A review by bookbint
Bitter Sun by Beth Lewis

5.0

Set over 3 long hot summer from 1971 in a small American town this book is so utterly addictive I could not put it down.
Told from young 13 yr old Johnny Royal's view as the sanctuary of his younger sister and two best friends' clubhouse becomes the area where a girls body is found by the children.
Like a car crash in slow motion you know something is bad in the town, each year sees the children's home life become worse. Indeed his sister Jenny is under the impression their mother will kill her soon. Johnny loves his Momma and wonders why they rile each other up so. His best friend Rudy gets a beating but when they all meet up nothing can touch them, that is why they know they are the only ones who can solve the murder.
The characters are so well written, like reading Stephen King's The Body {Stand by Me} Johnny's view is naïve and innocent as he hopes the only Pa he trusts can save them.
This book devastated me. I got so emotionally involved the children were my best friends, the long hot summers ones I could picture having, I couldn't believe what Lewis put them all through but couldn't look away, I had to know, like Johnny was it as bad as it was going to get?
Just pick this up, one for you one for your friend to discuss and spread the word. The most unputdownable book this summer - can I say year?- is here.
Thank you so much HarperCollins for the proof read