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The Wrong Hand
We all make mistakes. Moments that change us and the path we are on irrevocably. For Rachel Allen it was the moment that she let her son's hand slip from hers. For Danny Simpson and Graham Harris it was the moment one of them took it. Seven years ago Danny and Graham were just children themselves, angry, marginalized and unguided. That was, until they committed a crime so heinous that three families were left devastated. They were no longer just boys. They were monsters. Released from juvenile detention, it is time for the boys, now men, to start again; new names, new people. But they can never escape who they are or what they did. And their own families, now notorious; the Allens, destroyed with grief; and the country at large have never been able to forget. They will always be running. They will always be hiding. But are some mistakes too large, the ripples to far reaching, to outrun forever?
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First published October 13, 2015
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137 people want to read
About the author
Jane Jago
1 book11 followersJane Jago was born in Sydney Australia in 1961.
Originally trained as a Printmaker, she began writing whilst raising a family.
She has a long standing interest in exploring the shadow aspect of human nature and in developmental psychology.
Passionate about the protection of children and their right to a childhood, The Wrong Hand is her first novel.
Originally trained as a Printmaker, she began writing whilst raising a family.
She has a long standing interest in exploring the shadow aspect of human nature and in developmental psychology.
Passionate about the protection of children and their right to a childhood, The Wrong Hand is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
June 13, 2016
3.5 stars
I had serious doubts that I was going to be able to handle this book. The subject matter is emotional and tragic.
***Review may contain minor spoilers***
Seven years ago Danny Simpson and Graham Harris committed a crime so atrocious that it completely destroyed three families. What made this worse was that they were only 11 years old when they committed this horrific crime. Now that they are eighteen-years-old, they are being released. But even though they are released will they truly be free? Are new lives and new names enough to keep them safe from people who will never forget what they have done? Do they deserve to feel safe?
A parents worse nightmare is losing a child under any circumstances. But how can you grieve or survive when you are never left in peace by the public, the press and even your own thoughts. How often does a relationship survive the loss of a child?
Can you ever truly be happy again?
"Her biggest fear was happiness. Happiness led to complacency and she'd been there before. Happiness brought with it guilt"
In 1993 Rachel McKenna's nightmare starts the moment she lets go of her son, Benjamin's hand. In the next moment someone else takes his hand and suddenly he's gone. Rachel blames herself. She was the one who took Benjamin shopping and had let go of his hand for the briefest of moments. She thinks if she had only gone to the corner market instead, then her life with Benjamin would be intact.
What happens to everyone in the aftermath of such a heinous crime?
Years later Rachel is a mother again. But her anxiety and need for control rules her family's life.
Matthew Allen spends all of his time trying to find the boys after they are released. What will he do if he does find them?
I found there were quite a few times that I felt a bit lost as the novel moved from the past to the present. I often re-read parts to help figure out what was happening. I really wanted to understand the characters better, but I had a hard time remembering who was who, especially with the name changes. I felt like the author did try to help the reader keep things straight by labeling the chapters with the names, places and dates etc. but it could still be a bit confusing at times and I would have to refer back. Maybe it was just me but I still feel a bit confused about who did what.
Some parts of this book made me really uncomfortable but I appreciate that the author didn't go overboard with the descriptions of the violence. Of course things happened that were extremely upsetting and there was some violence, but I didn't feel like the author was glorifying gratuitous violence.
One of the characters was writing an article about these boys and his research brought up so any different emotions for me. When a crime like this happens it changes what we feel about childhood innocence. I thought a lot about nature vs. nurture and it made me wonder how a child that never learned empathy (because it was never shown to them) can possibly succeed in this world.
"Killing was primal. Not killing was a product of an amygdala-friendly environment and a complex web of social conditioning"
I think this is a good and thought provoking debut novel. A very interesting and emotional read. It made me think a lot about how justice system works and especially how it works for children.
A heartbreaking read with many powerful messages.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
I had serious doubts that I was going to be able to handle this book. The subject matter is emotional and tragic.
***Review may contain minor spoilers***
Seven years ago Danny Simpson and Graham Harris committed a crime so atrocious that it completely destroyed three families. What made this worse was that they were only 11 years old when they committed this horrific crime. Now that they are eighteen-years-old, they are being released. But even though they are released will they truly be free? Are new lives and new names enough to keep them safe from people who will never forget what they have done? Do they deserve to feel safe?
A parents worse nightmare is losing a child under any circumstances. But how can you grieve or survive when you are never left in peace by the public, the press and even your own thoughts. How often does a relationship survive the loss of a child?
Can you ever truly be happy again?
"Her biggest fear was happiness. Happiness led to complacency and she'd been there before. Happiness brought with it guilt"
In 1993 Rachel McKenna's nightmare starts the moment she lets go of her son, Benjamin's hand. In the next moment someone else takes his hand and suddenly he's gone. Rachel blames herself. She was the one who took Benjamin shopping and had let go of his hand for the briefest of moments. She thinks if she had only gone to the corner market instead, then her life with Benjamin would be intact.
What happens to everyone in the aftermath of such a heinous crime?
Years later Rachel is a mother again. But her anxiety and need for control rules her family's life.
Matthew Allen spends all of his time trying to find the boys after they are released. What will he do if he does find them?
I found there were quite a few times that I felt a bit lost as the novel moved from the past to the present. I often re-read parts to help figure out what was happening. I really wanted to understand the characters better, but I had a hard time remembering who was who, especially with the name changes. I felt like the author did try to help the reader keep things straight by labeling the chapters with the names, places and dates etc. but it could still be a bit confusing at times and I would have to refer back. Maybe it was just me but I still feel a bit confused about who did what.
Some parts of this book made me really uncomfortable but I appreciate that the author didn't go overboard with the descriptions of the violence. Of course things happened that were extremely upsetting and there was some violence, but I didn't feel like the author was glorifying gratuitous violence.
One of the characters was writing an article about these boys and his research brought up so any different emotions for me. When a crime like this happens it changes what we feel about childhood innocence. I thought a lot about nature vs. nurture and it made me wonder how a child that never learned empathy (because it was never shown to them) can possibly succeed in this world.
"Killing was primal. Not killing was a product of an amygdala-friendly environment and a complex web of social conditioning"
I think this is a good and thought provoking debut novel. A very interesting and emotional read. It made me think a lot about how justice system works and especially how it works for children.
A heartbreaking read with many powerful messages.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 30, 2018
This was a book I wanted to read some time ago.
I hadn’t read any reviews until I finished reading this.
I can’t bring myself to give it more than 3 🌟 due to the fact it’s too close to a real event that happened in the UK, although the area is changed to Australia.
It’s an horrendous story, but then, so was the real life event.
Great writing but released in bad taste.
I hadn’t read any reviews until I finished reading this.
I can’t bring myself to give it more than 3 🌟 due to the fact it’s too close to a real event that happened in the UK, although the area is changed to Australia.
It’s an horrendous story, but then, so was the real life event.
Great writing but released in bad taste.
July 9, 2016
Despite being set in Australia, this novel could almost be factual, so heavily does it rely on a real life case. It begins in 1993 with the body of a young boy being found. Benjamin Allen is the son of Mathew and Rachel Allen and, after the murder of their son by two children – Danny Simpson and Graham Harris – the couple break apart. This book is really about the aftermath of such a tragic event and also there is a lot of theorising about why two school children turned to murder.
Rachel remarries and attempts to begin a new life, but is filled with blame, guilt and despair, while Mathew spends his time seeking revenge. We also see events from the point of view of Danny Simpson and Graham Harris; how they met, what they became and how they fare after reaching adulthood. Another character who worked very well was that of retired, terminally ill, Detective Inspector Phillip Kendall, who is unable to let go of the case.
There is no denying the impact of such a crime; not only for those who were personally involved, but also for those who have to live with the aftermath – including Rachel’s two sons from her second marriage and those who meet the killers, living under new identities, as adults… Still, although I found this an empathic and well written novel, it just was too close to real events to make for really comfortable reading. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Rachel remarries and attempts to begin a new life, but is filled with blame, guilt and despair, while Mathew spends his time seeking revenge. We also see events from the point of view of Danny Simpson and Graham Harris; how they met, what they became and how they fare after reaching adulthood. Another character who worked very well was that of retired, terminally ill, Detective Inspector Phillip Kendall, who is unable to let go of the case.
There is no denying the impact of such a crime; not only for those who were personally involved, but also for those who have to live with the aftermath – including Rachel’s two sons from her second marriage and those who meet the killers, living under new identities, as adults… Still, although I found this an empathic and well written novel, it just was too close to real events to make for really comfortable reading. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
October 16, 2016
I honestly don't know how i'm going to review this book properly. I'm so emotionally conflicted, in a good way. I got more emotional when i finished reading and realised that it's based on a real case that happened in 1993. I searched the case up online and was horrified with the details of the murder. But it made me appreciate the book a lot more, because i realised that reading about crime cases will be quite one-sided/biased most of the time. The Wrong Hand explores the perspective of all sides of the same story, and tries to portray the consequences of it from everyone who was involved. I'm rating this book 4 out of 5 stars.
This is a very serious book. It's also quite dark, with the story centering around the murder of a 3-year-old boy committed by a pair of 11-year-olds. It was incredulous to read about children committing such a horrible crime. It made me question so many things about morality and responsibility. Like for example, to what extent is a parent responsible for their child?
The reason why i felt emotionally conflicted was because of all the different POVs being explored in the story. We get to see the past and present perspective from the two boys, their parents, the parents of the victims, and some other people who were involved as well. It was difficult to completely hate the boys for what they did, because of their regret and fears and their sentence. They both had to be given new identities after spending 7 years in juvenile detention, and had to live careful lives and had to constantly move around over the years.
It was most emotional to read from the perspective of the victim's mother; how it had effected her and her husband. How she would always partly blame herself for diverting her attention from her only son for just a few moments, and how that had changed everything. The perspective from the victim's father was just as sad.
I also really appreciated reading the perspective of the two boys' mothers. Being a psychology student, I've learnt a bit about whether behaviour(in this case, violence) is in one's nature or whether the environment had played a bigger role. How much should a parent be blamed for the way they had raised their child? For the things they had exposed them to? For their negligence, for not being supportive when their child needed them to be?
I did think that some parts of the book had been unnecessary and had made the story a little bit draggy, but other than that i quite enjoyed the honest writing. It did get confusing at times about who's POV it was and which timeframe the chapter was in, so it took a bit of effort to keep up. I don't think the book is very appropriate for younger readers; mostly because of the profanities and some obscene parts. Also, trigger warning for those uncomfortable reading about suicide.
All in all, i'm glad i read this book. I received a copy to be reviewed and can honestly say that it is quite eye opening. If you want to know more about the real case it's based on, you can search "Murder of James Bulger". I think reading the book helps see things from a wider perspective.
This is a very serious book. It's also quite dark, with the story centering around the murder of a 3-year-old boy committed by a pair of 11-year-olds. It was incredulous to read about children committing such a horrible crime. It made me question so many things about morality and responsibility. Like for example, to what extent is a parent responsible for their child?
The reason why i felt emotionally conflicted was because of all the different POVs being explored in the story. We get to see the past and present perspective from the two boys, their parents, the parents of the victims, and some other people who were involved as well. It was difficult to completely hate the boys for what they did, because of their regret and fears and their sentence. They both had to be given new identities after spending 7 years in juvenile detention, and had to live careful lives and had to constantly move around over the years.
It was most emotional to read from the perspective of the victim's mother; how it had effected her and her husband. How she would always partly blame herself for diverting her attention from her only son for just a few moments, and how that had changed everything. The perspective from the victim's father was just as sad.
I also really appreciated reading the perspective of the two boys' mothers. Being a psychology student, I've learnt a bit about whether behaviour(in this case, violence) is in one's nature or whether the environment had played a bigger role. How much should a parent be blamed for the way they had raised their child? For the things they had exposed them to? For their negligence, for not being supportive when their child needed them to be?
I did think that some parts of the book had been unnecessary and had made the story a little bit draggy, but other than that i quite enjoyed the honest writing. It did get confusing at times about who's POV it was and which timeframe the chapter was in, so it took a bit of effort to keep up. I don't think the book is very appropriate for younger readers; mostly because of the profanities and some obscene parts. Also, trigger warning for those uncomfortable reading about suicide.
