Shelly Tremayne, is the mother of six children, ranging from 6 month old Julie to 11 year old Joey, and currently struggling on her own. Joey, her eldest is difficult to control. When Shelly sees a news report of the horrific killing of 8 weeks old Holly Coates, who was set alight in her pram, Shelly is aghast to recognise the back view of her own son in the vicinity.
As she struggles not only with the disbelief that he was even there, but that he may have been involved, her mind ranges with terror over the possible scenario of public outrage and fear for Joey. Initially, despite her feeling of revulsion at the killing, she tries to cover for him convinced that he was just there, but had no part in the actual event.
When the police come to take Joey in for questioning , the whole tide of media attention and public hostility are too much for the family, and whilst Shelly stays with Joey, her children are taken to a safe house, and following further disruption they are placed with temporary foster parents. When a distraught Shelly finally visits her children at the foster home she finds all is an oasis of calm at the home of Eunice and John Bolton. As she settles in with the Boltons she meets their adoptive sons Edward & Oliver, who clearly adore their parents.
An interesting and absorbing read with an unexpected and stunning climax. Jilly
Bond did an excellent job with the West Country accents. She also managed to
give voice to the emotions of anger that Shelly feels towards her son, together
with fear and love all at the same time. In fact a masterly portrayal.
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Lizzie Hayes