Sins of the Fathers

by John Byrnes

In 1910s Australia, the sins of the fathers leave behind a bloody legacy in this historical epic saga, perfect for fans of Peaky Blinders.

Two fathers, their sons and the feud that binds them.

In the early years of the twentieth century, Billy and Tommy Smith are growing up on the mean streets of Sydney's Millers Point. It's a hungry, hard-scrabble life, made even worse when their violent father returns home from a long stint in prison.

In the wealthy eastern suburbs, Charles Davies is living an entirely different life, the beneficiary of his father's business acumen and insatiable, unyielding greed. Charles wants for nothing - except perhaps his father's approval.

When an incident on The Point leads to the deaths of both Charles' and the Smith boys' fathers, a hatred is born that will follow the three men through their lives. In an epic saga taking them from Sydney to Gallipoli and the killing fields of France in World War I, to the melting pot of Darwin and the opal fields at Lightning Ridge, the men's paths all lead to one final revenge.

But in the end, what price must be paid for the sins of the fathers?

465 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2025

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sins of the Fathers will be one of my favourite books of 2025. An incredible, historical saga set in Sydney in the early 1900’s. There is so much to love about lit this book and I highly recommend you grab a copy and get lost in the story.

Travel back to Sydney in the 1910’s. Before the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge were built. This is a story of 3 boys growing up with very different lives, but forever entwined. Brothers Tommy and Billy live in the rough neighbourhoods in Miller Point. They are poor and scrap for every penny. Trouble always seems to find them and they can’t wait to get out of there. Charles Davies lives in the wealthy Eastern suburbs and has all the money he could possibly need. But all he wants is some attention and affection from his father. The deaths of both fathers has these boys in a bitter feud for the rest of their lives.

We follow the boys to war, a changed world afterwards and everything in between. It is a story of struggle, revenge, survival and so much more. It is an emotional roller coaster ride and an eye opener into what life was like before so many of the things we take for granted in today’s world.

I loved reading about a city that I know so well, but over 100 years ago. Some things have not changed, but so much has. It was a tough world for women, for people who weren’t rich and living in the rough parts of town. I learnt so much reading this book. I would love to see it in the TV one day.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on July 1st.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous story. Set in Sydney during WWI
Sins of the Fathers is an epic saga that follows the sons of two men forever at odds with each other.
After reading and loving The Youngest Son I was excited to read John Byrnes' next offering and I wasn't disappointed.

I simply devoured Sins of the Fathers. It has everything I love about Historical Fiction. Set in my hometown of Sydney all the places, although much changed, were all familiar to me.

Sins of the Fathers spans nine tumultuous years from 1910 - 1919 which includes WWI and sees the three boys join up and fight in Gallipoli and Somme. The WWI battlefields come to life on the page. Brynes' battle scenes are vivid and authentic.

Narrated through multiple points of view the characters' lives veer in different directions and reconnect throughout the novel.

I cannot stress how much I loved this book! If you like to read stories about the wars, or historical fiction or even family sagas, this book is for you.

Sins of the Fathers is a story rich in revenge, bribery, threats, double crossing and blackmail. It is a story about survival from the slums of 1910 Sydney to the battlefields of 1915 Gallipoli. There is never a dull moment in Sins of the Fathers!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
The saga I didn't know I needed!!!
I became very consumed by this book that towards the end I found myself desperately reading the last few chapters in the carpark during weekend sport because I couldn’t put it down 😭

If you're a fan of historical fictional, Gallipoli, gangs, "gals" and violence this is such a worthy read! Two brothers with poor upbringings, navigate their journey from boys to men in a town where everyone knows everyone. Definitely enjoyed this Peaky Blinders-like vibe.

[Jarrod Urza · Rating 4 out of 5]

War alters a soul. Revenge may sustain it.”

John Byrnes’ Sins of the Fathers is a gripping historical saga that spans from the rough streets of Sydney to the battlefields of Gallipoli and France, and finally to the opal fields of Lightning Ridge. At its heart is a story of intergenerational conflict, inherited trauma, and the relentless pull of vengeance. Byrnes writes with a confident hand, balancing the scale of history with the intimacy of personal struggle. The pacing is finely tuned—deliberate enough to build depth, yet always pushing forward, ensuring each chapter adds weight to the unfolding drama.

The characters are richly drawn and emotionally resonant. Brothers Billy and Tommy Smith, along with their counterpart Charles Davies, are more than archetypes; they are flawed, evolving individuals whose decisions are shaped by both personal history and the devastating realities of war. Revenge drives their actions, but Byrnes resists reducing it to a simple motive—exploring instead how grief, betrayal, and loyalty intertwine to form a complex moral landscape.

Byrnes’ portrayal of war is unflinching. The combat sequences are vivid and harrowing, immersing the reader in the mud, blood, and chaos of battle. There is no romanticism in these depictions—only the stark brutality and lasting scars of violence. These moments are not gratuitous, but purposeful, revealing the cost of survival and the depth of wounds, both physical and emotional.

Sins of the Fathers succeeds as both a sweeping piece of historical fiction and a deeply human story of endurance. Byrnes captures the tension between vengeance and redemption, and the lingering question of whether settling old scores can ever truly bring peace. It is a novel that lingers long after the final page, offering no easy answers but leaving the reader with much to ponder.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book represents everything this history nerd loves most in books - a historical Sydney setting, a cast of lovable and detestable characters and a plot that keeps pace through every single page.

