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A.E.S. O'Neill
Funeral of Lies
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A.E.S. O'Neill
Funeral of Lies
Home
Muse
About
Reviews
Buy the Books
Blog
Funeral of Lies
Home
Muse
About
Reviews
Buy the Books
Blog

Amazon reviews click here.

The reviews keep coming in…

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars Bound by Commitment, Broken by Lies

    Format: Kindle

    This political thriller grips you from the very first chapter, weaving a tale of grief, ambition, family dynamics, and commitment . The main character, returning home to Philadelphia from New York after being sent away is thrust back into the messy familiarity of his family in the midst of tragedy and opportunity. His arrival home necessitates his involvement in his uncle’s mayoral campaign and sets the stage for a tense and layered narrative, where every decision carries weight and every chapter unveils new secrets and new lies. The author masterfully balances the personal turmoil of the main character with the high-stakes political drama unfolding around him.

    The tone throughout is dark and gritty, painting a vivid portrait of Philadelphia politics. What makes the story truly compelling is the cast of flawed yet authentic characters—each one driven by their own desires, weaknesses, and moral compromises. The central characters are what keep you coming back. The main character, Evan, is ambitious and calculating, but has a healthy dose of loyalty that helps guide his actions. It contrasts sharply with his uncle and mayoral candidate Michael, who while kind and likeable is a bit naïve to the race he is entering. Plenty of secondary figures add depth and unpredictability to the campaign’s trajectory. The author has a talent for making the characters flawed but relatable, which is no easy feat.

    Perhaps the greatest strength of the book lies in its pacing. The narrative is relentless, with twists and revelations arriving at just the right moments to keep the reader hooked. There are no wasted chapters or filler scenes; every exchange and event propels the story forward. By the time the final act unfolds, the campaign, family dynamics, and lies told along the way culminate in both a satisfied resolution and lingering questions of morality and power. It is a testament to the author’s skill that this work stands as a gritty, nonstop thriller that refuses to let go until the very last page.

    5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner!

    Format: Kindle

    You know those books that you swear at 1AM you are only going to finish the chapter and then go to sleep? At 1:15 you are arguing with yourself that you just need to finish this next chapter, if you don't you won't be able to sleep anyway, because you will be wondering what happened? That is this book! The main character is Evan, he is young, complicated, cynical, angry. He has returned to Philly from New York for his grandfathers funeral and is counting the minutes until he can get back to NYC. His uncle, who Evan had a close relationship with growing up, has unexpectedly become a candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia and he convinces Evan to stay and work on his campaign. Evan finds himself dealing with a mother who "has issues", an overly optimistic uncle, resentful co-workers, a past that refuses to stop torturing him, a city in distress and politicians who put power above all else.
    The plot and the characters are complex, intriguing, surprising and sometimes endearing. So much so that you will be saying "I didn't see that coming" (at 1:15AM). This book would make a great movie or series!

    4.0 out of 5 stars A thriller that keeps.you guessing!

    Format: Kindle

    A family drama wrapped in a political thriller that keeps you guessing until the end.
    The story opens with Evan, a cynical and alienated young man, returning to Philadelphia for the funeral of his grandfather, a victim of a seemingly random street crime. Evan decides to stay in the City of Brotherly Love to help his grieving, do-gooder uncle launch a quixotic campaign for mayor. Political intrigue ensues as Evan encounters unsavory characters inside and outside the campaign, uncovering scandals, and figuring out who might be behind his grandfather’s "random" murder…but most explosive of all is the untangling of family secrets that potentially could change the trajectory of Evan’s own life. O'Neill perfectly captures the gritty beauty of Philadelphia, and the diamond-in- the-rough qualities of its people. It's a read that makes you think.

