The Source

by Sarah Sultoon

A young TV journalist is forced to revisit her harrowing past when she's thrust into a sex-trafficking investigation in her hometown. A startling, searing, debut thriller by award-winning CNN journalist Sarah Sultoon.

'A brave and thought-provoking debut novel. Sarah Sultoon tackles a challenging and disturbing subject without sensation, and her sensitive handling, tight plotting and authentic storytelling make for a compelling read' Adam Hamdy

'A stunning debut ... a powerhouse writer' Jo Spain

'A powerful, compelling read that doesn't shy away from some upsetting truths ... written with such energy' Fanny Blake

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One last chance to reveal the truth...

1996. Essex. Thirteen-year-old schoolgirl Carly lives in a disenfranchised town dominated by a military base, struggling to care for her baby sister while her mum sleeps off another binge. When her squaddie brother brings food and treats, and offers an exclusive invitation to army parties, things start to look a little less bleak...

2006. London. Junior TV newsroom journalist Marie has spent six months exposing a gang of sex traffickers, but everything is derailed when New Scotland Yard announces the re-opening of Operation Andromeda, the notorious investigation into allegations of sex abuse at an army base a decade earlier...

As the lives of these two characters intertwine around a single, defining event, a series of utterly chilling experiences is revealed, sparking a nail-biting race to find the truth ... and justice.

A riveting, searing and devastatingly dark thriller, The Source is also a story about survival, about hopes and dreams, about power, abuse and resilience ... an immense, tense and thought-provoking debut that you will never, ever forget.

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Abuse

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2021

About the author

Sarah Sultoon is a novelist and journalist, whose work as an international news executive at CNN has taken her from Westminster and Washington to the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan. She has extensive experience in conflict zones, with 3 Peabody awards and 2 Emmys to her name. She also holds a number of Royal Television Society gongs and is a recurring judge at the RTS Television Journalism awards. As passionate about fiction as non-fiction, she also has a Master of Studies in Creative Writing from the University of Cambridge. Her first novel, The Source, was nominated for the CWA's New Blood Dagger and won the inaugural Crime Fiction Lover's Best Debut of the Year Award in 2021. Her second novel, The Shot, was published by Orenda Books in April 2022. Dirt, her third thriller and the first in a series featuring cub reporter Jonny Murphy, was published in Jan 2023 to widespread critical acclaim.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SOURCE is the debut dark crime thriller by award winning CNN journalist Sarah Sultoon. This is the story about survival, hopes and dreams, power and abuse…the choices we are confronted with, the decisions we make and the consequences of our decisions. Everything has a price. This is a very thought-provoking debut, that you will never forget.

Ten years ago, (1996) thirteen- year-old Carly, lives in the run-down town of Essex, surrounded by a military base. Her alcoholic mother spends her day, sleeping off a binge, while Carly struggles to care for her infant baby sister, Kayleigh and look after the household. Her older brother, Jason is one of their most promising recruits on the army base. Jason helps out his family by bringing food, supplies and treats when he can. But there is always a cost. Her brother offers her an invitation to army parties for fun-nights at the barracks for off-duty officers.

Ten years later, (2006) in London, Marie is a Junior TV newsroom journalist, and has spent six months exposing a gang of sex traffickers. Her and her colleagues were working undercover to negotiate with people farming out underage girls for money. Then everything was put on hold when New Scotland Yard announces the reopening the investigation into allegations of sex abuse at an army base.

A young TV journalist is forced to revisit her traumatic past when she’s thrust into a sex-trafficking investigation in her hometown.

The lives of these two characters are linked to a single event, and the POV alternates between these two characters/time frames through the devoted chapters.

This is a well-written dark debut thriller with enticing characters and a concise plot. You won’t forget this book.

Many thanks to the author, Orenda Books and The Book Club Reviewer Group (FB) for my digital copy.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Source is a story of our time. It's dark and vividly described, dealing with issues that are often brushed aside in fiction. Mirroring many events of recent times, with themes that are relevant to the #MeToo movement, this is a stunning debut from a very talented author.

Set over two time periods, the reader follows thirteen-year-old Carly in 1996 Essex, and adult Marie in 2006 London.
Carly lives in a small town that depends upon the local Army base for trade. Most of the inhabitants are attached to the military, and the houses are Army stock. Carly's home is dirty and squalid and there is no love or care given to her. Her mother lives her life through an alcoholic haze after being let down by the men in her life. Carly does her best to care for her baby sister Kayleigh, who is often hungry and dirty when Carly returns from school. Older brother Jason lives in the nearby Army barracks and occasionally comes home with food for the family.
Carly's only real friend is Rach; a couple of years older than her, she's the older sister that she always wished she had. When Jason offers the girls a way to make life easier for them, it seems like the only way that Carly can ensure that Kayleigh gets everything that she needs to thrive.

Instead, these two young girls find themselves in the centre of something that they couldn't have imagined. It's both traumatic and heartbreaking, but once they are in, it's impossible to get out.

In London, in 2006, Marie is a young television reporter working with a news team who are about to break a sex trafficking ring. They've faced danger to get their story and at last, they are about to expose the ringmasters of this sickening trade. However, when the Met announce that they are about to re-open a historic case of sex-abuse, involving some of the highest powered people in the country, their news story is sent to the cutting-room floor.

As the story unfolds, the two timelines become intricately merged together. The author carefully and meticulously weaves together Carly and Marie's stories, uncovering some shocking and chilling events that have been hidden away for many years.

The author was a journalist for fifteen years, and her incredible and detailed insight into the inner workings of a news room is excellent. There's a real sense of pride and honour amongst these reporters, it is clear that they are not just there for the headlines, they really do want to get justice for the victims of these horrific crimes. The panic of getting their story together, the frustrations at how difficult it can be to infiltrate those in the know and the utter satisfaction of achieving their goals is perfectly captured.

