***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
Very very good. I was worried for a few chapters that this wouldn’t live up to Edwards’ previous - The Herd - which is a book I read a few years ago and still sticks with me today. No fear - lightning has struck twice and I can’t help but hope it strikes again in the future. Edwards seems to have a knack for deconstructing the nuance and complications of certain situations, and it’s incredibly readable with a narrative that will continue to question you long after the final page.

Having read The Herd, I was eager to read this. Seb is a new headmaster at a secondary school. His world is blown apart when it is discovered that he has done something "wrong" which may affect his standing in the close community he and his family belong to. His good friend and neighbour, Anna, is morally outraged and starts a campaign against Seb. (I am trying not to give too much away here.) The community is divided and Seb's and Anna's families are torn apart. Social media does its thing as usual in these cases, spreading lies and accusations without foundation. Anna comes off worst, as she refuses to consider other points of view. I really enjoyed this and could not put it down. It did tail off a little at the end, but still a very compelling plot.