A romantic melodrama set in rural Ireland in the early 19th century,
this complex story of love, rivalry, secrecy, and betrayal, based on a
real case of 1829, was one of the most successful thrillers of its day
Young Hardress Cregan is a collegian and a rogue, with a wicked, roving
eye. Although he is courting his wealthy cousin Anne, he has also
embarked on a passionate love affair with the lowly--but very
beautiful--Eily O'Connor. Hardress knows that his family would never
approve of this match and he should abandon his new fancy, but his lust
overwhelms his conscience and he embarks on a fatal deception--secretly
marrying Eily, while succumbing to his mother's machinations and
becoming engaged to Anne. How will Hardress extricate himself from this
dilemma? Together with his hunchback half-brother, Danny Mann, he
hatches a deadly conspiracy. Originally published in 1829, and inspired
by a celebrated criminal case, this novel was a sensation in its day,
making Killarney a tourist attraction, and its thrilling plot--involving
love, rivalry, secrecy, and betrayal--inspiring many imitations.