Marie and Carly are impeccably created. Marie has a lot of baggage, and life is not easy for her, and never has been. Her emotions are captured so well; from rage and frustration, to terror and incredible sadness; she's a character who can be difficult to understand, but she struggles to understand herself too.

There's some cracking dialogue within this story, the narrative flows so well and moves with a pace that exudes tension. Sultoon is an extremely accomplished author, and has written a novel that is thought-provoking and also thrilling. The reader is forced to consider the corruption of power and the abuse that has been hidden for far too long, and the long-term effects on the victims of these crimes.

Gripping, emotional, eye-opening and so brilliantly written. Highly recommended by me

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years ago, Carly, was living in dire straits. She was living in a military base town, with an alcoholic mother, and her infant sister. Her older brother was in the service and helped out with food and necessities when he could. When he invited her to the base to attend army parties, things were looking up somewhat. But at what cost?

Marie is a journalist who has just spent several months exposing a host of human traffickers. She and her colleagues are ready to run an expose, but the New Scotland Yard holds a press conference and announces they are re-opening the military base scandal of ten years ago ... putting her breaking-news story on hold.

BOOK BLURB: As the lives of these two characters intertwine around a single, defining event, a series of utterly chilling experiences is revealed, sparking a nail-biting race to find the truth ... and justice.

This is a well-written debut thriller with intriguing characters mulling in and around a well-orchestrated plot. There are twists and turns that lead to a very satisfactory conclusion. A real page-turner, this one is hard to put down.

Many thanks to the author / Orenda Books / The Book Club Reviewer Group (FB) for the digital copy of this crime fiction / psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Stephen Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

It was a very powerful book and the author does a brilliant job of confronting the most horrifying of topics. There were high stakes throughout, and the two perspectives set 10 years apart both carried a strong degree of impact - I particularly connected with Carly's story as she has to contend with an impossible situation and it was heartbreaking to read about what she goes through.

So in terms of the concept and plot, it was raw and impactful and generally very impressive. I really appreciated how the author did not go into detail about the abuse that takes place - that would have been unnecessary. Instead the reader is left in no doubt as to what happened and that was very effectively done. The twist just over halfway through was easy to see coming, but perhaps it was meant to be that way.

However, I really struggled with the writing style and that seriously affected my feelings towards the book. The author sets the scene well and her background in journalism is very evident, though despite the fast pace it did not hold my attention and as such I could not connect with it in that sense. It was not very engaging and journalism aspect in particular contains a lot of office politics which I found a bit tiresome.

What this book does well, it does really well and that is why I feel slightly guilty about my overall rating. The plot itself and the circumstances the main characters have to face is so very affecting and definitely leave their mark, but the writing style and elements of the storytelling just did not work for me in the same way it might for other readers.

[Eve Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive a proof of The Source to read over Xmas from Orenda Books. This is a hard-hitting, myth-busting rollercoaster of a read that doesn't shy away from challenging issues and I highly recommend it.
This taut debut from former CNN journalist Sarah Sultoon alternates between two time frames.
One tells the story of thirteen-year-old schoolgirl Carly, who struggles to care for her baby sister on an army base as her mother drinks herself into a stupor. Carly thinks life is looking up when she is invited to special parties on the base, but the parties are not what they seem.
The other follows a junior newsroom journalist's race for the truth after New Scotland Yard re-opens Operation Andromeda: the notorious investigation into allegations of sex abuse at an army base a decade earlier. Her involvement will force her to confront a harrowing past.
This book deals with important issues: the abuse of power, the commodification of children and endemic corruption. Sex-trafficking and child abuse are not easy subjects to write about or read, but this story has been so sensitively written, and the characters so well-imagined that you cannot help but be drawn in. In addition, the experience of the author as a CNN reporter shines through, giving an insight into the journalism world that people outside it rarely glimpse.
The plot is cleverly interwoven, moving seamlessly between the two narratives, building to a riveting climax.
I went through a range of emotions as I read this book. I think probably the strongest of them was outrage: we live in a 'civilised' society where such abuses of power are allowed to happen. For whilst this is fiction, it mirrors real life cases that did actually take place and are still happening now. Where young victims were and are let down and betrayed by the system that is supposed to protect them. Which is why books like this are so important. Books that shine an unflinching light on the faults and flaws of a society that might otherwise be forgotten or go unnoticed. Books that inspire us to get up and do something about them. A brilliant debut, and five stars from me.

[Quirinus Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I’m absolutely blown away by this debut! Whilst I realise it is a work of fiction, it has such an authenticity to it, it could quite well be true. It is original, compelling, heart wrenching, thrilling and thought provoking.

The themes in this book are dark and serious. They include child sexual exploitation, neglect, poverty, and institutional corruption. Sultoon handles them with sensitivity, authenticity, and transparency.

There are two alternating plotlines which run 10 years apart. 13-year-old Carly in 1996, who lives in a marginalized community; a small, impoverished town dominated by an Army base. She lives with her alcoholic mother and baby sister for whom she is the main carer. Her brother is in the Army and pays sporadic visits bringing food and essentials with him. He offers to sneak Carly and her best friend onto the base to attend parties, she is grateful for the opportunities this could bring. The 2nd strand is Marie in 2006, a junior TV news journalist about to break a lead story on sex trafficking. The story is delayed due to an announcement by New Scotland Yard that they’re re-opening Operation Andromeda, an infamous investigation into sexual abuse at an Army base which occurred a decade ago.

The book opens with an amazing hook, Marie is about to meet with sex traffickers to obtain vital evidence for her news story. As soon as I began reading, I couldn’t put this book down; The author’s timeline switches are deft and always left me wanting more. Sultoon is an award-winning CNN journalist and Marie’s work transported me right back to my own time in broadcast media. The other strands felt equally authentic and are at times harrowing, but there is no gratuitous violence.

