Very Chilling Concept of Convicts Being Imprisoned in Their Victiim's Homes

Deborah O'Connor's idea of a society where people who have been convicted of a crime serve their sentences in cages inside the homes of their victims is both horrifying and compelling. In The Captive Hannah's husband, John, a Met officer has been killed by Jem and will soon be arriving to start his sentence in Hannah's home. Victims have the choice of pursuing a conviction but understand the terms of conviction mean if the accused is found guilty they will have to have them in their homes unless there are extenuating circumstances when the sentence can be served in a Foster home. This is what Hannah's hoping for, although she doesn't meet the criteria she hopes the fact that John was a police officer might help her. Readers are introduced to Hannah just before Jem arrives and Mr Dalglish is doing his final check. After Hannah and Jem are alone Jem insists he isn't guilty in spite of all the evidence to the contrary. Hannah goes out for a walk and passes a house where a woman was raped and sought a conviction but struggles to share her home with a convict so sends her family away while she lives in a tent in the garden. This is a fascinating concept and it's going to be extremely interesting to read how this story unfolds.