses that makes us wonder about the true nature of John Delahunt. The author manages to draw a complex picture, that draws you in and makes you wonder for a long time afterwards.
August 8, 2019
John Delahunt: Bir Cinayetin Hikayesi |3+/5|
1800’lü yıllarda geçen hikayeleri bir ayrı seviyorum. O dönemin yaşama zorluğu, sanayileşmenin yeni yeni başlıyor olması, kıyafet tercihleri gibi birçok unsur ilgimi çekmeyi başarıyor. Olur da bir zaman makinesi icat edilirse ve birileri gelip beni o zamana götürmek isterse istemem ama. Ya da öldükten sonra bir sonraki hayatım daha olursa o hayatımın 1800’lerde olmasını istemezdim. Evet, ilgimi çeken birçok unsur var ama bunların hepsi uzaktan bakınca güzel.
Yoksa okudukça daha çok anlıyorsunuz, birçok insanın zor ekonomik şartlar altında yaşam mücadelesi verdiği, hastalığın ve sefaletin kol gezdiği zamanlar.
İşte size bu dönemdeki günlük yaşamı aydınlatan bir kitabın yorumunu yapmak için geldim bu sefer. John Delahunt, ismi kitabın da ismi olan karakterimizin hayatından bir kesiti okumaktayız. Kitabın yazarının ve yayınevinin söylediğine göre tarihte böyle bir kişilik yaşamış. Kitabın yazarı olan Andrew Hudges, John Delahunt’a ait notlar bulunca bunu araştırmış ve biraz da kurgu katarak bize bu kitabı sunmuş.
Kitapta ikili oyun diyebileceğimiz bir durum söz konusu. 1841 yılında Dublin’de geçen hikayemizde Kale isminde bir teşkilat söz konusu. Söz konusu teşkilat, suçları çözmek konusunda halkın da yardımını gizli olacak şekilde alıyor. Kendilerine seçtikleri bu muhbirler, halkın arasına karışıp bilgileri topluyor ve Kale isimli teşkilata suçlarda delil olarak kullanılsın diye satıyor. Ana karakterimiz John Delahunt’ta tesadüf eseri bir muhbir oluyor ve kazandığı paradan memnun kalınca bu işi devam ettirmek istiyor.
Kitabın ikili oyun olmasını sağlayan şey, John’un kendi cinayetini ihbar etmesi. Para uğruna böyle bir yola başvuran John’un hayat hikayesini oldukça detaylı olarak okuyoruz. Arka kapağında bu bilgiler yazdığı için spoiler’dan saymadım ama saymamak için bir nedenim daha var. O da, bu işin polisiye olayının kitabın pek de ana odak noktası olmaması.
Eserimizin anlatım dili birinci kişi ağzından. Kitabımızda Delahunt’ın hapse girdiği ve idamını beklediği bir zamandan başlıyor. Ardından da kendi hayatını kendi kaleme alan karakterimizin neler yaşadığına dalış yapıyoruz. Ancak bu hikayeyi polisiye ya da suç hikayesi olarak değerlendirmemek lazım. Bunu biyografik roman olarak adlandırıp suç-gerilim-polisiye üçgenine hiç sokmamak gerekli. Kitabın o parçaları o kadar da baskın değil çünkü. Karakterin üzerine odaklanıldığı için karakterin her şeyi, odak merkezine alınıyor ve işin suç-gerilim-polisiye kavramına pek yer kalmıyor.
Ancak bunun bir artı yönünü de es geçmemek lazım. Böylelikle bir suçlunun psikolojine bakmak için iyi bir fırsatımız olmuş oluyor. Bir insanın bir cinayeti işleyeceği noktaya nasıl geldiği, nasıl işlediği ve işledikten sonra neler yaşadığı gibi süreçleri güzel anlatıyor. Gerçi Suç ve Ceza’yı yeni okuduktan sonra tesadüfen kendimi yine benzer konulu bir kitapta bulmuş olmam ne enteresan bir rastlantı.
