Antoine is a 12 year old boy who after making the biggest mistake of his life, decides not to tell anyone. However the memories of the terrible act he committed follow him everywhere he goes. This only adds to the other mental and emotional issues he has. His parents are divorced and his mother is distant and cold. He is not allowed to spend much time with his school friends and he spends most of his time on his own. When his 6 year neighbour dissappears he does not want to join the town people in the search. Instead he tries to escape but fails. As the days pass he is taken in a roller coaster of doubts, fearing that he will be caught and sent to prison. He imagines everyone, his family and his neighbours, outraged about what he did. The news, the media showing his face. Humiliation and torture to his mother. But will anyone find out what he did?
Opinion: to be honest I was expecting a thriller, but instead I got this wonderful gripping story. This is an in-depth exploration of human psyche as one child and then a man, deals with the consequences of his actions and decisions. The story is very well told. Well written. Interesting. There are no police chases, lawyers or trials. There is one person, hiding in plain sight, dealing with his own fears and remorses. The characters of Antoine and his mother are very well constructed and realistic. Other, secondary characters, were equally interesting, particularly the towns doctor.
I got my edition from my local library. Published by MacLehose Press. It has 251 pages.
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