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Purgatory
You don't want to be digging there,' Ma says like he can hear her. No one can hear her, just us boys. We're the dead Finnegans – Ma, Thomas, Ben and me. Ten-year-old John Finnegan can't leave his garden. Ever since they were murdered he, his brothers and his ma have been stuck there, caught between the worlds of the living and the dead. Unseen and unnoticed, he watches the events after his life unfold – including the actions of his murderer. James Stack is born dirt-poor on an Irish tenant farm and the great famine shadows his childhood. But his clever sister's lace making may save the family – until Aileen is sent to the other side of the world on a convict ship. To save her, James joins the redcoats and follows her across dangerous waters to a hopeful new land. But can he ever leave the death and hunger of his homeland behind? Based on the 1865 Otahuhu murders, Purgatory is a startling, gripping novel from an immensely talented new author.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2014
5 people are currently reading
498 people want to read
About the author
Rosetta Allan
5 books27 followersRosetta Allan is a multi-talented writer with a passion for poetry that began in her formative years. Rosetta honed her skills and achieved recognition through prestigious awards such as the Kathleen Grattan Poetry and the Metonymy Poetry Awards.
In 2017, Rosetta solidified her commitment to her craft by earning a Master of Creative Writing with First-Class Honours First Division from the University of Auckland. Her talent and dedication were duly acknowledged with the coveted Wallace Trust Scholarship.
Beyond her writing, Rosetta has embraced her role as a mentor, teacher, and manuscript assessor, sharing her knowledge and guiding aspiring writers on their creative journeys. As an essayist, she fearlessly explores intricate subjects, delving into the complexities of the human experience. Rosetta also is an experienced public speaker.
Rosetta's literary contributions extend across various genres. Her two volumes of poetry, "Little Rock" (2007) and "Over Lunch" (2010), showcase her ability to weave evocative imagery and lyrical prose. However, it is her three novels, "Purgatory" (2014), "The Unreliable People" (2019), and "Crazy Love" (2021), published by Penguin Random House NZ, that have garnered widespread acclaim, securing spots on best-seller lists and captivating readers worldwide.
In 2017, Rosetta solidified her commitment to her craft by earning a Master of Creative Writing with First-Class Honours First Division from the University of Auckland. Her talent and dedication were duly acknowledged with the coveted Wallace Trust Scholarship.
Beyond her writing, Rosetta has embraced her role as a mentor, teacher, and manuscript assessor, sharing her knowledge and guiding aspiring writers on their creative journeys. As an essayist, she fearlessly explores intricate subjects, delving into the complexities of the human experience. Rosetta also is an experienced public speaker.
Rosetta's literary contributions extend across various genres. Her two volumes of poetry, "Little Rock" (2007) and "Over Lunch" (2010), showcase her ability to weave evocative imagery and lyrical prose. However, it is her three novels, "Purgatory" (2014), "The Unreliable People" (2019), and "Crazy Love" (2021), published by Penguin Random House NZ, that have garnered widespread acclaim, securing spots on best-seller lists and captivating readers worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 6, 2018
This book goes back & forth in time & has multiple points of view. Normally I say that like it is a bad thing.
But this book is great!
Shows even a hated format can work in the hands of a skilled author. Ms Allan really pulled me into the story & wouldn't let me go.
This is based on the true story of the 1865 Otahuhu murders (Ms Allan is a descendant of the victims' family) & all the strands of the story come together with considerable imagination. For me, the most fascinating aspect is James Stack's gradual change from a decent man into a monster. I did quite pity him. Those were tough times.
This book deserves to be more widely read.
List of New Zealand massacres (incomplete as the Bassett Road murders aren't there at the time of writing) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
But this book is great!
Shows even a hated format can work in the hands of a skilled author. Ms Allan really pulled me into the story & wouldn't let me go.
This is based on the true story of the 1865 Otahuhu murders (Ms Allan is a descendant of the victims' family) & all the strands of the story come together with considerable imagination. For me, the most fascinating aspect is James Stack's gradual change from a decent man into a monster. I did quite pity him. Those were tough times.
This book deserves to be more widely read.
List of New Zealand massacres (incomplete as the Bassett Road murders aren't there at the time of writing) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
August 8, 2014
Purgatory has everything I loved in seperate books all woven into one and then some.
A good murderer mystery, gorgeous descriptive imagery that brings scenes, sounds and people alive, the quirks and sensitivities of language spoken by a child, a different era, or a different accent and some well researched, fascinating and little known history.
Unlike other murderer stories I've read however, you know right from the beginning who the murderer and his victims are and grow to love them for their humanness.
