Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18878 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-07
• Binding: Hardcover
• 448 pages

Synopsis
Pete Boland was busy doing nothing that summer. Long, stiflingly hot, lazy days stretched ahead of him. Then she called. 'Listen, Pete ...you know that funfair, up at the recreation ground ...I thought we could all meet up ...You know, for old times' sake.' But, where there are old times, there are old tensions. And as secrets, bitterness and jealousies resurface, five old friends are plunged into the worst night of their lives...Teenage readers will find it impossible to tear themselves away from this dark, tense and gripping new novel from award-winning Kevin Brooks.

Customer Reviews

FANDABBYDOZY!
This book is THE best book I have ever read. It keeps you gripped and on the edge of your seat all the way through. The ending has an unexpected twist, and it is a bit gruesome in parts! Overall, the book is fantastic for anyone aged 12+!!

One of his best
I've read all of Kevin Brooks' books and i have to say that this is one of my favourites! i couldn't put this book down once i started it. The book faces all kinds of gritty situations and in every chapter Brooks manages to set the scene for the reader. I was surprised at how well he was able to write about the mind of a sixteen year old. Some of the phrases in this book are really detailed and go into the deep psychology of Pete's (the main character) mind. I loved this book and it was well worth the buy.

Unusual exciting realistic book
I was given this book for my birthday, as part of a rabbit themed present (which included a rabbit) and although it wasn't quite what I expected, I have to say I couldn't put it down. I was surprised to hear in the other review that this was a teenager's book because although it features teenagers as the main cast, I certainly didn't find it childish and would recommend it to adults of any age, if only to help understand the average 16 year old's thoughts and feelings. I loved the character of Raymond and the storyline with his rabbit and my only slight criticism would have been that I would have liked to have seen and heard more about his character as to me, he was the most interesting person in the book. The main theme of the book is that two people go missing and how the police and media (and general public) react to both disappearances. I found the parallel's with real life very accurate, particularly in relation to the recent missing children (Madeleine McCann and Shannon Matthews) and how the media and public has reacted to both in completely different ways. The author does a fantastic job of setting the scene with repeated descriptions of the languid, hot, long summer days and the stifling humidity, which is a running theme, adds to the overall ambience of the book. The author seems to be very astute in his observations of 16 years old, so much so that I can only think he is fairly young himself or is very perceptive. Each character has been thought about in great detail and I am sure that every reader will be able to attribute the personalities of each character with someone from their youth. I will certainly be looking to read more of Brooks work. Highly recommended; thoughtfully written; couldn't put it down!