Karakterin gri bir noktada duruyor. Karakterin özünde iyi biri olup da çevresi ve yaşadıkları yüzünden mi kötü olduğuna yoksa o kötülüğü hep mi içinde bulundurmuş olduğuna okurun karar vermesi gerekiyor. Romanın da en iyi yanı olarak bunu gösterebilirim. Çok güçlü ve derin bir tartışma olmasa da böyle bir ikilem de söz konusu, mevzubahis romanda.
Kitabı tavsiye eder miyim? Bir polisiye kitabı olarak değil de bir suçlunun biyografik romanı olarak tavsiye ederim. 1800’lerin sanayi devriminde geçen hikaye seviyorsanız o döneme ışık tutan kitaplardan biri olmasının yanı sıra, yazımı da hiç fena değil. Olaylar birinci kişiden anlatıldığı için daha çarpıcı olabiliyor okur için.
Ortalamaya yakın bir kitap oldu benim için. Güzel yanları olduğu kadar tatmin etmeyen yanları da vardı. Okuduğuma pişman değilim ama başka bir kitap okusam eksikliğini hissetmezdim.
Güzel günler dileğiyle. Kendinize iyi bakın.
1800’lü yıllarda geçen hikayeleri bir ayrı seviyorum. O dönemin yaşama zorluğu, sanayileşmenin yeni yeni başlıyor olması, kıyafet tercihleri gibi birçok unsur ilgimi çekmeyi başarıyor. Olur da bir zaman makinesi icat edilirse ve birileri gelip beni o zamana götürmek isterse istemem ama. Ya da öldükten sonra bir sonraki hayatım daha olursa o hayatımın 1800’lerde olmasını istemezdim. Evet, ilgimi çeken birçok unsur var ama bunların hepsi uzaktan bakınca güzel.
Yoksa okudukça daha çok anlıyorsunuz, birçok insanın zor ekonomik şartlar altında yaşam mücadelesi verdiği, hastalığın ve sefaletin kol gezdiği zamanlar.
İşte size bu dönemdeki günlük yaşamı aydınlatan bir kitabın yorumunu yapmak için geldim bu sefer. John Delahunt, ismi kitabın da ismi olan karakterimizin hayatından bir kesiti okumaktayız. Kitabın yazarının ve yayınevinin söylediğine göre tarihte böyle bir kişilik yaşamış. Kitabın yazarı olan Andrew Hudges, John Delahunt’a ait notlar bulunca bunu araştırmış ve biraz da kurgu katarak bize bu kitabı sunmuş.
Kitapta ikili oyun diyebileceğimiz bir durum söz konusu. 1841 yılında Dublin’de geçen hikayemizde Kale isminde bir teşkilat söz konusu. Söz konusu teşkilat, suçları çözmek konusunda halkın da yardımını gizli olacak şekilde alıyor. Kendilerine seçtikleri bu muhbirler, halkın arasına karışıp bilgileri topluyor ve Kale isimli teşkilata suçlarda delil olarak kullanılsın diye satıyor. Ana karakterimiz John Delahunt’ta tesadüf eseri bir muhbir oluyor ve kazandığı paradan memnun kalınca bu işi devam ettirmek istiyor.
Kitabın ikili oyun olmasını sağlayan şey, John’un kendi cinayetini ihbar etmesi. Para uğruna böyle bir yola başvuran John’un hayat hikayesini oldukça detaylı olarak okuyoruz. Arka kapağında bu bilgiler yazdığı için spoiler’dan saymadım ama saymamak için bir nedenim daha var. O da, bu işin polisiye olayının kitabın pek de ana odak noktası olmaması.
Eserimizin anlatım dili birinci kişi ağzından. Kitabımızda Delahunt’ın hapse girdiği ve idamını beklediği bir zamandan başlıyor. Ardından da kendi hayatını kendi kaleme alan karakterimizin neler yaşadığına dalış yapıyoruz. Ancak bu hikayeyi polisiye ya da suç hikayesi olarak değerlendirmemek lazım. Bunu biyografik roman olarak adlandırıp suç-gerilim-polisiye üçgenine hiç sokmamak gerekli. Kitabın o parçaları o kadar da baskın değil çünkü. Karakterin üzerine odaklanıldığı için karakterin her şeyi, odak merkezine alınıyor ve işin suç-gerilim-polisiye kavramına pek yer kalmıyor.
