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Mission: A boy, his father and an unforgivable lie
A boy and his father are separated by an unforgivable lie. Twenty years later they meet and his dying father tells him of the men who cheated him and the town of Mission that spurned him. John plans his revenge. What follows is a twist of guile and brutality, mud and gold, as his father's enemies are played by the young man with the crooked snout and the pocketful of hatpins.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2021
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6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 24, 2025
Like a lot of stories, it starts with a lie. Not a small lie, but a malicious one. John Cassidy is a five-year-old boy waiting for his father to turn up. Two hours pass, and his Father, Jack, turns up to be faced by his ex, Margaret, and his replacement Dwayne and told that his son doesn’t want to see him anymore. She tells her son the same lie about his father.
Years pass and John has his revenge on Dwayne, a substandard replacement for his Dad, and watches his Mother becoming a sad, bitter figure of what she could have been. She tells him that his father is dying and has burnt too many bridges in his previous life; he goes to meet the stranger that his father has become.
When they both realise that Margaret has told them the same lie, the relationship starts to thaw. Jack has been living on the land that his father won gambling, and the town of Mission wants the land back, which passes to John when his father dies.
Jack has been wronged a lot in his life, and his son wants to avenge those wrongs. As John sets out on his task, he finds nefarious people and reasons why his father became the man he became.
Mission is about a place, but it is also about redemption, about doing the work to get the reward. The characters and their motivations are well-drawn, the ending, like most of the novel, follows its own sense of internal logic, and although John Cassidy is not the most sympathetic or charismatic of central characters, the reader can still feel something for him, and the life that he finds himself living.
Years pass and John has his revenge on Dwayne, a substandard replacement for his Dad, and watches his Mother becoming a sad, bitter figure of what she could have been. She tells him that his father is dying and has burnt too many bridges in his previous life; he goes to meet the stranger that his father has become.
When they both realise that Margaret has told them the same lie, the relationship starts to thaw. Jack has been living on the land that his father won gambling, and the town of Mission wants the land back, which passes to John when his father dies.
Jack has been wronged a lot in his life, and his son wants to avenge those wrongs. As John sets out on his task, he finds nefarious people and reasons why his father became the man he became.
Mission is about a place, but it is also about redemption, about doing the work to get the reward. The characters and their motivations are well-drawn, the ending, like most of the novel, follows its own sense of internal logic, and although John Cassidy is not the most sympathetic or charismatic of central characters, the reader can still feel something for him, and the life that he finds himself living.
June 15, 2021
BEST BOOK I'VE READ IN YEARS!
My reading habits had dropped off in recent years, and I've been trying to get back into fiction and struggled. One of my friends in the states, recommended this, and WOW! One of the best books I've ever read, such a rich story, so powerful and well put together! I will be recommending this to back to everyone I know, I created a GoodReads account, just to review this.
And thank you Paul Foster ONeill, for getting me back into reading, I'll be looking out for any other recommendations anyone has, for similar authors? Or better yet, there is a date for Paul's next book release?
My reading habits had dropped off in recent years, and I've been trying to get back into fiction and struggled. One of my friends in the states, recommended this, and WOW! One of the best books I've ever read, such a rich story, so powerful and well put together! I will be recommending this to back to everyone I know, I created a GoodReads account, just to review this.
And thank you Paul Foster ONeill, for getting me back into reading, I'll be looking out for any other recommendations anyone has, for similar authors? Or better yet, there is a date for Paul's next book release?
August 10, 2023
It took me a long time to get into this book, but once I did I was completely sucked into its McCarthy-via-the-Coens-esque story of lies, cons and revenge. Chock-full of believable characters whose doom is entirely in their own hands and a memorable protagonist whose belief in consequences is honed to a near super power. Highly recommended.
April 29, 2021
I came across the book through a recommendation, and once it arrived I read it in three sittings. Absolutely amazing book, so gripping, I couldn't put it down! For those looking for a book to pull you in - you need to read this!
September 12, 2021
Epic, intriguing and totally immersive.
Loved this book, Faulkner-esque/cinematic/spaghetti western type vibe I got from it. Epic, intriguing and a totally immersive story. Brilliant stuff.
Loved this book, Faulkner-esque/cinematic/spaghetti western type vibe I got from it. Epic, intriguing and a totally immersive story. Brilliant stuff.
December 28, 2021
Brilliant story, with a beautiful slow burn intrigue. Takes you away into a small town america with meticulously observed characters who will stay with you long after you ve finished the book. A real gift of a read.
May 12, 2021
It has been a long time since I finished a book this quickly. I saw this reccomended on Facebook and took a punt and glad I did. Gripping.
June 1, 2021
Unusual, enthralling, sinister at times. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews