Rob Allen

Sons of the Poison Tree Rob Allen

This is a story of fathers and their sons. The Synotts are a family of petty criminals in West Auckland. Nothing big, nothing violent, nothing too heavy, the insurance companies the only real victims, until one of the sons, Glenn, turns armed bank robber with fatal consequences, placing the whole family in the firing line and in the hands of the most dangerous man in the city. When Glenn's own parents, Ray and Ann, melt under a blowtorch of danger and tragedy, it is Pat, Glenn's grandfather, old and rambling and seemingly irrelevant, who challenges the family to find the courage and resourcefulness they will need if they are to survive. This is a story of fathers and sons, loyalty and betrayal, sacrifice and survival. It is a story of family, and what it means to be one. Following a long career in education, Rob Allen is now emerging as a genuine New Zealand author, and the settings and characters, in his four novels to date, reflect that. He has a distinct voice and style, and has a growing audience. He lives in Auckland and is passionate in his love for New Zealand; its places, people, landscape, and believes it to be a naturally spiritual place.