Ancak bunun bir artı yönünü de es geçmemek lazım. Böylelikle bir suçlunun psikolojine bakmak için iyi bir fırsatımız olmuş oluyor. Bir insanın bir cinayeti işleyeceği noktaya nasıl geldiği, nasıl işlediği ve işledikten sonra neler yaşadığı gibi süreçleri güzel anlatıyor. Gerçi Suç ve Ceza’yı yeni okuduktan sonra tesadüfen kendimi yine benzer konulu bir kitapta bulmuş olmam ne enteresan bir rastlantı.
Karakterin gri bir noktada duruyor. Karakterin özünde iyi biri olup da çevresi ve yaşadıkları yüzünden mi kötü olduğuna yoksa o kötülüğü hep mi içinde bulundurmuş olduğuna okurun karar vermesi gerekiyor. Romanın da en iyi yanı olarak bunu gösterebilirim. Çok güçlü ve derin bir tartışma olmasa da böyle bir ikilem de söz konusu, mevzubahis romanda.
Kitabı tavsiye eder miyim? Bir polisiye kitabı olarak değil de bir suçlunun biyografik romanı olarak tavsiye ederim. 1800’lerin sanayi devriminde geçen hikaye seviyorsanız o döneme ışık tutan kitaplardan biri olmasının yanı sıra, yazımı da hiç fena değil. Olaylar birinci kişiden anlatıldığı için daha çarpıcı olabiliyor okur için.
Ortalamaya yakın bir kitap oldu benim için. Güzel yanları olduğu kadar tatmin etmeyen yanları da vardı. Okuduğuma pişman değilim ama başka bir kitap okusam eksikliğini hissetmezdim.
Güzel günler dileğiyle. Kendinize iyi bakın.
August 7, 2018
Based on a true story, The Convictions of John Delahunt is a dark chilling account of a young feckless student of Trinity College in Dublin in 1842 who is convicted of murdering a child after enticing him away, from his mother, for a paid task. The narration is from John Delahunt’s point of view who is asked to write his story before he is hanged. So begins the narration, in a largely unattached tone except on a few occasions, only a few, when John talks about his wife Helen, as he reflects on his life.
I found it a deeply engrossing read, disturbing at times and highly moving. There was a point towards the end of the book when I just couldn’t read any further for the fear of the worst that might happen to this child, who we know is going to get murdered.
The language is reminiscent of the past but simple enough to be enjoyed by the present day readers. John's narration takes the reader back into the dark alleyways, drinking houses, rat holes, secretive morgues and the likes of such at all odd hours in Dublin.
It is a complex tale of the inside world of a criminal mind – or was he really? No one can tell – that is not to exonerate him from the various crimes he committed including the murder of an innocent soul. But it is never too easy to judge anyone. This true account is combined with a myriad other social and political issues that faced the inhabitants of Fitzgerald square in Dublin at the time. From addiction to laudanum, to illegal abortion clinics, to castle politics and social class system - to name a few.
I took in every word with great interest and sometimes with astonishment. It is not very often that one gets to read a crime story from the point of the view of the person committing it. The irony of the matter is, when I had finished reading it, I found myself sympathising with John even though he never pretended to hide any of his thoughts or acts, no matter how callous, from his readers.
A very good read and highly recommended.
I found it a deeply engrossing read, disturbing at times and highly moving. There was a point towards the end of the book when I just couldn’t read any further for the fear of the worst that might happen to this child, who we know is going to get murdered.
The language is reminiscent of the past but simple enough to be enjoyed by the present day readers. John's narration takes the reader back into the dark alleyways, drinking houses, rat holes, secretive morgues and the likes of such at all odd hours in Dublin.