The story unfolds from the voices and experiences of both the murderer and his 10 year old victim. While the murderer pulls the narrative along at a ripping pace, his victim comes of age calmly and exploringly in his purgatory of observation. Getting to know both characters so intimately makes the readers knowledge of the murderer more perplexing and tragic when it finally comes to pass.
This is without a doubt one of the most engaging and quotable novels I have ever read.
A cracking debut!
A good murderer mystery, gorgeous descriptive imagery that brings scenes, sounds and people alive, the quirks and sensitivities of language spoken by a child, a different era, or a different accent and some well researched, fascinating and little known history.
Unlike other murderer stories I've read however, you know right from the beginning who the murderer and his victims are and grow to love them for their humanness.
The story unfolds from the voices and experiences of both the murderer and his 10 year old victim. While the murderer pulls the narrative along at a ripping pace, his victim comes of age calmly and exploringly in his purgatory of observation. Getting to know both characters so intimately makes the readers knowledge of the murderer more perplexing and tragic when it finally comes to pass.
This is without a doubt one of the most engaging and quotable novels I have ever read.
A cracking debut!
April 7, 2017
This book gripped me from the beginning. Such characters. So many potential murderers! I fell into the story and loved every page. There were hints of The Lovely Bones, but this book stands on its own.
You'll love the perspective the boy takes, and the imagery Rosetta Allan magics up from merely describing just one boot.
I couldn't put it down. Loved it.
A fine book set in New Zealand by a New Zealand author.
You'll love the perspective the boy takes, and the imagery Rosetta Allan magics up from merely describing just one boot.
I couldn't put it down. Loved it.
A fine book set in New Zealand by a New Zealand author.
August 10, 2014
From page one I was immersed in worlds of James Stack and John Finnegan.
Purgatory doesn't gloss over how hard times were back then and what the Irish were going through. Life doesn't get any easier for James when he leaves Ireland and comes to New Zealand.
James is definitely master of his own destiny with the majority of his misfortunes solely of his own doing. I felt like shaking him at times. He's a victim through and through but, given his upbringing, I could forgive him for this and even understand his reaction to events.
Rosetta's descriptive prose is a thing of beauty and at times I found myself stopping to re-read passages, just to enjoy the images evoked by her words. While complex and intricate, their meaning is easy to grasp.
The story intensifies as it progresses and, while I knew what was going to happen in the end, I still expected a few surprises along the way.
I wasn't disappointed.
Purgatory doesn't gloss over how hard times were back then and what the Irish were going through. Life doesn't get any easier for James when he leaves Ireland and comes to New Zealand.
James is definitely master of his own destiny with the majority of his misfortunes solely of his own doing. I felt like shaking him at times. He's a victim through and through but, given his upbringing, I could forgive him for this and even understand his reaction to events.
Rosetta's descriptive prose is a thing of beauty and at times I found myself stopping to re-read passages, just to enjoy the images evoked by her words. While complex and intricate, their meaning is easy to grasp.
The story intensifies as it progresses and, while I knew what was going to happen in the end, I still expected a few surprises along the way.
I wasn't disappointed.
Read
July 31, 2014Excellent book. Very lyrical writing. Although this is the author's first novel, turns out she's had a couple of books of poetry published -- and it shows in her language. Immensely unique similes.
I also found the structure of the book interesting. Two characters, our antagonist and protagonist's stories are told separately, two timelines, that then converge with the murder. I was amazed at the detail included in the book (you can see the immense research done with the deft, confident writing style) -- yet the book is one of the easiest reads you'll find.
Gripping story, captivating language and extremely well-edited. What more do you want in a good -- great -- read?
I also found the structure of the book interesting. Two characters, our antagonist and protagonist's stories are told separately, two timelines, that then converge with the murder. I was amazed at the detail included in the book (you can see the immense research done with the deft, confident writing style) -- yet the book is one of the easiest reads you'll find.
Gripping story, captivating language and extremely well-edited. What more do you want in a good -- great -- read?
July 31, 2014
Declaration / disclaimer. I met Rosetta Allan recently when she was a guest of the Worlds Best Book Club (WBBC). She is a thoroughly charming and engaging individual with an incredibly interesting life history and incredibly open about her authorial process. I like to think however that despite this personal association, that my objectivity in rating her novel has not been greatly influenced.
The novel is based upon the gruesome Finnegan murders in Otahuhu, Auckland NZ during the 1860s. The mother and three sons were murdered in a particularly gruesome manner and buried in the front yard. The suspect was only identified after he had left the home and the bodies found after an extensive search in his absence.