    5.0 out of 5 stars Political Thriller

    Format: Paperback

    Like all good books, the characters in this novel including the good, the bad, and the ugly, keep you reading! What are they going to do next? How will they influence each other? What kind of insights do they give you into human nature?The author weaves all this together with witty dialogue and narrative as the intricate plot unfolds. Love, lies, deceit, and redemption keep you anticipating the action and the books suspenseful outcome, "who knew", "I didn't", made it a terrific dramatic thriller.

    5.0 out of 5 stars A suspension & fascinatingly drama

    Format: Kindle

    This is a published author of many talents. One of these he is ability to take true historical events and use them as inspiration for a spell binding story. In this case, he uses a race for major of Philadelphia as his main theme. The author captures the underworld of politics in this large metropolitan city. The author uses himself as the narrator of the story. We get to see the struggles and turmoil he endures as he tries to help his uncle get elected despite the many obstacles he faces in a corrupt campaign. The narrator has his own childhood trauma that revives as a result of his coming home from New York. The story unfolds as the suspense increases with each chapter until the dramatic conclusion. This book is a must read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars A thriller that goes deep

    Format: Kindle

    Weaving political intrigue, a complex family backstory, and a native Philadelphian's feel for the unique rhythm of life in his hometown, O'Neill delivers a compelling narrative that lays hold of the reader from the first page and never loosens its grip. The author's narrative skills and stunning talent for well-crafted dialogue bear witness to his proud Irish heritage. Using surprise, irony, and sly humor, O'Neill invites the reader to join him in an exploration of the darkest side of the political process that, despite its seductive power, is unable to derail a stubborn idealism that refuses to surrender to cynicism and despair. This excellent novel is especially timely given the political climate we are now enduring in America. Highly recommended!

    5.0 out of 5 stars Politics and Family

    Format: Kindle

    Mix gritty Philadelphia politics with a dysfunctional family and you get Funeral of Lies. It’s easy to root for Michael—he loves the city of Philadelphia and his nephew Evan. He jumps into a last-minute bid for mayor, but how can he succeed with the odds stacked against him? Evan carries plenty of baggage and wants to help his uncle win, but at what cost? I gasped at the surprise twist toward the end. I very much enjoyed this book.

    4.0 out of 5 stars A terrific read--no lie!

    Format: Kindle

    This novel has depth and heart. Evan is a complex character, not always kind and not always on the straight and narrow (also known as being human). But you'll find out why as he struggles to fit in back home and repay his uncle Michael for a childhood trauma. While that's going on, you're also tossed into a battle for Philadelphia: you meet mothers who've lost children to gun violence, you have a mentor working against the odds to save young men, talented young campaign workers determined to see positive change, a rooted establishment dead-set to stay in power. Funeral of Lies is topical, it's suspenseful, and filled with characters you really care about.

    5.0 out of 5 stars A shocking web of lies

    Format: Kindle

    What a great read! From A.E.S. O’Neill’s first paragraph, I was invested in Evan’s story. Every written word, so descriptive, it put you in the same room, sitting in the same pew, standing right next to Evan, sharing his thoughts and feelings. Each chapter had me anxiously waiting to find out who was behind the web of lies, and why they were needed. Evan and Michael, are well developed characters, and O’Neill’s description of each character and their gestures lure you into their world. I found myself grieving with some of these characters, feeling like they are family. Seriously, crying into the pages. Mystery, grief, shocking betrayal, lies, and more lies. A very well developed plot, characters and mystery. I highly recommend this gripping novel, by A.E.S. O’Neill.

    • 5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing Mystery

      Format: Kindle

      This should be your number 1 book on your fall reading list. It’s a riveting mystery full of unexpected turns revealing corrupt politicians, complex family drama and lots of lies. Halfway through you will be sure you have figured it out.
      Only to turn the page and find you have not. The book is filled with people so beautifully and carefully described that, like me, you might want to reread some of the pages, as I did. It is that well written. I found myself completely caught up in intriguing family history, Like any good mystery I was unable to guess the ending. An explosive surprise. I loved it.