It is a complex tale of the inside world of a criminal mind – or was he really? No one can tell – that is not to exonerate him from the various crimes he committed including the murder of an innocent soul. But it is never too easy to judge anyone. This true account is combined with a myriad other social and political issues that faced the inhabitants of Fitzgerald square in Dublin at the time. From addiction to laudanum, to illegal abortion clinics, to castle politics and social class system - to name a few.
I took in every word with great interest and sometimes with astonishment. It is not very often that one gets to read a crime story from the point of the view of the person committing it. The irony of the matter is, when I had finished reading it, I found myself sympathising with John even though he never pretended to hide any of his thoughts or acts, no matter how callous, from his readers.
A very good read and highly recommended.
April 28, 2014
This is a fictional story based on the conviction of a man called John Delahunt in 1842 for the murder of the very young boy Thomas MacGuire.
It is good example of how sociopaths can walk among us unnoticed perhaps because they have yet to commit a crime or have never been caught.
Delahunt lacks a conscience and a sense of moral responsibility, and yet he is a responsible member of society. He comes from a reputable family, he goes to college and he is a gentleman. John Delahunt is also capable of the most heinous of deeds without feeling any remorse whatsoever.
Or is he guided by desperation? He has no more options and has to do what he does? Sounds fair right? Or could it be that the situation allows him to do things he subconsciously wanted to do. There is a scene in the book describing John as a child and an incident with a small animal. That incident is indicative of his true nature.
The relationship between John and his wife Helen is quite intriguing. She is far from being the naive young woman from high society. Helen is a hard-nosed manipulator and liar. She has her own role to play when it comes to John making money. She does it willingly and with a lot of pleasure.
John fails to understand just how far Helen will go to get what she wants and until the end he holds on firmly to the belief that she will think of him and be sorry about his impending death.
The real story lies within the grimy filth ridden streets of Dublin of that era and the corruption within the very structure which is supposed to keep the population safe. Instead of doing that the Castle rules Dublin like a mafia like street gang.
After watching John act without any conscience over and over again the scene between himself and the child at the end was a contradiction to his prior behaviour. Once again the reader is lured in to believe John was just a victim of circumstance. Was he?
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley.
It is good example of how sociopaths can walk among us unnoticed perhaps because they have yet to commit a crime or have never been caught.
Delahunt lacks a conscience and a sense of moral responsibility, and yet he is a responsible member of society. He comes from a reputable family, he goes to college and he is a gentleman. John Delahunt is also capable of the most heinous of deeds without feeling any remorse whatsoever.
Or is he guided by desperation? He has no more options and has to do what he does? Sounds fair right? Or could it be that the situation allows him to do things he subconsciously wanted to do. There is a scene in the book describing John as a child and an incident with a small animal. That incident is indicative of his true nature.
The relationship between John and his wife Helen is quite intriguing. She is far from being the naive young woman from high society. Helen is a hard-nosed manipulator and liar. She has her own role to play when it comes to John making money. She does it willingly and with a lot of pleasure.
John fails to understand just how far Helen will go to get what she wants and until the end he holds on firmly to the belief that she will think of him and be sorry about his impending death.
The real story lies within the grimy filth ridden streets of Dublin of that era and the corruption within the very structure which is supposed to keep the population safe. Instead of doing that the Castle rules Dublin like a mafia like street gang.
After watching John act without any conscience over and over again the scene between himself and the child at the end was a contradiction to his prior behaviour. Once again the reader is lured in to believe John was just a victim of circumstance. Was he?
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley.
December 29, 2018
This debut novel by Andrew Hughes has been a book which has certainly excelled my expectations.
The complete story has been written in a most exceptional way, for it tells the story about Dublin and life in Ireland in general, and it captivates the reader from start to finish.
The book is set in Dublin mainly in the years AD 1841/42 and it tells the tale of a man called John Delahunt, and about his fortunes and misdeeds.
After several personal incidents, even killing an Italian man called Domenico and framing another man, Cooney, for the murder, this same John Delahunt kills a young boy in Dublin, or so it seems or that he's now being framed himself for the murder by Lyster, but while being an informer and thus being in the pay of the British authorities at Dublin Castle, he thinks he can get away with it again and so he does not fear any punishment at first.
