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“A single person is missing for you, and the whole world is empty.��
�� Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking

It's 1998 and the opening scene sets the tone for this gripping storyline, with 11 year old Jack and his sisters, Joy, and baby Merry waiting in their broken down car while their pregnant mum Eileen walks off to phone for help - but she never comes back. Some days later her body is found - she'd suffered a single stab wound but it was enough to cause a fatal injury.

Three years later and Jack's father has left the family home, unable to cope with his grief, giving Jack no option but to turn to crime to provide for his young sisters. He's actually quite skilled at what he does, (breaking and entering) but he only strikes when he knows the householders are away - less risk that way! He also makes himself at home while he's at it - cooks himself a meal, sleeps in the family's beds, and then trashes the house and leaves! He earns himself the nickname 'Goldilocks', and manages to evade capture every time, much to the chagrin of the local police dept.

Detectives Reynolds and Marvel are the investigating officers for both the burglaries, and the ongoing search for Eileen's killer. Reynolds and Marvel are completely different characters - Reynolds is meticulous in every aspect of his life, not one to push the boundaries. Marvel however, doesn't just push the boundaries, he demolishes them! It's a difficult working relationship but a joy to witness, with some laugh out loud dialogue from Marvel.

Jack's story is an extremely emotional one, where the loss, the grief, and the weight of responsibility that he feels, displays itself in constant outbursts of anger and destruction. However, he is about to make a surprising discovery that will once again alter the course of his young life.

This was a terrific read, with a gripping yet moving narrative. The characters were brought skilfully to life, and although Jack's loss was difficult to witness, there was lots of light relief in the form of Reynolds and Marvel. Wonderful, just wonderful!

*Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, for my ARC in exchange for an honest review*