All in all, i'm glad i read this book. I received a copy to be reviewed and can honestly say that it is quite eye opening. If you want to know more about the real case it's based on, you can search "Murder of James Bulger". I think reading the book helps see things from a wider perspective.
March 15, 2016
Not an easy book to read given the upsetting subject matter and the close comparison to the 1993 child murder in the UK by two 10-year old boys.. This book dealt with the aftermath of a horrific and unimaginable heinous crime against a 3 year old boy, the knock-on effect on the victims family and the 2 young boys convicted of his killing and follows their lives over a 15-20 year period. Sad, thought-provoking and very uncomfortable because it shows a very real and frightening reality of children born into a life of evil..
June 22, 2016
Danny Simpson and Graham Harris were just children seven years ago when they committed a crime so heinous that left three families devastated. Boys who have turned into monsters.
They are now men and ready to be released back into society with new identities but they won't be able to escape who they are or what they did.
This really felt to me as if the author has based this on the horrific true event that happened in Liverpool over twenty years ago and this is why I could only give this book 3*.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Penguin UK and the author Jane Jago for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
They are now men and ready to be released back into society with new identities but they won't be able to escape who they are or what they did.
This really felt to me as if the author has based this on the horrific true event that happened in Liverpool over twenty years ago and this is why I could only give this book 3*.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Penguin UK and the author Jane Jago for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2016
This book was difficulty to get into. I just couldn't get into the story that kept flashing from past to present. Overall the story was quite good told how everyone suffers from a horrendous crime not just the accused and victims but whole families included . I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review. I give this book 4 stars
June 13, 2016
This is a book that tackles a story line that some will find difficult, some will find controversial and for some, it will provoke comparisons with Jamie Bulger who was abducted and murdered in 1993. I think it would make a good read for a book group as actually poses several thought provoking questions about evil, nature/nurture and rehabilitation. It also explore themes like honesty and the consequences of living with secrets.
In summary, the story is about Danny Simpson and Graham Harris who abducted 3 year old Benjamin and murdered him. We meet them at various stages in their lives, but mainly the novel looks at what happens following their release -7 years after they committed such a horrendous crime, and their subsequent adult years as they attempt to move on with "ordinary" lives. It also follows the lives of Rachel and Matthew Allen, Benjamin's devastated and broken parents.
The novel took me a while to get into as I felt like I'd missed a few chapters somewhere - Jago assumes we're already aware of the premise and therefore begins by starting in the middle with Danny being prepared for his release back into society at the end of his prison sentence. At this point we're a little unsure who we are reading about, what exactly has happened and how the various characters are connected. We learn that Danny was given a cover story in order to survive life in prison and now he is being given a cover story to survive life on the outside. He's not a pleasant character, there is no sympathy generated despite the revelation that Dan is as terrified of living as he is of dying and the terrifying threat of being found out all over again is having a detrimental affect on his emotional and metal stability, his ability to actually forgive himself, pick up a "normal" life or ever recover from the shock of what he actually did. I think this is deliberate in order to create some distance between us - either to make it clear that our relationship with this character is going to be conflicted or to protect us a little from becoming too upset by the details and reality of the crime. Perhaps in a way, it might help us to read about Danny as we are kept a little removed.
There are several characters to meet very early on, each with a different chapter and a different involvement with Benjamin. There are narratives from Rachel, Matthew, Danny and Liam (aka Graham). The novel plays around with the chronologically as we follow the different threads - sometimes back to before the crime, sometimes just after, after the boys' release and then also bringing us up to date with the boys now as young men. This encourages pace and a more complex exploration of the topic. It gives Jago a chance to create a range of characters and write about a range of interesting positions and relationships. It gives her a chance to explore different reactions to crime, grief, death, violence and rehabilitation. It did mean it took a while to get into and a moment or two to acknowledge where in the chronological order of things that particular chapter fell and which character we were reading about, but as the book continues I think it makes it more tense and more interesting. It prevents it from becoming trite or cliched and means it retains elements of a psychological drama.
Rachel's sections are quite harrowing. Her mental anguish and the lasting impact of losing a son are obviously crippling. She has two children - one of which was "born under the shadow of the event" and subsequently is more serious, more reserved and more wary of life. Rachel drives her 13 and 9 year old to school and back everyday. They are always in her sight. They have never been on a sleepover, "her all consuming anxiety ruled their lives." She is terrified that any "happiness will lead to complacency." I absolutely relate to and completely understand this behaviour following her devastating loss but I did find her passages quite heavy going and oppressive.
Matthew's grief is equally all consuming - he has just put all his energy into tracking down the two culprits knowing that they are now released and living somewhere in the UK. The language used to describe his plight is very powerful: despair, drowning, bewilderment, blackness, unreachable grief. It was really insightful to read about how people "turn away - no platitude forthcoming"; their response very different to when other parents are trying to cope with death and loss. Benjamin's death represents every parent's worst nightmare and therefore Rachel and Matthew are almost isolated in their grief. The writing is taut but emotional and intense.
Liam's character is not black and white. Unlike Danny, he seems more redeeming and is now in a seemingly healthy relationship. However, the news that his girlfriend is pregnant provokes extreme reactions from him. He is immediately thrown into huge distress- should he confess the truth of his past to Catherine? How can he ever possibly consider being a father? What sort of child would he produce? What sort of father would he be? He doesn't want a child, but could this be the only way he can learn to forgive himself and move forward - change the course of his future? Fascinating questions and emotions for Liam to muddle through which are sure to provoke a heated discussion from any reader.
The revelation of the back stories of Graham / Liam and Danny is good. Reading about their police interviews straight after their arrest includes little details like the detective bringing in boxed juices and having to explain what is unique about a fingerprint. It jars with the reader, reminding them that these boys were merely children themselves - are they knowingly capable of such cruelty? How instinctive or primeval is the reaction or impulse to commit violence or suppress extreme curiosity? How and when do we develop a conscience and how exactly is this taught or learned? What impact does our upbringing, parental influence, environment and genetics have on our social conditioning? Reiser, the journalist writing about the case, asks all these questions. It cleverly gives Jago a platform from which to include a more "academic" voice and angle on this controversial topic.
I liked the jigsaw like puzzle of the chronology and interwoven narratives. I think it was really clever to finish with Rachel's version of the actual day Benjamin went missing. It is simple - so normal, so usual, so everyday. So blameless and so completely in no way incriminating or as a result of anything she did or didn't do. Far too chilling for any parent to read.