What John Delahunt did not expect is the huge public outcry and which forces the British authorities to arrest and convict him for this horrible crime.
And so in the end John Delahunt decides to tell his tragic tale to all who want to hear, while waiting in his cell in Kilmainham Gaol for the hangman.
What follows is a dark and sinister story of a personal tragedy, of a man who has not only betrayed mostly himself but also his family, friends and society.
Very much recommended for this book is for certain a "Compelling and Stunning Debut"!
The complete story has been written in a most exceptional way, for it tells the story about Dublin and life in Ireland in general, and it captivates the reader from start to finish.
The book is set in Dublin mainly in the years AD 1841/42 and it tells the tale of a man called John Delahunt, and about his fortunes and misdeeds.
After several personal incidents, even killing an Italian man called Domenico and framing another man, Cooney, for the murder, this same John Delahunt kills a young boy in Dublin, or so it seems or that he's now being framed himself for the murder by Lyster, but while being an informer and thus being in the pay of the British authorities at Dublin Castle, he thinks he can get away with it again and so he does not fear any punishment at first.
What John Delahunt did not expect is the huge public outcry and which forces the British authorities to arrest and convict him for this horrible crime.
And so in the end John Delahunt decides to tell his tragic tale to all who want to hear, while waiting in his cell in Kilmainham Gaol for the hangman.
What follows is a dark and sinister story of a personal tragedy, of a man who has not only betrayed mostly himself but also his family, friends and society.
Very much recommended for this book is for certain a "Compelling and Stunning Debut"!
June 26, 2015
I found this book to be a fascinating one and my interest never flagged throughout the book, which is saying something because you know from the start how the story is going to turn out. Even with that knowledge, there were so many shocking moments that I was completely riveted to the book.
This is a historical novel loosely based on an actual event that took place in the 1840's. As the main character, John Delahunt, waits for the hangman to take him from his prison cell, he writes down his story, which begins with his love for Helen. He's a poor student and he's desperate to earn enough to bring his family out of the less-than-desirable living arrangements that they find themselves in. He's caught up in a nefarious agency called "The Castle" and hesitantly begins to work for them. The methods of this agency to find and prosecute criminals is quite horrifying and the affect on Delahunt as he continues his efforts to please his boss is chilling.
The story is a very original one and the author has done an excellent job in portraying the moral decline of the characters. It's a completely believable story and definitely an engrossing one. The author transported me to a place and time where innocents are the victims of cruel greed. A dark, atmospheric, wonderfully written novel that I highly recommend.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This is a historical novel loosely based on an actual event that took place in the 1840's. As the main character, John Delahunt, waits for the hangman to take him from his prison cell, he writes down his story, which begins with his love for Helen. He's a poor student and he's desperate to earn enough to bring his family out of the less-than-desirable living arrangements that they find themselves in. He's caught up in a nefarious agency called "The Castle" and hesitantly begins to work for them. The methods of this agency to find and prosecute criminals is quite horrifying and the affect on Delahunt as he continues his efforts to please his boss is chilling.
The story is a very original one and the author has done an excellent job in portraying the moral decline of the characters. It's a completely believable story and definitely an engrossing one. The author transported me to a place and time where innocents are the victims of cruel greed. A dark, atmospheric, wonderfully written novel that I highly recommend.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
January 6, 2015
The best fabrications are built around a truth and here the author uses his exceptional historical knowledge to develop the story of the Dublin police informant, John Delahunt. The word compelling is overused by publishers but appropriate here. The pace, the attention to period detail, the cast of characters, and the unfolding plot, are all handled with great skill. Delahunt comes across as a confused sociopath. While he is most times cold and calculating he demonstrates a care for his wife when she becomes addicted to Laudenum that is hard to reconcile with his deeds. Is the early loss of his mother a motivating factor, his estrangement from his father or is he seduced by the opportunity of easy money? I was never completely satisfied I understood Delahunt's motivations and perhaps that helped to absorb me in the unfolding plot. Similarly it was mildly jarring to have his attire described as unwashed, his appearance unkempt, his lodgings as leaking, yet find him a student in Trinity college and a member of the Repeal club. But these are small nit-picks and arguably a pedant's critique. The Convictions of John Delahunt is an excellent time capsule for those who enjoy historical or crime fiction.
