Winner of multiple literary awards, Fiona Kidman’s novel is a powerful exploration of injustice and the death penalty in 1950s New Zealand. Set in Auckland in October 1955, it follows Paddy Black, a young Irish immigrant who finds himself on trial for murder after a violent incident at a jukebox. Far from home and facing a hostile society, Paddy must confront a justice system influenced by prejudice and moral panic, while his mother waits helplessly for the outcome. As the trial unfolds, the novel examines questions of guilt, belonging, and fairness, offering a compassionate and critical look at how outsiders are judged within society