With so many historical sex abuse scandals perpetrated by those in authority now coming to light, this could so very easily be real. It raises many important questions, not least about where on moral hierarchy ‘national interest’ should sit? And the nature and quantity of atrocities it shields from public scrutiny.

[Louise Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This breathless, tightly-paced but emotional book delves deep into the real victims behind the shocking headlines. It's a book that isn't afraid to grab hold of your neck, but also your heart, as it explores sex trafficking in a way that makes it real - because it exposes the human life affected. My heart broke for Carly and Kayleigh. And yours will too. A stunning debut.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a work of fiction. That's what you need to keep reminding yourself when you read this book. Why? Because there is a real sense of authenticity about the piece, a plausible edge to so many elements of the story that, given the author's other career, you kind of end up wondering if she really knows something we don't. That said, this is a fictional base, in a fictional town and a fictional new network, but in spite of all of this, in spite of the fact that we know this is make believe, given the kinds of headlines we have witnessed over the not too distant past, it has a real ripped from the headlines feel to it, combined with perfect pacing and a real tension that you can feel building from the very beginning.

For the record, this is ultimately a story of grooming, of abuse of power and of neglect. It is not gratuitous or graphic in execution so for those concerned about these themes, you don't need to worry too much. Sarah Sultoon has played a really canny game, getting across all the atrocities of the story, all the hidden horrors and the implications of what is said, and what is not, without ever having to resort to making the reader the voyeur. She takes us to the edge, so that we know where the story is leading, where it has led, but never crossing that very fine line. There are scenes that will be upsetting, its unavoidable, and it is a testament to her skill as storyteller that she is able to elicit such emotions without having to resort to push us too far. The bond between Carly and Kayleigh, her younger sister, will make you smile, the neglect and ultimately the abuse they suffer, will break your heart. Make you angry. Good. It should.

This is a dual timeline story, introducing us to our two main protagonists whose perspectives guide us through the twists and turns of this story. One half of the story is dedicated to Carly, starting in the late nineties, when she is a young girl trying hard to keep her broken family together and to protect her baby sister Kayleigh. The second part of the story belongs to Marie, an assistant producer at Nine Network who we meet in the middle of an undercover operation with her colleague Dominic, as he tries to expose a trafficking ring.

Carly has a strength that belies her age, and it is hard, at times, to remember that she is just a child as she is forced to a maturity and a situation that no teenager should have to confront. But when it comes to the simple facts of what comes to pass, of what happens to her, the realities of her age really do come back to hit you in the face. As readers we understand all too well what is happening, but the stark truth of what is finally revealed left me reeling. Sarah Sultoon really has captured the abhorrent nature of abusers, of the whole grooming process, and it makes for a difficult read at times, especially when the full horror of what was done is revealed later in the book.

Marie is a very different beast. Initially she appears quite timid, overwhelmed by what is happening around her, as well she might be given that she is thrown right into the middle of Dominic's sting. But from here we learn more of her character, of her past and of what it is that is really causing her to struggle. There is a real mystery around Marie, a clear anxiety and issues to which. we are not initially privy. She is a harder character to feel empathy towards, but I still felt compelled to follow her story and I was intrigued and felt compelled to understand her more fully, with good cause.

I have to be careful what I say about the plot, partly because I think you need to read the book to see it unfold for yourself. But the central theme is an abuse of power, the excusing of the inexcusable in the interest of 'National Security'. It is a corruption that leads back to some of the most senior positions in Government, and which cannot be forgiven. But not everyone is willing to forget, and it is conscience of one who remained silenced for too long that proves to be the catalyst for what eventually comes to pass. There are no big explosive moments of action, although there are many which are pivotal in exposing the truth and they create not only an anticipation. but an urgency which pushes the action on and drives us to a pulse thumping and killer conclusion. The ending itself ... Well, perhaps not the closure you'd expect but perfectly fitting.

This is a fast paced, intelligent and compelling look at a very difficult subject - abuse and exploitation. It is not a long book, but it is powerful, and it is one I definitely recommend. Sarah Sultoon has used her experience in media to create a setting and a story which is almost horrifically authentic, and I am really looking forward to seeing what she will offer us all next.

[Helen Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the blurb and the premise of this storylines.
The themes are dark and contemporary, with grooming and sexual abuse together with large scale operations and Government cover ups.
The narrative flicks between Carly in 1996 and Marie in 2006.
The scenes from 1996 are heart wrenching and desperately sad, a girl living in squalor and eating hand to mouth going without everything and looking after her baby half sister, despite only being a child herself because her alcoholic mother is incapable. I was really connected to the characters and it was compelling reading.
The scenes with Marie, however, I didn’t find that interesting and found hard work to read, definitely worth reading to the end but I didn’t really gel with that aspect of the story, sorry.

[Pheadra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a debut novel by a CNN reporter and the style of writing reflects this. Told in two time lines Carly(then, circa mid 90s) and Marie (now, around 2006) the story is about desperation and atrocities carried out by the military, in Warchester, Essex where there is a garrison run by them. Those in power prey on the desperate, providing basic necessities such as food and medicine in exchange for sex with underage individuals, including toddlers- unimaginable evil! In a nutshell, this is a shameful story, but deeply disturbing though the story was, I did not feel drawn in nor invested in the outcome for the characters, none of whom were likeable. The explanation for why those in power behaved as they did was quite simply weak. 3 stars

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

#gifted by #randomthingstours @annecater14 @orendabooks @sultoonsarah
TW: sex trafficking, sexual assuslt/exploition, abuse, abandoment, neglect, bullimia.