It is a haunting novel. It is one of extreme emotions - from the overwhelming grief of Rachel and Matthew, the psychopathic behaviour of the young boys, to the horror of "adult" Danny, to the contentious position of Liam as he considers fatherhood. It is a novel about how far ripples from a mistake spread, how deep they can go and for how long they can continue to upset the water.
It is hard not to read this novel without remembering other cases in the news that are similar, particularly that from 1993 and perhaps this affects the way we respond to certain characters. Jago has tried to create characters that challenge this judgement and considers the complexities of people's personalities and behaviours. I'm not sure it is a novel to "enjoy" but I was captivated and it did keep me turning the page. It is a book I would want to discuss in more detail with other readers and would be really interested to see how other people found it.
My thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for a fair review.
In summary, the story is about Danny Simpson and Graham Harris who abducted 3 year old Benjamin and murdered him. We meet them at various stages in their lives, but mainly the novel looks at what happens following their release -7 years after they committed such a horrendous crime, and their subsequent adult years as they attempt to move on with "ordinary" lives. It also follows the lives of Rachel and Matthew Allen, Benjamin's devastated and broken parents.
The novel took me a while to get into as I felt like I'd missed a few chapters somewhere - Jago assumes we're already aware of the premise and therefore begins by starting in the middle with Danny being prepared for his release back into society at the end of his prison sentence. At this point we're a little unsure who we are reading about, what exactly has happened and how the various characters are connected. We learn that Danny was given a cover story in order to survive life in prison and now he is being given a cover story to survive life on the outside. He's not a pleasant character, there is no sympathy generated despite the revelation that Dan is as terrified of living as he is of dying and the terrifying threat of being found out all over again is having a detrimental affect on his emotional and metal stability, his ability to actually forgive himself, pick up a "normal" life or ever recover from the shock of what he actually did. I think this is deliberate in order to create some distance between us - either to make it clear that our relationship with this character is going to be conflicted or to protect us a little from becoming too upset by the details and reality of the crime. Perhaps in a way, it might help us to read about Danny as we are kept a little removed.
There are several characters to meet very early on, each with a different chapter and a different involvement with Benjamin. There are narratives from Rachel, Matthew, Danny and Liam (aka Graham). The novel plays around with the chronologically as we follow the different threads - sometimes back to before the crime, sometimes just after, after the boys' release and then also bringing us up to date with the boys now as young men. This encourages pace and a more complex exploration of the topic. It gives Jago a chance to create a range of characters and write about a range of interesting positions and relationships. It gives her a chance to explore different reactions to crime, grief, death, violence and rehabilitation. It did mean it took a while to get into and a moment or two to acknowledge where in the chronological order of things that particular chapter fell and which character we were reading about, but as the book continues I think it makes it more tense and more interesting. It prevents it from becoming trite or cliched and means it retains elements of a psychological drama.
Rachel's sections are quite harrowing. Her mental anguish and the lasting impact of losing a son are obviously crippling. She has two children - one of which was "born under the shadow of the event" and subsequently is more serious, more reserved and more wary of life. Rachel drives her 13 and 9 year old to school and back everyday. They are always in her sight. They have never been on a sleepover, "her all consuming anxiety ruled their lives." She is terrified that any "happiness will lead to complacency." I absolutely relate to and completely understand this behaviour following her devastating loss but I did find her passages quite heavy going and oppressive.
Matthew's grief is equally all consuming - he has just put all his energy into tracking down the two culprits knowing that they are now released and living somewhere in the UK. The language used to describe his plight is very powerful: despair, drowning, bewilderment, blackness, unreachable grief. It was really insightful to read about how people "turn away - no platitude forthcoming"; their response very different to when other parents are trying to cope with death and loss. Benjamin's death represents every parent's worst nightmare and therefore Rachel and Matthew are almost isolated in their grief. The writing is taut but emotional and intense.
Liam's character is not black and white. Unlike Danny, he seems more redeeming and is now in a seemingly healthy relationship. However, the news that his girlfriend is pregnant provokes extreme reactions from him. He is immediately thrown into huge distress- should he confess the truth of his past to Catherine? How can he ever possibly consider being a father? What sort of child would he produce? What sort of father would he be? He doesn't want a child, but could this be the only way he can learn to forgive himself and move forward - change the course of his future? Fascinating questions and emotions for Liam to muddle through which are sure to provoke a heated discussion from any reader.
The revelation of the back stories of Graham / Liam and Danny is good. Reading about their police interviews straight after their arrest includes little details like the detective bringing in boxed juices and having to explain what is unique about a fingerprint. It jars with the reader, reminding them that these boys were merely children themselves - are they knowingly capable of such cruelty? How instinctive or primeval is the reaction or impulse to commit violence or suppress extreme curiosity? How and when do we develop a conscience and how exactly is this taught or learned? What impact does our upbringing, parental influence, environment and genetics have on our social conditioning? Reiser, the journalist writing about the case, asks all these questions. It cleverly gives Jago a platform from which to include a more "academic" voice and angle on this controversial topic.
I liked the jigsaw like puzzle of the chronology and interwoven narratives. I think it was really clever to finish with Rachel's version of the actual day Benjamin went missing. It is simple - so normal, so usual, so everyday. So blameless and so completely in no way incriminating or as a result of anything she did or didn't do. Far too chilling for any parent to read.
It is a haunting novel. It is one of extreme emotions - from the overwhelming grief of Rachel and Matthew, the psychopathic behaviour of the young boys, to the horror of "adult" Danny, to the contentious position of Liam as he considers fatherhood. It is a novel about how far ripples from a mistake spread, how deep they can go and for how long they can continue to upset the water.
It is hard not to read this novel without remembering other cases in the news that are similar, particularly that from 1993 and perhaps this affects the way we respond to certain characters. Jago has tried to create characters that challenge this judgement and considers the complexities of people's personalities and behaviours. I'm not sure it is a novel to "enjoy" but I was captivated and it did keep me turning the page. It is a book I would want to discuss in more detail with other readers and would be really interested to see how other people found it.
My thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for a fair review.
