Beyond This Place by A.J. Cronin. Short summary

5 seconds

Paul Murphy learns that his father has been in prison for 15 years for a murder he did not commit. The young man is determined to investigate the case and try to prove his father’s innocence.

1 minute

Young intelligent Paul Maffrey discovers by chance that his real father did not die years ago, as his mother told him, but spent 15 years in prison for killing a girl. Paul travels to the town of Wortley, where the crime occurred, to find out details about his father’s case. The young man soon learns that his father is innocent and convicted by mistake.

Now Paul is determined to prove his father’s innocence. Investigating the case, he realizes that the police and the court missed a lot of facts and deliberately put the innocent man away. And now the lawmakers do not want to stir up the past so that they do not lose their seats. They try to hinder Paul.

But Paul still seeks justice. He manages to collect enough facts to review his father’s case — after an appellate court, the prisoner is released.

But his fifteen years in prison changed him beyond recognition. Paul’s father has become embittered, cynical, vain, and petty. He stole from his son without remorse and went on a bender in the pubs.