The Origins of Benjamin Hackett

by Gerald M. O'Connor

All families have secrets. Most go untold…

In the summer of ’96, Benjamin Hackett has come of age, technically. And in the midst of the celebratory hangover, his world is whipped out from under his feet. His parents have finally shared their lifelong secret with him; he’s adopted.

At the age of eighteen, the boy still has some growing up to do, and with the help of JJ, his loquacious consigliore and bodyguard, he embarks on an adventure that’ll put to bed a lifetime of lies.

Over the course of five days, they find themselves caught up in the darker side of Cork. But when they sweep through the misfits blocking their way and finally discover the truth of it…now that’s the greatest shock of all.

The Origins of Benjamin Hackett is a tender tale of heartache and displacement told through a wry and courageous voice. Set in Ireland, it’s a timely reminder that the world hasn’t moved on just as fast as we fancy. Now, in this emotionally charged story, Gerald O’Connor explores conditioned guilt and its consequences in a country still hiding from the sins of its past.

Praise for THE ORIGINS OF BENJAMIN HACKETT...

"The Origins of Benjamin Hacket by Gerald O'Connor is a raucous and riotous coming of age story that is brutal, tender and hilarious." -- Paul D. Brazill, author of A Case of Noir and Guns of Brixton

"O'Connor doles out killer dialogue that adds oodles of character to this hero's journey. Told with the lilt and panache of Joseph O'Connor and Dermot Bolger in their novels of the 90s, Gerald O'Connor is the new and improved voice we've been waiting for." -- Gerard Brennan, author of Undercover and Wee Rockets

"Visceral writing that inherits a long Irish tradition. O'Connor's narrative contains sharp characterisation, and has an assured voice, while dramatising conditioned guilt with humour and style." -- Richard Godwin, author of Apostle Rising, Mr. Glamour and One Lost Summer and others

"If you're expecting the usual coming-of-age tale, you're in for a big shock. This is a tale big on heart and one which the author, Gerald O'Connor, has hied religiously to the advice of Harry Crews for writers, to leave out the parts readers skip. None of those parts remain in these pages. An auspicious debut!" -- Les Edgerton, author of The Death of Tarpons, The Bitch, The Genuine, Imitation, Plastic Kidnapping, Bomb, and others

282 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2017

Reviews

[Les Edgerton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An auspicious debut! A coming-of-age novel that is big on heart. The language alone makes this book worth reading--a lush, Irish voice that hasn't been homogenized in the least. Another example of why Irish writers are considered among the best in the world. No one can turn a phrase like the Irish. Highly recommend this book!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

"The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald O'Connor is a raucous and riotous coming of age story that is brutal, tender and hilarious." - Paul D. Brazil, author of A Case of Noir and Guns of Brixton

I was captivated by The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald O'Connor. This coming of age story starts with Benjamin and his loyal friend JJ celebrating Benjamin's eighteenth birthday by overindulging at a local Irish pub. Then the bomb drops!...Benjamin's parents inform him that he is adopted and he goes ballistic.

Benjamin wants to immediately go to Barnamire Convent and find out who his biological parents are and punch them in the face. JJ convinces him to play hurling first.

The exciting game of hurling did not prepare me for the action and shenanigans that occur in the quest. There is never a dull moment.

I was unfamiliar with the word 'hurling', so I did some research. "Hurling is an ancient team game that is played outside and is one of the national sports of Ireland. It was first played in the 7th century. Widely considered to be the fastest game played on grass, the game consists of two teams of 15 trying to drive a ball down the field with a stick in order to score against each other."-Wikipedia

Thanks to Down and Out Books, NetGalley, and the author Gerald M. O'Conner for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Origins of Benjamin Hackett and for such a short book it took me a surprisingly long time to read (almost 4 days!). I just couldn't fully immerse myself into this novel and I found my mind was continuously wandering while I was reading this book so I'd have to go back and reread multiple parts because I just wasn't retaining it the first time which doesn't make for an enjoyable reading experience. I like to be completely captivated by, and fully engaged in, the novels that I read and this one just didn't do it for me, it was almost painfully boring in some parts and so unbelievable and unrealistic in others that it was a struggle for me to finish.

