This is a brilliantly written novel that explores some really dark themes, including rape, racism, cultural norms and justice. What is justice when a sixteen year old Caucasian accuses four Muslim youths of rape? Jodie Wolfe has a facial deformity. The question is posed would these boys actually touch her with her physical problems? Added to that conflict is the fact that her own mother doesn’t believe her, her best friend thinks she is lying, too and the person on her side, the Rape Assistant Counselor Zara, is investigating everything to try to find out the truth. The plot is so complicated that at times the differences in cultures lost me, but I persisted and continued to read voraciously since the story was so compelling. I really wanted to find out the truth and when it was revealed, I gasped. This is a story that is not to be missed, a tale of so many different kinds of abuse that it boggled my mind. This is a legal thriller more than anything else, but it also a statement about society and acceptance or lack thereof. Be aware that there are numerous expletives used which took away from the story for me since I don’t like their use, but the author wove a good, well-developed story with believable characters. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
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