Sophia
Written on Jan 13, 2024
* THE GUARDIAN 2021 BEST CRIME AND THRILLER PICK *
'An unforgettable narrative voice' Paula Hawkins
'A darkly dazzling debut . . . gripping' Lisa Jewell
'Gorgeously written' Pandora Sykes
'I loved this book' Clare Mackintosh
'Sharp-edged and highly discussable' Booklist
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'So that was all it took,' I thought. 'That was all it took for me to feel like I had all the power in the world. One morning, one moment, one yellow-haired boy. It wasn't so much after all.'
Chrissie knows how to steal sweets from the shop without getting caught, the best hiding place for hide-and-seek, the perfect wall for handstands.
Now she has a new secret. It gives her a fizzing, sherbet feeling in her belly. She doesn't get to feel power like this at home, where food is scarce and attention scarcer.
Fifteen years later, Julia is trying to mother her five-year-old daughter, Molly. She is always worried - about affording food and school shoes, about what the other mothers think of her. Most of all she worries that the social services are about to take Molly away.
That's when the phone calls begin, which Julia is too afraid to answer, because it's clear the caller knows the truth about what happened all those years ago.
And it's time to face the truth: is forgiveness and redemption ever possible for someone who has killed?
The gripping and dark book club debut with a compelling voice at its centre.
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'Perceptive and compassionate' Guardian
'A stunning debut' Washington Post
'Compelling . . . stunningly powerful' Grazia
'An extraordinary and heart-rending novel' Observer
'Compulsively readable' Ashley Audrain
'This is outstanding . . . so powerful' Tracy Fenton
'A gripping, unsettling debut novel' Abigail Dean
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Readers love The First Day of Spring . . .
***** 'A powerful, distressing, haunting, but ultimately brilliant read'
***** 'Such a heartbreaking and powerful psychological drama that will stay with me for a long time'
***** 'An incredible book'
***** 'A thought provoking, dark and compulsive read... Highly recommend'
***** 'You DO NOT want to miss The First Day of Spring!'
- ISBN10 1473578817
- ISBN13 9781473578814
- Publish Date 18 May 2021
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Cornerstone
- Imprint Cornerstone Digital
- Format eBook (EPUB)
- Pages 400
- Language English
Reviews
Kim Deister
Written on Jul 26, 2021
The First Day of Spring is an incredibly engrossing psychological novel. From the very first line… “I killed a little boy today.” It is told in a dual narrative, from the point of view of young Chrissie and adult Julia. How can a child so young be compelled to commit so heinous a crime?
This book is one of those that will haunt you. It’s a book that treats Chrissie with compassion and sensitivity, but it also doesn’t shy away from the unpleasant parts of her. The conflict between these two sides makes for an odd experience for the reader, but one that is gripping. It is so intense a read at times that it’s almost hard to breathe. It really is an incredibly complex novel as it tells the story of the unthinkable… a child that just may be irredeemable. It is also very thought-provoking, especially in the idea of nature versus nurture.
It takes a very gritty look at child neglect, emotional and physical abuse, and the trauma resulting from these. And with all of this is the story of redemption, of finding a way to a new life. It is very dark, but still somehow beautiful. And it reminds me very much of the true story of Mary Bell.