Parents need to know that Genuine Fraud is a dark thriller that includes murder, drinking, kissing, and mild sex. One of the main characters, a petite teen with a secretive past, clearly enjoys how strong she feels when she fights. ("To be a physically powerful woman -- it was something. You could go anywhere, do anything, if you were difficult to hurt.") There's a fair amount of violence and plenty of scenes describing what it's like to live in privileged glamour. Occasional swearing includes "f--k" and its variations.
The language in this dark mystery is absorbing and he plot moves along at a brisk pace, but it's not straightforward. It takes takes extra work to follow the story's reverse-chronological order. Also, while the settings are captivating, neither Jule nor Imogen are very likeable. ("I am the center of the story now," Jule said to herself. "I don't have to weigh very little, wear very little, or have my teeth fixed. I am the center.") Still, the themes of the novel -- holding onto your secrets and finding out who you are -- keep the reader guessing until the end.
The language in this dark mystery is absorbing and he plot moves along at a brisk pace, but it's not straightforward. It takes takes extra work to follow the story's reverse-chronological order. Also, while the settings are captivating, neither Jule nor Imogen are very likeable. ("I am the center of the story now," Jule said to herself. "I don't have to weigh very little, wear very little, or have my teeth fixed. I am the center.") Still, the themes of the novel -- holding onto your secrets and finding out who you are -- keep the reader guessing until the end.