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This Mortal Boy

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This Mortal Boy

By: Fiona Kidman
Narrated by: Simon London
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About this listen

Albert Black, known as the 'jukebox killer', was only 20 when he was convicted of murdering another young man in a fight at a milk bar in Auckland on 26 July 1955. His crime fuelled growing moral panic about teenagers, and he was to hang less than five months later, the second-to-last person to be executed in New Zealand. But what really happened? Was this a love crime, was it a sign of juvenile delinquency? Or was this dark episode in our recent history more about our society's reaction to outsiders? Black's final words, as the hangman covered his head, were, 'I wish you all a merry Christmas, gentlemen, and a prosperous New Year.' This is his story.

©2018 Fiona Kidman (P)2019 Bolinda Publishing True Crime Young Adult

Critic Reviews

'A beautiful writer.' (The Times)
'This is an important book which reminds us of the fragility of youth and how devastatingly lives can be altered by a moment’s action.' (The Australian Women's Weekly)

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Outstanding in every respect!

An exceptional piece of writing and narration.

An engrossing novel that has you fully invested in its characters and outcomes. A story that once again highlights that social injustice is always a reflection of the times we live in... as sad as that is.

Special mention of the superb narration, including sensitively delivered folk song verses.

Wow! Not sure I can start another book before further reflection...

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