March 4, 2014
Andrew Hughes has done a wonderful job bringing 1840s Dublin to life. The lead character John Delahunt is a penniless student who initially feels uncomfortable at becoming an informer. When he realises how much money he can earn however, things become much more sinister.
Always told in the first person the story switches between the time in the cell awaiting execution and the events that led to him being there.
The pace of the story never alters, for such a chilling novel it was very quick to read. It contained everything - corruption, poverty, greed, violence but also some quite dark, sly humour.
After I read this novel I was left wanting to know more about John Delahunt, life in Dublin at the time, and The Repeal Association.
Thanks to Elizabeth Masters for sending me a copy of this novel.
Always told in the first person the story switches between the time in the cell awaiting execution and the events that led to him being there.
The pace of the story never alters, for such a chilling novel it was very quick to read. It contained everything - corruption, poverty, greed, violence but also some quite dark, sly humour.
After I read this novel I was left wanting to know more about John Delahunt, life in Dublin at the time, and The Repeal Association.
Thanks to Elizabeth Masters for sending me a copy of this novel.
June 10, 2015
"Kind deeds rarely leave a lasting mark."
An intricate dark entanglement of true crime and atmosphere make up this compelling debut that takes the reader deep into a calculated mind and early 19th-century Dublin. The less you know, the better with this novel that may have some twisted surprises waiting for the right reader. A little slow in the beginning but once the corners of the puzzle of the narrator’s thoughts and reminisces are placed down then this tale takes on an unsettling tone that is hard to ignore. The dialogue and a few scenes also skip occasionally out of the setting and era but the sinister and prolific period details shared in this story pull the eye away from those types of blemishes and slowly reveal a real gem that makes terrific reading for those of us who love multilayered thrillers with lasting emotional impressions.
An intricate dark entanglement of true crime and atmosphere make up this compelling debut that takes the reader deep into a calculated mind and early 19th-century Dublin. The less you know, the better with this novel that may have some twisted surprises waiting for the right reader. A little slow in the beginning but once the corners of the puzzle of the narrator’s thoughts and reminisces are placed down then this tale takes on an unsettling tone that is hard to ignore. The dialogue and a few scenes also skip occasionally out of the setting and era but the sinister and prolific period details shared in this story pull the eye away from those types of blemishes and slowly reveal a real gem that makes terrific reading for those of us who love multilayered thrillers with lasting emotional impressions.
March 1, 2017
This book was well-written and the plot captivating enough to keep turning the page. Ultimately, though, the main character was too two-dimensional. He lacked any sort of moral fiber, or any humanity at all, really. The author gave him no conviction, no drive, no motivation. The plot seemed to just happen TO him, rather than him driving the plot. After reading the afterword, it makes sense why this would be the case: the author used the protagonist as a vehicle to direct the course of actual events found in the author's research. The events were probably very accurate and thoroughly researched, and even well-represented in the plot. But I found the development of the all the characters within and surrounding the plot lacking.
December 14, 2017
Perhaps the hardest trick to pull off as a novelist is a first-person narrative with an unsympathetic narrator. Andrew Hughes, regrettably, doesn't manage it here. The eponymous Delahunt has no redeeming feature beyond candour, and for all the chilly precision of the prose, it's just too hard to care about what happens to him. His execution comes as a welcome relief to the reader if not the narrator.
To see how an unsympathetic protagonist should be done, Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels are an excellent starting point.
To see how an unsympathetic protagonist should be done, Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels are an excellent starting point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2015
Great book. Historical fiction-1840s-Dublin, Ireland. I couldn't wait to get to the end to see what happened. That is when all hell breaks loose, of course. I really enjoyed the grittiness of this novel. Seemed to me to be very accurate for the times, not to mention the hard-scrabble existence most people endured. Give this book 4 stars. Recommended!
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