Shelley and her mother are the “Mice” of this shocking story. Quiet, timid and nervous sixteen year old Shelley has been the victim of horrendous bullying at school, so her mother, recently divorced from a selfish bully, decides to buy a cottage in the middle of nowhere in the hope of leading a quiet, peaceful life. They settle into a routine, with Shelley being tutored at home, preparing for exams, and her mum going off to work in the local town.In the early hours one morning their peace is shattered and their lives will never be the same again.Written from Shelley’s point of view, this is a gripping page-turner, with believable, somewhat flawed characters – not necessarily likeable – but I couldn't help hoping they would survive the most horrendous circumstances and come out the other side unscathedHow Gordon Reece managed to portray a teenage girl is quite remarkable, and totally believable. Very well written in an almost matter-of-fact style, but he manages to notch up the tension and pace without being over the top; it held my attention for the few days it took to read. It should actually be about 3.5 stars, cuz it will be a bit too harsh for a 3 stars.. the story was a bit unrealistic... or maybe it was too far from what I have been experiencing.. but the language is really good, it describes the scenes and setting really well and foreshadows what's gonna happen next. Also, a lot of things come at a surprise, shock me like that shouldn't be happening. overall, the plot was actually really interesting and I just finished it all last night before bed.
What do You think about Topi (2011)?
Brilliant, read in one sitting - couldn't put it down. Not for the faint-hearted!
—zaneego
What a shocking character transformation. The characters are hard to forget.
—Dorota
Better than I thought it would be. Loved the suspense!
—heidi03261991
Do we all have a breaking point? I wonder...
—Ashley