I have to admit that I went into reading this book completely blind with no expectations because I have never heard of this book previously, nor have I ever read any other works by its author, Gerald M. O'Connor, so at least I wasn't incredibly disappointed as far as that goes. The book begins with a young man, Benjamin Hackett, turning 18 years old and finding out, from the couple who he has always thought of as his parents, that he was, in fact, adopted. Let's just say that he doesn't take the news well and has no details about his biological parents so, along with the help of his best mate "JJ", he embarks on a mission to discover the history of his origins (hence the title) with every intention of greeting his biological parents with a punch in the face. The book follows Benjamin in this quest, a coming of age story, if you will but I found a lot of the scenarios he and JJ find themselves in, and some of the characters they encounter along the way, to be completely far fetched and unrealistic to the point where it was almost insulting to the intelligence of the reader and I couldn't take the book seriously as a result.

This book takes place in Ireland, mainly in the city of Cork, and much of the language throughout the novel reflects that, which I actually enjoyed very much. I've always been a big fan of reading British books and picking up on words or phrases they use that differ from those of Americans and this book had several examples of just that, including: the use of "tinnies" which refers to cans of beer, "box" meaning a television, "torch" for flashlight, and "holdall" was the word used to describe a backpack. Luckily I read this book on my Kindle so whenever one of these questionable words was used I was able to look up the definition immediately, a tool I utilized quite a few times while reading this book.

Having said that I have to be honest in that this was definitely not one of my favorites to say the least and with so many excellent books out there waiting to be read I'm quite disappointed that I wasted my time on this not-so-good one and I can't, in good faith, recommend this to anyone else. I'm giving it three stars because it wasn't horrible, the writing wasn't bad but the storyline was just so unbelievable and the characters were really unremarkable and they didn't leave an impression on me one way or the other. If I had to use one word to describe my feelings towards The Origins of Benjamin Hackett it would be "indifferent".

I received an advanced reading copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[M F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely what I expected and I didn't find the character motivations 100% convincing, but on the whole this was a quick, enjoyable read. Full review to follow when it isn't gone three in the morning (because as usual, I'm reading too late at night).

--- And now for a full review ---
I think I've forgotten how to write book reviews, because I have no idea where to start with this book. Overall, I enjoyed it -- it didn't take me long to read, the dialogue was snappy and there were parts that made me laugh, and it's got a plot that goes from one complication to another without having a convoluted overarching narrative that the reader is somehow expected to figure out. My favourite kind of plot.

It's also incredibly Irish. I wasn't entirely expecting that, but it's set in Cork, and everything about it -- from the phrasing and slang to the jokes to the use of hurling sticks for uses other than their intended purpose -- makes that very clear. I mean, to be honest, the entire plot is linked to the setting. Benjamin has just learned that he was adopted, and he's on a quest to find his birth parents, but the convent where he was born has been covering up this information for years. That, in itself, is something quite specific to Ireland -- there have been a number of scandals about that kind of thing.

I'm a big fan of Ireland, mainly as a medieval and literary concept, but also as a place -- I'd like to move there one day, if possible, although that'll depend on my own circumstances. (And, you know, the general political environment. Plus, this is assuming the world doesn't end in the next few months, which isn't looking so unlikely these days.) So something that felt so authentically Irish was quite a good fit for me.

However, I didn't find the characters' motivations entirely convincing. Benjamin has just learned, after eighteen years without an inkling, that he's adopted, and immediately he's mad at his parents and wants to track down his birth parents (and possibly punch them in the face for abandoning him). While I could understand his curiosity, because most people would want to know that kind of thing, he took it to lengths I wouldn't have expected.

You'd think, once information became that difficult to get hold of, you'd settle for knowing that your parents raised you for eighteen years and love you and who cares if you didn't come out of your mum's womb, right? But he keeps pursuing it, even when it becomes life-threatening. I would have found it more convincing if there was something else resting on the discovery, some ulterior motive for knowing his birth parents' identities. That said, I'm not adopted, and I have no idea how I would react in that scenario, so maybe it's reasonable enough.

The book did seem curiously old-fashioned, though. One would've expected his first port of call to be the internet, but that never seems to cross his mind. There's a reference to an iPhone or something later in the book, so it's obviously not meant to be set twenty years ago, but it has a curiously timeless feel to it with the lack of modern markers that would have made it more clearly 'present'.