June 30, 2016
I have to admit to struggling with this book but I'm not sure whether my own feelings about the subject matter tainted what I was reading. This is such a difficult and horrific fictional account of the murder of a 3 year old boy by two 11 year old boys but, despite it being set in Australia, it still followed far too close to a real life UK crime that it made me feel particularly squeamish and uncomfortable. Normally I do like this type of storyline, a particularly good example is The Wicked Girls by Alex Marwood which I loved but I just didn't get that feeling here.
This is the story of Danny and Graham who committed an awful crime at the age of 11. As the crime has had far reaching consequences it also follows Rachel who's son was murdered and how she is dealing with her emotions as a mother to her other children. Benjamin's dad just wants to find the boys now that they have been released from prison and it is an all consuming passion to work out where they are now and what they look like. We see the affects on the boys families as well. How do you cope as a parent if your child has murdered another? Do you have to take some of that blame on your own shoulders? We are back in my favourite territory here of "nurture vs nature" and how 2 individuals can spark off something in the other that is dormant, waiting for that other person, that "reflection in the mirror" to complete a match made in hell.
Jane Jago is a fantastic writer who can spark an emotional response in her readers and I would love to read more of her work. This one just bothered me a little bit purely because of that connection, it made me feel uncomfortable as it was just a little bit too close to home for my liking.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
This is the story of Danny and Graham who committed an awful crime at the age of 11. As the crime has had far reaching consequences it also follows Rachel who's son was murdered and how she is dealing with her emotions as a mother to her other children. Benjamin's dad just wants to find the boys now that they have been released from prison and it is an all consuming passion to work out where they are now and what they look like. We see the affects on the boys families as well. How do you cope as a parent if your child has murdered another? Do you have to take some of that blame on your own shoulders? We are back in my favourite territory here of "nurture vs nature" and how 2 individuals can spark off something in the other that is dormant, waiting for that other person, that "reflection in the mirror" to complete a match made in hell.
Jane Jago is a fantastic writer who can spark an emotional response in her readers and I would love to read more of her work. This one just bothered me a little bit purely because of that connection, it made me feel uncomfortable as it was just a little bit too close to home for my liking.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
March 17, 2016
Two young boys commit the most heinous crime, and the story that follows details the consequences for them, their families and the families of the life they so cruelly snatched away. Despite being set in Australia, This book is clearly reminiscent of the tragic case of James Bulger, who was brutally murdered by child killers, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables in February 1993. Some may find it difficult to read, but it is certainly thought provoking into how the justice system treats young offenders, and how they live their lives after release from institutions.
January 6, 2017
This was a disturbing kind of book..
Based on 2 children - Yes, children - who together, murdered a 2 year old boy. Now many years later and out of prison with new identities, the two now-men have lives of their own..
There isn't much of a 'plot' here and a lot of the book was based on a lot of 'going back in time' which was helpful in determining what made the children do what they did. Regardless, I found this all disturbing. One scene in particular involving a newborn kitten.. I was just disgusted. An unsettling read.
Based on 2 children - Yes, children - who together, murdered a 2 year old boy. Now many years later and out of prison with new identities, the two now-men have lives of their own..
There isn't much of a 'plot' here and a lot of the book was based on a lot of 'going back in time' which was helpful in determining what made the children do what they did. Regardless, I found this all disturbing. One scene in particular involving a newborn kitten.. I was just disgusted. An unsettling read.
April 6, 2016
I received this as an arc from net galley in exchange for an honest review.
We all make mistakes moments that change us and the path we are on. Irrevocably for Rachel Allen it was the moment that she let her son's hand slip from hers.
Very good read.
I liked the story and the characters.
I liked Danny / Geoffrey.
I liked the ending too.
He got to have his say.
Very well written. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book.
5 *.
We all make mistakes moments that change us and the path we are on. Irrevocably for Rachel Allen it was the moment that she let her son's hand slip from hers.
Very good read.
I liked the story and the characters.
I liked Danny / Geoffrey.
I liked the ending too.
He got to have his say.
Very well written. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book.
5 *.
January 19, 2018
Thought provoking and beautifully written. An incisive, sharp commentary on crime and its aftermath for both the perpetrators and the victims.
June 28, 2016
This is a hard book for me to review. Not because I didn't enjoy it. On the contrary, it was well plotted, well written, good characters pacing and basically everything else I need to make a good read. I just couldn't get past the whole James Bulger thing. The main story about the abduction and murder of a toddler by two (not much) older boys from a shopping centre is pretty much exactly the same. As are several subsequent key elements and plot points. Not all, I hasten to add, but enough that it distracted me somewhat.
Ok, I've said my piece, now moving on. This book focuses on three main families and a few other players and how their lives changed after the death of Benjamin Allen. We see what happened on that day, the build up to that day, what happened just after, and many years later over a span of 15-20 years and not chronologically. This sounds complicated, but every chapter is headed with who and when so I found it easy to follow. I did have a character list which I found useful to have especially for the name changes.
What I did find interesting is how that one incident went on to irreparably change so many people's lives. Obviously the parents, not only of the victim but the two perpetrators too. Their siblings and other immediate family. Then we have other characters' POVs The Detective, the Journalist, a Priest, other relatives. There really is a big ripple effect. It's hard hitting stuff and depending on your own personal situation, it could be difficult to read.
I won't say anymore about the story as, if I do, I think it would included spoilers. There are several interesting discussion points within the book depending on your thoughts/feelings of the justice system and how juveniles are handled but I have to say that the book didn't come across as biased in any way but for telling the story. Being familiar with a real life comparison, I obviously have my own thoughts and feelings on the justice meted out, but again, not the place.
Characterisation is great. It was easy to empathise / connect with the majority. I like that there is a balance in the characterisation so that there is enough slack for the reader to make their own mind up about their feelings towards certain characters giving the evidence presented in the narrative.
Pacing is good too which is not always easy for what I call a time-hop book written from several POVs. There is always a danger of the book becoming disjointed with too much too-ing and fro-ing but this didn't happen here. There was also a good balance between story and description which also helped the book go along.
All in all, this is a very well written, hard hitting book that kept my attention and got me thinking. I would definitely read more by this author.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Ok, I've said my piece, now moving on. This book focuses on three main families and a few other players and how their lives changed after the death of Benjamin Allen. We see what happened on that day, the build up to that day, what happened just after, and many years later over a span of 15-20 years and not chronologically. This sounds complicated, but every chapter is headed with who and when so I found it easy to follow. I did have a character list which I found useful to have especially for the name changes.