Set in 1910s Sydney, it follows the story of a few main characters. There’s Tommy Smith, a smart and sensitive boy with dreams of clawing his way out of a poverty-stricken life in Sydney’s Miller’s Point tenements. Then there’s his younger brother Billy who thumbs his nose at authority and puts a target on his back with the neighbourhoods’s toughest characters. And there’s entitled and cruel Charles Davies, born into wealth in the eastern suburbs to a father who teaches him to take what he wants with force without regard for anyone else.

These three men will find themselves intertwined through the tumultuous pre-and-post WW1 period that takes this story from Sydney’s slums to the European frontlines of war, Darwin and the opal fields of Lightning Ridge in a saga that keeps the tension taught chapter to chapter.

Byrnes has a special way of bringing his settings to vivid life, so you’re walking the laneways of The Rocks and are calf-deep in the squalid mud of the trenches right alongside these characters.

Absolutely loved this immersive historical read!

[Aidan Prewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and with real heart. And I was totally hooked by the historical aspects of this fantastic novel!!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Sins of the Fathers is an epic historical drama set in Sydney in the 1910s. With a vivid setting and fantastic plot, it’s a captivating read that really caught me by surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This a great exploration of class divide, family reputations, self worth and revenge. Spanning over several years we watch the four main characters navigate life’s challenges as they grow into adults. The short chapters, each told from a different perspective meant the pacing was great and kept me completely immersed.

I highly recommend this book. It’s beautifully written and a fabulous addition to the historical fiction genre.

Thank you to Macmillan Aus for a gifted copy to read and honestly review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshingly different Australian story. The author’s descriptive writing had me living the experiences of the characters and I could imagine Sydney at the turn of the century and hand to hand combat in the trenches of WW1. I look forward to to more books by John Brynes.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

SINS Of The FATHERS John Byrnes
Pan Macmillan Australia 2025
Historical fiction

Disclaimer: I’m already a fan. I’ve read the author’s previous work and was impressed at once. From contemporary crime fiction, ‘Headland’; to the WWII and Great Depression saga ‘The Youngest Son’; this latest epic takes place during World War I and the years preceding.
The writing is sophisticated, assured. John has honed his style – and it’s magnificent.

If you’re after gritty realism, then you’ve come to the right place. Brace yourself for graphic battlefield scenes; confronting social crises; and a dash of searing eroticism for good measure. Expect also, moments of raw tenderness and understated poignancy. John’s ability to describe the full gamut of human sensibility, and to explore the dark corners and jagged edges of humanity, is undeniable.

Each character feels like they existed as part of history …of course they didn’t – but fictional characters are a reflection of ourselves in some way or another. The lead female, Angeline Dubois, is spectacular… She’s actually everything I ever wanted to be: Precocious, resilient, self-made – not made by her lot. Oh, and she’s hot as hell.

When you pick up a John Byrnes novel, the immersion is swift and affecting. This one is about as cinematic as it gets – brilliant imagery, universal relevance, and a captivating plot. It paints a picture of an era that was different in many ways…but the more you read, the more you realise that the ways of people; their motivations and struggles – mostly stay the same.

I suspect that SINS OF THE FATHERS will live in the hearts and minds of readers long after they’ve closed the book.

Reviewed by Eve Stephenson
(Brisbane, Queensland)

Suggested further reading:
Shirley Fitzgerald ‘Miller’s Point’ 2008 The Dictionary of Sydney State Library NSW archives
Nepean Times 1 July 1893 (p3) ‘Terrible murder at Miller’s Point – Man kicked to death’

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the prologue, set in 1898, a man makes a choice which will lead him to prison. The story then shifts to 1910, where Billy and Tommy Smith live with their mother in Sydney’s Miller’s Point. Their difficult life is about to become even more challenging when their violent father is released from prison. Meanwhile, in the wealthy eastern suburbs, Charles Davies is growing up in his father’s shadow, striving for his father’s approval and with few boundaries set on his behaviour.

But when an incident on Miller’s Point leads to the deaths of both Edwyn Smith and Arthur Davies, hatred encompasses their sons. Revenge is their focus, and it follows them from Sydney to Gallipoli and then to France during World War I. And then, back to Australia.

While Billy is always prone to violence, Tommy is less volatile. Charles, who has never learned the difference between right and wrong is completely amoral. But this more than a story of revenge, and there are other characters of interest, including Angeline Dubois and Mr Ashe.

Once I started reading this novel, I was reluctant to put it down. While I was concerned for Billy, my focus was on Tommy. Mr Byrnes has delivered a riveting story with plenty of action, a few twists and hope (for some) of a better future.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Aussie historical tale, Sins of the Fathers (2025) by John Byrnes opens in Sydney in 1898. It features the lives of four children: brothers Tommy and Billy, their neighbour Angeline, and Charles, who lives in the affluent eastern suburbs. The narrative reveals their lives between 1910 and 1918, with the death of Tommy and Billy’s father making for a fractious connection that plays out over the decades. A somewhat jumpy tale lacking smooth segways into the eight sections of the novel, each featuring a different year. Each section is an enjoyable self-contained short story, recording the protagonists’ lives and inevitable final reckoning. Overall, a historic saga of intertwined lives has a three-star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating Australian saga, set during the early 1900's with family rivalries, and revenge afoot - it's a cat and mouse game to avoid of survival.
Interesting characters and storyline, that kept me turning the pages from the trenches of Gallipoli to the seedy suburbs of Sydney.

[Greg Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great yarn.