Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Review: Through the Cracks by Honey Brown

Genre: Psychological Crime Fiction
Publication Date: 24th April 2014
Pages: 288
Book Source: Penguin Australia  & NetGalley

Synopsis: Young teen Adam Vander has grown tall enough, strong enough, to escape his abusive father. Emerging from behind the locked door of their rambling suburban home, Adam steps into a world he knows little of. 

In the days that follow, with the charismatic and streetwise Billy as his guide, Adam begins to experience all that he's missed out on. And he begins to understand that he has survived something extraordinary.

As the bond between the boys grows, questions begin to surface. Who is Adam really? Why was he kept so hidden? Was it just luck that Billy found him, or an unsettling kind of fate? 

It's a treacherous climb from the darkness. For one boy to make it, the other might have to fall through the cracks.

My Thoughts:
Through the Cracks is a concise, darkly disturbing read, it's also a story of survival. 

I was blown away last year by Honey Brown's psychological thriller, Dark Horse and I've been waiting with bated breath for her new book to pop up on NetGalley. I was fortunate (and in a rush) ... grabbed it without even giving the synopsis a glance, total faith that Through the Cracks wouldn't disappoint. Readers have mentioned that the synopsis gave too much away so I've taken the liberty of paring it down to avoid anything 'spoiler-ish.' 

Honey Brown writes brilliantly, Through the Cracks is a whole lot of feeling ... 

uncomfortable, shudder-y, heart-sick, sad, angry, I could almost taste despair, it made me want answers and justice and yet, it was told without overly graphic detail. Don't get me wrong, you are left in no doubt about the depravities and horror inflicted but there's nothing gratuitous. 

When teenage Adam escapes his abusive father with protective, street-smart, Billy, I felt a sense of wonderment as he began to experience some of what he had missed. Adam and Billy are a complex mix of innocence, naivety, knowledge and jaded despair, old in experiences no child should ever have to experience. 

The involvement of people in positions of trust, people with power and influence had me spitting-angry. I wanted to scream at the 'system'. People's apathy made me cry. I was fearful of the outcome but hopeful someone would come through for these boys. 

Child abuse; sadly so often in our headlines. Please read Adam's story.







18 comments:

  1. Wow that sounds intense. On a completely superficial note an author called Honey Brown should not be writing psychological dramas :) glad you liked it though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes definitely intense Mandy and lol on Honey's name, you're not alone in thinking that.

      Delete
  2. A difficult subject for me to even read about. This sounds very dark but I am glad you liked it and wrote about it as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mystica, I can certainly appreciate that. Have you read Dark Horse?

      Delete
  3. Wow wow wow! This sounds really good!! Adding to my list!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keen to know what you think Julie, let me know :)

      Delete
  4. Not big on thrillers, but a buddy loves them

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honey Brown's Dark Horse was the best psychological thriller I've read in a long time, get your buddy onto this author B :)

      Delete
  5. Not so fond of thrillers myself either, but this sounds like a very moving book with a very important message, NZ has shocking stats for child abuse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terribly sad isn't it Kathryn. It's not a 'nice' read but a 'must' read!

      Delete
  6. The name Honey, like Mandy, is such an unusual name for a psychological thriller author. I'll have to give it a look since you love the author so much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YAY Stacy, then I'll have someone else to rave to lol

      Delete
  7. This sounds like a really emotional read! A good book on a really touchy subject is hard to pull off sometimes but this one sounds like it had no problem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Alise, it's a difficult and emotive subject matter and I truly believe Honey covers it with insight & sensitivity

      Delete
  8. I'm intrigued by this story but not sure if it is one that I could read. I think typing Police Reports for so many years I've had my fair share of knowing the horrible things some children have to endure...it is heartbreaking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean Karen, it was heartbreaking seeing vulnerable children in hospital. I couldn't stop thinking about Daniel Morcombe as I read this one. Different circumstances and outcome but books like this brings real cases, real people to the forefront.

      Delete
  9. I am drawn to powerful book such as this, and think it is important to shed light on this this subject.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally agree Nise, hope you get to read this one soon!

      Delete

Thanks for taking the time to leave some comment love, I'm a 'comment back' kinda girl. Don't forget to check the 'Notify me' box