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.


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The Convictions of John Delahunt Paperback – 15 October 2014
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Andrew Hughes
(Author)
Andrew Hughes
(Author)
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Product details
- ASIN : 0552779415
- Publisher : BLACK SWAN; 1st edition (15 October 2014)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780552779418
- ISBN-13 : 978-0552779418
- Dimensions : 12.7 x 2.2 x 19.8 cm
-
Best Sellers Rank:
266,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 7,084 in Historical Mystery
- 16,558 in Murder Thrillers
- 26,921 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
Product description
Review
A quite exceptional novel . . . The world he creates has echoes of Kafka and Orwell . . . totally convincing. It draws you in like a trap. ― C. J. SANSOM, author of Dissolution and Winter in Madrid
Unputdownable . . . chillingly portrayed . . . a highly sophisticated first novel. ― CHARLES PALLISER, author of The Quincunx
Compelling and eerily authentic . . . Read it and be grateful to be alive in our day and age. ― ROBERT GODDARD
A dark, original story wrapped in a wonderful gothic gloom . . . it's a tough act to pull off, but Andrew Hughes manages it with brio. I heard echoes of James Hogg and Robert Louis Stevenson. ― ANDREW TAYLOR, author of The American Boy and The Scent of Death
Reminiscent of John Banville's The Book of Evidence . . . a bracing, lurid tale that is as engrossing as it is chilling. -- Declan Burke ― IRISH INDEPENDENT
A vivid piece of writing . . . brings to mind Andrew Miller’s Costa-winning novel, Pure. ― IRISH TIMES
Extraordinarily detailed world, impeccably researched . . . so superbly written that it soars as a masterly work of fiction . . . utterly compelling. -- Dermot Bolger ― IRISH MAIL ON SUNDAY
An intriguing debut (that) sets out Hughes as one to watch. ― SUNDAY TIMES IRELAND
A skilfully planned, elegantly written debut . . . a riveting read. ― SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
Stupendous: a brilliant achievement for a first novel, completely compelling and with a perfectly damaged central character. ― MANDA SCOTT
Unputdownable . . . chillingly portrayed . . . a highly sophisticated first novel. ― CHARLES PALLISER, author of The Quincunx
Compelling and eerily authentic . . . Read it and be grateful to be alive in our day and age. ― ROBERT GODDARD
A dark, original story wrapped in a wonderful gothic gloom . . . it's a tough act to pull off, but Andrew Hughes manages it with brio. I heard echoes of James Hogg and Robert Louis Stevenson. ― ANDREW TAYLOR, author of The American Boy and The Scent of Death
Reminiscent of John Banville's The Book of Evidence . . . a bracing, lurid tale that is as engrossing as it is chilling. -- Declan Burke ― IRISH INDEPENDENT
A vivid piece of writing . . . brings to mind Andrew Miller’s Costa-winning novel, Pure. ― IRISH TIMES
Extraordinarily detailed world, impeccably researched . . . so superbly written that it soars as a masterly work of fiction . . . utterly compelling. -- Dermot Bolger ― IRISH MAIL ON SUNDAY
An intriguing debut (that) sets out Hughes as one to watch. ― SUNDAY TIMES IRELAND
A skilfully planned, elegantly written debut . . . a riveting read. ― SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
Stupendous: a brilliant achievement for a first novel, completely compelling and with a perfectly damaged central character. ― MANDA SCOTT
Book Description
Set in Dublin in the 1840s and based on the true story of the murder of a child, this dazzling literary debut - at once a historical novel and crime thriller - will appeal to fans of Andrew Taylor, Andrew Miller and Peter Ackroyd.
About the Author
Born 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.
Customer reviews
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
49 global ratings
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Top reviews from other countries

Clemens A. Schoonderwoert
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling and Stunning Debut!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 June 2015Verified Purchase
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"!
2 people found this helpful
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Willow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating, am very impressed!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 June 2014Verified Purchase
I was very surprised that this was a debut novel, as it was so well written.
As other reviewers have stated, the central character was really quite unpleasant and self-centred. I must admit, this made a refreshing, if somewhat uncomfortable change, as it took me a while to get into accepting his shockingly, self-serving lifestyle and mainly conscience-free attitude. Saying that, he is fascinating and unnerving, and I couldn't wait to read more of his story.
I am thoroughly looking forward to reading more of Andrew Hughes's work. His attention to the subtle details of each character's movements in order to show their subconscious innermost feelings,and interesting facts of the 1800's make this novel based on true events, a book to really lose yourself in.
As other reviewers have stated, the central character was really quite unpleasant and self-centred. I must admit, this made a refreshing, if somewhat uncomfortable change, as it took me a while to get into accepting his shockingly, self-serving lifestyle and mainly conscience-free attitude. Saying that, he is fascinating and unnerving, and I couldn't wait to read more of his story.
I am thoroughly looking forward to reading more of Andrew Hughes's work. His attention to the subtle details of each character's movements in order to show their subconscious innermost feelings,and interesting facts of the 1800's make this novel based on true events, a book to really lose yourself in.
4 people found this helpful
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Norman Housley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Admirably dense, atmospheric book, shame about the narrator
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 December 2015Verified Purchase
For a first novel this is terrific and Andrew Hughes deserves these glowing reviews. Fans of Charles Palliser and Iain Pears will lap it up. Hughes provides a similarly rich stew of historical detail and richly observed milieu. He conjures up early Victorian Dublin beautifully. You can see and smell the city. Unfortunately though, the narrator is a deeply unpleasant, borderline sociopath and I for one found reading about his descent into ever more despicable behaviour depressing. So much so that I skimmed the last third - I could see what was coming and found it very uncomfortable. But that's me being oversensitive. If you like a bit of nastiness in your narrative you'll like it.
3.5, but I'm glad it has to show as 4 because the author is one to watch.
3.5, but I'm glad it has to show as 4 because the author is one to watch.

Eva18
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bleak, brutal and depressing tale.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 December 2019Verified Purchase
The unremitting brutality and squalor of life in nineteenth century Dublin depicted in this book made it difficult to read, and indeed I found it so depressing that I did not complete it. The misery of the murderer and his victims alike in a corrupt and sinister world left a very unpleasant aftertaste.

Fnoonar
3.0 out of 5 stars
The tale of a tell-tale
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2015Verified Purchase
I gave this book 3 stars rather than 4, only because I disliked the characters so much. Perhaps that's a measure of how successfully the author depicted them - especially the main character and his wife, both of whom it was difficult to feel an ounce of sympathy for. It was an enjoyable read and the author certainly captured the essence of the era vividly, but on reaching the end of the book, it wasn't so much a case of "Ohhh no!" as "Oh well".
One person found this helpful
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