The actual reveal about the identity of Ben's birth parents was pretty clever, I thought, and just complicated enough for me not to have guessed it in advance, with lots of red herrings to throw the reader off the scent. As a mystery, it certainly worked well enough, though it had quite a lot of action along the way (such as burning down a convent, a little bit accidentally).

I enjoyed the book for what it was, but I think overall it could have had a more clearly defined sense of genre -- the amount of action seemed disproportionate to the stakes since, as I've said, there was nothing but Ben's peace of mind resting on the information about his birth parents. It felt like a mystery dressing up and pretending to be something more action-packed than it should really have been, if that makes sense.

This review is a bit lame, namely because I read the book in the middle of the night, and also beacuse my brain is completely melted now that it's the end of the Cambridge term. Hopefully my general points got across, though!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benjamin Hackett discovers he's adopted and takes an epic journey through Cork, Ireland, trying to find his birth parents. So he can punch them in the face. He winds up dragging his best friend, JJ--an unflappable optimist if there ever was one--all over the darker areas of Cork in his quest. This is a truly unique coming-of-age story, one stripped of all sentimentality but full of humor.

O'Connor is a skilled writer with a real command of dialogue (think "the Irish Elmore Leonard"), so you won't be disappointed if you read it for that alone. But you won't read it for that alone, because the characters are so vivid and the twists are so engaging. Hackett and JJ truly are a delight, and yet the reader still feels the weight of their country's history. It's one of those cases where the personal strikes at the heart of the universal experience: we all want to know our origins. This is the fictional equivalent of Angela's Ashes--and I don't say that lightly. I've read that book 20+ times.

This novel marked a departure for me from my usual crime/SF/fantasy fiction, and I'm really glad I made it. Can't wait for the next one.

[Robert Udrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the novel was a speedy and enjoyable read overall.
The only dissatisfaction for me was the Irish-feeling. It was so graphically Irish-sharped that even the jokes were hard to understand.
To sum up, I quite liked the fact that was about emotions and consequences and Benjamin Hackett was an attractive character.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a long time ago that coming of age stories are not just for young adults—if they are well written there’s a lesson in it for all of us. Gerald O’ Connor’s story delivers. True, it’s a coming of age story where Benjamin is on a journey to find the truth about himself, but the characters and voice set it apart and above being “just” a coming of age book. The voice immediately takes you in and keeps you with Benjamin and his friend JJ during their week of discovery. The colloquialisms and lilt of the Irish tongue waft off the page into your brain, and lives there, long after the book is done. It’s a rare book that allows you to get completely lost within it, take you away to another decade, another age, an adventure you’ve never had and never will, but live it along with the characters. Gerald O’Connor does this, magnificently.
I am honored to have received an ARC from the publisher.

[Connie Fulmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading “The Origins of Benjamin Hackett.” Unfortunately, I made the mistake of starting it in the middle of a work project with a short deadline. So, I had to finish this wonderful delight the following day. It’s hard to believe that this book is a debut novel—the writing is phenomenal. I’m ready for this author’s next novel.

You’ll be drawn into the book from the very first page by not only Benjamin’s plight but also through the fascinating way the author puzzled words and language together on the page. This engaging story about Benjamin’s search for the truth of his birth is laid down in word-art combinations and varied sentence structures that result in a mesmerizing cadence. The shock of finding out that he was adopted and the relevant emotional events in the search for the truth are palpable. The outcome is a book that engages the reader in a satisfying and pleasurable experience from start to finish. And, speaking of the end of the book—I’ll not spoil it—is perfect!

[Paul Brazill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five days in the life of eighteen-year-old Benjamin Hackett as his world is turned upside down. The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald M O’Connor is a raucous and riotous coming of age story that is brutal, tender and hilarious.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (03/17)

Article first published as Book Review: ‘The Origins of Benjamin Hackett’ by Gerald M. O’Connor on Blogcritics.

“The Origins of Benjamin Hackett,” by Gerald M. O’Connor is a hilarious coming of age tale that takes place in Cork, Ireland, and is quite unlike any coming of age story I’ve ever read.

When Benjamin Hackett turned eighteen years old, his parents rather unceremoniously blurt out that he is adopted. Such begins Benjamin’s search for his real parents, if for no other reason than to punch them in the noses! The journey starts with a visit to Father Brogan, who directs Benjamin to the Barnamire Convent for answers. Benjamin enlists the aid of his best friend, JJ – one, because he has a car, and two, because he’s just an all-around good guy who can’t turn down a friend in need.