*Synopsis*
1996. Essex. Thirteen-year-old schoolgirl Carly lives in a disenfranchised town dominated by a military base, struggling to care for her baby sister while her mum sleeps off another binge. When her squaddie brother brings food and treats, and offers an exclusive
invitation to army parties, things start to look a little less bleak…
2006. London. Junior TV newsroom journalist Marie has spent six months exposing a gang of sex traffickers, but everything is derailed
when New Scotland Yard announces the re-opening of Operation Andromeda, the notorious investigation into allegations of sex abuse at an army base a decade earlier. As the lives of these two characters intertwine around a single, defining event, a series of utterly chilling experiences is revealed,
sparking a nail-biting race to find the truth… and justice.

Well this was certainly a very hard hitting, quite upsetting story and unfortunately with a lot of truth in it. I couldn't put this book down and needed to know what happens and how things end, albeit quite an uncomfortable time reading.

We follow two characters Carly from 1996 and Maria in present day 2006. The story goes back and forth in different timelines. You meet Carly who lives in an army base, poor, undernourished and extremely neglected. She's left looking after her baby sister Kayleigh while her mother does nothing. Carly's only "friend" is Rach who takes her to where the squaddies are having a presuming party. A party it is not. Soon Carly's brother whose in on everything takes her to another army quater and shit hits the pan. She ends up in a trafficking system and only reason she stays, is to help provide her sister who will otherwise die with having no-one care for her. Maria is a different charater who is currently working undercover as a journalist trying to exploit sex traffickers. She clearly has some issues and demons, and spends her time outside of working, eating her food then throwing it back up. She's a mess but it's not clear why till the more you get into the book. Both characters are completely different but both have one thing in commom. TO SURVIVE.
I felt completely hopeless for both characters, I so desperately wanted to help them. I wanted to shake Carly at times thinking clearly she knows this is wrong, but she's a kid barely a teen. She has no grown up to care for her or support her. She certainly doesn't know what love is. The only drive she has is to make sure her sister is properly cared for. Maria I honestly rooted for her, I was constantly cheering her on, hoping she'll close in on there mission, to bring the sex traffickers down.

I am shook by the twist and turns of this book and the ultimate explanation. I did expect the realisation of who both characters were but even so I didn't understand why till it was revealed. I was part horrified about this book and part captivated needing to what happens and if it ends happy. I can't tell if it does end happy it's sort of mixed.

The writing is done with sensitivity but also explaining that trafficking does happen (unfortunately) it is clear that Sarah's journalism work pays off in this story as it is extremely executed well. It is a tough, upsetting and horrific story but at the same time you have a more understanding at this shit that does indeed happen under our noses. It's a really good, crime story and as much as it's fiction there's a lot of truth in there. A really good, debut and a must read if not too triggering.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* --> 5*

Here’s an author who apparently has absolutely no qualms about jumping right into the deep end by tackling one of the most harrowing topics possible for her debut novel. That right there is mightily impressive.

Even more impressive, I thought, is that none of the abuse is written down on the pages. Let’s all breathe a collective sigh of relief because really, who the hell wants to read that anyway?! There are snippets of conversations, little references of sorts that paint the picture. One instance, that I obviously can’t describe, absolutely shocked me to the core. So believe me when I say that the fact that there aren’t any descriptions, vivid or otherwise, doesn’t lessen the impact whatsoever. On the contrary, somehow it makes the whole thing even more chilling.

I really enjoyed the glimpse behind the scenes of the TV newsroom. They come across as extremely authentic and it almost felt like actually being there. Chock full of action, chaos and backstabbing while everyone desperately chases the same thing. Be that a scoop, an exclusive, a story or a source. It often comes across as rather ruthless but in this case there are characters who are truly doing it all for the right reasons. Not necessarily to make a name for themselves but to blow the lid off a disgusting can of crimes against minors, to find the truth and to deliver justice.

With themes like poverty, grooming, sex trafficking and abuse, this was obviously never going to be a comfortable read but it sure makes for a compelling and thought-provoking story. The Source left me angry at the abuse of power and the cover-up, devastated for the long term effects on the victims’ lives and immensely aware that unfortunately these things have happened and continue to happen all around the world. Which is why it’s so important that stories like these continue to be told.

I really don’t know what else I can say about this one. The Source shines a truly unpleasant spotlight on the depravity of humans and if this “realistic fiction” doesn’t leave you outraged, then I don’t know what will. A remarkable debut from Sarah Sultoon and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

