The Silent Brother

The Silent Brother is a dark, gritty novel, poignant yet utterly addictive.

From the opening chapters you get a real feel of Tommy's life: a life of poverty, abuse and neglect. And if that doesn't emotionally pull you in to the story, the tragedy of Tommy losing his brother, leaving him alone to face the wrath of his alcoholic mother and step father is heart wrenching. Tommy is a fighter and although his upbringing is a tough one he is determined not to follow in his mother's footsteps. But getting out is hard and getting out alive, even harder still.

This was a book that I raced through. The writing is raw and emotive, the characters totally life-like. I loved the characters of Annie and the owners of the corner-shop who brought an element of hope and kindness to the story offsetting some of the horrors and darkness to the story-line. This is not a book for the faint-hearted but outlines the struggles of getting out of a poverty-stricken abusive environment where alcohol, violence and drugs dominant. A mesmerising heartbreaking read, powerfully written with a no-holds-barred approach. One that will stay with me for a long time to come.