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clarereadstheworld's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Warning: do not read this book or this review if you have children!
Growing up in the Falklands, Rachel and Catrin were best friends since childhood, until the day the unimaginable happened. Rachel left Catrin's two children in her car, and the car rolled off a cliff killing Cartin's two boys instantly. Plunged into a world of grief, Catrin can think of only one thing: revenge. Meanwhile, little boys are going missing all over the island. Is it just tragic, freak accidents, or is something more sinister going on?
I'm cheating a little bit for my Falklands entry, as Sharon Bolton isn't from the Falklands, but @bookaholic_85, who is from the Falklands recommend it to me along with 74 days, an Islander's diary of the Falkland Occupation by John Smith, which I will also be reading soon. That being said, Islands themselves really felt like a character in this novel. I learnt a lot about the history of the Falklands, particularly the occupation in the early 80's, and the diverse marine wildlife.
The inspiration for this book came from a tragic car accident Bolton heard about where several children were killed or injured in a driver-neglect collision. Beyond the grief of the families, this book is also about guilt, and trying to live after tragedy.
The novel is in 3 parts, part 1 follows Catrin, consumed by grief, and ideas of revenge. Part 2 follows Callum, as he tries to reach Catrin and deals with his own demons. Mostly interestingly part 3 follows Rachel, consumed by guilt, and unable to move forward with her life. During parts 1 & 2 I saw Rachel very much as the 'baddie' and didn't think much about how she would be feeling, but part 3 was a real eye opener.
Another thing I loved about this novel was how it revisited the same events from different perspectives. I am absolutely in love with this style of narrative at the moment, and I find it so interesting how the same events can be interpreted or even remembered differently.
The ending was a little too happily ever after, and a little punch in the gut which I didn't see coming. If you've read this book I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Growing up in the Falklands, Rachel and Catrin were best friends since childhood, until the day the unimaginable happened. Rachel left Catrin's two children in her car, and the car rolled off a cliff killing Cartin's two boys instantly. Plunged into a world of grief, Catrin can think of only one thing: revenge. Meanwhile, little boys are going missing all over the island. Is it just tragic, freak accidents, or is something more sinister going on?
I'm cheating a little bit for my Falklands entry, as Sharon Bolton isn't from the Falklands, but @bookaholic_85, who is from the Falklands recommend it to me along with 74 days, an Islander's diary of the Falkland Occupation by John Smith, which I will also be reading soon. That being said, Islands themselves really felt like a character in this novel. I learnt a lot about the history of the Falklands, particularly the occupation in the early 80's, and the diverse marine wildlife.
The inspiration for this book came from a tragic car accident Bolton heard about where several children were killed or injured in a driver-neglect collision. Beyond the grief of the families, this book is also about guilt, and trying to live after tragedy.
The novel is in 3 parts, part 1 follows Catrin, consumed by grief, and ideas of revenge. Part 2 follows Callum, as he tries to reach Catrin and deals with his own demons. Mostly interestingly part 3 follows Rachel, consumed by guilt, and unable to move forward with her life. During parts 1 & 2 I saw Rachel very much as the 'baddie' and didn't think much about how she would be feeling, but part 3 was a real eye opener.
Another thing I loved about this novel was how it revisited the same events from different perspectives. I am absolutely in love with this style of narrative at the moment, and I find it so interesting how the same events can be interpreted or even remembered differently.
The ending was a little too happily ever after, and a little punch in the gut which I didn't see coming. If you've read this book I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
Moderate: Infidelity