The Book of Guilt

by Kym Lloyd

Charting the destruction and ultimate resurrection of a family, an anonymous 'Father-Confessor' figure relays the 'confessions' of the Goode family: Phineas (a one-time bookshop owner) and Maggie (an artist), their daughters Gwynne and Viviane, and Allie Finlay, Phineas' exmistress...along with the sixth tale - of the dead Dr Jabz Reemie, etymologist and former mentor to Phineas, whose own part in the story is gradually revealed. As the stories interweave, they continually present a reinterpretation of each character's relative burden of guilt. Who is really guilty and what are they guilty of? It is Dr Reemie's tale, along with Viviane's recovered childhood memories, that reveal the dark secrets of Castle Keep.

Genres: Novels

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Published novels include ERSKINE'S BOX and THE BOOK OF GUILT (both published by Sceptre) and THE FLIGHT, by Morwen Fox (pen-name), my debut YA novel now available from Amazon as a Kindle download. Works-in-progress include TRUTH, my next adult fiction about a medieval troubadour and a present-day musician; NONA THE NINTH, the next Morwen Fox novel based on copycat suicides and cult worship; THE WELDER'S DAUGHTER, a collection of published poems inspired by my welder-by-trade and poet father.

Reviews

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The disturbing account of how one man tore apart a family and the innocence of a small child, without the parents being aware of the unfolding horror. This book is written from the perspective of the six individuals who were intimately involved in the Goode family life and its deterioration. The book bears some resemblance to a dark fairy tale with its vivid characters and winding plot, and is often interwoven with fantastical imagery from Norse mythology or from the imagined world of the two daughters. Although the story is beautifully written it is also very upsetting as it portrays the discovery of a once-trusted friend as a paedophile who preys on one of the daughters and consequently destroys her childhood trust and innocence. The mysterious narrator remains masked throughout the novel, which just as to the mystery as the reader delves into the plot to find out what happened to Viviane Goode.

[Evie Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly horrific, if that makes sense. Although, the reason why I particularly enjoyed the novel was due to its subtle, under-the-surface terror. The kind which is deep, intense and psychological and for that all the more real. Not only does it encourage its reader to consider base concepts such as right and wrong, good and evil, but also the complexity of the human mind and how we are all guilty of something.

The characters are vividly painted and the story a canvas upon which they are displayed. An excellent, chilling read that you cannot put down without pondering upon.

If you enjoy The Book of Guilt, I would also recommend Erskine's Box by the same author.

[Canan · Rating 5 out of 5]

kym lloyd, yine benzer bir konu işlemiş. ensest-çocuk istismarına dair suçlu-masum kavramları. Bir adamın gelip 'iyi' özelliklere sahip aileyi sistematik bir şekilde dağıtmasını, aile üyelerinin kendi korkularını günah çıkarma seanslarıyla anlatmış. Çok da güzel olmuş. tavsiye edilir.