What I did find interesting is how that one incident went on to irreparably change so many people's lives. Obviously the parents, not only of the victim but the two perpetrators too. Their siblings and other immediate family. Then we have other characters' POVs The Detective, the Journalist, a Priest, other relatives. There really is a big ripple effect. It's hard hitting stuff and depending on your own personal situation, it could be difficult to read.
I won't say anymore about the story as, if I do, I think it would included spoilers. There are several interesting discussion points within the book depending on your thoughts/feelings of the justice system and how juveniles are handled but I have to say that the book didn't come across as biased in any way but for telling the story. Being familiar with a real life comparison, I obviously have my own thoughts and feelings on the justice meted out, but again, not the place.
Characterisation is great. It was easy to empathise / connect with the majority. I like that there is a balance in the characterisation so that there is enough slack for the reader to make their own mind up about their feelings towards certain characters giving the evidence presented in the narrative.
Pacing is good too which is not always easy for what I call a time-hop book written from several POVs. There is always a danger of the book becoming disjointed with too much too-ing and fro-ing but this didn't happen here. There was also a good balance between story and description which also helped the book go along.
All in all, this is a very well written, hard hitting book that kept my attention and got me thinking. I would definitely read more by this author.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 20, 2016
This is a story that pulls at your heart and rips out your soul. It is every parents nightmare situation, the abduction and murder of their child. The author creates a tense and chilling story that compells you to carry on reading.
What I loved about this book was the way the author put you inside the murderers minds as children and then as adults. Their feelings and fears, especially as adults. It is a well balanced story that covers not just the murder but the affect it had on all of the families concerned.
The story although set in Australia does have very strong similarities to the true story of little James Bulger that was murdered in the U.K. The novel does have originality though with the story in present day, when the boys that committed the murders are released with new identities and it follows their lives and that of the little boys parents. An emotional journey.
I would recommend this book to readers as it is very well written about an extremely difficult subject.
I wish to thank Netgalley and Penguin Books -Michael Joseph, for allowing me to read and review this book.
What I loved about this book was the way the author put you inside the murderers minds as children and then as adults. Their feelings and fears, especially as adults. It is a well balanced story that covers not just the murder but the affect it had on all of the families concerned.
The story although set in Australia does have very strong similarities to the true story of little James Bulger that was murdered in the U.K. The novel does have originality though with the story in present day, when the boys that committed the murders are released with new identities and it follows their lives and that of the little boys parents. An emotional journey.
I would recommend this book to readers as it is very well written about an extremely difficult subject.
I wish to thank Netgalley and Penguin Books -Michael Joseph, for allowing me to read and review this book.
September 19, 2016
I found The Wrong Hand simultaneously difficult to read and difficult to put down. The similarities between what happens in the book and the murder of Jamie Bulger in 1993 brought back so many memories of the media coverage of the case, and had me looking it up online again, trying to work out if the book was based on this particular crime.
That said, I found this book incredibly gripping and I liked the way everything was revealed slowly through the eyes of multiple characters and by the use of moving from past to present as well. It was very interesting to discover how each character moved forward (or not) after the event and it became very clear that every character had been impacted for the rest of their life, understandably.
I think I found this book exceptionally harrowing because of the mental pictures I had of the Jamie Bulger incident as I read it. I definitely will look up the author and read more of her books. I think this is a thriller that I will not forget, due to the subject matter, but also because of the writing style.
Thank you to Penguin, Jane Jago and Netgalley for the free copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
That said, I found this book incredibly gripping and I liked the way everything was revealed slowly through the eyes of multiple characters and by the use of moving from past to present as well. It was very interesting to discover how each character moved forward (or not) after the event and it became very clear that every character had been impacted for the rest of their life, understandably.
I think I found this book exceptionally harrowing because of the mental pictures I had of the Jamie Bulger incident as I read it. I definitely will look up the author and read more of her books. I think this is a thriller that I will not forget, due to the subject matter, but also because of the writing style.
Thank you to Penguin, Jane Jago and Netgalley for the free copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2016
This was a really difficult book to read and review. The parallels between this and a real-life incident in the UK are too close to resist speculating how much basis there is in fact. My predominant emotion here is sadness, sadness for the child and his family, sadness for the perpetrators and their families and sadness for everyone affected by it.
I struggled through the first half of the book, wondering whether this was just a re-hash of what had been played out in the UK news for many years and therefore was not really something I was interested in reading. However, about half way through it picked up and became much more interesting, focusing on how everyone affected moved on. I think I would have rather had more about life after the event and certainly more about the journalist's investigations into child-murderers in history and in different cultures.
Overall, a very sad book.
I struggled through the first half of the book, wondering whether this was just a re-hash of what had been played out in the UK news for many years and therefore was not really something I was interested in reading. However, about half way through it picked up and became much more interesting, focusing on how everyone affected moved on. I think I would have rather had more about life after the event and certainly more about the journalist's investigations into child-murderers in history and in different cultures.
Overall, a very sad book.
February 24, 2017
This story, set in Australia, is familiar in its facts, but not its location. It is the story of two young boys, from different family situations, who lead a young child away from a shopping centre and murder him. As teenagers, the boys are released from detainment with new identities and lives.
The book presents the impact of the crime on those associated with the perpetrators and the victim, both at the time of the crime and in the present.
An emotionally wrenching story, that at times was quite confronting and disturbing, especially when you know that something similar actually happened. The title of the book represents the plight of all of the characters, each of whom in some way got "the wrong hand".
The book presents the impact of the crime on those associated with the perpetrators and the victim, both at the time of the crime and in the present.
An emotionally wrenching story, that at times was quite confronting and disturbing, especially when you know that something similar actually happened. The title of the book represents the plight of all of the characters, each of whom in some way got "the wrong hand".
July 31, 2016
I loved this book. Literally couldn't put it down. Read it in 3 settings would have been 2 if I had longer to read!
What is excellent about this book is the way the author weaves the story line from present to past which allows a full understanding of what occurs. The author offers the different perspectives experienced by each of the characters which gives this book a full flavor and a depth in characters rarely seen in fiction novels.