The duo soon find themselves up to their necks in trouble, averting one disaster after another in their quest for the truth. From the dealings of a dangerous gangster with no sense of humor, to the trials of a cranky Mother Superior, the guys have to overcome numerous, and sometimes near fatal, obstacles in their path. At the end of the hunt, what will Benjamin make of all that’s transpired?

What an engaging, entertaining read! The words flow effortlessly across the pages, yet with dynamic presence. Not one single word is unnecessary or excessive – each one adds to the brilliance of the story. I love sharp, witty writing, and this story is full of crafty dialogue between the characters. The banter is so off-the-charts funny, I often found myself laughing aloud, and getting the strangest looks from my husband, to which I replied, “you just need to read it to appreciate it.” Honestly, I struggled with wanting to stop and memorize some of the humorous phrases for later use, and staying in the story – of course, I stayed glued to the pages – I just couldn’t help myself! Besides, some of this stuff you just can’t pull off with an American accent!

While the writing is brilliant, the characters are the shining stars, elevating this already phenomenal story to even greater heights. So relatable and genuine, it was easy to feel connected with all of the characters, from the ill-fated protagonists, to the bit-part characters. Don’t assume to know how this story will play out – the twists and turns will keep readers continually guessing as to how Benjamin will fare in the end. I love that the story includes a bit of everything – drama, love, loss, suspense, and competition, all while enveloping readers deep into the settings along the coast and the countryside of Ireland.

It’s hard to believe “The Origins of Benjamin Hackett” is Gerald O’Connor’s first novel. With the exceptional writing, the well-developed characters, and fantastic storyline, it seems this author has a natural gift, and I look forward to reading more of his work. Well done!

[Gill · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book begins with Benjamin Hackett, having turned 18, finding out he’s adopted. Needless to say he doesn’t take the news all that well and with very little information to go on about his biological parents, he sets off on a mission to discover his origins.

This should’ve been a quick read but it kind of dragged on. At times it was verging on completely unrealistic. I think there seems to be some confusion about what genre it is as well, there’s not enough mystery to fall into that and not enough action for it to fall into that but it seems to try to rely on both those things far too much to be considered general fiction. There’s no real clear definition in the writing and plot, which made it difficult to immerse myself fully into the story. The characters were rather lacklustre and the believability of certain situations the main character finds himself in made me roll my eyes so much I think i’ve given myself permanent damage.

The writing style was good and I liked that the author stayed very true to the Irish setting with all the dialogue etc. it just wasn't a great story for me.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the blurbs I read about this book I was thinking this was along the lines of the Catholic Churches homes for single mothers and the theft of their babies. Or Call the Midwife on PBS. I can't say I was altogether disappointed in the story, the writing is very well done, in my opinion. Just, wasn't all that into the story I guess. Characters were interesting, plot should have held my attention, but it took me ages to finally finish this book, give it long, hard thought, and write a review. It will find it's audience, though, and deserves to, just wasn't for me.
I received a Kindle Arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Diana Beebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved the book so much that I pre-ordered another copy to give to a friend as a gift. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that I didn’t want to put down. Benjamin’s journey to find his birth parents is both harrowing and hilarious. Benjamin’s voice (and the author’s writing) is lilting (and beautiful) and paints the story in gorgeous detail. I highly recommend this book.

[Paul Brazill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Origins of Benjamin Hacket by Gerald O'Connor is a raucous and riotous coming of age story that is brutal, tender and hilarious.

[Cheryl Bresland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waxing lyrical is a gift that the Irish are born with apparently, so it should come as no surprise that the word-wizardy of Gerald O'Connor simply dances in your head. As an Australian who has never travelled to Ireland, I could see and smell the landscape in it's brutality and beauty, and it was easy to evoke the differences in the brogue accents of the characters that hailed from different regions within that landscape. The sharp and witty dialogue between the two main characters showed an emotional maturity and confidence that I found hard to associate with 18 year old boys, but perhaps that's just Australian 18 year old boys? Again, the confidence exuded by the two main characters was out of keeping with the lack of experience 18 year old boys have garnered, so if the characters were a little older, it would have sat easier with me. That said, the adventures and interactions they did have were brilliantly told and I felt every sodden, desperate, laughable moment they shared. Definitely up for Gerald O'Connors writing style, so very much looking forward to the next book from this dynamic new author!