The case was extensively reported throughout NZ, because of the brutality, and the historic notoriety of the suspect and eventual convicted murderer. The author is a descendant of a surviving (elder) sibling, and the site of the murder is still accessible. Indeed the original home was only lost (through fire) recently and the ghost of youngest son is believed to reside at the site.
In an approach reminiscent of Sebold's "The Lovely Bones", Allan's hero is in fact the ghost of "John" the youngest son soon after his / family's murder and illicit interment. The ghosts of his mother and the three sons are held to their terrestrial sites as part of the "cleansing" process of purgatory, prior to their release into the final life. (We assume it must be heaven).. Their predicament is offset by the parallel story of James Stack, an Irish immigrant who wracked with guilt, anger, avarice and universal incompetence, finds himself on an inexorable collision course with the law, murder and the hangman's noose!
Brilliantly balanced storytelling on a foundation of thorough research, with a real touch of local NZ flavour whilst galloping from the variable climes of Ireland, England, Australia and NZ. Lots of irony, humour aplenty and compelling characters too.
The closest non 5 star rating I could offer!
The novel is based upon the gruesome Finnegan murders in Otahuhu, Auckland NZ during the 1860s. The mother and three sons were murdered in a particularly gruesome manner and buried in the front yard. The suspect was only identified after he had left the home and the bodies found after an extensive search in his absence.
The case was extensively reported throughout NZ, because of the brutality, and the historic notoriety of the suspect and eventual convicted murderer. The author is a descendant of a surviving (elder) sibling, and the site of the murder is still accessible. Indeed the original home was only lost (through fire) recently and the ghost of youngest son is believed to reside at the site.
In an approach reminiscent of Sebold's "The Lovely Bones", Allan's hero is in fact the ghost of "John" the youngest son soon after his / family's murder and illicit interment. The ghosts of his mother and the three sons are held to their terrestrial sites as part of the "cleansing" process of purgatory, prior to their release into the final life. (We assume it must be heaven).. Their predicament is offset by the parallel story of James Stack, an Irish immigrant who wracked with guilt, anger, avarice and universal incompetence, finds himself on an inexorable collision course with the law, murder and the hangman's noose!
Brilliantly balanced storytelling on a foundation of thorough research, with a real touch of local NZ flavour whilst galloping from the variable climes of Ireland, England, Australia and NZ. Lots of irony, humour aplenty and compelling characters too.
The closest non 5 star rating I could offer!
July 14, 2020
An Auckland based novelist and poet, Rosetta Allan’s novel ‘Purgatory’ tells the story behind the Ōtāhuhu murders of 1865, when James Stack was convicted of murdering members of the Finnegan (sometimes written Finnigan) family.
It starts from a most unusual premise - the ghost of the youngest boy, John. His body was only discovered years later, and we learn through his first-person narrative of the life the Finnegans had and the one he is ‘living’ now.
The other part of the story belongs to James Stack, a third-person description of his tragic story, all the way from his home in Ireland. The writing engages, arousing our pity for the deprivation, the dreadful events, and the unfortunate decision-making that leads him to New Zealand and the Finnegans.
Despite jumping from one tale to the other, and the gruesome story itself, this novel is very well written, well-researched, easy to read and highlighted with some touchingly amusing moments.
It starts from a most unusual premise - the ghost of the youngest boy, John. His body was only discovered years later, and we learn through his first-person narrative of the life the Finnegans had and the one he is ‘living’ now.
The other part of the story belongs to James Stack, a third-person description of his tragic story, all the way from his home in Ireland. The writing engages, arousing our pity for the deprivation, the dreadful events, and the unfortunate decision-making that leads him to New Zealand and the Finnegans.
Despite jumping from one tale to the other, and the gruesome story itself, this novel is very well written, well-researched, easy to read and highlighted with some touchingly amusing moments.
July 26, 2014
Half way through this book, I found myself without words and pleasantly surprised. It had a gentle and mesmerising effect on me. The book is beautifully written and flows with such ease. Words paired together to form sentences and paragraphs, which in an instant were clear vivid pictures in my mind playing like a movie in my head. The author connects historical fact with fiction with such grace, that I look forward to the day it is made into a movie for all to see. This is a book that will stay with you, because you simply don’t want it to leave.
March 20, 2015
Received through firstreads..
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy, as I enjoyed it so much. One of my favorite things about this book was that there was no long, dry lead up. It just delved right in, and there was no sense of awkwardness at all. The characters evoked feelings, which is a big thing for me. There were small touches that added a lot, such as the youngest boys' conversations with the neighbor cat. A page-turner.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy, as I enjoyed it so much. One of my favorite things about this book was that there was no long, dry lead up. It just delved right in, and there was no sense of awkwardness at all. The characters evoked feelings, which is a big thing for me. There were small touches that added a lot, such as the youngest boys' conversations with the neighbor cat. A page-turner.