There were several times I experienced goosebumps together with feelings of dismay, shock and compassion for all of the characters.
An excellent read highly recommended.
What is excellent about this book is the way the author weaves the story line from present to past which allows a full understanding of what occurs. The author offers the different perspectives experienced by each of the characters which gives this book a full flavor and a depth in characters rarely seen in fiction novels.
There were several times I experienced goosebumps together with feelings of dismay, shock and compassion for all of the characters.
An excellent read highly recommended.
August 16, 2016
I really loved this book! Set in Australia, it tells the story of two 11 year old boys who abduct a toddler from a shopping centre, and subsequently murder him. This is obviously resonant of the murder of James Bulger in Liverpool in the early 90s, which affected the whole of our country, and made us think about how young children could commit such an horrendous crime. The 2 boys in this story are released and given new identities, and the author explores the impact on the lives of all concerned. It is a very thought provoking book, which I thoroughly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
July 29, 2017
Really good story, based on a very notorious true case in the UK. A toddler is taken from a shopping centre by two 10 year old boys, then tortured and killed by them. The parallels between the facts of that case and the fiction of this story are very clear, even though the story is set in Australia. It examines the fallout and implications of this heinous crime on the perpetrators, their families and the victim's family. Did it make me more sympathetic towards the perpetrators? Possibly. It certainly made me think more about the case. Unfortunately it did not answer the question that everyone wants to know- why did they do it? Well written story using different viewpoints technique.
September 4, 2018
I would have never picked up this book if it wasn't for a book group meeting. I did not like the subject and it was definitely outside my comfort zone. It was a surprisingly quick read. Looking forward to hear what the others in the group have to say about it at our meeting tomorrow.
Read
July 22, 2016DNF at 50%. There are so many different points of view in this story which is told at different times, not all of which are chronological, that I just couldnt get a decent flow to the read.
November 5, 2016
Basically a retelling of the tragic murder of James Bulger. No real depth or insight added.
July 24, 2016
What is this about: An exploration of the aftermath of the death of Benjamin Allen, a child who is killed by Danny and Graham, children themselves really. The book is ambitious as it tries to examine the parents and Danny and Graham's POVs in this situation.
Do you remember the Jamie Bulger case? I do. God knows, it's the first time I ever remember understanding or realising children can hurt other children.
The Wrong Hand follows Danny and Graham and Rachel and Mathew after and during Benjamin's death. The author asks some complex questions: what causes a child to hurt another child? How does a parent grieve the loss of a child? Do they retreat from the world or do they seek revenge? How do parents even try to grieve in the glare of the media?
There are important questions and while the author has bold ambitions, the execution is lacking. Let me explain: Jago is a strong, compelling writer. She ventures into this arena with skill and empathy, creating characters that will break your heart... up to a point.
The issue I have with this book is that the incessant time and POV jumping -- chapters are short as she follows Danny, Graham, Rachel, Mathew, a detective and a journalist seeking to bring the case back into the spotlight. Then she jumps from the present to the past (when Benjamin died) and there's no rhyme or reason to when she does the time jump -- by that I mean, the time jumps are literally to different parts of the past at different times.
Unfortunately, I found this distracting and it robbed me of the chance to know these characters better. Care is given to Danny and Graham after they leave their detention and begin new lives, but Rachel and Mathew I felt needed more attention -- Mathew especially. He seems to be a footnote in this story.
Not to mention, the detective and a journalist that needed their own POVs in the book? It was too much. Media speculation is part and parcel of life in a situation like this, but in the end, the author has spread her narrative too thin. Too many POVs and too many time jumps lessened the impact of the very powerful themes this book want to take on.
Dammit.
There's much goodness here, but it needed more of a focus.
Do you remember the Jamie Bulger case? I do. God knows, it's the first time I ever remember understanding or realising children can hurt other children.
The Wrong Hand follows Danny and Graham and Rachel and Mathew after and during Benjamin's death. The author asks some complex questions: what causes a child to hurt another child? How does a parent grieve the loss of a child? Do they retreat from the world or do they seek revenge? How do parents even try to grieve in the glare of the media?
There are important questions and while the author has bold ambitions, the execution is lacking. Let me explain: Jago is a strong, compelling writer. She ventures into this arena with skill and empathy, creating characters that will break your heart... up to a point.
The issue I have with this book is that the incessant time and POV jumping -- chapters are short as she follows Danny, Graham, Rachel, Mathew, a detective and a journalist seeking to bring the case back into the spotlight. Then she jumps from the present to the past (when Benjamin died) and there's no rhyme or reason to when she does the time jump -- by that I mean, the time jumps are literally to different parts of the past at different times.
Unfortunately, I found this distracting and it robbed me of the chance to know these characters better. Care is given to Danny and Graham after they leave their detention and begin new lives, but Rachel and Mathew I felt needed more attention -- Mathew especially. He seems to be a footnote in this story.
Not to mention, the detective and a journalist that needed their own POVs in the book? It was too much. Media speculation is part and parcel of life in a situation like this, but in the end, the author has spread her narrative too thin. Too many POVs and too many time jumps lessened the impact of the very powerful themes this book want to take on.
Dammit.
There's much goodness here, but it needed more of a focus.
July 14, 2016
I rated this as a 3 star book, not because it wasn't good, but because it was uncomfortable and seemed to rehash the 1993 abduction and murder of James Bulgar and I hoped it didn't rely too much on that case for sensations sake. I found this book to be horribly authentic and chilling, thought provoking and open and honest in its search for answers about the problem of children who kill.
Benjamin died aged 3, he was taken away by two older children and murdered. Such are the bald facts of this book. This story attempts to explain how such a heinous crime impacts upon the grieving parents, the family and siblings of the two perpetrators and what they face after serving their sentence and attempt to rejoin society.
The grieving parents are given the most sympathy by the law and society, once the criminals are locked away, what do we hear from them over the many years they are incarcerated? Do we believe in punishment and eternal dammnation or compassion and a second chance? The debate between nature and nurture is briefly discussed, yet there are no conclusive answers.
This book took me ages to read, I found it harrowing and so sad, a very unsettling read. I do recommend this to social services and perhaps probation staff as a training aid, but don't expect a comforting read, you will question your values and beliefs.
Thanks to NetGalley for an interesting read.
