Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
The Half Crown Man by Fonzie Keogh
*** Ireland 1965 ***
DOES THE MISSING SILVER BOX HOLD ALL THE SECRETS OF BALLYCUMMINS?
Fast moving… Fearsomely Funny…Stunningly Authentic.
Jimmy, the half-crown man, is selling his usual wares but rumours start spreading about the extras he is offering. Elizabeth, the newly widowed pub landlady, is besotted with Dominic, the glamorous new curate in the parish. Her friend Marion warns her that all may not be as it appears with him.
Meanwhile, two altar boys’ mischief backfires, landing them in a sticky situation with Father Mulcahy, the parish priest. When they approach Archie the gravedigger for help he seizes his chance to settle an old score with the priest.
An unsigned note arrives at the pub offering a reward for a missing silver box. Maneen the scheming librarian swears it contains all of the answers to the troubles assailing the village.
A body is found, a confession is made and the village begins to breathe again. But then a shotgun goes missing. Love, sacrifice and revenge drive this engrossing tale to its utterly surprising and shocking conclusion.
Artisan Book Reviews:
The Half Crown Man by Fonzie Keogh is an entertaining read that takes you on a journey through Ireland’s rich past. We follow a dynamic protagonist, Shane who is trying to navigate life in rural Ireland amidst a turbulent time. Keogh’s writing captured the essence of life on the Emerald Isle, being Irish myself I felt connected to the characters as they felt genuine and relatable. The dialogue is lively with the lilt of the accent breathing through the pages. Humor is wonderfully punctuated into the tale, helping to add more poignancy to the dramatic moments.
The warmth that Keogh puts into this historical fiction is very engaging, as it feels grounded and personal. As a reader, you feel you have stepped into a quaint Irish pub. As you wait for your pint of Guinness to settle, you are greeted by an old man at the end of the bar. He begins to tell you his life story, filled with anecdotes and ponderings. You can’t quite fathom the depths of what you are hearing from an unassuming figure. By the end of the night, you come away feeling deeply moved and sentimental. I was able to vividly picture this all while reading Keogh’s words as he brought the town of Ballycummins to life.
It is very clear how much passion went into creating this story, I do look forward to Keogh’s future projects. I fully recommend The Half Crown Man, with the unique setting, wonderful characters and the light-hearted angle for a historical fiction. The Half Crown Man by Fonzie Keogh is an entertaining, humorous and fantastic read and comes highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews. Book reviewed by Rachael Finch for ABR.
Don’t miss out on this award winning novel!!!
Buy The Half Crown Man by Fonzie Keogh today!!!
The Half Crown Man by Fonzie Keogh
Awarded Best Historical Irish Fiction and Humor