[Karen Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

he two perspectives we follow throughout The Source; Carly in 1996 and Marie in 2006 reveal a tale of horrific abuse but more than that, this is also a damning exploration of an imbalance of power which has prevented the full, repugnant truth from being exposed under the guise of national intelligence. It's also a thoughtful, important examination of the importance of journalism, recognising the responsibility and integrity which should be central to the profession while still acknowledging that being able to tell these stories and expose those who ought to be held to account is also dependent on sources, exclusives and ultimately, ratings.
The tense opening finds the inexperienced journalist, Marie taking part in an undercover operation for a story on human trafficking. It's a dark, exciting beginning with a menacing exchange followed by a dramatic scene involving a dramatic pursuit to a Travelodge which suggests that if Sarah Sultoon writes another novel about Marie - and I hope she does - there is plenty of scope for an explosive thriller. Here, however, that story is quickly shelved after the Met announces they are re-opening the notorious Operation Andromeda case which means all other investigations are immediately put on the back burner. The previous investigation into allegations of sex abuse at the army base in Warchester led to several arrests and convictions but there were still those who were protected in the name of national security.
Andromeda - of course - leads back to Carly, who in 1996 is a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl. Despite an obvious aptitude for Maths, it's soon evident that Carly looks destined to wind up on the scrap-heap of unfulfilled dreams and heavy responsibilities. Her soldier father was killed in action and thanks to his army pension, her mother became a magnet for scroungers and has since become a hopeless alcoholic. It's left to Carly to do what she can to care for her infant half-sister, Kayleigh but her squaddie brother, Jason's occasional visits bearing essentials and treats proves not to be the lifeline she so desperately needs.
I found it easier to warm to Carly than to Marie for much of the book; her acceptance of her situation is harrowing but although she is a powerless victim, the strength she draws from her desperate desire to protect Kayleigh is painfully poignant. Marie, meanwhile is harder to understand, although this is because she is clearly withholding a past she purges both physically and mentally. The turmoil in her mind is mirrored by the frenzied atmosphere she works in and there's a necessarily more confusing sense to her chapters until later in the book. The authenticity of these scenes and the shadowy world of high-level intelligence are a stark reminder that what we the public know is frequently dependent on what we are told. Readers are never left in any doubt as to the extent of the abuse perpetrated here, and it is utterly sickening, but it occurs off the page - and crucially, still in the memories of those who were victims.
The Source is a complex, distressing read which sensitively explores the terrible risks that come from allowing supposed patriotic or national interests to appropriate what is morally right. It is also a powerfully persuasive testament to the vital need for these stories to be told, both in our news and through fiction, in order to finally give victims the redemption and recognition they are owed. Sarah Sultoon's accomplished debut never shies away from the worst of humanity while still allowing us to believe in survival and hope.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Source by Sarah Sultoon was published in digital format February 15th with Orenda books and will be released in paperback original April 15th. It is described as ‘a riveting, searing and devastatingly dark thriller, a story about survival, about hopes and dreams, about power, abuse and resilience … an immense, tense and thought-provoking debut that you will never, ever forget.’

A book that has a harrowing theme running through it, The Source tells a story of sex abuse, child cruelty, alcoholism and the poverty trap. While the finer details are not graphic, it is only too easy to fill in the blanks of lives destroyed and trusts damaged beyond repair.

There are two parallel stories running through The Source. 2006 and Marie is a young journalist involved in an investigation into sex-trafficking. The piece is coming together and almost ready to be exposed when a huge news event takes precedence. Some years previously there had been a big sex-abuse case involving high-ranking staff members of an army camp. Entitled Operation Andromeda the news at the time had disgusted the public with the identities of the victims kept secret but the facts were laid bare. Children had been selected, groomed and regularly abused by these twisted individuals for their own perverted sexual appetites, without a thought given to the mental and physical damage being inflicted on the victims. Now Scotland Yard has new information and all news stations are preparing for the inevitable chaos that will follow. Marie and her colleagues are in a race to find out what this new information could possibly be and where it will take this shocking case.

1996 and Carly is a young teenager with little prospects for her future. Her father is not on the scene, her brother has left home to join the army leaving Carly with an alcoholic mother and her baby sister, Kayleigh. With no money and no hope, Carly tries her hardest to make ends meet. The responsibility for Kayleigh often falls on Carly’s lap with her mother unconscious on a chair, incoherent and incapable of looking after anyone or anything. Carly feels hopeless but when her brother makes a suggestion that would provide her with much of what she needs, Carly is unwittingly stepping into a nightmare, one that will change the course of her life forever.

With a dual narrative Carly and Marie’s stories are interwoven over the years up to the reopening of Operation Andromeda. Sarah Sultoon is a journalist herself, a former award-winning CNN news executive, so her writing reflects her own knowledge and experience of the frenetic world of a reporter. At times during some of the more journalistic-related scenes I did, unfortunately, lose track a little and found myself rereading sections to provide clarity. I do however appreciate that this was Sarah Sultoon’s old stomping ground and I have no knowledge of the working day of a reporter so I would advise that, as a reader, you focus in a bit more on these scenes.

The Source is a complex and uncomfortable read that handles very sensitively many distressing themes making it a book that would not be to everyone’s taste. However there is no question about the author’s passion for exploring and highlighting such heinous and very disturbing subjects with a very personal note in the acknowledgements.

“..to the victims, I have visualised your pain, I have imagined your suffering. It still feels wrong that I have appropriated your experience when I should have tried to do something more material about it. But when the facts themselves are under attack, the medium of fiction is a powerful tool. I hope you can see it is all in pursuit of the truth. And I hope I have done it justice”

The subject matter of The Source is all too relevant today where cases of the exploitation of the weak by the powerful have become part of our daily newsfeed. Giving readers a very insightful behind-the-camera exposé of the hectic and pressured life of a reporter, Sarah Sultoon adds an extra layer of authenticity to the novel, which is currently in development for TV with Lime Pictures (adapted by Irish writer Jo Spain)

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Source by Sarah Sultoon is a tightly written, hard-hitting, thrill ride. It blew me away, while it alternated between two timelines; one following a thirteen year old girl and another following a junior newsroom journalist.

This book packs a punch and deals with important and devastating, real-life issues such as sex-trafficking and child abuse. Sarah Sultoon approaches these topics with a truthful sensitivity, and while difficult to read about, I think she handled it very well.

The plot is cleverly written, moving seeminglessly between the two timelines. As a reader, we slowly begin to unravel how these two timelines are connected, and the ending was phenomenal.

The Source took me on a rollercoaster ride. It is fantastic, with credible writing and characters that draw you into the story. I highly recommend this one.

*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours to review honestly on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*

[Nicola Mackenzie-Smaller · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a brilliantly depicted tale of child sexual abuse and grooming by the Army in an Essex town. The cover-up is staggering, but sadly believable in the wake of the grooming scandals in Rotherham for example.
The story is told across two timelines, about Carly, a teenager living in Warchester, the barracks town where the scandal unfolds, and Marie, a journalist working to uncover trafficking stories. Carly and Marie’s stories come together explosively as the historic issues re-emerge.
This is a debut written by a CNN journalist and it shows her understanding of TV news, how to unlock a story and move it on. It’s a pretty miserable and horrifying story though - not for the faint-hearted.
Read with The Pigeonhole.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half dozen pages in I felt sure this would be a did not finish, so dark and confusing and ... nasty. Plus the time-line jumped about and the story dealt with worlds I was largely (and happily) ignorant of.

But I read on, and yes, due to my laziness about checking dates at the beginning of each chapter, I stayed muddled. Open-mouthed near-disbelief continued. Eventually, however, as I began to work out what was going on - nasty indeed - it became more compelling; an insight into two worlds I'd barely considered. It is for this, and the fact I kept reading, that I gave it five stars, and I'm sure a second read will be smoother, but maybe the ending would still feel a bit lacking in coherence? Or maybe that was me.

I'll certainly look out for Sarah Sultoon's next book.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

1996, Essex: Thirteen-year-old schoolgirl, Carly lives in a disenfranchised town dominated by a military base. She’s struggling to take care of her baby sister while her mother turns to the bottle, day after day. When her enlisted brother shows up at the door with food and an exclusive invitation to army parties Carly sees a chance for change.

2006, London: Marie is working as a junior TV newsroom journalist. She has spent the last six months working towards exposing a gang of sex trafficers when her case is shoved to the side. New Scotland Yard has announced the re-opening of Operation Andromeda, the notorious investigation into allegations of sex abuse at an army base a decade earlier.

Two lives forever tied together by a single, defining event.

Sarah Sultoon is an award-winning CNN journalist who has combined her journalistic talents and experience into her debut novel, THE SOURCE. This is the story of Carly and Marie and how their lives are forever intertwined. Pain and regret echo through the pages of THE SOURCE as Sultoon gifts the reader a look into the lives of Carly and Marie. Each of our narrators has things in their lives they don’t want the outside world to know about, but they both must make a choice to save themselves. It’s easy to become entranced in Carly and Marie’s lives, as the reader can feel their vulnerability and earns to protect them.

The themes of abuse, sex trafficing, and poverty are front and center throughout THE SOURCE. At times this book was incredibly hard and heartbreaking to read. There were moments I had to put it aside and reach for something a bit lighter, but ultimately I kept coming back to find out what would happen to Carly and Marie. This may not be an easy read, but it is a powerful read. Sultoon’s debut is sure to stay with me long after closing the book.

A huge thank you to Orenda Books for my gifted copy!

[Nick Davies · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF after about 70%. This started off with an intriguing hook - parallel stories of a journalist investigating sex trafficking, and a desperately disadvantaged teenage girl struggling with her broken home and being forced into grim decisions - but as it went on, it just got less and less appealing. The former thread got boring, confusing and didn't retain my interest. I've never really liked crime novels involving 'driven' journalists chasing a story, it's not something I can maintain giving a crap about. The other thread just got worse and worse, and though I'm not squeamish I found it all a bit much, essentially it was all a bit 'misery porn' for me.

The writing style too, far far too much dialogue for my liking, and too little description and explanation - hence it all felt a bit 'in the head' of the main characters like they were going from place to place and having conversations, and very little else.

[Sally Boocock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this lady certainly has no qualms about hitting the road running and keeping going to the very end. Dealing with such a harrowing subject relevant to today's times she does a brilliant job. This is a hard hitting and grim story but told in such a way its impossible to put down. I look forward to reading more fro m this author. Thank you to Orenda books for sending me a proof.

[Beccy Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

You cannot claim to enjoy a book like this but my god does it grip you!
Every page is a turner nothing makes you linger beyond seeking satisfactory resolution.
Hard hitting, thought provoking and utterly utterly captivating.
I found myself repeating it’s a work I’d fiction at several points in the book but Sarah has woven a tale with enough potential truth to really make me sit up.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this book is certainly dark, heartbreaking and difficult to read in parts. A book that shows how people can be coerced into doing the worst things for money and power. Liked the main character Marie and enjoyed her story. Definitely glad I read this.
Thank you

[Louise Mullins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story, if a little predictable. It's certainly not literary but doesn't quite hit the mark for a piece of crime fiction either. The bones of a plot are there and the end brings an element of closure but there is a lot of detail about the everyday workings of investigative journalism, which at times felt unnecessary. It's an interesting concept told well but if hardened crime fiction fans are expecting suspense and tension they won't find it here.

[Leanne Hardy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing, the scandal from the past was interesting but not utilised at all, the present story line for me was dull, questionable, not flushed out too much time spent here when the interesting part was her past.

[Lynsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Source’ is an uncompromising, unflinching, uncomfortable and brilliantly astute look at an appalling topic. For this book to come from a debut novelist is outstanding. Her take on characters is unnerving - to see such empathy and understanding made reading this book sublime. Be warned this is a hard topic to internalize, there were times I gasped, cried and just had to put this book down and come back to it later. There are no happy endings in this tale.

‘The Source’ is unfortunately based on real life events which occurred in the UK. It might not have been the army but we have seen institutional abuse, human trafficking, Jimmy Saville and Operation Yewtree, Rotherham and many many more. It’s not a problem which will go away but a lot of it is swept under the carpet in people’s mind and that’s the incorrect response. Books like this gives awareness, teaches people to look out for grooming and behaviours in others. People can be involved and don’t even realise. I can share this story now my father has sadly passed. When we moved to Scarborough when I was five my dad had just retired from the police force with a smashed kneecap. He was driving for a car service in the local area and if you don’t know Scarborough is where Jimmy Saville lived. My dad drove who he thought were competition winners to Saville’s home. Obviously, now we know the real circumstances but it shows how people are deceived and manipulated into ignoring warning bells. ALL the kids in my town knew to stay away from him. Trust your gut. Anyway…..

Sarah has obviously put a lot of research into this book and what shines is Carly’s and Marie’s experiences. As an author she does not hold back. It’s a multifaceted character profile that comes from both girls. One who is struggling in Warchester and having to deal with the grooming and abuse in order to look after her family. The other who is fighting to highlight this topic in the new cycle. These are both bold and brave characters, ones who hold up a mirror to this topic. It’s a gripping book. Harrowing but gripping. It has twists and turn galore to help build up the tension to the crescendo of a truly captivated audience. The empathy that drips from every page makes this tale a passage of love even. It shows that someone cares and will fight for this.

It’s tempting in this world of Covid to want to only deal with happy topics as all our mental health and actual health are suffering. But this book needs to up shouted about, it’s a compelling and urgent issue that needs highlighting and to do so in a novel of this calibre is an achievement that needs to be celebrated. Orenda is a tiny publisher when compared to the giants. They are showing though that all their books are works of gold. I honestly look forward to reading more of her work and I will also be looking out for her media work as well as fiction. This book just needs a round of applause 💜💜💜💜

[Mary Picken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and again a book comes along that touches the core. The Source is that book. Part of that lies in its veracity. I’ve spent a lot of my working life in and around newsrooms and when Sarah Sultoon writes about newsgathering and investigations, the authenticity of what she writes is so strong it gleams in the darkness.

That’s probably why I had this incredible feeling all through the book that what she was telling me was real, not fiction. That feeling is rare and that makes this book special. Chilling is a word we use a lot in relation to thrillers, but if what you mean is that cold dread; that slick of fear that stops you dead in your tracks; that lurch in your stomach as you know something of what is coming, then yes, this is chilling.

Reading about child abuse is always going to have a harrowing impact. Couple it with sex trafficking, abject poverty and neglect and line it with institutional corruption and cover-ups and you have a genuine, heart-wrenching scandal of major proportions on your hands.

Sultoon’s novel views all of this from the perspective of Marie, a young but talented journalist and through the eyes of Carly, a young girl brought up near an army base whose father is dead and whose mother is incapable of looking after herself, never mind her children. Carly’s sole aim in life is to protect her baby sister from neglect. The narrative comes through their stories intertwined with a ten year gap between. We experience events through these perspectives so what we get is the intensity of the feeling and emotion without any need for graphic exploration. Nonetheless, I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that it still feels pretty harrowing and emotionally raw.

Sultoon’s writing is crisp and spare. Her exposition of how abuse of power works and the devastating tendrils that institutional corruption can send out to all corners is brilliantly transmitted. Her dialogue is convincing and I felt very drawn to her characters.

The Source is not a big book, but it is an important one. This is why independent publishers exist – to tell stories like this one that have real impact and reflect a real world. Taking risks is what Orenda Books is all about and this one has paid off in spades.

Verdict: A white knuckle experience that offers an unflinching portrait of the abuse that exists on our streets and those who trade in it. Sultoon uses her journalistic credentials to excellent effect, handling the subject matter with deftness, sensitivity and assured skill and creating characters we desperately care about. The Source is a tense, edge of the seat read that will have you biting your nails down to the quick. Thought provoking, emotional and sometimes brutal it is both thrilling and heart-wrenching.

[Paterson Loarn · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘No-one ever bothers to think about the victims beyond the fact they were victims,’ says an investigative journalist in The Source. Sarah Sultoon’s debut thriller has all the characteristics of a smash hit in the making. To judge by its style, this book appears to have been written for the screen, and the film rights have already been sold.

‘A tense, startling and unforgettable thriller, The Source is a story about survival, about hopes and dreams, about power, abuse and resilience.’

Many readers will relish the fast pace and hard-hitting journalistic approach of The Source. The narrative contains a strong visual element which leaves subliminal messages in the mind. Short, intense plot episodes convey gut-wrenching tension. The main characters exist in a state of relentless pressure, mental agony and physical discomfort. Sky-high levels of feeling are expressed on every page, resulting in what might be described as a kind of ‘emotional dust storm’, with few pauses when readers can catch their breath.

1996. Essex. Thirteen-year-old schoolgirl Carly lives in a disenfranchised town dominated by a military base, struggling to care for her baby sister while her mum sleeps off another binge. When her squaddie brother brings food and treats, and offers an exclusive invitation to army parties, things start to look a little less bleak…

2006. London. Junior TV newsroom journalist Marie has spent six months exposing a gang of sex traffickers, but everything is derailed when New Scotland Yard announces the re-opening of Operation Andromeda, the notorious investigation into allegations of sex abuse at an army base a decade earlier.

As the lives of these two characters intertwine around a single, defining event, a series of utterly chilling experiences is revealed, sparking a nail-biting race to find the truth… and justice.

I was sent a copy of The Source in return for an honest review, so I have to admit that some aspects of its content caused me concern. For one thing, there were times when I found it hard to follow the break-neck pace of events.

My second point is, although Sultoon has taken care not to write in detail about child abuse, her journalist characters casually share gruesome details of real murders, presumably thinking they happened so long ago they can no longer be regarded as triggers. This is not always the case.

I believe most people do think about the victims of crime and sympathise with their suffering, especially if it touches their own lives. In a newsroom, twenty years may seem like ancient history, but in the real world, memories last a lifetime. Personally, I think it would have been wise to omit sensitive real-life references and focus on the significant issues affecting Carly and Marie.

[Susan Corcoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Source by Sarah Sultoon is a taunt, emotional and insightful story about the darker underbelly of society!

Within her narrative she tells a tale about sexual abuse on an army base, delivering a dark thriller that left me reeling, with the heart wrenching themes she wove with such skill and sensitivity.

It is always a risk I feel writing a story about such an emotive and troubling subject. It requires sensitivity and also importantly bravery, to lay in front of the reader the disturbing behaviour of the abusers, while giving a voice to the psychological damage done to the victims without sensualizing the story for cheap dramatic thrills. Sarah Sutoon within The Source has delivered a novel that exposes the controlling nature and depravity of the abusers, yet her compassion for the victims and understanding of their circumstances, is sensitively done, with no attempt to marginalise the horror of their experiences. It is to say the least a stunning debut from an author, who brings her experience as a journalist to bear to write a complex, clever tale, that will thrill and haunt the reader.

She handles the dual time narrative with skill, allowing the voice of thirteen year old Carly to escape the horror of events in 1996 Essex and feed into Marie’s life and current investigations. We get to read on as she cleverly merges both periods like a call to us all to listen, the abuse of women and young girls is not relegated to the past, it is still an ever present danger. Powerful writing combines with a story that envelopes the reader, leaving them emotionally spent, yet also knowing that they have read a story that they are unlikely to forget and one that should remind them of how far we have yet to travel towards our children being free from exploitation and harm.

Character wise the writer draws on her understanding of human nature, both good and at its most disturbing. Besides Carly who you can’t help but want to rescue, or Marie who you know is brave enough to challenge those that try to silence the victims, there is a host of characters that give this novel its sense of danger, its thrills and also that sense of revulsion. The hum of the news room has reporters who seem cynical and yet they turn out to be true crusaders for justice. Then there are the men who want to prevent Marie uncovering the truth, they made my skin crawl and my anger rise to the surface in waves of anguish. It is a cast of characters that gives this story it’s dual narrative of cruelty and the battle for justice.

This book is both incredible and thrilling. It is also deeply moving. I recommend without hesitation.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review also appears on my blog: https://livemanylives.wordpress.com/

Sometimes thrillers can be an escape into another world, transporting the reader to locations and adventures that they will never experience themselves as heroes chase down villains, dish out occasional one-liners and have time to dress for dinner and cocktails to drink to a mission’s success. The Source, the debut novel of former CNN journalist Sarah Sultoon, is not one of those. This is a story set down to hold a brutal and devastating mirror up to our society.

The chapters alternate between Carly in the late 90s and Marie a decade later. The former is a teenager forced into an abusive slavery in a desperate attempt to look after her baby sister whilst the latter is a young journalist with Nine News investigating child trafficking and on the verge of a major story. When Operation Andromeda, a notorious investigation into sexual abuse within the army, is re-opened Carly and Marie’s stories fuse together in an explosive charge towards the truth.

I’ll be totally honest here, there was a point at which I wondered what I was doing reading this book, what the author was doing writing it and the publishers putting it out to the world, but I trust Orenda Books and as the story unfolded that trust was rewarded in full. I have said before that when you head into darkness you need a skilled and empathetic guide to bring you through it, such as with Michael Grothaus’s Epiphany Jones and Johana Gustawsson’s Block 46, and Sarah Sultoon joins those ranks.

The energy of the book rushes through you. Sultoon’s experience as a CNN reporter brings rich life to the newsroom, its personalities and relentless drive for the truth, and her compassionate handling of the crushing but resilient struggle of a victim trying to forge a new life from the wreckage of abuse binds you to the characters. It is a dark and sometimes disturbing read but handled so skilfully that it is also powerful and inspiring, moving you to an orientation of compassion that has felt in recent years to be sadly lacking from our societal discourse.

Perhaps the most harrowing aspect of the novel is that it is so timely. We have seen victims of such crimes telling their stories and we have seen the threads of power intertwined with those stories leading right to the top of our society. We are surely compelled by such vivid writing as this to not allow those victims to be silenced or those powerful perpetrators to hide in the shadows of their protective industries and families.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I have had on my shelf for far too long and I am annoyed that I didn't pick it up sooner. This is a fantastic read although it is sometimes hard due to the subject matter.

This is told over two timelines, one from a young girl called Carly and the other is in the present-day from Marie. The synopsis tells well of the two women and of the way they are living at the time. But, what the synopsis doesn't mention is the way they have been treated over the years.

This is a story that is a tough read as it does deal with sex trafficking and abuse. While the author doesn't go into any details she definitely gives the impression of how it makes Carly feel.

As a journalist, Marie is looking into stories regarding the sex trade, and she goes undercover to find those responsible. What she and the rest of the newsroom do not expect is an announcement regarding an older story. Operation Andromeda is reopened and declarations are made announcing that mistakes were made. How opportune is this announcement though, the timing feels rushed and it could derail the investigation that Carly is looking into.

Carly is only 14 and has already had a troubled and awful life. A missing father and a drunk mother are not the best way for a young woman to grow up. She also looks after her young sister and does have an older brother.

Marie is a woman who suffers with demons from her past, she has ways of dealing with these but they are getting increasingly more difficult to quiet.

The author has taken the horrendous theme of sex trafficking, abuse, systematic abuse and corruption to the limits. It is one of those stories where you want to say is all fiction, but if you read the papers then you will be aware that this is just not the case. Covering up past allegations, not reporting crimes and trying to hide events is just the tip of a very complex iceberg that the author has built. The trail of corruption rises into some very high echelons of society and government. This makes this very much a political thriller as well as a journalistic thriller that shows systemic corruption at work.

This is a story that feels very wrong when I say it is a brilliant one, but it really is. The story is one that flows and gradually lets out the secrets of the past. While it is laden with awful events it does have a message of hope of things being finally revealed. It is a story of strength and discovering the truth. If you like a more serious and eye-opening story then this is one you should definitely read. It is one I would definitely recommend.