After reading Deborah O'Connor's impressive and memorable The Dangerous Kind, I knew I had to read this, her latest psychological thriller set in a London in the near future. The government has cynically closed down the expensive prison system that failed to curb crime in favour of the more cut price move to restorative justice, that has the criminal living in a cage in the home of the victim for the duration of their sentence, now responsible for their welfare, overseen by visits from a Domestic Liaison Officer (DLO). The idea is that the perpetrator will learn the error of their ways by seeing up close the impact of their crime. Cake maker and widow Hannah Cavey's police officer husband, John, was murdered by 28 year old Jem Dahlin, sentenced to 2o years. The still grieving Hannah cannot bear the torments of having Jem in her home, but all her objections come to nothing, as a cage is installed for Jem in her home.
Training in the processes and protocol designed to protect Hannah is given by her DLO, the cancer suffering Mr Dalgleish. To help her through the emotional pressures she is now facing, Hannah turns for support to her best friend, masseuse Aisling, and Rupert, John's police partner, his boss, DCI Michaela Coombes, is struggling with alcohol issues. Jem has a traumatic background, with a mother unable to take care of him, taken in by foster parents, the Tarkers with their young son, Lucas. Slowly but surely, Jem begins to get under Hannah's skin when he tells her he is innocent and relays information to her about John that has a ring of truth. Hannah, against all advice and warnings, begins to delve into the life of her beloved John, only for her to become aware she barely knew him, what was his interest in the death of undercover police officer, Roddy Blessop? In a narrative that takes in betrayal, corruption, money laundering and more murders, Hannah finds herself in danger, she is beginning to fall for Jem, but a relationship with him is taboo, and, more to the point, can she trust him?
O'Connor's central premise of a restorative justice system where victims are forced to live with those who may have committed the most heinous acts of crime against them is fascinating, nightmarish, and intriguing. There are inherent problems with such a concept, which requires a suspension of disbelief, but the idea is usefully explored in detail and insightfully with all its attendant horrors, such as rape victims having to live with the terrors of having the perpetrator in their home and those victims looking for revenge given the opportunity to abuse and potentially kill the perpetrator. This is a memorable, thought provoking, dark and intense crime read, with great characterisations in Hannah and the flawed Jem with his criminal tendencies. An absolutely superb psychological thriller that I recommend highly
Training in the processes and protocol designed to protect Hannah is given by her DLO, the cancer suffering Mr Dalgleish. To help her through the emotional pressures she is now facing, Hannah turns for support to her best friend, masseuse Aisling, and Rupert, John's police partner, his boss, DCI Michaela Coombes, is struggling with alcohol issues. Jem has a traumatic background, with a mother unable to take care of him, taken in by foster parents, the Tarkers with their young son, Lucas. Slowly but surely, Jem begins to get under Hannah's skin when he tells her he is innocent and relays information to her about John that has a ring of truth. Hannah, against all advice and warnings, begins to delve into the life of her beloved John, only for her to become aware she barely knew him, what was his interest in the death of undercover police officer, Roddy Blessop? In a narrative that takes in betrayal, corruption, money laundering and more murders, Hannah finds herself in danger, she is beginning to fall for Jem, but a relationship with him is taboo, and, more to the point, can she trust him?
O'Connor's central premise of a restorative justice system where victims are forced to live with those who may have committed the most heinous acts of crime against them is fascinating, nightmarish, and intriguing. There are inherent problems with such a concept, which requires a suspension of disbelief, but the idea is usefully explored in detail and insightfully with all its attendant horrors, such as rape victims having to live with the terrors of having the perpetrator in their home and those victims looking for revenge given the opportunity to abuse and potentially kill the perpetrator. This is a memorable, thought provoking, dark and intense crime read, with great characterisations in Hannah and the flawed Jem with his criminal tendencies. An absolutely superb psychological thriller that I recommend highly