A brilliantly written book that takes aim at some extremely difficult and disturbing subject matter. Australian author, Honey Brown does not shirk the issues of child abduction, child sexual abuse, imprisonment, homelessness and hopelessness in this novel.
Adam is a teenage boy who has spent his formative years imprisoned in a suburban house. Eventually Adam stands-up to his aging captor and rejoins the world. Free at last, Adam has a chance meeting with Billy, a streetwise teenager, who takes Adam under his wing and introduces him to an outside world that he has never knowingly experienced. As Adam flourishes and grows as a person under the guidance of Billy they both begin to realise they are part of a much bigger issue.
As the layers are unravelled and the level of abuse, depravity and hopelessness is uncovered, the reader is taken on a dark journey of despair followed by uplifting hope for a better outcome.
The background to this novel is every parent's nightmare, but it is the relationships between the characters that is the true and rewarding focus. Congratulations to Honey Brown for having the courage to tackle such divisive issues and kudos for the compassionate and skilful way she takes the reader with her on the journey. Take my advice and get on board!
Thankyou to NetGalley and the publisher Penguin Australia for my Advanced Reader Copy.
A disturbing and confronting psychological thriller set in country Victoria by Australian author Honey Brown.
Outwardly the perfect couple , Bruce and Trudy make a snap decision to stop at an isolated art gallery along The Great Ocean Road as they drive home from a relaxing holiday. Still in vacation mode, they enter the gallery without a care in the world. However Bruce & Trudy are the only visitors in the gallery, and after being greeted by a creepy host, they soon get the jitters - and with good reason. Captured, drugged and assaulted, they ultimately manage to make a violent escape, but not without some collateral damage. This becomes the turning point of the novel, and from here on, their lives are turned upside-down. In fact, it is a trauma from which Bruce and Trudy never fully recover.
As Bruce & Trudy attempt to deal with day-to-day life, their relationship and mental health begins to unravel. Their family structure starts to fracture. Their kids don't understand what they have experienced, and in their diminished state, Bruce & Trudy compound their situation by making a series of really poor decisions.
A spine-tingling plot, captivating characters and a gripping read that had me on the edge of my seat throughout! Like someone who can't avert their eyes from an impending disaster, I just had to keep watching as Bruce & Trudy's lives spiralled out of control.
I thoroughly recommend this book to all readers who enjoy psychological thrillers, particularly in an Australian setting.
My first Honey Brown novel and definitely not my last.
4.5/5 Stars
