Written by an author who has spent some time in Pentridge as a worker / teacher this is one of those books that's really fascinating when it's getting into the nitty gritty of life behind bars and the history of Pentridge, its construction and eventual closure. It's less successful when it basically retells the stories of some of the more famous inmates of place - much of which will already be known to True Crime readers anyway, but mostly because it feels a lot like padding.

The parts where the experience of Pentridge are described were interesting, and it was worthwhile if only for the insights into life for inmates like William O'Meally as a result of his brutal treatment. Parts of it are written in a very engaging style, and it's obvious that the author was uncomfortable with much of what was happening behind the walls. A lot of the treatment described is confrontational and as it's an individual's retelling from their own perspective undoubtedly there will be different opinions, differing viewpoints and different constructs on everything, but in terms of what's presented here - it reads very much like this author's truth.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-pentridge-behind-bluestone-walls-... ( )