Benjamin died aged 3, he was taken away by two older children and murdered. Such are the bald facts of this book. This story attempts to explain how such a heinous crime impacts upon the grieving parents, the family and siblings of the two perpetrators and what they face after serving their sentence and attempt to rejoin society.
The grieving parents are given the most sympathy by the law and society, once the criminals are locked away, what do we hear from them over the many years they are incarcerated? Do we believe in punishment and eternal dammnation or compassion and a second chance? The debate between nature and nurture is briefly discussed, yet there are no conclusive answers.
This book took me ages to read, I found it harrowing and so sad, a very unsettling read. I do recommend this to social services and perhaps probation staff as a training aid, but don't expect a comforting read, you will question your values and beliefs.
Thanks to NetGalley for an interesting read.
July 27, 2016
As debut novels go, Jane Jago's 'The Wrong Hand' is an absolute belter!
The subject matter of this book is disturbing from the outset.
The investigation into the abduction and murder old a three year old child, Benjamin.
The subsequent conviction of Danny and Graham, two 11 year-old boys for his murder.
Their rehabilitation back into society as adults, following a period in juvenile detention.
The parallels with real life cases is extremely disturbing, but the book is in no way sensationalist. Jane Jago has created a sensitively crafted story packed with a cast of well-crafted characters.
I like the fact that the book doesn't try to deal with events in chronological order. This is its real strength. The catastrophic effects on the perpetrators of the crime and the effects on the families of the victims is explored from several angles.
This is a powerful piece of writing. Which explores a difficult subject. I enjoyed the sections which dealt with the rehabilitation and the fact that they were caught up in a constant web of deceit and fear. Unable to tell the truth to those around them about their past and new personae.
I give thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Penguin UK (Michael Joseph) for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The subject matter of this book is disturbing from the outset.
The investigation into the abduction and murder old a three year old child, Benjamin.
The subsequent conviction of Danny and Graham, two 11 year-old boys for his murder.
Their rehabilitation back into society as adults, following a period in juvenile detention.
The parallels with real life cases is extremely disturbing, but the book is in no way sensationalist. Jane Jago has created a sensitively crafted story packed with a cast of well-crafted characters.
I like the fact that the book doesn't try to deal with events in chronological order. This is its real strength. The catastrophic effects on the perpetrators of the crime and the effects on the families of the victims is explored from several angles.
This is a powerful piece of writing. Which explores a difficult subject. I enjoyed the sections which dealt with the rehabilitation and the fact that they were caught up in a constant web of deceit and fear. Unable to tell the truth to those around them about their past and new personae.
I give thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Penguin UK (Michael Joseph) for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2016
I remember being being horrified as a teenager when I read about Mary Belll who murdered two children when just a child herself. The death of james Bolger, who was led off by two boys and subsequently murdered is something that has left a mark on many.
When I started 'The Wrong Hand' I thought that this was a fictional copycat story set in Australia. It was much more however. This book really covered the way the three year old's death had an impact on so many lives.
I was torn between the magnitude of their actions; how it affected the victim's family (as well as the police and others) and some sympathy for the perpetrators attempting to rebuild a life, forever wondering if their true identity would be exposed.
At times seeing the the story from so many points of view was confusing. I also found it distressing that it was so close to the James Bolger case.
However it was a solid four star read. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review it.
When I started 'The Wrong Hand' I thought that this was a fictional copycat story set in Australia. It was much more however. This book really covered the way the three year old's death had an impact on so many lives.
I was torn between the magnitude of their actions; how it affected the victim's family (as well as the police and others) and some sympathy for the perpetrators attempting to rebuild a life, forever wondering if their true identity would be exposed.
At times seeing the the story from so many points of view was confusing. I also found it distressing that it was so close to the James Bolger case.
However it was a solid four star read. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review it.
August 12, 2016
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a difficult read, based, as it was, so closely on a real life notorious murder. And in the end I'm not sure how I feel about it. Be a use I already knew so many of the details of the real crime, I felt I wanted much much more from the book. The differing perspectives of those involved helped with that, but in the end it just felt a little unsatisfying, and I'm not sure how that could have been resolved short of completely explaining the crime, which would have spoiled it in a whole other way.
I think the best parts of the book were the parts after the boys had been released and showing the different ways the attempted to get on with their lives. It's a very fine line to tread between demonising these young killers and over empathising with them and I feel the books did this quite well.
This book was a difficult read, based, as it was, so closely on a real life notorious murder. And in the end I'm not sure how I feel about it. Be a use I already knew so many of the details of the real crime, I felt I wanted much much more from the book. The differing perspectives of those involved helped with that, but in the end it just felt a little unsatisfying, and I'm not sure how that could have been resolved short of completely explaining the crime, which would have spoiled it in a whole other way.
I think the best parts of the book were the parts after the boys had been released and showing the different ways the attempted to get on with their lives. It's a very fine line to tread between demonising these young killers and over empathising with them and I feel the books did this quite well.
November 30, 2016
3 1/2 stars
The idea for writing this book is strong - basing it on an horrific crime that made international headlines twice - once when the two eleven year old boys were charged and again when the two offenders turn eighteen and are released on parole with new identities. Jago fabricates the plausible scenarios for the boys now adults and creates numerous repercussions for those who were connected to the crime; the boys families, the family of the victim, the detectives, and the journalists.
Nevertheless it didn't quite hit the spot for me. Whether it is all too slight and glosses over too quickly what is a terrible crime or the new lives of the two offenders, or tries to mention too briefly too many characters - all the Simpson siblings?
It is a good first novel and maybe I am too harsh comparing it to my favourite true crime writer - Helen Garner.
The idea for writing this book is strong - basing it on an horrific crime that made international headlines twice - once when the two eleven year old boys were charged and again when the two offenders turn eighteen and are released on parole with new identities. Jago fabricates the plausible scenarios for the boys now adults and creates numerous repercussions for those who were connected to the crime; the boys families, the family of the victim, the detectives, and the journalists.
Nevertheless it didn't quite hit the spot for me. Whether it is all too slight and glosses over too quickly what is a terrible crime or the new lives of the two offenders, or tries to mention too briefly too many characters - all the Simpson siblings?
It is a good first novel and maybe I am too harsh comparing it to my favourite true crime writer - Helen Garner.
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