‘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