Carmody is careful to balance enough description of Meg’s traumatic experience to feel authentic without focusing on graphic detail. This keeps the story from feeling prurient, as Carmody emphasizes Meg’s courage, growth, and new connections, even as she still faces danger from insiders in the scheme who would rather she not testify. Carmody makes Meg an extremely reliable witness who is believed by authorities. This humane, supportive treatment of abuse survivors is encouraging, though the thriller elements, seemingly by design, are never visceral nor especially tense or twist-y.
Where this story shines is in the scenes of home life at the McGloughlins, where the family deals with its own internal conflicts but ultimately comes in with love and support, Meg’s emotional arc in learning to trust feels satisfying. Though the Christmas and wedding planning vibes could have been turned up another notch, the nergetic family banter makes a strong contrast with the stress that Meg is escaping. Carmody’s background as a caregiver is clear in Jo’s gentleness and practical support.
Takeaway: Optimistic, family-centered thriller of justice and support for victims.
Comparable Titles: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s Fighting Words, Laurie Matthew’s Groomed.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
This is a gut-punch of a novel. What an amazing book! Meg's story grabbed me from the start. This is a gut-punch of a novel, written so carefully and so well, it's impossible to turn away and leave Meg alone, even when the circumstances of her life are particularly difficult to hear. S A Carmody has a skilful knack of including police procedure and criminal justice details alongside a wholly engaging story of a young girl caught in a broken system. The juxtaposition between the grim crimes committed, and the chaotic family Christmas in which she finds herself, was stark and yet at times, warmly funny. I was rooting for Meg all along, and never once felt I could stop reading until I'd reached the end of her story. One very late night later, and i'm still thinking about the characters. I know Meg, and the people that love her, are going to be very hard to shake off.
A fantastic story based around a very difficult subject.The author takes you through a complex and enthralling journey with many twists and turns that keep you wanting to turn the page to find what happens next. The characters are wide ranging and fantastic and the great writing really ensures you know all of them personally. The subject is a difficult one but I loved the story around it and the level of detail was amazing.
The final twist took me completely by surprise and there are hints of a follow up so I cannot wait.
Great read.Thoroughly enjoyed this book (the writing, not the topic). Although fiction, certain aspects of the author’s life shine through. The politics, the football, and the sense of humour. I read this in 2 nights, and the images of the characters have remained with me (I am an avid reader, but rarely do the characters stay with me for long). Meg is a very believable character whose story is very sad, but unfortunately has happened too many times. Making people aware of these situations is paramount to obliterating them. Well done.
Great read.Thoroughly enjoyed this book (the writing, not the topic). Although fiction, certain aspects of the author’s life shine through. The politics, the football, and the sense of humour. I read this in 2 nights, and the images of the characters have remained with me (I am an avid reader, but rarely do the characters stay with me for long). Meg is a very believable character whose story is very sad, but unfortunately has happened too many times. Making people aware of these situations is paramount to obliterating them. Well done.
A gripping read.A real page-turner, an important and enthralling story, beautifully and sensitively told. Had me in tears and staying up way too late to follow Meg’s journey. Couldn’t put it down.
Gripping, traumatic and funny. Excellent read.From the moment Jo finds Meg traumatised, Carmody takes us on a journey that reveals the truly shocking events that lead up to that meeting and what ensues. There's not only trauma in this incredible debut novel but warmth and humour, I couldn't put it down.
Clear your diary...Could not put this book down! It gave me every emotion I thought possible, and more. It took me from devastation to laughter in seconds, one hell of a rollercoaster and covers an important and way too real subject. Finished it and started again!
