What is salvation? To me, that is the central question to this book. When bad things happen to you, or those around you, what can you do to salvage it? What extent do you need to go to before you can think about moving on? And how much are you to blame for your own downfall? The characters in this book all have different answers. It’s interesting to see how all of them, who once were eager young journalists, turn out in the game of life.
A question from one of the characters in this book haunts me: if it had been a model dying, instead of a journalist, would the public care? Despite what everyone says about all lives having equal value, is there not a hidden feeling of “she was asking for it” when models, or indeed anyone, tries to use their appearance to further their careers and then suffers abuse, especially sexual abuse? And how easy is it to see the victims as Other, as an object to be scorned or pitied rather than emphasised with.
Overall, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. For dealing with such violent/abusive subject matter, it toes the line between violence-for-a-purpose and gratuitous violence quite well. Ending was a bit optimistic but my god I don’t think I could’ve taken it any other way. Recommended if you like thrillers.