This book is a PAGE-TURNER and I was so surprised by the plot. The main characters, Aileen and Robert, work in education and over the years have grown disenchanted and discouraged with the overall system, and for Aileen in particular, the struggles and plights of children in today's society. It is this premise that drives Aileen to behave in a way that I never expected and one that I found intriguing and highly interesting. With both of these characters, especially Aileen, I ended up feeling empathy for her even though the way she handles herself is far from admirable.
The writing is outstanding and there are many themes running through this novel: Terrorism and the impact on school systems and society; mental health; drug addiction; justice; relationships, and violence, and it's all done in a way that didn't put me off or make me want to stop reading like I experience with other books in this genre. As 'dark' as one of the main themes was, I never felt like it was ‘too much’ or ‘too dark’ and I wanted to keep reading. And, as macabre as some of the characters were, they were humanized by the author and I (surprisingly) grew to care about each of them, regardless of their actions or occupation.
I am super glad I read this. I even talked about it with my husband (which means I liked it). It's a great book club read because it's entertaining and there's a lot to talk about and question, like: Were Aileen's actions warranted? Did Robert do the right thing? Are children in today’s society properly protected and cared for?
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