[JJ Stick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Origins of Benjamin Hackett

The Origins of Benjamin Hackett
by Gerald M. O'Connor

In The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald M. O’Connor we explore the Irish city of Cork, it’s denizens and characters, and its lively language. Told through the eyes of Benjamin Hackett our narrator is on a journey of discovery a common enough story for many young men turning 18 years of age. Here’s the difference, on this his 18th birthday in 1996, a hungover Benjamin learns from his parents that he was, in fact, adopted. Off he goes with, accompanied by his best mate JJ, to find out the truth of who and why. In the course of this five-day journey we encounter the Catholic Church of Ireland and all of its institutional secrecy, the sport of Hurling (as foreign to some as Quidditch once was), gangsters, arch rivals, distant women and the most dangerous thing of all, family. This is author O’Connor’s debut novel, it is remarkable that his voice is so developed, there is a lushness apparent in both language and dialogue, and an equally well-tuned sense of humor. The ending leaves us with the hope of more, these characters, and especially our narrator deserve an on-going series. Funny, engaging and well-paced, it is a diversion worth your time. Highly recommended.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

--John Stickney

[Killian Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable and humerous coming of age story. The story is based primarily in Cork, Ireland and sees the main character Benjamin Hackett go from a child without a care to a young man with a lot of personal anguish and internal turmoil to overcome on hearing he is adopted. What an 18th birthday present to receive! Now he is on a quest for information about his real parents, but how will he deal with this new found information and the power which that new information can wield over his family? That quest takes him on a personal journey from the dreary but safe corners of West Cork to the wilds and seedy side of Cork City and an introduction to some of its less desirable inhabitants. O'Connor does a great job at mirroring the light and dark emotional sides of Hackett with the temperament of the surroundings in which Hackett finds himself during his quest for the truth. While the characters may at time be a little outrageous and the humour/language very Irish centric (which might be expected given its setting) this was a humerous, light read with a bunch of chuckles being unleashed at the carry on of Hackett and his side kick, JJ. A great introduction from O'Connor for his first novel.

[Toyin Spades · Rating 4 out of 5]

​My first fiction novel of the year. I felt that Saturday will be the appropriate day for this.

Style: Non fiction and chatty. It was descriptive enough for the reader to imagine scenes.

Plot: Set in Ireland (from references made to Cork and the obviously Irish names), Benjamin is an 18 year old on a journey to find his birth parents.

After the near death experience of going off to Cork to trace his parents, he’s back in his hometown figuring out better ways to know who his real parents are.

Gerald does a good job of indulging in multiple enjoyable plot twists. I wish I could give spoilers but I shall restrain myself.

Recommendation: Initially, I found it challenging to follow the narrative. There were too many conversations and innuendos going on. By Chapter 10, it got really interesting as there were the usual twists and turns you’d find in a decent fiction novel. It is definitely worth reading to the end…unless you like being kept in indefinite suspense.

I actually smiled at the end. Sigh.

[Caoimhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Origins of Benjamin Hackett is as endearing as it is raucous, and as hilarious as it is insightful and raw. It is a coming-of-age story equal to the best, with a voice that is irreverent, pure and authentic. It was a joy to read. I laughed out loud and I found myself desperately rooting for Benjamin to find the answers he sought. The wit, humour and marvellous dialogue carried me on a riotous voyage through Cork and brought back wonderful memories of home and of the voice of a true seanchaí. I couldn't recommend this book more and I cannot wait for Gerald M. O'Connor's next venture. A debut like no other, to the Irish abroad, missing the craic and the heart of home, or to anyone who'd like a taste of a great Irish adventure, dive in! You won't regret it!

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher.

[Ronni Arno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the first page to the last. Filled with humor, heart, and an authentic voice that grabs you, Gerald O'Connor's debut novel is sure to be followed by many more.

[Stephen O' · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Origins of Benjamin Hackett" is a funny, light-hearted and sometimes whacky account of a young man's reaction to the news that he is adopted. The visual imagery when the author is describing the weather and landscape of West Cork is powerful. At times, some of the situations in which he and his friend JJ find themselves is somewhat unrealistic. However, I believe the reader appreciates that this simply adds to the amusing and zany nature of the story and one is, thus, encouraged to suspend any desire to hold the storyline up to rigid scrutiny. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable read and a great debut novel from a promising author.

