The action takes place entirely in June and July 2019, except for the dragged out last 27 pages which extend to March, 2022.
The dysfunctional family is a stable frequent feature of many novels, and this thriller is certainly no exception. A immature 16 year old with a narcissistic mother marries, her mother’s lover, a pedophile almost three times her age who then abuses their daughters. Then she meets a feminist podcaster who was born on the same day as her in the same hospital. They begin a series of podcasts about her experiences, hiding the fact that the podcaster is herself married to an intermittent binge drinker and a cocaine addict. From there, it gets even weirder and more unrealistic. Faithful to the title, readers are made to feel compassion for the apparent victim until much later when she is shown to be a serial lier and murderer in disguise.
There is endless emotional turmoil and none of the characters are remotely normal.
I have not read any of this London, England’s other 21 books nor am I likely to.
3/5
Thanks, Goodreads.
The Passionate Reader 