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357 Pages
- The Blurb
Ruthless crime lord Declan Hennessy has only one ambition; to rule Dublin’s northside. Once he is in control of the drug trade, he can take his foot off the pedal and enjoy the empire he has built for his family. Incompetent amateur Martin Lynch has charm and no real malice. At heart an honest man, he struggles to provide for his family as a result of bad debts and worse luck. Declan and Martin despise each other but over the past two decades, their families’ lives have become intertwined in unsettling ways. Despite the common traits they share, nothing can resolve the long-standing conflict between them.When two rival gangs enter Declan’s territory, a violent struggle for power ensues; a struggle that both families cannot avoid. Whilst Declan and Martin will do anything to protect their families, they soon realise that the only thing they need protection from is… themselves. If they cannot find a way to unite, they will lose everything. An Honest Man is a powerful and stirring crime novel with a dark sense of humour that reveals the redemptive power of adversity.
- My Review...
The author has created an unusual yet enticing mix of black humour, tragedy and crime.
The book really falls into three parts. In the first part we focus on the the lovable loser Martin. He is a Del Boy type of character but with added alcohol issues and we learn a little of Declan's backstory. This section is paced at a relaxing, enjoyable meander rather than a romp. We learn of the episodic comic exploits of Martin. While the tales are enjoyable you struggle to see the relevance of them. This however becomes clear when something unexpected happens in the middle of the book. It will have you gently sobbing into your tea. The author does a great job of breaking your heart and it was at this point I realised that the first part of the book was subtly and subconsciously drawing you in to investing in the characters, before punching you in the face. It was a Mr Miaggi moment, when I realised the wax on, wax off of the first half the book was sneakily developing you for what was to come.
Throughout the book there is a strong sense of community and friendship but tempered by hardship. Its a very working class sense of community. It reminded me of the sense of innocence and hardship in the film "Belfast." and indeed my own childhood growing up in the Welsh valleys.
The wives of the two protagonists are friends as are their adolescent sons. These friendships are not without their challenges as the fathers issues with each have a detrimental effect. The last part of the book deals with the gangland war and focuses more on Declan, the vicious gang-lord, and the redemption of both men. This part was more straightforward.
Some call it banter, some call it taking the piss, here it is called giving out and it is brilliantly done. The humour is as thick and black yet there is a sprinkling of thought provoking home truths that help cut through the bravado.
An unusually plotted crime novel, with a rich vein of black humour. Makes you laugh, makes you cry. All you could want from a Irish tale. Chapaeu Mr J.F. Conroy
- Selected Quotes
"Now what's with this drinking all the time? You don't see me at breakfast with a can of lager with my toast do you?
I don't see you at breakfast at all Da - you're always sleeping off the drink from the night before"
"Love comes and goes, but jealousy is bred on the bone."
"It takes years to get to this size.
Is it a gland problem ye have?
No it's a repetitive knife and fork problem."
"What are your plans over the Easter holidays?
Shrugging his shoulders, Martin raised then dropped his hands to his sides in surrender. 'The same as Jesus' he quipped 'disappear on Friday, turn back up on Monday"
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best I could do...
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- About the Author
If you have already read An Honest Life, you are probably thinking, ‘That’s a fine story told by a good solid Irish writer’...Well, the truth is, I am about as Irish as a Caribbean coconut… ok, let me take that back a notch. This story starts from humble beginnings rather much like my own. My mother and father moved over from Ireland to the UK and met around 1970. They married and had three children that grew up at 22 Holmewood Road, Brixton Hill, LONDON. If you tap this address into Google Earth, you will get a feel for the surroundings from chapter one. I grew up amongst the Irish community attending céilithe and festivals and absorbed in the characteristics of the Irish charm. So, rather much like an onion soaked in vinegar, you could say that I am a pickled Irishman… yes, I like that statement. I am a pickled Irishman.
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