My Review: The Night Has A Thousand Eyes by Mandy Sayer

The plot begins with young 12 year-old Mark Stamp skylarking in the backyard with his air gun. Accidentally he fires a shot through the window of his father′s sacred shed and discovers a horrifying sight that causes him to flee for his life. With his older 14 year-old sister Ruby and the family's infant baby in tow, they set off on an incident-filled trip of a lifetime, escaping the past and their violent one-legged father. Hooking up with another adolescent lost soul along the way, this is an absorbing tale of four kids on the run and on a journey of self-discovery.

Interspersed throughout the story is an ongoing subplot of theories as to how the lecherous father lost his leg. This becomes almost comical and adds to the intrigue of the novel. Possibilities raised range from shark attack to a train accident and the horrifying truth is revealed in the latter part of the book.

Released and marketed as a YA novel, this book is a dark and hardhitting road trip novel, with descriptions using colourful and adult language. Topics covered include domestic violence, incest, promiscuity, larceny, substance abuse, teenage delinquency, vandalism and murder. A coming-of-age novel where the characters are coming from a long way back. Recommended to very mature readers, and definitely not for the faint-hearted.

MY RATING: 4/5