Right from the offset I was emotionally invested in this book. Simon, one of the characters has special needs, and my son is autistic, so how he was treated by his mother struck a nerve with me. It’s one of those books that at times actually makes you shake your head in disgust at how some of the characters act. There was actually one scene where one of the characters said she would like to kick someone in the balls for saying something about Simon, the special needs character and out loud I said “To right, I would like to do the same too” The wife who was sitting beside while I was reading thought I was crazy.
The story is about Violet, the scary matriarch of the family who raises her children with no love and each of them grow up to be just as despicable as she is. Over the years they get caught in a variety of scandals including sex, drug addiction, murder and illegal fighting. They are bound to make enemies particularly one who delivers an explosive payback at the end.
As I said I was emotionally invested right at the start so I loved the book. The writing was fantastic. The way she got into everybody’s character and made some of them real enough to personally hate is a testament to the writers writing style. She could also at times write with great sensitivity especially around the Simon character. I do wonder if the author has experience in that matter. This is my first book that I have read, written by Katherine Black and I’m hooked already. I am eager to read more from her.