Weirdo
Cathi Unsworth
Corinne Woodrow was fifteen when she was convicted of the ritualistic murder of her classmate in a quaint seaside town. It was 1984, a year when teenagers ran wild, dressed in black, stayed out all night, and listened to music that terrified their parents. Rumours of Satanism surrounded Corinne and she was locked up indefinitely, a chilling reminder to the parents of Ernemouth to keep a watchful eye on their children. Twenty years later, private investigator Sean Ward…more
My Rating:
Back in 1984, the small fictional town of Ernemouth saw a murder that left the town shocked, innocent lives ruined and a litany of long lasting prejudices. The hidden truths of what actually happened are about to be dug up, and long waiting revenge will see the light of day in Weirdo by Cathi Unsworth.
The appeal of this book is in the pacing, with alternating chapters going back to the 80’s setting and a current lead running in the year 2003. Unsworth does an amazing job of creating the atmosphere, especially that of this small Norfolk town back in the time of punk rock and seaside resort locale. With a delicate hand she drops just enough details into her narrative that suddenly the world envelopes the reader and transports them into the lives of the three teenage girls whom this story is truly about. While the book starts with Sean Ward, a former cop turned private detective who is hired to investigate the old case upon the advances of DNA evidence, the best parts are uncovering the tense female relationships that are the at the center of this terrible murder.
Corinne, her friend Debbie, and the new girl Sam dance around each other in a power struggle fueled by adolescent hormones, and the trial all young girls work through, of finding who they are amidst the general populace. The authenticities of their struggles, from the family relationships behind closed doors, to the streets they wander down, build the anticipation and the relief that comes page after page. As the mystery unravels, the seemingly charming seaside locale reveals scandal, crime, and filthy corruption.
Weirdo introduces us to one of the foulest characters written, and showcases that behind the glitter of pretty vacation locales, there can be the darkest, dirtiest corners.
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