She told you the house would keep you safe. She lied.
Esther is safe in the house. For sixteen years, she and her mother have lived off the grid, protected from the dangers of the outside world. For sixteen years, Esther has never seen another single soul.
Until today.
Today there’s a man outside the house. A man who knows Esther’s name, and who proves that her mother’s claims about the outside world are false. A man who is telling Esther that she’s been living a lie.
Is her mother keeping Esther safe – or keeping her prisoner?
My thoughts: as a lifelong asthmatic I do understand Hannah’s (Esther’s mum) fears a bit, yes the air can be dangerous – full of pollutants and allergens, but you can’t hide from the world forever. And her decision to lie to Esther about the outside is very OTT. Protecting your child is a normal parental instinct but she goes way too far.
I can completely understand Esther’s shock and horror at discovering the truth, and how upset she is. But then it all takes a dark and nasty turn and you see just how extreme Hannah has become.
Gripping, shocking, intense and rather sad at times, I was rooting for Esther every page. Louise Mudford grows as a writer with every book and this was excellent.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 