A recreation of events leading up to the arrest of young Irish immigrant, Albert Black, and his subsequent conviction for murder. What makes this story interesting is the political climate in New Zealand at this time; 1955 when the government was responding to public outrage about the perceived increasing immorality of the country’s youth. And it was this political influence that appeared to be a direct contributing factor to Black’s conviction for murder, not manslaughter and his death sentence, thus becoming the second last person to be hanged in NZ. The book dragged a bit for me especially through the middle during the trial which I found rather repetitive, with too much rehashing of the same events. The later stages after Black’s sentence was handed down were more engaging and held my interest more.

Second read: 17/06/21 - 17/06/21

Rating: (still) 5 stars

Man, this book just hits so good! (Grammar, what are you?) I was actually born in Mount Eden, the suburb in Auckland where this trial took place, and this makes it feel so much more, well, closer to home. I suppose "older" countries won't really understand, because they probably have heaps of true crime stories, but NZ is 181 years old, and so our "history" is not actually that historical. Anyway, I'm going off topic so I should probably stop now. Read below if you want more nonsensical thoughts. BUT PEOPLE. JUST READ THIS BOOK.


First read: 20/01/21 - 20/01/21

Rating: 5 stars

I loved this book so much. It was incredible. The poignancy of the story is conveyed wonderfully, and it almost made me cry! There are very few books that have ever done that. The way the author uses multiple timelines and perspectives was just amazing. I could just gush about it for several pages. I can find not fault (that being said, I just finished it 2 minutes ago so my opinion is definitely not impartial). Just read this book. It details New Zealand's penultimate hanging, and if that sounds even remotely interesting to you, look up the synopsis and just read this book please. AHHHHHH IT'S SO GOOD

This book was beautiful, but immensely difficult. It reminded me a lot of Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites, in that you know how it’s going to end, but it’s still heartbreaking as you work your way towards the inevitable. That it was relatively slow-moving made that even harder, because you can see what’s happening as it develops.

I learned a lot about modern New Zealand history through this book, and used it as a launch pad to do a bit of additional research. If nothing else, it highlights the danger of moral panic and prejudice, particularly in regards to age, immigration and ethnicity.

I was totally captivated by this book and while it hurt to get through, I’m so glad I read it.

I wasn't sure if this book was quite a 5★, but a day later & I'm still thinking about both the book & the subject matter so...

Fiona Kidman is one of New Zealand's most respected fiction writers. From her bio on Goodreads;

Much of her fiction is focused on how outsiders navigate their way in narrowly conformist society.

Perfect description of this book - & of 1950's New Zealand society.

Young Irishman Albert "Paddy" Black

emigrates to New Zealand as a "Ten Pound Pom" - an immigrant who receives an assisted passage to New Zealand. Kidman's interpretation has Black as happy in his new country at first, but he soon becomes homesick and he leaves Lower Hutt & the good friend he has made to chase better pay in our biggest city. Black becomes a caretaker for an inner city boarding house. Johnny McBride (real name Alan Jacques)

Is bigger, meaner & (Black believes) older than Albert, and he forces his way into the boarding house. Things come to a head and after a severe beating at Jacques' hands & provocation at a milk bar, Black stabs Jacques in the neck. Against the odds, the stabbing proves fatal and Black is arrested.

"This Mortal Boy" is in all kinds of trouble. His new Auckland friends desert him, he is up against prejudice against youth, new immigrants - & the Minister of Justice "Gentleman Jack" Marshall. Marshall was a great contradiction -gentle and charming in his manner, but a hardcore proponent of the death penalty.

Source Wikipedia: Public Domain

I wasn't around in 1955, but I do remember Marshall from later in his career (He was briefly the New Zealand Prime Minister) as one of the most honorable NZ politicians.

Poor "Paddy" never stood a chance. He was the second to last person hanged in NZ. His death and the cruel way his mother was denied permission to visit NZ to farewell her son, caused an outcry and the death penalty as a punishment for murder was abolished in 1957.

Kidman's writing style is literary, thoughtful and reflective. She does a good job of showing the contradictions in New Zealand society of the time. I'm not totally convinced by her interpretation of Black's character, but I was still fascinated.

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‘It is a matter of pride to him that under his watch the death penalty has been reinstated.’

On 5 December 1955, Albert Laurence Black, became the second last person to be executed in New Zealand. Albert Black was only twenty when he was convicted of murdering another young man during a fight at a milk bar in Auckland on 26 July 1955. In this haunting novel, Fiona Kidman recreates the events that led to his execution.

And it is a haunting story: encouraged by his mother, Albert Black left Ireland in search of a better life. He made friends with another emigrant, and the two of them found labouring jobs and boarded with a widow in Lower Hutt. But Albert was restless and homesick. Initially he tried to save enough money to return home to Ireland but his need for companionship and desire to try to fit in with other young people thwarted his plans.

Albert moved to Auckland, where he became caretaker of a large house. Despite being told by the landlord not to take in housemates, he did. Albert fell in love with one girl, but another man (one of his housemates) was jealous. And on the 26th of July 1955, in a scuffle, Albert accidentally killed him.

‘What do you know about Albert Black? … Who’s to know what really happened that night? You lot don’t know nothing.’

Reading this novel, I found it difficult to accept that Albert was convicted of murder. But in 1955, it seems that New Zealand was not a liberal society. The novel portrays a society in which English migrants (and especially Irish migrants) were viewed with suspicion. Being different was almost proof of wrongdoing. And in the court, Albert never really had a chance.

I found this a difficult novel to read: sad and thought-provoking.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith