“IT COULD NEVER HAPPEN HERE” is written by Irish author and journalist Eithne Shortall and is a fabulous example of character-driven contemporary women’s fiction, full of gossip, witty humour, outrageous characters and a slow burn dark mystery.
- “Beverley Franklin will do whatever it takes to protect her local school's reputation. So when a scandal involving her own daughter, threatens to derail the annual school musical's appearance on national television, Beverley goes into overdrive. But in her efforts to protect her daughter and keep the musical on track, she misses what's really going on, both in her own house and in the insular Glass Lake community, with dramatic consequences. Glass Lake primary school's reputation is about to be shattered...”
Anyone who has stood at the gates of their child’s school at the close of day, will understand exactly where this book is coming from. Although this story is in its extreme and probably much more suited to American parenting, you certainly get the feel of what truly occurs between competing mothers and their cosseting parenting.
Excellently combining the tragedy of a suspicious death, sensitive themes involving minors and the humour of helicopter mothers and the ridiculous lengths they’d go to ensure their child is number one, “It Could Never Happen Here” is a thoroughly entertaining read, which I escaped to and enjoyed during a very stormy weekend. I liked how you were kept guessing as to who died and how the author slowly revealed pieces of information as to who was responsible. Revealed through the telling of some of the main characters two weeks prior to the death, we get to hear their first hand emotions and thoughts in the build up to the fateful day. Most of the characters were unlikeable (as I would assume was the author’s intention) however, one or two of them you couldn’t help endearing to and my heart went out to them for their own traumatic emotions.
“It Could Never Happen Here”- An excellent escapism read that I’d happily recommend and Eithne Shortall is a new author for me that I’ll definitely read again in the future.
#ItCouldNeverHappenHere - 5 stars
- “Beverley Franklin will do whatever it takes to protect her local school's reputation. So when a scandal involving her own daughter, threatens to derail the annual school musical's appearance on national television, Beverley goes into overdrive. But in her efforts to protect her daughter and keep the musical on track, she misses what's really going on, both in her own house and in the insular Glass Lake community, with dramatic consequences. Glass Lake primary school's reputation is about to be shattered...”
Anyone who has stood at the gates of their child’s school at the close of day, will understand exactly where this book is coming from. Although this story is in its extreme and probably much more suited to American parenting, you certainly get the feel of what truly occurs between competing mothers and their cosseting parenting.
Excellently combining the tragedy of a suspicious death, sensitive themes involving minors and the humour of helicopter mothers and the ridiculous lengths they’d go to ensure their child is number one, “It Could Never Happen Here” is a thoroughly entertaining read, which I escaped to and enjoyed during a very stormy weekend. I liked how you were kept guessing as to who died and how the author slowly revealed pieces of information as to who was responsible. Revealed through the telling of some of the main characters two weeks prior to the death, we get to hear their first hand emotions and thoughts in the build up to the fateful day. Most of the characters were unlikeable (as I would assume was the author’s intention) however, one or two of them you couldn’t help endearing to and my heart went out to them for their own traumatic emotions.
“It Could Never Happen Here”- An excellent escapism read that I’d happily recommend and Eithne Shortall is a new author for me that I’ll definitely read again in the future.
#ItCouldNeverHappenHere - 5 stars