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The Stained Man: A Crime, a Scandal, and the Making of Australia

Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26
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512 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 13, 2026

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About the author

Patrick Mullins

6 books5 followers
Patrick Mullins is a Canberra-based writer.

He has a PhD in writing from the University of Canberra. Tiberius with a Telephone, his first book, won the 2020 NSW Premier's Non-Fiction Award and the 2020 National Biography Award.

His second,The Trials of Portnoy, won a 2021 Canberra Critics' Circle Award and was shortlisted for the 2021 ACT Book of the Year and 2021 NSW Premier's Non-Fiction Award.

He writes for a range of magazines and periodicals.

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Displaying 1 of 1 review
416 reviews
June 10, 2026
This book was set in the late 1800s to early 1900 in Sydney and focused on the political and judicial machinations of a rather dodgy solicitor, Richard Meagher.

His woes started when spoke with an inmate of Her Majesties prison, George Dean, re the arson and strychnine poisoning attempt on his. Dean made a

Unfortunately for Meagher Dean made a full confession regarding his intention kill his wife.

Meagher was torn re whether he should disregard the confession and try to make a name for himself or to disclose the information to the authorities.

He decided to cover it up and keep it a secret however, stupidly, Meagher consulted a senior lawyer re his quandary.

The path he chose ended up in everything going very pear shaped for Dean and Meagher after that.

The corruption, cronyism and misogyny wasn’t surprising as it still raises its head today within legal professions to date.

Displaying 1 of 1 review