Teenager Allie Kennaway heads off for prom night, cheered on by her dad Steve and little sister Teagan. But Allie never comes home, beaten to death in an apparent hate crime because of her transgender identity. As police investigate the brutal murder, a crime that has appalled the country, one parent is at her wit's end with her son's behaviour. Are his outbursts and silences hiding something much darker than adolescent mood swings? And if her suspicions are correct, then what does she do? Another parent fights tooth and nail to save his boy from the full force of the law. But if he succeeds then Allie and her family will never get the justice they deserve.

Sent to the winner of the Colour Sweepstakes via Book depository.

Happy reading!

Thank you! I have never heard of the book or the author, but I had to start right away, and I think it is great!

So this is a great book! Exactly the crime story I like, with something to think about in it - I am pretty sure most people would not pick a book about transgender problems - and I am not talking about those who think it is "unnatural" or something like that, but even for people who don´t think that way: it is sometime just a crime story you chose. If there comes a little brain along with it, there's no harm done.

I also liked the idea of going a little over the edge with Donna and her family. Ha - I really thought this was to show it is perfectly normal for a man to have 5 kids and a career and be completely hopeless when the partner is in hospital, just not so openly, so the gender was switched again. I tried to think of women with 5 kids and a career and had already decided it is impossible, when suddenly Ursula von der Leyen came to my mind. Wikipedia says she has 7 kids. Not that I have the tiniest idea how she even managed 7 pregnancies with a career (not to mention the children), but obviously it worked somehow - it is still much more common for a man to have kids and a career and not have a clue about how to manage the daily life of the kids, so it maybe is intended to add to the gender topic anyway.
P.S.: This sounds like I think children are just something "to be managed", which is of course not true. But yeah.

sent on in the thriller/crime sweeps

Thank you very much for the book, tea, a great postcard and another one of your lovely bag. The book looks really promising.

This is indeed a great crime novel with a bit extra to think about. It is a well paced and compelling crime procedural in its own right, but the extra makes it something special. The transgender issue is handled with great insight and sensitivity. Like schwester, I also liked how challenges in Donna's family life add to the story.

I have never heard of this author before. I am very glad that bookcrossing brought this author to my attention. I will be on the lookout for more by the author.

Finally on its way to the winner of the Tea and Mystery Sweepstakes. Sorry for the delay. Happy reading!

This is now safely in Edinburgh! Thank you!

This was very good. I thought there was a great range of characters. I loved the different voices telling the story and each one worked. Not always easy for an author to pull off. I thought the plot was interesting and had a very good pace. Wonder if this is helped by the author being a playwright? The topic of the main character being transgender was well written too. Thanks very much for sending this one mcsar. it was a good pick!

And off it goes to the winner of books with a colour in the title sweeps. Happy reading!

Received in today's post. Either I won the colour sweepstakes or I am the decoy. Can't wait to see which it is. In the meantime, I will look forward to reading this book. Thanks for sharing it ☺️

Received in today's post. Either I won the colour sweepstakes or I am the decoy. Can't wait to see which it is. In the meantime, I will look forward to reading this book. Thanks for sharing it ☺️