Girl A by Dan Scottow
Published by Bloodhound Books
Publication Date: 29th March 2021
336 pages
Genre: crime, thriller & mystery
My thanks to Rachel Gilbey of Rachels Random Resources and Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication and to provide my review as part of the blog tour.
Book Description:
Someone thinks they know who she is… and what she did.
But she insists it’s a mistake.
All Beth has ever wanted is a quiet life for her and her family.
And that is what she has, until one evening a note is pushed through the door,
with two words scrawled in menacing black ink; Found you.
As Beth’s neatly crafted life begins to unravel, an unseen menace
torments her and those she loves. But who’s behind the threats?
Somebody is out to get Beth, but do they have the right woman?
Beth faces losing everything, and there is far more at stake than
just her marriage…
My Thoughts:
This book got me thinking far more than I expected it to. The event which triggers the whole book is rather upsetting: the abduction of a 2 year old boy from a funfair which he was visiting with his mum. The culprits are two young children themselves. They are quickly apprehended but not quickly enough to avoid a tragedy. The question is whether the older of the two children encouraged or even forced the younger child, Girl A, to be part of the event or was she a willing participant - or worse, did she take the lead? It's a question the jury are asked to consider as part of their considerations.
Fast forward a couple of decades and the case raises its ugly head once again. An average family living in harmony, going about their lives quite happily. Then an anonymous caller starts making accusations against mum Beth. It starts with a scratty note through the door which reads 'FOUND YOU'. Things escalate quite quickly but Beth doesn't want to trouble the police with what could just be kids messing about, mistaken identity or something along those lines.
The story from there on in really gets you considering all the possibilities: is Beth involved? What could she possibly have done to cause the strength of feeling in the caller's notes and subsequent actions? How and why could they have linked anything to Beth? My brain kept processing the options even when I wasn't physically reading the book. Beth's just an ordinary school mum with a day job. What connection could she possibly have to whatever the caller thinks she's done? Then you go back to the fairground situation and the people responsible: what type of person could do that? Especially young children - what background did those children come from to make them capable of doing something like that? Then you start trying to work out if there is a link to Beth. If so how does she fit in? Don't expect to get much sleep while you're reading this book or for a few days after as the plot and characters get into your head and have you mulling moral questions long after you have completed the book. The whole nature vs nurture thing was strong in my mind throughout.
There are some upsetting scenes in this book so it won't be one for everybody. It was for me fairly reminiscent of the James Bulger case back in 1993 so please bear this in mind before you read this book. Some will say it's quite predictable in its path but even so I found it to be well-written as it got me thinking so much. You really aren't sure which way it's going to go for Beth and her family with plenty of smoke and mirrors to send you down false routes then send you back again. The writing is creepily atmospheric and will have you shutting the curtains and locking doors once it is getting dark.
Will the caller be right in their calculations? And will Beth ever be able to go back to her quiet unassuming life with her family after all the mud has been thrown around. After all some of it is going to stick...right?
Buy your copy here:
About the Author:
Dan grew up in Hertfordshire before
moving to London in his early twenties. After more than ten years living there,
he decided enough was enough, and packed his bags for Scotland in search of a
more peaceful life.
Dan works as a graphic designer, but dreams of
the day he can give it up and write full time.
Besides writing, he enjoys painting, watching a good
scary film, travelling the world (at least, he used to!), good food, a gin and
tonic or two, long walks on the beach with his dogs, and of course, reading a
great book.
Dan’s debut novel ‘Damaged’ was
released in January 2020, published by Bloodhound books.
Social
Media Links – Twitter: @DanScottow
Facebook
page: @danscottowauthor
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