Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was good. A bit unbelievable all while being sickingly believable.
After a couple of chapters, I realised I had read this book before in hard cover. However, I was happy to read it again and enjoy. The factual background material (paper boys kidnapped and murdered) added extra depth to the story. So we have both a historical novel (it's set in 1984) and the sense that this could just as well be a story happening right now.
The focus on the boy at the centre of the story, Sammy Cox, provides a keen insight into how predators operate - that it doesn't have to be the dark stranger at all, as we all know. The police detective, Dale Goodkind, gains our sympathy as much as Sammy. Dale can almost do nothing right, but we understand why, and we feel for him. It seems like an unsolvable crime, simply because those who know are so threatened they can't say anything. this is the nature of child abuse.
The author handled the movement back and forth between viewpoint characters very well, and her characters are all strong and believable. Crystal as a budding journalist struggles to tell a story that in 1984 would have been confronting - and yet most of it is happening right under her nose. It's not until she realises the truth that she is able to write it - this is also an insightful view into great journalism. The combination of passion and truth.
It always interests me to read a novel set before mobile phones. We take them for granted now, and they can mess up the plot of a thriller in annoying ways. In this novel, that lack of instant communication is brought home in many ways, and for me it added an extra interest to the solving of the crime.
The focus on the boy at the centre of the story, Sammy Cox, provides a keen insight into how predators operate - that it doesn't have to be the dark stranger at all, as we all know. The police detective, Dale Goodkind, gains our sympathy as much as Sammy. Dale can almost do nothing right, but we understand why, and we feel for him. It seems like an unsolvable crime, simply because those who know are so threatened they can't say anything. this is the nature of child abuse.
The author handled the movement back and forth between viewpoint characters very well, and her characters are all strong and believable. Crystal as a budding journalist struggles to tell a story that in 1984 would have been confronting - and yet most of it is happening right under her nose. It's not until she realises the truth that she is able to write it - this is also an insightful view into great journalism. The combination of passion and truth.
It always interests me to read a novel set before mobile phones. We take them for granted now, and they can mess up the plot of a thriller in annoying ways. In this novel, that lack of instant communication is brought home in many ways, and for me it added an extra interest to the solving of the crime.
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I almost DNF as I was worried about the cat being hurt but thankfully nothing really happened to the cat. The plot which was based on some truth was really good but also so very frustrating as the characters were infuriating and failed the son so badly.
Content Warnings
Nothing bad happens to the cat!
Written from the POV of several different characters, I appreciate the intricacies of the story which are able to be portrayed to the reader and not to all the other characters as a result. Complex emotions and dark material, a fictional story inspired by true events, worth a read.
