Well, this was the book that kept on giving. Every time I thought I had it all worked out, the author threw in another curve ball that had me going off in a completely different direction.
The action is set in a school and takes place in two timelines; the present, and 25 years ago. In the past, we learn that Vinca Rockwell disappeared off with her philosophy teacher, the two of them never to be seen again. Back in the present, we follow Thomas, one time love of Vinca, as he returns for his 25 year reunion. He reconnects with the friends he left behind after graduation. He is leery of returning as he has kept a dark secret all that time, a secret that threatens to become exposed when he hears that the gymnasium is due to be demolished. The same gymnasium which 25 years ago was the final resting place for the body of the person he killed. But as with the majority of the books in this genre, it ain't as simple as that. As the layers start to get peeled back and more secrets are revealed, the final shocking truth is exposed, and it really wasn't what I was expecting.
This book relies on a lot of very intricate and convoluted plotting. I learned quite early on that face value is not to be trusted. I accepted that I would have to go with the flow and stop trying to second guess. But, and I hasten to add, I never felt cheated. Everything that happened, didn't happen and happened different from how previously presented was so expertly explained that, at the end of the day, I just had to sit back and applaud the author for a job very well done.
Characterisation was also very well done. A tricky job given all the twists and turns along the way. With this sort of book, it's easy to let the characters run away with themselves but the author managed to keep a tight rein on them throughout so this never happened.
The way the story developed, if I had to explain it to someone else (don't worry, no spoilers) I think it would sound a little like it degenerated into farce. But reading it didn't feel like that at all. Yes there were some things that just escalated too far too fast and each could have tipped the balance, but they all worked so well when taken as a whole rather than on an individual basis. I would imagine that that takes some skill to carry out.
I'm not going to mention the translator because, as with umpires in cricket matches, if you don't notice their existence, you know they've done a good job.
If you love a good, fast-paced book filled with characters displaying more than their fair share of secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour and a plot that defies belief but still comes across as totally credible then snap this book up. I'm definitely going to be looking out for more by the author. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.