This book absolutely destroyed me.
From the first look and the tagline, I believed this book was going to be a thriller. What it turned out to be was an in-depth character study.
This novel is a wonderful study of characterisation and how certain people come together in uncertain times. In this novel, we follow a hostage situation that begins to unravel as we follow each character involved. Things are not always as they seem and there are often deeply rooted underlying factors to the actions and reactions of each character to the events that happen within the novel.
We have Abi, a young lawyer, desperately trying for a baby. She's no-nonsense.
Mutesi, the carer. She's a grandmother who narrowly escaped the Rwandan tragedy that killed all of her family bar herself and her son. She provides that sense of warmth and care.
Neil, a homeless man and his dog Buddy. An old school teacher who has found himself on the streets after many struggles in his life.
Eliza, the negotiator. With a young son and a teenage boy, she rarely sees her family and finds it easier to deal with the high-risk situations.
And then Sam. The gunman. A volatile young man who seems unhinged.
Charity Norman had me on the hook every chapter. There were many parts that had me tearing up as each character revealed their stories. Honestly by the last few chapters, especially during, I was bawling.
It is not where I expected this book to go but I'm definitely not disappointed. I can't call this book heart-warming, though there are some elements that moved me in a pleasant way. It is heart-shattering.
From the first look and the tagline, I believed this book was going to be a thriller. What it turned out to be was an in-depth character study.
This novel is a wonderful study of characterisation and how certain people come together in uncertain times. In this novel, we follow a hostage situation that begins to unravel as we follow each character involved. Things are not always as they seem and there are often deeply rooted underlying factors to the actions and reactions of each character to the events that happen within the novel.
We have Abi, a young lawyer, desperately trying for a baby. She's no-nonsense.
Mutesi, the carer. She's a grandmother who narrowly escaped the Rwandan tragedy that killed all of her family bar herself and her son. She provides that sense of warmth and care.
Neil, a homeless man and his dog Buddy. An old school teacher who has found himself on the streets after many struggles in his life.
Eliza, the negotiator. With a young son and a teenage boy, she rarely sees her family and finds it easier to deal with the high-risk situations.
And then Sam. The gunman. A volatile young man who seems unhinged.
Charity Norman had me on the hook every chapter. There were many parts that had me tearing up as each character revealed their stories. Honestly by the last few chapters, especially during, I was bawling.
It is not where I expected this book to go but I'm definitely not disappointed. I can't call this book heart-warming, though there are some elements that moved me in a pleasant way. It is heart-shattering.