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About A Son

A Murder and A Father’s Search for Truth

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About A Son

By: David Whitehouse
Narrated by: Mark Jarvis
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'A book that reaches so deeply into the human experience that to read it is to be forever changed'
ELIZABETH DAY

One night in October 2015, twenty-year-old Morgan Hehir went out with friends and never came home.

In the aftermath of his funny, talented son's murder, Morgan's father Colin began to keep an extraordinary diary. It became a record of his family's grief, the ensuing trial, and his determined quest to uncover the shocking truth that the police had kept hidden.

Inspired by this diary, About A Son is a groundbreaking work of creative non-fiction that asks vital questions about the nature of justice and pays tribute to the unbreakable bond between a father and son.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE GORDON BURN PRIZE Fatherhood Murder Parenting & Families Relationships True Crime Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing Crime
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Critic reviews

I feel very lucky to have read this book. Extraordinary and important . . . a triumph
Gripping, moving and beautifully executed . . . This is the first book I've read in a long time that acknowledges the grief, rage and misery of a crime's aftermath, and it does so with such truthfulness, humanity and respect. Hugely affecting
I was utterly floored by the emotional depth of About A Son - a book that reaches so deeply into the human experience that to read it is to be forever changed. It is an unflinching examination of grief, a painstaking deconstruction of injustice and a dispatch from the frontiers of the human heart. David Whitehouse has written something of great power and truth. In doing so, he has ensured that Colin Hehir's beloved son, Morgan, and the family's fight for justice will never be forgotten.
The book that everyone will be talking about this year: a staggering work of honesty, empathy and humanity, wholly unlike anything else you will have read. Whitehouse is a masterful storyteller who builds an intimate, immersive and unflinching portrait of a boy lost to preventable violence and the family who loved him. I found it absolutely compelling from the first word to the last and know I will never forget it
An incredibly compassionate and moving story of loss, grief and enduring love. The portrait of a father's determination and resilience left me filled with both heartache and hope. David Whitehouse is a singularly gifted and deeply compelling writer and this beautiful book opened my eyes to what creative non-fiction can be and do.
I was lucky enough to bag a preview copy of this startling piece of non-fiction a few months ahead of its official release in April. Weird thing to say, but the author might have invented a new genre of literature here, so unique are the events leading up to the book's publication. Part evidence-led true-crime investigation and part psycho-spiritual communion with the essence of grief itself, About A Son is unlike anything you've ever read, I guarantee. This deserves to be massive in 2022
Shocking, harrowing and sensitive . . . brings their love for Morgan to vivid life. Whitehouse writes in a spare style reminiscent of Gordon Burn
An astonishing tale of profound love and grief . . . The facts tell nothing of the staggering emotional heft held within its 272 pages, as this singular blend of memoir, reportage and true crime investigation enmesh the reader in a tale of profound love, towering grief and intense indignation at a justice system that let down the Hehirs . . . . Exceptional . . . as much as it is about his death, it is also a tribute to who Morgan Hehir was, and the memory of his life will live long inside anyone who reads it
All stars
Most relevant
Such a special retelling of a heartbreaking tragedy. The commentary on the justice system is really well done and the depiction of grief is poignant.

The narrator seemed to randomly go northern on the odd word? Really weird to listen to. Should’ve not done an accent or got the real thing.

Important story, beautifully written, bizzare accent

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This is a difficult but rewarding listen because it is a heartbreaking story of grief and a fight for justice. On that level I would recommend it.

It stands as a fitting tribute to Morgan Hehir and his family. They should be proud of this book.

However, I cannot understand the choice made when choosing the narrator. He sounds too young (this is the story of a middle aged man), the accent is laid on thick, which would make sense if it was the correct one (it is from the East not West Midlands, big difference) and it all makes him sound less thoughtful than he is in real life (you can hear the real persons voice on You Tube).

So sorry to Mark Jarvis, but you were miscast.

Almost Ruined By Accent

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A beautiful, searing, poignant and heart-breakingly powerful listen.

Unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. Stunning use of language to describe pain, grief, frustration, time, hope, love.

Grut!

Remarkable!

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Morgan's story will stay with me for a very long time. Thankyou for sharing.

Heartbreaking, raw, inspiring and full of love

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This is the recounting of events that no family should ever have to live through. A harrowing story well told with a message for us all. My heart goes out to the Whitehouse family. I salute you for the courage to push through and demanding accountability and some justice.

Doing what it takes - a lesson in perseverance

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