September 19, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Based on a true story.
Such a terrifically enjoyable read, that I would whole heartedly recommend you reading it.
Debut novel...I'll definitely look forward to more, to come.
Based on a true story.
Such a terrifically enjoyable read, that I would whole heartedly recommend you reading it.
Debut novel...I'll definitely look forward to more, to come.
December 10, 2019
Absolutely brilliant writing and telling of such a tragic story. Purgatory is a masterpiece of NZ fiction. All the characters are well written and the speed of the storyline keeps the reader enthralled.
July 26, 2018
Rosetta Allan has a great writing style so will definitely read any novels she writes in the future. The only thing stopping this from being a 4-star read for me is that I felt the two storylines were a bit two disconnected (e.g. some family members featured in the purgatory sections don't even get a mention in James' storyline).
May 16, 2021
Part historical fiction, part crime fiction, this novel caught my eye for its setting and its narrator. Ten year old John Finnegan is no longer in the land of the living, nor is his Ma and his brothers but they can still see what is happening. I enjoyed the way the plot unfolds around the life of James Stack and how he came to cross paths with one of his unfortunate victims, young John.
November 10, 2015
A beautifully written and innovative first novel by acclaimed poet, Rosetta Allan. The main character is 10-year-old John Finnegan, who—by the way—is dead. Allan's deftness with language is admirable, and her historical research detailed and interesting, but the research doesn't weigh the story down as happens with some historical novels. My stand-out new piece of knowledge is that in Victorian times, ship doctors were paid per head of healthy convicts that arrived at the other end. I enjoyed reading 'Purgatory' in tandem with Elsbeth Hardie's non-fiction account of slightly earlier New Zealand times, The Girl Who Stole Stockings.
September 8, 2019
Wow what a great story! A New Zealand Historical Novel with true historical events such as the murder of a Mother and her 3 sons, and that’s in the first few pages! So much to enjoy and learn about our history. Human nature is truly bound by our experiences and circumstances. This novel will keep you guessing.
January 9, 2015
This book reminds me of early Stevan Treleaven Eldred-Grigg books, although I haven't read these for a while. It's quite a gritty book. I enjoyed it but didn't really like the ghosts, I didn't connect with them as characters.
February 18, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this, colonial NZ is a new destination for me. I did find the character names a bit confusing though - too many bit players who didn't need naming for the narrative to move forward.
December 4, 2015
Lyrical and beautiful writing. Auckland seems like a different country in this book and I suppose it was in 1865
November 1, 2016
A proper holiday read devoured in one day. So beautiful. Adored.
May 18, 2017
I'm not usually hugely into historical fiction, but Rosetta really brought this story to life - I couldn't put it down!
March 8, 2019
Well written debut novel from a promising New Zealand writer.
June 23, 2023
Take a trip back to the 1860s with a bunch of angry Irish settlers to Aotearoa. The whole book revolves around a quadruple murder, and we get to spend time with victim and perpetrator alike.
Rosetta Allan accomplishes a rare feat that New Zealand authors seem to be especially good at, in that she conjures a mood and tone that feels akin to a fairytale, filled with poetic descriptions and jarring temporal changes.
The book has a fascinating setting, a curious incident at its core, and a mournful atmosphere.
Rosetta Allan accomplishes a rare feat that New Zealand authors seem to be especially good at, in that she conjures a mood and tone that feels akin to a fairytale, filled with poetic descriptions and jarring temporal changes.
The book has a fascinating setting, a curious incident at its core, and a mournful atmosphere.
December 19, 2022
Good read. Reminded me slightly of 'The Lovely Bones'. You need to have your wits about you as it has lots of twists and turns. Well written and gives a good indication on how difficult it was being an early settler in New Zealand. A little gruesome in parts, but based on a true story. I will be keeping an eye out for more of Rosetta Allan's writing.
November 21, 2020
A well imagined and researched tale of colonial life in Auckland, which is both whimsical and dark in turns. Carries on the NZ literary tradition of looking at family violence and the dark side of kiwi culture.
November 4, 2020
Great book, great read
August 30, 2021
Historical fiction based on a murder in Otahuhu in the late 1800s. Fascinating and heartbreaking and set in a time I don’t often read about.
March 27, 2022
Exceptional read. Something i got into after not been a fan of reading. This one got me hooked. Highly recommend
January 15, 2024
This book is fantastic, based on factual story she has developed an elaborate fictional narrative that tells of tragic events with a wry humor. Very clever
July 5, 2014
2.5/5
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews