When Sarah Tucker witnesses the fire bombing of a neighbor's house, she becomes obsessed with finding the lone survivor, a young girl. Mick Herron skillfully weaves a complex story with interesting snippets of current events, such as the war in Iraq. Narrator Anna Bentinck ably presents the bizarre characters, narrative, and dialogue. She incorporates an appropriate blend of humor and irony as drunks, druggies, police, and ex-military personnel converge to reveal a frightening glimpse of the sometimes gap between appearance and reality. This is the perfect choice for those who like to analyze many layers and false starts as a story unfolds. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine--
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Product Description
One quiet evening in Oxford a house near Sarah Tucker's suddenly explodes. The cause is later reported to be a gas leak, but when a child disappears in the aftermath, Sarah — a young married woman, bored and unhappy with her life — becomes obsessed with trying to find her. Very soon she's left wondering whether she has really ever known anybody or anything at all, as her attempts at investigation reveal that people long thought dead are still among the living, while the living are joining the dead. Her own life however, becomes distinctly less boring. What begins in this peaceful suburb comes to a compelling climax on a remote and unwelcoming Scottish island, as the hunt for the missing child takes Sarah out of her marriage and into a journey with a companion who himself is being hunted by murderous and apparently official forces. This acclaimed first novel sets a cracking pace with a satisfying denouement.
