GOOD ME, BAD ME by ALI LAND :: REVIEW

‘But the hearts of small children are delicate organs. A cruel beginning in this world can twist them into curious shapes.’

Well this was certainly a psychological thriller that packed quite the punch. It felt unique and the writing was compellingly different, short and sharp sentences where every punctuated word hits you hard. Harrowing, disturbing, chilling and haunting. Nothing detailed, most left unsaid, yet the simplicity of the thought provoking words conjuring up a thousand pictures of a horrific childhood, a parental serial killer and a heart-breaking tragedy. The imagination runs rampant.

‘The word ‘no’ lodges in my throat, won’t launch. Can’t say it, doesn’t work anyway. No meant yes, meant you always got what you wanted. Took it anyway.’

Human conditioning through violence and pain. Your empathy will be questioned as you try to lend support to a girl’s fight against the emotional grip from the only parent she has. Mummy dearest….chills run up the spine. A mother’s love which disregards everything good, decent and loving.

“How come no one knew what she was doing?” “She was clever. Spectacular.” “In what way?” “People liked her, trusted her. She knew how to fool them.”

Twisted, daring and through provoking, this is a must read for anyone who loves to read with one eye open. Milly’s voice will shock you, it’ll frighten you, and it’ll break your heart. It’s a voice that reflects every second, minute, hour, day, week, year she’s spent being frightened and forced to play a part from the strong hold of her Mum’s terrorising ways. Milly’s voice questioning, conflicted, separated into good and bad- in her own words. Trying to be different to everything she’s known. Trying to desperately find normality in a world in which she feels lost, lonely and isolated. Human compassion and understanding up against everything that came before. Trying to grasp at any human decency and contact she possibly can. Is everything as it seems?

‘I welcome the contact. I am real. See me, feel me, but know that I come from a place where this is merely a warm-up.’

Bravo Ali Land- this debut novel set in London ticks every box for originality. An intriguing chilling account by a teenage girl brought up in a house of horror. This is a story that’ll be discussed and dissected till the early hours of the morning.

‘I can do this, I can do life after you.’