This reviewer received an advanced reader copy from the publisher, NetGalley.

[John A. Fetto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is delightful. It's one of those rare books which are beautifully written, populated with engaging characters, and built along a plot line that draws you effortlessly forward. It has been a long, long time since I have read a book that I could not put down.

On his eighteenth birthday, Benjamin's learns he's adopted. He has but a few days to sort out his past and begins the quest with the aid of another brilliant character−a friend called JJ. Together, they race across Ireland, befriend a local gangster who helps them storm a covenant where they discover a dark secret of the Catholic Church. I don't want to give away more, but I just want to say this could have been a very maudlin story in another writer’s hands, someone without O’Conner’s attention to detail and his ability to invest even minor characters with depth and humanity. Instead the book is breathless, engaging, and thoroughly satisfying. The twists and turns of plot are believable and all the threads tie together brilliantly at the end. Well done.

[Thorne Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few books that literally make me laugh out loud. This is one of them. And, I found myself constantly trying to describe scenes in it to my wife, my brothers, my friends (and ultimately failing, and forcing them to sit down and read this passage, then this one, and this one...). What's especially remarkable is that the humor brilliantly serves a page-turning plot and the gradual growth of the main characters. This novel somehow manages to address some very sensitive themes--adoption, faith, family secrets and the schisms they can create--with humanity and nuance, and making you laugh all the while. You will come away from this book feeling richer. Highly, highly recommended.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing in this novel makes my brain smile and dance. That's the best way I can think to describe how the author's words affect me. I find myself reading (or wanting to read) fast at times to see what happens next and at times slowing to appreciate and soak in the lovely prose. The humor snaps out so quickly and spot on that reading is doubly fun and enjoyable. As the story unfolds, you think you know what to expect and then something (even sometimes just a detail) completely unexpected comes your way. Love it. And the characters... I feel like I'm on the scene with them as they go through their adventures--they are all incredibly vivid and unique. To add to all that, the story has heart--a real warmth and humanity to it.

[Helen Marquis · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a great story at the heart of this slightly overcooked tale of Irish teen, the titular Benjamin Hackett, who discovers he's adopted and goes off on a voyage of self-discovery with his best friend JJ, as they try to discover the truth behind his origins.
O'Connor stretches the narrative way beyond the realms of credibility, leaving it smouldering in the ruins of a gutted nunnery, which is a shame, as there's a really great story trying to break out of this book. The writing style is engaging, with believable, lovable, flawed characters, it just feels like O'Connor tried to cram way too many ideas into his debut novel.
That said, I still really enjoyed this book, as it kept me gripped to the very end. With a bit of tightening up, it could have been awesome!

[Sinead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through The Origins of Benjamin Hackett.There was an immediate authenticity to the Cork voice which I recognised and connected with. The protagonist and his side-kick are so likeable and engaging from the outset. The main characters gave the story real heart....the dialogue was extremely witty and the relationships felt relatable. When the action moves to the city I felt the conflict scenes didn't ring quite as true but I loved the way the action hurtled along towards a cleverly constructed and poignant finish. What a promising debut.....I look forward to book number two from gerald o connor.  (Received an advance copy from publishers)

[Linda Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I often have trouble finishing a novel. So many books, so little time! But this one had me riveted from the start. The author's Irish writing voice is mesmerizing. The characters are engaging and vivid. It's a lively and offbeat adventure that kept me wondering how Benjamin was going to live to tell the tale. There was a point in the middle where the answers felt a little pat, but a couple of unexpected twists near the end more than made up for that. On the whole, five stars for a quirky but very satisfying read. I was given an advanced readers copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Ronan_mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed “The Origins of Benjamin Hackett.” Benjamin on his 18th Birthday discovers he's adopted and embarks on an adventure with his friend JJ to get to the truth! O’Connor weaves some exciting and imaginative subplots around the main storyline. It is clever and funny, yet still manages to deal with the sensitive issues that are at the heart of the story. O’Connor’s strong sense of place transported me to Cork in the summer of 1996 and the antics of two young men. It is full of colourful characters and humour. Hats off to the author, I am looking forward to his next instalment……..
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this novel.

[Deanna Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay book but, a bit different story.

[Brendahuman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast moving story

This story kept you reading to see how much abuse these boys would subject themselves -- and others to! Very satisfying read!