Another original concept for a psychological thriller by this brilliant writer.
I sat down with this book early on New Year’s Eve afternoon, and put it down when the fireworks were going off outside.
What a way to end a year.
This story has, at its core, an abusive relationship where a man keeps control over his girlfriend by demeaning her as a person; physically, emotionally and mentally.
The relationship ended 10 years ago and is recalled in a journal kept by the main protagonist Rebecca. Her nightmare came to an end when her abusive partner Solomon was jailed for a serious crime.
Becky, as she is now known, has started a new life in the wilds of the Welsh Countryside. She is married to a vet and has a lovely daughter.
Everything is good in Becky’s life until she finds a strange phone and starts getting texts on it. Solomon is out of prison and wants revenge for his ten years behind bars.
Becky is to witness a crime for every year he has been in prison. She cannot tell anybody about the crimes, she cannot tell the Police she has witnessed the crimes, and worse of all, she must choose the victims of the crime.
At first the crimes are petty but each is more severe and people start to get hurt.
This book explores the abusive relationship in 2005. It describes how Solomon targets a weak Rebecca at a time when she is most vulnerable, and how he uses his personality and charisma to embed himself in her life.
The parts of the book set in 2015 explore some moral dilemmas that are frighteningly realistic. This book explores how a person can choose which of the people they love to suffer over another. Would it be easier to substitute strangers for loved ones……….Could you use the Witness tasks to extract revenge???
Who will be the victim of the ultimate crime.
The story is great, it’s original, and it had me hooked from start to finish.
The writing is excellent. There was no point in this book where I “skipped over” any passages.
Save the best till last, as the saying goes. Well this was the last book I read in 2016, and I can’t think of a better read all year.
nigeladamsbookworm 