This disturbing tale of domestic crime / horror commences in the past. Nineteen years ago, a toddler is abducted and murdered. Of the two girls held responsible, one is convicted and incarcerated, the other is too young for trial so is given a new identity as Hazel.
Fast forward to the present day.
Another young child is abducted from the hotel where Hazel is staying. This naturally stirs up memories and brings the original case back into focus and back into the public eye. Throw into the mix the lawyer aunt of the murdered toddler and soon things start to get even more troubling.
The story of the original crime, nearly twenty-years prior is told in flashback. Overall the whole thing almost works, but the ending will stretch credulity, and perhaps is a twist too many for the more jaundiced reviewers, like myself.
The author has a robust writing style, so it is an easy novel to read, as the words flow like a stream. The story is reminiscent of a high-profile case from several years ago, but with so many surreal stories of true crime that confront us daily; this novel seems less like crime-fiction, and more a dark tale of mystery.
Though it doesn’t really bring anything new to the genre, but I would recommend this as an undemanding, quick and easy read to anyone who can deal with the subject matter, which is dark, and troubling.
